Writer
Percy Allan
Percy Allan is a public policy economist and a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology, Sydney. Professor Allan is a former Secretary of the NSW Treasury (1985-1994) and a former Chair of the NSW Premier’s Council on the Cost & Quality of Government (1999-2007). He has chaired several public and private sector boards.
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Could a second Trump Presidency leave Australia stranded?
Peter Hartcher’s recent piece on the ramifications of another Trump presidency undermines his usual argument that Australia must join America in confronting China and prepare for war with it. Continue reading »
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Anthony Albanese on China – What next? The Taiwan conflict
The large Chinese diaspora that helped Labor win office in the hope of better relations with China could switch its support to less hawkish Teal candidates likely to contest Labor seats at the next election. Continue reading »
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Anthony Albanese on China – What next on the human rights dilemma?
China is reported as undemocratic, persecuting Tibetan and Uighur minorities, incarcerating Hong Kong separatists, and having border skirmishes. But many other countries fit that label too, yet we court them rather than shun them. A notable example is Myanmar, where Australia refuses to join other Western nations in imposing sanctions on the military junta for Continue reading »
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Anthony Albanese on China – What Next? Who started the trade war?
Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese is perpetuating the myth that China’s action in 2020 to restrict Australian exports was a bolt out of the blue that was uncalled for. Continue reading »
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Big breakthrough in NSW governance
Last week the NSW Legislative Council took a big step to require more evidence and consultation-based government bills. It unanimously agreed that for every government bill (other than a budget bill), the Selection of Bills committee must report whether the bill is accompanied by a Statement of Public Interest that addresses the following questions: Continue reading »
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Winning hearts and minds in the Pacific Islands
Suddenly the Pacific Islands have become a hot election issue. That is because the Solomon Islands agreed to China using its own security guards to safeguard Chinese businesses and projects from attack and looting in the wake of recognising China instead of Taiwan. Continue reading »
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The brutality of Russia’s army in Ukraine is horrifying and unacceptable
Instead of making Russia important and respected Putin has taken on the mantle of Hitler and his ruthless troops are now equated with the Wehrmacht. How long can the West witness the murder of civilians and the destruction of their homes before demanding Russia stop its atrocities or face direct NATO intervention? Continue reading »
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Ukraine’s tragedy and its implications
My observations (and worries) about the escalating war in Europe’s biggest breadbasket and largest country by area (after Russia). Continue reading »
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Not one inch Eastward
Nothing can excuse Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its bombing of residential suburbs and social infrastructure. It is nothing short of a war crime. But how did it come to this? Continue reading »
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Another Biden/Blinken Blunder
Biden and Blinken (an appropriate surname) will now notch up their second humiliating defeat following the US rout in Afghanistan. Continue reading »
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Historical understanding will go a long way towards resolving Ukraine crisis
The US would not accept Russian influence on its borders 60 years ago. The West needs to give Russia the same security as it expects for itself. Continue reading »
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Public policy making is failing in Australia. Here’s how to fix it
Federal and state governments are falling short of basic standards of evidence in legislating policy, according to new independent research. Continue reading »
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Good governance in six logical and easy steps
A statement of public interest should be obligatory for major government decisions. Here’s why. Continue reading »
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After initiating the coercion against China we are now with AUKUS in the front row in a new cold war.
Since we have decided to integrate our navy with America’s and be its ally in confronting China, we should expect to be viewed as an extension of a nuclear superpower and be targeted accordingly. Continue reading »
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How to engage with China
The Chinese government’s overriding goals are unity, stability, security, and prosperity. They arose from its “century of humiliation” (1839-1949) when it underwent invasion, addiction, civil war, and destitution. The Great Leap Forward campaign (1958-62) triggered famine and the Red Guard riots (1966-67) destroyed heritage and education. All post-Mao governments have brutally cracked down on internal Continue reading »
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Australia’s fundamental fiscal dilemma
This was a big pump-priming budget. The maximum deficit as a proportion of GDP is 7.8% which makes the deepest deficits of the Rudd (4.2%) and Whitlam (2.8%) governments look modest. It discards the government’s pre-pandemic commitment to return to surplus. Of the $92 billion of new spending over the next four years, two-thirds is Continue reading »
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China-Australia trade conflict is not all China’s doing
For the past nine months China has blocked some Australian exports, including coal, cotton, lobsters and timber, while also levying anti-dumping duties on Australian wine and barley. Post Covid, it will be hard for Australia to grow quickly without China’s market, capital, people exchange and know-how. Finding a détente is essential. Continue reading »
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Latest Findings on how well our Governments make Policy
For the third year running, independent research undertaken by two philosophically opposed Right and Left think tanks finds that basic standards of evidence and consultation-based policy making are only loosely followed by Australian federal and state governments. Nevertheless, there was an improvement on last year’s results. Continue reading »
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Review: TOAST – the new Australian primer on climate change
Toast describes the huge threat climate change poses to the world and to Australia in particular. It explains why this is so difficult to perceive. It sets out evidence that the climate scientists, not the denialists, are right. Continue reading »
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How to avoid a September cliff edge (AFR 29.6.20)
Bond sales to the Reserve Bank would allow stimulus to continue without busting the budget or raising taxes. Continue reading »
