Since Joe Hockey dared General Motors to leave in 2013, a fundamental political change has seen Australia re-embrace protectionism, at a far higher cost than the car industry.
Crikey readers discuss Labor's stance on security agencies, NIMBYism and Australian trade protectionism.
The Productivity Commission warns Australia is continuing its drift into lazy protectionism when it should be standing up for free and rules-based international trade.
The RBA has been watching Trump’s trade war threats for some time. Will his recent comments affect today's decision?
Former union official and Labor senator Doug Cameron once looked like a dinosaur. But the collapse of neoliberalism has shown him to be far more insightful than many of us gave him credit for.
Labor's proposal for a floor price for milk reflects an inability to see that agriculture is an industry like any other.
What makes a protectionist? Willingness to waste money, or true faith in the power of trade barriers?
Australia's foolish protectionism, when accompanied by base political calculation, makes for a policy mess.
While Canberra obsessed over strawberries and bullies, the Reserve Bank was flagging its concerns about the economy. This year, the list of negatives has narrowed.
Labor is waving through legislation that goes against its own policy, and is simultaneously worried about rising trade barriers but also wants to raise our own. Go figure.
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