How would it be to walk into a general practice with a toothache and be triaged to see the oral health therapist, who assesses and then develops an oral health care plan? They are then qualified to provide dental treatment but may also involve a GP or dentist across the corridor for further assessment. It is time to dream this could become a reality if Labor is prepared to embrace the mouth, gently. (more…)
Category: Economy
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Trump’s America: ecstasy or agony?
Trump’s election victory is not the momentous or unexpected event many have made it out to be. It is, however, a sure sign of a slowly decaying society where frustration, anger and bewilderment are at epidemic proportions. (more…)
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Trump’s impact on the rest of the world, and Australia in particular
Somewhat surprisingly, careful analysis and modelling show that Trump’s crude attempt to Make America Great Again, mainly damages the American economy. The rest of the world, and Australia in particular, should proceed with their own business as usual. (more…)
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The US election campaign: Lessons for Australia
Just like in the US , the next Australian election will be decided by the cost of living. Both the US and Australian economies have performed quite well, in difficult circumstances. However, the lesson from the US election is that both Governments need to tell their story better. (more…)
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Energy market governance can unlock $19b for consumers through local solutions
The need to restructure energy planning and regulation in Australia has been apparent for over a decade, since households and businesses began rapidly installing solar panels on their roofs, flipping the traditional one-way, large-scale supply of electricity into a two-way, consumer-led transition. There needs to be thorough expert consideration on how best to facilitate this transformation. (more…)
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Josef Stiglitz and national productivity: the need for a new TAFE
When Nobel economists Joseph Stiglitz recently said that Australia’s future prosperity is tied to us acting to become a “Knowledge Economy” there was subdued muttering of the “Fee Free TAFE” mantra from a few Labor federal parliamentarians. This was followed by multi-party total inaction. Could it be that our federal political leaders, who have been so negligent in allowing our TAFE system to slide into its current overall state of decrepitude, are now too embarrassed to even talk about it? (more…)
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Western Democracy is not the only option
We in the West have a propensity noted by the rest of the world, to be rather self-congratulatory about our political and economic systems and our accompanying wish to pressure the rest of the world to try to be more like us. (more…)
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To save the planet: Disable this global consumer-corporate machine
The global consumer-capitalist machine is well-programmed to consume the planet in its quest to produce ever-more stuff. Avoiding pollution is incompatible with its present functioning. If we want to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions we need to know how to get inside the machine and turn it off, or transform it. (more…)
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The world’s centre of gravity has shifted to BRICS
The recent BRICS summit in Kazan summed up the results of the Russian presidency of the organisation in 2024. John Shipton, an Australian activist and the father of WikiLeaks creator Julian Assange, also took part in the event. (more…)
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The 2024 Nobel Prize shows the bankruptcy of conventional economics
The 2024 Nobel Prize for economics has gone to two economists for work on why some poor nations prosper while others fail and remain poor. But it is their 540 page account that fails, by not mentioning the real causes that are foundational in the global economic system. (more…)
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The role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in breaking trade barriers and fostering multilateralism
As the world faces increasingly complex challenges—from economic downturns to geopolitical tensions—regional organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are becoming ever more important in promoting multilateral cooperation. (more…)
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An acceleration of global “de-Westernisation” creeps upon the Western world
Decisions taken at last week’s BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, will have a significant impact on the Global South and on the Western world, as the movement towards “de-Westernisation” gathers momentum. (more…)
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How can we make retirement villages better for residents?
Recently, the matter of retirement villages has come to the fore in the media, led by investigative journalist Adele Ferguson on ABC 7.30 Report. Ferguson’s report and case studies raised the question of “what protections should be put in place to protect the residents from the avarice of owners and operators of retirement villages?” (more…)
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Treasurer Chalmers should have attended the biodiversity COP16
The world’s biodiversity crisis gathers pace and any effective action depends on the reduction of economic growth. High-level leadership is needed to explain the fundamental conflict between economic growth and biodiversity conservation which threatens humanity possibly sooner than the ravages of climate change. (more…)
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Labor’s amendments to the Education Act fail to ensure full funding of Public Schools
The Labor Government‘s proposed amendments to the Australian Education Act fail in their goal to provide “a pathway to full and fair funding for all schools”.
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Let’s tax carbon: Why the time is right for a second shot at carbon pricing
Australia now has a government and parliament wanting timely transition to net zero. We have a government and parliament wanting to build Australia as the renewable energy superpower of the zero-carbon world economy. For the time being, we have favourable international settings for using our opportunity. (more…)
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Earth’s water cycle off balance for ‘First Time in Human History’
“We must reshape our shared relationship with water, across borders and cultures, for sustainable, impactful, and just transitions,” says the global commission behind a new report. (more…)
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Etiquette tips for awed commoners
Being vital deportment behavioural protocols in the face of British flapdoodle. (more…)
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America selects green reverse gear
America was once a marketplace leader in so many areas. Now the US faces a range of pivotal global markets focused on a greener future, dominated by China, that are developing rapidly without it. (more…)
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Monetary policy: The Australian Government must stop acting in the interests of US shareholders
Since the dawn of neoliberal policy time, at the start of the 1980s, the idea that the population must suffer short-term pain for the sake of longer-term gain has been frequently stated by government and senior public servants. (more…)
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Sulking over China
Western leaders live in a special fairyland where they believe they know what is best for China. (more…)
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US arms dealers witness ‘record profits’ from Israel’s year-long genocide in Gaza, war on Lebanon
The US and Israel’s ongoing military escalation across West Asia has helped the aerospace and defence industry outperform expectations. (more…)
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BRICS and the end of the dollar
The upcoming BRICS summit in Kazan on October 22nd to 24th may well accelerate the beginning of the end of the dollar as the world currency. (more…)
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Advancing effective competition
Revelations about supermarket pricing have appropriately focussed attention on the need to enhance competition in concentrated markets. Other markets ranging from technology to beer have evidenced like problems. We suggest that the process will be helped significantly by further amendment of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 to better allow the ACCC to properly pursue these issues. (more…)
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Hong Kong, a unique bridge between East and West
The “one country, two systems” framework is not a hindrance, but rather, a strategic advantage that allows Hong Kong to serve as a bridge between East and West for global professionals, writes Virginia Lee. (more…)
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The Labor Party has lost its way
The Labor Party is a long way from done but at the moment it is mired in mediocrity. We need a Labor Party agenda in which the big issues are confronted, writes Bill Kelty. (more…)
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Interest rates, inflation and unemployment: Are there better ways to manage the economy?
As the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) attempts to keep both inflation and unemployment rates low, it faces a tricky challenge. But are there better ways of managing demand in the economy? (more…)
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Beijing’s big policy shift signals new approach to state-market ties
Much more than a cyclical adjustment, Beijing’s latest policy shift marks a milestone in the history of its economic management. (more…)
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Will the iron ore bonanza be repeated with “green” steel?
Iron ore has underpinned Australia’s prosperity. Gas and coal exports are bound to fall as market countries cut their carbon emissions. Can we build our future on “green” steel? (more…)
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Supermarket pirates: The Coles-Woolworths racket
There are few economies on the planet more concentrated in terms of vital services and markets than Australia. The players and actors are few and far between, be they in banking, insurance, supermarkets, the media or the aviation market. (more…)