Category Archives: Australian Politics

One more summit idea, this one from Alan Wu, who is in the governance stream. The Australia Commitments Like the Millennium Development Goals, but for Australia I believe that governments should be optimistic and ambitious – they should encourage and … Continue reading →

Today brings the penultimate tranche of Imagining Australia ideas – these ones on growth and the economy. We envisage a dynamic and innovative Australia, with a sustainable economy to underpin the high standard of living enjoyed by all Australians. We explain … Continue reading →

Gregory Nelson, a 2020 participant in the national security stream, has sent me his idea that he thought might interest people. He’s happy to read comments below, or for people to email him at gregnelson {AT} iypf.org. The 1951 Colombo … Continue reading →

A few ideas on strengthening Australian democracy, from Imagining Australia. We believe that Australia needs to rekindle its spirit of democratic innovation and experimentation. We present proposals to reform our democratic institutions and processes to encourage greater public participation, improve the … Continue reading →

One more pair of 100-word blurbs, these from Bob Gregory. Big idea: Should the Lowest Income Groups pay the Highest Marginal Employment Taxes? Low income groups pay the highest effective marginal income tax rates – 50-70 per cent – upon accepting … Continue reading →

Here are Nicholas Gruen’s 2020 answers (you can discuss them here too if you prefer). 1. If you could do one thing in your stream area what would it be? What is it that you think would make the most … Continue reading →

Following on from the Imagining Australia ideas on national identity, here are a few that relate to revamping our international engagement. We argue that freed from the constraints of the Cold War, enterprising middle powers-such as Australia-can take the lead in … Continue reading →

My friends Bryan Gaensler and Macgregor Duncan have given me permission to post their 2020 ideas. Bryan is in the productivity stream; Mac is in the governance stream. Bryan Gaensler What is your idea for the Summit? Tens of thousands … Continue reading →

Four years ago, I coauthored Imagining Australia: Ideas for Our Future, with David Madden, Macgregor Duncan and Peter Tynan. One of the things we argued was that Australians should more often ask the question “what should the place look like … Continue reading →

The Australia 2020 summit has asked participants for a big idea and an issue upon which they’ve changed their minds. On Monday, I posted big ideas and mindchanging experiences from Amy King and Joshua Gans. Here are mine. What’s your big idea? … Continue reading →

Former Hawke-Keating minister John Button has just died. The Australian has a long obituary on their website. I met Button a few times, but the only substantive conversation we had was the first time, in the early-1990s, when I was writing … Continue reading →

[Update: I’ve added Amy’s mind-changer. Joshua’s is here.] My friend and coauthor Amy King is in the governance stream for the Australia 2020 summit, and has kindly allowed me to post her 100-word big idea (and 100-word mindchanging experience) for the … Continue reading →

My coauthor Joshua Gans is a well-deserved invitee to the 2020 summit, and blogs on the ideas he’ll bring to the table. For Joshua, I think the tradeoff will be between contributing to every policy debate on offer; versus making a … Continue reading →

The federal government today opted not to make a specific recommendation to the Australian Fair Pay Commission as to the level of the minimum wage. To my mind, this is eminently sensible. I cannot think of another instance in which … Continue reading →

Kevin Rudd has announced the chairs of the 2020 summit panels. Professor Glyn Davis – Chair Dr David Morgan – Future directions for the Australian economy Warwick Smith – Economic infrastructure, the digital economy and the future of our cities … Continue reading →

Quite a day of surprises. Julia Gillard is superhuman, but I’ve never imagined that one person could run industrial relations and education. Even given his victory, Rudd’s dropping of 4 members of the left and centre faction from the ministry is … Continue reading →

Amidst Bernie Banton and the gloriously witty Matt Price passing away; and Mark Vaile and Clare Martin quitting politics, I’ve been rather too stunned to post. But feel free to discuss them in comments – or speculate on whether Glyn … Continue reading →

University of Newcastle economist Steve Easton emails with a tidbit from election night. I thought you might be interested in the data presented in the attached spreadsheet. This is the first time to my knowledge that there has been active … Continue reading →

Inspired by CJ Dennis, Peter Costello has announced that he won’t contest the leadership. I guess it’s Turnbull for opposition leader, then. When it resumes, parliament should be nothing if not entertaining. Update: Sportingbet has opened a market in who … Continue reading →

Taking advantage of the time zones, Christine Neill emails from Canada with a spreadsheet comparing two predictors of the seat-by-seat results: Simon Jackman’s state-specific poll aggregation, and Simon’s last capture of Portlandbet’s seat-by-seat markets. With several seats still in play, … Continue reading →

There’s no sign yet of a concession speech from the PM, but there seems little doubt that Labor’s won. I might post something more substantial later, but since I just had my first call from a journalist asking how well … Continue reading →

Almost election-eve, and Simon Jackman posts the latest betting market predictions. Database last updated at 12:01 November 22 2007 (Sydney time) Analysis tracks prices offered by three agencies: Centrebet, Portlandbet, Sportingbet ALP favoured to win in 80 of 150 seats (# … Continue reading →