It's Time to See the Big Picture

There is increasing disquiet amongst those interested in Australia's future about the absence of visionary public policy and the rise of populism and rancour in the political debate.

Kitchen table economics for lower-income households is a real experience of juggling higher energy and food prices, childcare and education expenses; but for others it may be more about the size of the kitchen table. For some Australians who have become accustomed to McMansion living, that is, larger homes with bigger floorplans, with all the modern conveniences that incur higher insurance, maintenance and running costs, even small increases in the cost of living make them cranky.

In response to hypersensitivity in middle and higher income households about cost of living 'pressures', politicians have indulged in what has been described as the "low-hanging fruit of populism” encouraging both the idea that life is expensive and that governments can have some impact on this.

The government needs to deflate the expectation of entitlement to assistance from the community where it is not warranted, and must alter the public’s view with a policy narrative that explains that government is not responsible for assisting with cost of living pressures in all circumstances. Welfare entitlement should be needs based not a political bribe. We only have to look at Greece today for motivation.

Australia is drifting policy wise and unless real leadership emerges we will squander the legacy of the great reformers who gave us 21 years of economic growth. We are more than a one trick pony, mining at all costs economy, which is a finite industry anyway and can devastate our environmental treasures. Instead, let's be more of a nation of innovators, entrepreneurs and value-added manufacturers, and put in place a tax code that encourages this and finances the public services government should provide like in health and education.

The Ageing Population

The recent report by Treasury has warned of rising costs in providing for our ageing population. We all want a comfortable retirement income and access to the best services available but how can we ensure this without higher taxes on younger generations particularly as the baby boomers and Gen X retire? I say increase compulsory super from its current 9% to 12% and eventually 15% as was intended with this visionary Paul Keating reform. What do you think?

And be careful, don't be seduced by the scaremongering of Abbott over this. The Labor government is not blaming the oldies for the rising cost, it is looking for solutions to ensure that they have what they need when they retire and which they have earned during their working lives.

MySchool Website

There has been a lot of debate over the merits of the MySchool website. It is my belief that it provides parents with the opportunity to establish, at least in the basics of education, how the school their children are attending is performing. This is particularly important for parents who are paying exorbitant fees for private schools so as to determine whether this significant investment is paying dividends for their children.

Why the uproar, I ask, especially from the Australian Education Union? Vested interest is sometimes thinly disguised, is it not?