The Australian government needs to stand up against growing global protectionism and make some hard budgetary choices between guns and butter, defence and welfare, and the need to reform taxes if it is to avoid taking on too much at once in a world economy characterised by uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, and in an Australian economy treading a bumpy and narrow path balancing fiscal and monetary policy.

Michael Lester in discussion with Percy Allan AM, former Treasury NSW secretary, currently visiting professor, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney UTS).

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