MALCOLM Fraser and Margaret Thatcher were fond of likening government to a household. A household that spent more than it earned was headed for trouble, they argued. They had a point, up to a point. The conservative side of politics has extolled the virtue of fiscal rectitude. And it is a worthy cause. Without it, society’s ideals cannot be met. But there is more to house-keeping and government budgeting than ensuring you are on the right side of Micawber’s equation*. Continue reading “More than Micawber to good government”
Month: April 2014
Useful but lethal — Coal is looking more like asbestos
IN THE 1960s asbestos mining was a very profitable business. And it created a lot of jobs. Asbestos was very useful – indeed one of the best insulating materials known to humankind. Continue reading “Useful but lethal — Coal is looking more like asbestos”
Ita reveals the business case for acting on climate change
YOU cannot unboil an egg. I know the expression is supposed to be “you cannot unscramble an egg”, and you would think that that would be more appropriate in a discussion about Cyclone Ita, but we have 22 boiled eggs in the fridge right now at home in Port Douglas. Continue reading “Ita reveals the business case for acting on climate change”
A secret no financial adviser will tell you
THIS is something no financial adviser will tell you (and more on freedom of speech later). By far the best investment you can make today with totally guaranteed returns is to put a solar voltaic system on your roof. Continue reading “A secret no financial adviser will tell you”
Benighted Labor failed to create a true Order of Australia
THE real lesson from the knights and dames event is that Labor has naively believed in the march of progress. Labor has imagined that, once a significant reform has been achieved, everyone will see is merits and it will not be unwound. Continue reading “Benighted Labor failed to create a true Order of Australia”