LABOR has clarified its policy on negative gearing after claims by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull that it would stultify the start up of new businesses. Continue reading “The negative sides on poor policy on gearing”
Turnbull’s seat by no means completely safe
BE SURPRISED but not totally gob-smacked if Malcolm Turnbull loses his seat of Wentworth at next Saturday’s election – even if the Coalition wins. Look at this way. One of the main reasons for the dramatic fall-off in Coalition support since the heady days of its huge winning margin shortly after Turnbull assumed the prime ministership has been the large disappointment in Turnbull himself. Continue reading “Turnbull’s seat by no means completely safe”
Anglophone experience says use power well or lose it
US political scientist Francis Fukuyama wonders why it didn’t happen a whole lot sooner. He was referring to the rise of the protest candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. Fukuyama argues that the people who support these two are disaffected with mainstream politics. Trump supporters, who are mainly white, middle-aged, male and less well-off, are disaffected by what they see as a political elite that has sold out American jobs with free trade agreements. Continue reading “Anglophone experience says use power well or lose it”
Major parties lose ground because of growth mantra, lobbies
LEADERS and former leaders of major parties have been attacking the minor parties and independents almost as forcefully as each other this election, especially in the past week. The Coalition has been especially vociferous against Nick Xenophon’s party. Continue reading “Major parties lose ground because of growth mantra, lobbies”
Without action, solar disarray looms
WITHOUT action, Australia could be heading for solar disarray. Each state and territory has a different solar-power regime. The mainly state-owned monopoly owners of the poles and wires are not especially interested in the environment or efficiency unless it sounds in extra cash. And the limited competition among suppliers is made more difficult for consumers to exploit because charging regimes all differ. Continue reading “Without action, solar disarray looms”
If only the NBN were the Snowy Mountains Scheme
A LOT of the NBN issue has probably gone right over the heads of most voters in the past week. The timing of the AFP raids on two Labor Party locations last week was perfect for the Coalition. The simple popular view is that if you are raided by the Australian Federal Police you must have done something wrong. Continue reading “If only the NBN were the Snowy Mountains Scheme”
Immigration, not just refugees, cost, Mr Dutton
IMMIGRATION Minister Peter Dutton at least has highlighted one point: it costs a lot to bring people to Australia. He restricted his remarks to refugees, but there is a cost in bringing family-reunion and economic migrants to Australia as well. The difference, though, is that we have a moral duty to help with the world’s refugee problem, but we do not have any moral duty to take economic migrants who just like the idea of living and working in Australia. Continue reading “Immigration, not just refugees, cost, Mr Dutton”
They are nutters, not climate sceptics
WE MUST stop calling them “climate sceptics” and start calling them “climate nutters”. I was thinking this while listening to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s Dr Roger Beedon – a real scientist – address a public meeting in Port Douglas this week on coral bleaching. Continue reading “They are nutters, not climate sceptics”
Senate election to be a major v minor event
WHENEVER the Parliament looks at electoral matters you will find ideology and principle frequently trumped by the formation of temporary alliances of convenient self-interest. Continue reading “Senate election to be a major v minor event”
Subs deal shows Australia’s defence over-spend
WE ASKED the wrong question. We asked: should we get the French, the Germans or the Japanese to help us build new submarines? The fourth option and fifth options were not canvassed – for short-term political reasons. The fourth and fifth options were: why build any submarines at all, and if we must have some submarines why not build nuclear-powered submarines with US help. Continue reading “Subs deal shows Australia’s defence over-spend”