Writer
Michael Keating
Michael Keating is a former Secretary of the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Finance and Employment, and Industrial Relations. He is presently a visiting fellow at the Australian National University.
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Why this election campaign is so disappointing
Proposals for policy reforms in this country are most often hamstrung by the lack of government revenue required to implement them. Unless this impediment is overcome, many very worthwhile proposals for reform will continue to be ignored. Continue reading »
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Wages and the cost of living
An increase in the wages of the lowest paid employees, so that they can keep pace with the cost of living, is unlikely to lead to higher unemployment. Instead, it may well help improve overall economic outcomes. Continue reading »
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Government Integrity and an ICAC
There is a legislated process prescribing how government grants should be administered, but it clearly is not being followed and we need an integrity commission to enforce it. Continue reading »
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The Coalition is guaranteeing essential services and lower tax. We can’t have both
In the midst of Labor’s campaign about the cost of living, the Coalition has zeroed in on one of those costs – taxes – and guaranteed to stop them rising. Continue reading »
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The funding of essential services
The key purpose of a government’s budget is to propose the spending on essential government services and how that spending will be financed. Judged by this standard, the latest Budget is completely inadequate and belies the claims of the Morrison Government to be competent economic managers. Continue reading »
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How competent is Scott Morrison as a manager of government business?
Scott Morrison wants the election to be about competence, but an examination of his record suggests that he is not capable of delivering good government. Continue reading »
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The deterioration in housing affordability and its impact on living standards
The huge increase in dwelling prices was made possible by ultra-low interest rates. Now the prospective rise in interest rates is likely to have a much bigger impact on many borrowers future living standards than previously experienced, and the demand for rental accommodation is also likely to increase faster than in the past. Continue reading »
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Stagnating living standards under Morrison
Living standards have stagnated since the Coalition was elected to government, but in the Budget it is now forecasting an improved performance. How likely is this? Continue reading »
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Whither the Australian federation
In the absence of Commonwealth leadership, our federation is not working well. That comes at a cost to good government, and is impeding service delivery and any future reform agenda. Continue reading »
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The Grattan Institute’s policy priorities – what do they cost?
The Grattan Institute’s proposed policy priorities deserve wide support. However, how to pay for them is not adequately addressed, and their implementation would require the incoming government to raise additional revenue. Continue reading »
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What we can expect from the coming Budget
It is to be feared that the forthcoming budget will be a mixture of spending bribes and unsustainable tax cuts. This is not what is needed to restore economic stability and the provision of essential government services. Continue reading »
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This election needs policies that address cost of living, not just unemployment
Scott Morrison wants us to believe that low unemployment means the economy is fine, but there are other structural economic issues at play too. Continue reading »
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With a tricky Budget challenge coming up, winning an election may be easy part
Whether it likes it or not, the party that wins the election will most likely be forced to raise additional taxation revenue not long afterwards. Continue reading »
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How modern technology could bring democracy to a crossroads
Advances in technology have resulted in employment and wage dislocations that are polarising society and undermining trust in political institutions. Continue reading »
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Morrison government fiddles as the economy stagnates
The government’s economic forecasts are highly questionable and the uncertain budget outlook raises doubts about the future funding of essential services. Continue reading »
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Obsession with secrecy pervades the Morrison government
The Prime Minister and his department’s evasion of Freedom of Information regarding the minutes of the national cabinet should disturb all Australians. Continue reading »
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Increasing wealth inequality: how should the government respond?
Even if flaws in the retirement support system are addressed, there would still be a good case for an inheritance tax on the largest transfers. Continue reading »
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It’s about opportunity: a lesson on capitalism for the party of capitalism
Morrison’s theme that can-do capitalism beats don’t-do government is nonsense. Labor can respond by exalting government’s role, writes Michael Keating. Continue reading »
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The unspoken lesson from the government’s climate modelling
The government’s modelling leaves some legitimate concerns unanswered, but it does suggest a more ambitious emissions reduction target for 2030 is viable. Continue reading »
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How Scotty from Marketing seeks to deceive about climate change
The Morrison government’s proposed response to the threat of climate change tries to reconcile different interests by deceiving them both. Continue reading »
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How Australia could halve carbon emissions by 2030
Australia needs to cut its emissions by 45-50 per cent by 2030. Australia can realise this near-term target and grasp the opportunities that it also presents. Continue reading »
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Why we should halve carbon emissions by 2030
Net zero for carbon emissions in 2050 is meaningless without an ambitious target to halve these emissions in the next decade. In a two-part article, Michael Keating sets out why we need a more dramatic target. Continue reading »
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Wasting away: the Coalition government’s poor management record
So much for superior economic stewardship from the Morrison team. Many services are underfunded while government mismanagement is resulting in a massive waste of money on other programs. Continue reading »
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In defence of Australia’s submarine decision
Swapping the expensive French conventionally powered submarines for nuclear submarines was the right decision, and it does not have to come at a cost to Australia’s independence. Continue reading »
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The quest for small government comes at a cost to good government
The Coalition preaches that small government is best. But the reality is that government is not actually smaller under the Coalition — and what voters really want and need is good government. Continue reading »
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When should the lockdown end?
Suppressing the virus will require much lower caseloads before lockdowns can lift, even if we meet vaccination targets. Continue reading »
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Covid-19 Infections, Vaccinations, Lockdowns, and the Economy
The Morrison Government is desperate to end lockdowns, not least because of what they see as the damage the lockdowns are doing to the economy. Continue reading »
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Scott Morrison is no leader
Unlike the great Prime Ministers, Scott Morrison will not be remembered for his achievements. Instead, he will be judged by his unwillingness to take responsibility and provide the necessary leadership to adequately respond to the principal challenges facing this nation. Continue reading »
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Why Morrison’s culture of secrecy is so damaging
As has been widely observed, Prime Minister Morrison is obsessed with secrecy. This obsession with secrecy damages both the policy capability of government and the integrity of public administration. Continue reading »
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What does Labor offer? Part 2
Part 1 of this article discussed the implications for equity and inequality resulting from Labor’s recanting its previous opposition to the Government’s Stage 3 income tax cuts, as well as dropping its policies to reform the taxation provisions covering capital gains and negative gearing. Part 2 discusses the other major concern; the ability of a Continue reading »
