The great distraction will soon be over. I’m talking about the coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s and the parade of ceremonies following it. Any death is solemn, and people usually react in a respectful way. And it has been with the death of the British monarch. At least she made it to 96. This is a good innings. Continue reading The death of the Queen should not blind us from the real nature of the monarchy→
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flagged that a tough budget is on the 25 October. He has also said that there will be some moves to soften the impact of the rising cost of living. Exactly what these are is extremely important. All we can go by is the record to date. Continue reading Will the coming budget bring relief or more pain?→
The jobs summit was going to deliver a consensus that will chart a way forward towards a fairer Australia. At least that is what we were told. Those who knew better knew that the hype was mostly spin and photo opportunities. Now that it is over, little of substance came out of it. Continue reading Jobs summit has not delivered a new direction for Australia→
There are forces in Australia gearing up a campaign to keep wages down. Led by the corporate sector and backed by the Reserve Bank of Australia. There has been a modest rise in rates this year, and they are blaming this for the rise in inflation. If wages are not kept down in the next period, they warn, inflation will get worse, and the economy plunged into serious trouble. Continue reading It is not wage rises causing of inflation and harming the economy→
Despite all the hype, and even a Reserve Bank forecast of a 3.5 percent rise next year, the pay packet of the average punter is not going up, and in real terms, it is going south. Even if the Reserve Banks prediction, which doubtful to start with, it will still fall behind rising inflation. This means it will cost more to maintain the same standards of living. Continue reading Real wages are falling and cannot be the cause of inflation→
People have been saying that the economy is in strife for a long time, and along with the climate crisis, the rising cost of living that is making the headlines. Everyone feels it. No wonder this has shaped up at the centre of politics in Australia. Continue reading Australia’s economy faces problems rooted in its structure→
Australia might be a long way away from Britain. But it seems to me that the present battle for the leadership of the conservative party there is a circus. It is both the outcome of the standing of politicians in the public eye and a display of greedy ambition. Continue reading The British indulgent political circus may well catch on in Australia→
Official site of the May Day Committee (Malbourne)