With many economic indicators over the past few years showing a downturn as Alan Austin has pointed out, it interesting that growth in the economy is a mantra for the conservatives. The LNP government’s assertions inherent in their three word slogan of “Jobs and Growth” presumes we are experiencing these in certain quarters. Let us […]
Category: Politicians
Negative Gearing
Private debt in Australia has escalated beyond the $2 Trillion mark shooting past Australia’s GDP of $1.6 Trillion by 123%. Housing affordability is reaching crisis levels driven beyond the budgets of many Australians, by negative gearing and capital gains concessions. In fact, we have just bypassed Denmark (the previous first placeholder) to hold the prize for […]
James J. Morrison W.G. Dupree / Budget, Politicians, Taxes / 1
Tax Cuttings
Tax bills are perceived, by many wealthy entrepreneurs, as the slicing guillotine blade of government. Ever since the French introduced Madame la Guillotine’s blade as their historical precedent for resolving differences with the wealthy upper class, the wealthy 1% have been understandably nervous. Anything that separates them from their beloved wealth irks them mightily. They […]
Internships and Growth
Scott Morrison the magician, illusionist extraordinaire, has made all Australia’s failing job & economic growth problems vanish in a puff of smoke and mirrors (with apologies to John Passant for stealing his phrase). He has created a grand facade of jobs springing miraculously from the presumption of Australia’s economically fertile soil. Drought resistant and immune […]
James J. Morrison W.G. Dupree / Budget, Employment, Politicians / 0
Jobs and Growth – Part 2
Jobs and Growth – Part Two As already outlined in part one of examining the mantra of the Coalition’s claim to be creating “jobs and growth”, jobs in the economy are in inadequate supply. Indeed when you consider the vast numbers of under and unemployed on record, as well as the numbers of foreigners eligible […]
Jobs and Growth – Part 1
The capacity for people to be cruel and disparaging, born of opinionated judgements of self-righteousness is one of the qualities at which human beings excel. Whether it’s our attitude to foreign refugees or racial discrimination among our indigenous people, if there is a “them” to our “us”, we are determinedly resistant to human unity. None […]
Continuity with change
Many have noted the re-emergence of the three-word slogan, as Malcolm Turnbull attempts to trigger a double dissolution that will rid him of these “damnable” cross benchers in the Senate. Copying his predecessor’s style, Turnbull repeated this slogan four times within two minutes in a recent interview with Leigh Sales. “Continuity with Change“! Turnbull […]
Misogyny in Leadership
When Rosie Batty stepped down from the Australian of the year and David Morrison stepped up, albeit, with considerable controversy after his appointment, there was a consistent demand for the leadership of the country to address sexism and violence against women proactively. While this columnist has recently highlighted the current government’s continuing misogynous approach to […]
Misogyny in Legislation
The legislated law consists of the rules and sanctions to which a society agrees. But legislation may itself be immoral or moral such the facilitation of slavery Australia once engaged in or the apparent abolition of slavery. The founders of many western countries believed that emerging legislation would often require a constitution for a baseline […]
Coalition’s Christmas legacy
Christmas, one normally assumes a time of goodwill and charity. We read and absorb selected stories because they are ones that remind us of our need to give to others. At this time charities take advantage of the spirit of goodwill of this time, to promote their work amongst the community, and gather the bounty […]