Crispin Hull

New wars different results

Journalists fall into the same trap as generals and politicians: they view the present war with blinkers imposed by the experience of past wars.

This has coloured the reaction to the Albanese Government daring to change tax arrangements on superannuation. There would be a major voter backlash, virtually every commentator argued. The horses would be frightened. Where would the slippery slope end, argued the Opposition – Labor will tax ordinary Australians to the hilt.

Estate planning should not be a super idea

True story. How a millionaire avoided $10,000 in tax by a simple accounting transaction which is perfectly legal.

Follow this true case carefully and you will be as astonished as I was that Australia’s superannuation rules could allow such a thing.

Lowe’s weak weaponry

Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe is like a passenger in a racing car with both hands on the handbrake. Meanwhile, the real driver (the Government) has feet on the accelerator and foot brake and hands on the gears and steering wheel.

Yet it is Lowe who is expected to ensure the car circumnavigates the track, does not crash or break down, and glides to the chequered flag to the applause of one and all. But if he applies the handbrake (as he has done) and the car sways erratically, he is pilloried.

A big race: fossil profits v transition

The race is on. And the stakes could not be higher.

The race is between competing interests. On one hand we have the broad mass of the world’s people who do not want to experience the catastrophes associated with global heating: floods, fires, food and water scarcity and so on. On the other hand, we have big fossil energy corporations and the policy-makers in nations that have large reserves of fossil energy.

That essay: Stalin not at the gates

Australians should be hoping that the members of the Reserve Bank board have read the 6000-word essay written by Treasurer Jim Chalmers for the latest edition of The Monthly before today’s board meeting.

But they probably haven’t or, if they have, won’t alter their static thinking and rates will rise – recklessly and riskily.

It’s broke we need to fix it

What an unseemly, messy “debate” we had in the Australia Day week over the Voice.

To put it crudely, it seems that the whitefellas opposing the Voice are concerned that it might give the blackfellas too much, and that the blackfellas opposing the Voice are concerned that it will not give them enough.

Why millionaires want to pay more tax

The demonstrators at last week’s virtual meeting of the elite rich and powerful at the Davos World Economic Forum were instructively and decisively different from previous demonstrations.

This was not the usual anarchists in the street demanding the end of capitalism. Rather it was 200 b/millionaires pleading mostly in writing for higher taxes to be imposed upon themselves.

Good and bad confused in ugly reporting

The simmering, underlying bias in media reports continued this month on three major subject matters. Events which were described as Bad Things were really Good Things. And events described as Good Things were really Bad Things.

I refer to population growth; property prices; and private-school fees.

Cashless pokies should just be the start

The money launderers and gaming profiteers are askance at the NSW Government’s proposal to ban cash gaming transactions. This ding-dong should have profound national implications about the role of cash in Australian society.

Don’t get caught up with detail

Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney set the broad timeline for the referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament at the weekend.

There are two overwhelming reasons to vote Yes. The first is that after years of detailed consultation and deliberation this is what the vast majority of Indigenous Australians say they want. They want to be recognised and heard by having a Voice to the Parliament.

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