There’s plenty of blame to go around for the death of the economic reform project. But was popular resentment of its impacts the ultimate killer?
Privatisation
Save Greece, sell off its assets
The IMF was mad to bailout Greece, because it simply delays default and puts Greece in more debt. Much of Greek industry is nationalised, so open the economy to the private sector and watch it grow, says Allan Meltzer.
Why is Bligh so private?
It was politically irrational and not economically explainable why Anna Bligh would privatise major public assets like Queensland Rail. So why do it? What purpose does a state government have? asks Mark Bahnisch.
Possum: Rudd faces privatisation blight in Queensland
Will a backlash against Anna Bligh threaten to spill across into the federal election arena later this year?
Economists unite against Anna Bligh
A who’s-who of Australian economists, from all across the ideological spectrum, have sent an open letter to the Bligh government, criticising its proposed asset sales as “economically unsound” and “based on spurious claims”.
Anna Bligh: Why I’ve sold off QLD’s assets
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh explains her decision to sell off five government owned commercial businesses, major state assets. The GFC blew QLD’s budget and it was either selling assets or raising your taxes, she says.
Dead Letter Office: Australia Post’s life beyond mail
Australia Post, and its traditional postal service model, is under threat from the National Broadband Network. What should it do to remain relevant and profitable?
Melbourne bids a fond farewell to Connex
The Victorian Government’s decision to dump both Connex and Yarra Trams comes as something of a surprise. Letting Connex go was the only available course of action, but Yarra Trams’ grip on the more popular tram system was publicly considered to be far more secure.
Bligh butchers privatisation defence
So Queensland used to own 90 butcher shops — is that really a defence of privatisatising state assets today?
Queensland privatisations: good, bad and very ugly
I’ve been opining on the Queensland government’s asset sales programs. With a whole day to reflect on a $7 billion program here are my provisional views on the best and worst of it…
Splitting hairs to flog off NSW’s prisons
By accepting the NSW Corrective Services portfolio, former NSW Unions secretary John Robertson has taken a poisoned chalice, writes Alex Mitchell.
