If Tony Abbott is serious about the Opposition’s claims of economic competence, he should stop harking back to the Howard years as he did yesterday at the National Press Club – and here’s why. CPD Fellow, Ian McAuley, writes in New Matilda: “The only foundation for a successful country is a strong economy”, said Tony Abbott in his National Press … more
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Articles by CPD:
Ben Eltham | A Wealthy Amateur Who Wants Respect
It’s not easy turning dirt into power. Gina Rinehart has the money but she’s struggled to wield national influence. That may change now that she has a bigger stake in Fairfax, writes Ben Eltham in New Matilda: Money and power sometimes walk hand in hand…. Rinehart thinks it is far too costly and difficult to build new mines in Australia. … more
Ben Eltham | The Mob Violence That Wasn’t
The media has framed it as violent but the tent embassy protest was basically peaceful. It’s this gross distortion – and the heavy-handed response of the AFP – that warrant criticism, writes Ben Eltham Ben asks whether the protesters were really violent: Despite no arrests being made, no physical harm coming to any of the guests of the ceremony, indeed, … more
What would ‘Big Society’ mean for Australia?
Our first major report in CPD’s Public Service research program, The State of the Australian Public Service: An Alternative Report, analysed political commentary and media coverage that, at times, depicts the Australian Public Service as inefficient, large, costly and unwelcome in some aspects of our lives. Our research revealed the disconnect between this rhetoric, community attitudes and the reality of … more
Ben Eltham | The National Riot Mismanagement Squad
As the media continues to distort the tent embassy protest, the behaviour of Gillard’s office is under scrutiny. It’s another media debacle for the embattled PM, writes Ben Eltham. “And that’s the real tragedy of the events outside The Lobby on Australia Day. Instead of focussing public debate on the substantive issues of Indigenous disadvantage and the dismal history of … more
Melissa Sweet | Federal govt urged to withdraw all support for private health insurance
In this article, Melissa Sweet promotes John Menadue and Ian McAuley’s discussion paper on private health insurance subsidies in Australia. With the government debating whether to introduce means testing on private health insurance, the new report urges the Government to withdraw all support for private health insurance, on equity and efficiency grounds. Given that the government has a stated policy of ‘social … more
John Menadue and Ian McAuley | Govt proposals on private health insurance don’t go far enough
Writing in Crikey, CPD founder and board member John Menadue and CPD fellow Ian McAuley give their opinion on government proposals to apply a means test to private health insurance subsidies. Menadue and McAuley call for even more action than simply means testing, suggesting that a single national insurer would provide the most efficient and equitable means of sharing our health … more
Ben Eltham | How Gillard Squibbed On Gambling Reform
The public might support pokies reform but powerful vested interests do not. And if folding on the Wilkie deal didn’t look bad enough, Craig Thomson threw in some extra sleaze, writes Ben Eltham in New Matilda here. Ben takes a look at whether poker reform is dead and how our PM got here: It’s a win for the factions and … more
Ben Eltham | Uncertain times for the economy and your super
The tides of global macro-economics may finally be aligning against Australia, writes Ben Eltham in ABC’s The Drum online. Superannuation was meant to be a powerful savings tool for working Australians, who would otherwise not save enough for their retirement. Yet, many workers saw their super funds shrink in the last few years. It wasn’t meant to be like this. … more