Kinda tripping on former PM Paul Keating for the moment, here are a few historical quotes: On the dismantling of protectionist tariff system for Australian industry: ‘The package or measures announced today ends forever Australia’s sorry association with tariffs as a device for industrial development. It puts an end to the high tariff culture, which did so much to diminish Australia’s potential in the post-war period’ – March 1991.
On introducing pay for higher education (HECS) scheme: ‘There is no such thing of course as a “free” education – somebody has to pay’ – 1995. ‘Under Labor, wealth will never determine one’s chance to get a decent education’ – 1993.
On redirecting policy on housing away from government-built social housing to subsidising the private rental market: ‘Keating and his Housing Minister, Brian Howe, have turned 45 years of federal policy on its head with their plan to switch from funding public housing construction to subsidising rents of low-income earners… a private sector, market-driven, taxpayer-funded model that will see Canberra direct the $1.4 billion that it already pays in social security rental assistance each year, and much of the $1.5 billion it distributes to the states for building public housing, into rental subsidies’ – Australian Financial Review 1995.
On the removal of royalties on the exploitation of non-renewable Australian Resources: ‘Paul Keating’s early vision was to eliminate state-based mineral production royalties entirely, substituting them with a streamlined, nationwide profit-based resource rent tax (RRT). Keating asserted that removing royalties in favour of an RRT would guarantee ‘that the community receives an adequate financial return from the exploitation of its mineral resources’ – The West Australian in the 1980s.
Do I hear the unintended consequences of a cavalier Aussie spirit? Treasurer Jim Chalmers – move on!
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