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Rip Van Winkle economics will embalm shop stewards and Holdens
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian Mon 20 Feb 2012:
"Call it Rip Van Winkle economics. Invented by Julia Gillard, it says we should protect struggling firms so that when we wake up from the mining boom, they will still be there. It's a pity that by then the world will have moved on, ensuring today's laggards are tomorrow's relics."
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required).
Both sides failing the test on health
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian Monday 13 February:
"It is disingenuous to claim, as the government does daily, that its private health insurance changes, which seem set to get parliamentary approval this week, are a savings. And it is even more disingenuous to claim they will increase efficiency in our health system. Rather, they will increase costs while entrenching a two-tier health system that penalises the poor. "
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
"It is disingenuous to claim, as the government does daily, that its private health insurance changes, which seem set to get parliamentary approval this week, are a savings. And it is even more disingenuous to claim they will increase efficiency in our health system. Rather, they will increase costs while entrenching a two-tier health system that penalises the poor. "
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Both_sides_failing_the_test_on_health_13_Feb_2012.pdf ]
Direct support to those industries with a future
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian Mon 6 Feb 2012:
"'A major report released today by Rio Tinto shows just how foolish ACTU president Ged Kearney is to dismiss mining as merely 'digging things out of the ground'."
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
"'A major report released today by Rio Tinto shows just how foolish ACTU president Ged Kearney is to dismiss mining as merely 'digging things out of the ground'."
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Direct_support_to_those_industries_with_a_future_6_February_2012.pdf ]
Julia Gillard's policy to prop up inefficient firms will be counterproductive
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian Sat 4 Feb 2012:
"According to Julia Gillard, things are difficult for Australian manufacturing as the resource boom threatens "to hollow out other sections of the economy".
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
"According to Julia Gillard, things are difficult for Australian manufacturing as the resource boom threatens "to hollow out other sections of the economy".
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Julia_Gillard_s_policy_to_prop_up_inefficient_firms_will_be_counterproductive_4_Jan_2012.pdf ]
Enforcing one rule of law for all
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian, Mon 30 Jan 2012:
"According to Fred Chaney, the rioters at the Aboriginal tent embassy have no more in common with most Aborigines than the Cronulla rioters have with most other Australians."
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
"According to Fred Chaney, the rioters at the Aboriginal tent embassy have no more in common with most Aborigines than the Cronulla rioters have with most other Australians."
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Enforcing_one_rule_of_law_for_all_30_Jan_2012.pdf ]
Sub 'self-reliance' a blank cheque to protectionists
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian, Tues 24 Jan 2012:
"No question in defence is more vital than "how much is enough?". But not according to Paul Dibb and Richard Brabin-Smith"
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
"No question in defence is more vital than "how much is enough?". But not according to Paul Dibb and Richard Brabin-Smith"
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Sub__self-reliance__a_blank_cheque_to_protectionists_24_Jan_2012.pdf ]
Collins sham points to enemy within
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian, Fri 13 Jan 2012:
"On August 28, 1993, Paul Keating launched the first Collins-class submarine. The fanfare was impressive. Led by the ABC, the media hailed the event as a triumph. But it was a hoax. "
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Collins_sham_points_to_enemy_within_13_Jan_2012.pdf ]
Don't just throw cash at universities
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian, Wed 4 Jan 2012:
"The report of the Higher Education Base Funding Review has important things to say: things every university student now basking at the beach should know. And it contains many sensible recommendations. But it concentrates too heavily on increasing funding rather than on incentives for resources to be used efficiently. As a result, its approach cannot durably resolve our universities' problems. "
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
"The report of the Higher Education Base Funding Review has important things to say: things every university student now basking at the beach should know. And it contains many sensible recommendations. But it concentrates too heavily on increasing funding rather than on incentives for resources to be used efficiently. As a result, its approach cannot durably resolve our universities' problems. "
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Don_t_just_throw_cash_at_universities_4_Jan_2012.pdf ]
Joys and woes of yuletide economics
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian, Thurs 29 Dec 2011:
The good news is that the Twelve Days of Christmas are cheaper than they were last year. Prices, as measured by the Twelve Days of Christmas (12C) price index (for a full explanation see my column of December 23 last year), have barely gone up in Australia despite the consumer price index rising by 3.5 per cent. So in real terms partridges and pear trees are better value, though to buy all 364 presents will still set your true love back $138,059 and 14c.
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
The good news is that the Twelve Days of Christmas are cheaper than they were last year. Prices, as measured by the Twelve Days of Christmas (12C) price index (for a full explanation see my column of December 23 last year), have barely gone up in Australia despite the consumer price index rising by 3.5 per cent. So in real terms partridges and pear trees are better value, though to buy all 364 presents will still set your true love back $138,059 and 14c.
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Joys_and_woes_of_yuletide_economics_29_Dec_2011.pdf ]
Merry Christmas Canberra fat cats
Posted in:
Op eds
Henry in The Australian, Mon 19 Dec 2011:
"We should pay top dollar for the best bureaucrats but do we need so many? "
Click here to read the full article at The Australian's website (subscription required) or on the link below to download a pdf.
Download attachment(s): [ Merry_Christmas_Canberra_fat_cats_19_December_2011_1.pdf ]