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The best Government is that which governs least

By Peter Coulson - posted Wednesday, 9 March 2011


From economic reforms such as Industrial Relation, the GST and scrapping multiple inefficient taxes, trade relations,centralised companies regulation and income tax reform; right through the competent day-to-day management of economic affairs through the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and other international crises such as 9/11, the Howard Government sets the benchmark for competent economic management and it is against that legacy that the Rudd/ Gillard Governments should be measured.

The Howard Government contrast provides this criticism of the Gillard Government, namely that the central focus on economic affairs is being weakened as cabinet discussions, Prime Ministerial attention and parliamentary observation is squandered on pet issues of a party that regularly struggles to attract the support of more than 10% of the national electorate.

By weakening the focus and resolve of the government, over time, the Gillard Government will continue to drop the ball on the day-to-day economic management of the country's affairs. Already we have seen open warfare between members of the Reserve Bank and the Treasurer, guarded disagreement between the Treasury Secretary and the Treasurer and serious disruption between the Labor Backbench and its leadership. All of these events points to a PM and her cabinet that have lost their central focus (if they ever had it) and are pursuing legion subsidiary issues at the expense of the central issue of economic management.

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In that way, the lack of focus on economic management will make Australia a weaker society, and therefore poorer.

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About the Author

Pete Coulson is a Brisbane-based student of economics at Griffith University. He is a keen observer of Queensland politics and shares his thoughts at Queensland Politics.

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