Author Archives: John Kerin

John Kerin

About John Kerin

John Kerin AO has been engaged in four working lives and was a politician and Minister in five portfolios in the Hawke and Keating Governments, including over eight years in Primary Industry.

Our challenges in dealing with China

By John Kerin | On 23 September 2020

America was built on the Bible, the gun and slavery.Our interests in dealing with China are not the same as America’s interests. We have differences with China, but we must handle them in our own way rather than joining Trump’s … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Politics | 3 Comments

What can the ALP possibly do? Part 2

By John Kerin | On 18 September 2020

I do not think it is impossible for the ALP or whoever to mount sound policies that show that there is an alternative way to the path we are on, but the movement as a whole needs to articulate them … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 13 Comments

What can possibly be done with our political and policy malaise.Part 1.

By John Kerin | On 17 September 2020

Two new books are available or soon will be; (“How to Win an Election” by Chris Wallace and “What is to be Done?” by Barry Jones). Both focus on the state of the nation and the state of the ALP.

Posted in Reviews | 8 Comments

JOHN KERIN: Reform and the ALP

By John Kerin | On 15 January 2020

Australia’s oldest political Party, the ALP, is becoming ossified in its structure and totally resistant to reform. It also has many other challenges in representing today’s Australia as a progressive party.

Posted in Politics | 10 Comments

JOHN KERIN: The Latest Commonwealth Government Drought Package.

By John Kerin | On 11 November 2019

The latest ad hoc response to the current drought cannot be criticised in terms of the politics of the situation we are now in. If it rains in, say, by March, or in the first six months of 2020, then … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Economy | 1 Comment

JOHN KERIN. Dairy markets and regulation?.

By John Kerin | On 4 November 2019

 The dairy industry has been subject to plenty of government enquiries and more are in train,but is anything going to come of them?

Posted in Economy, Infrastructure | 2 Comments

JOHN KERIN. We have no drought policy.

By John Kerin | On 21 October 2019

The current Coalition response to just another drought is pathetic,short term, divisive and dishonest. All it is doing is managing the drought politically.

Posted in Climate | 5 Comments

JOHN KERIN. Trump’s latest Farm Bill and Implications for Australia’s Farm Exports.

By John Kerin | On 1 July 2019

Trump’s trade policies and reaction to the rebound of them has resulted in another increase of $23b subsidisation on top of the $12b supposedly one-off package last year for US farmers who are ‘collateral damage, as a result of his … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Politics, World Affairs | Leave a comment

JOHN KERIN. Wage compression and its wider implications, economic and political.

By John Kerin | On 1 April 2019

All macro-economic variables relate to one another. The economic growth  rate, monetary and fiscal policy, budgetary policy, business profitability, investment, taxation (and the avoidance and evasion of tax), the wage rate, transfers and trade balance all interact and adapt to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | 1 Comment

JOHN KERIN.  Free Trade (sic), Current ‘Negotiations’ (Part 3)

By John Kerin | On 22 January 2019

The world is agog with the constantly changing state of play between the US and China on trade issues and also the possible outcomes of Brexit. Both have the high probability of affecting our economy.

Posted in Economy, Politics | Leave a comment

JOHN KERIN. ‘Free Trade’ (sic), Theory and Experience (Part 2)

By John Kerin | On 21 January 2019

As with most economic theories about the optimal way to proceed, there is a difference between theory and results. For example, do company tax cuts necessarily mean that companies will invest in new production? If demand is suppressed will they … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | Leave a comment

JOHN KERIN. ‘Free Trade’ (sic), Some Fundamentals (Part 1).

By John Kerin | On 18 January 2019

Australian trade policy has dramatically changed over the last fifty years. What we now face is nothing like the situation we have been used to. The general public has little idea of the complexity and importance of trade negotiations, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | 3 Comments

JOHN KERIN. Australian soils.

By John Kerin | On 4 December 2018

We live in the driest occupied continent. Most of our soils are old and fragile. Rain is variable in our most arable areas and our precipitation to evaporation ratio is low. Dust storms and soil exposure caused by unprecedented, catastrophic … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments

JOHN KERIN.   Trump Economics.

By John Kerin | On 16 November 2018

Not being aware of what is being written in economic journals by the profession I find it difficult to understand why more of our commentating economists and academic economists are not publicly calling out Trump’s economic policies. Are we to believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy | 3 Comments

JOHN KERIN. Phasing out the Live Sheep Trade.

By John Kerin | On 14 November 2018

It is now nearly 60 years since the accelerated live sheep trade commenced from Australia to the Middle East. Early opposition to the trade came from the meatworkers union (AMIEU) in the 1970s, but has increasingly come from animal welfare … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure | Leave a comment

JOHN KERIN. Droughts and Drought Policy

By John Kerin | On 27 October 2018

Drought policy has always been marked by the near impossibility to satisfactorily match efficiency, preparedness, risk management and resource base (environmental) management with welfare measures once large areas of the continent are declared to be in drought by State Government … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate, Politics | 4 Comments