MARGINQUARTERLY MAGAZINE the New Man at Treasury

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

MARGINQUARTERLY MAGAZINE the New Man at Treasury ANU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS MARGINQUARTERLY MAGAZINE The new man at Treasury ANU hosts High flyers - celebrating ISSUE 4 ACE 2011 our top students Winter 2011 ANU COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS from the Dean’s desk Cover image: Martin Parkinson photographed by Belinda Pratten MARGINQUARTERLY MAGAZINE In addition, the College cemented its reputation as a ON THE COVER centre of research excellence when six of our researchers Margin is published quarterly by received Australian Research Council funding to undertake the Marketing and Development The rise of an accidental policy adviser 18 research into significant topics as diverse as higher Office, ANU College of Business and Treasury Secretary Martin Parkinson on what education funding mechanisms; private and public sector Economics. makes a good policy adviser adoption of standard business reporting; and human resources management in an advanced economy from a Editor-in-Chief: Stephen Green Chinese multinational perspective. FEATURES Sub-editors: Hayley McNeel College staff once again featured prominently in the High flyers 10 Janelle Entwistle ANU Top Supervisor Awards this year. In all, 11 CBE scholars The College celebrates its top performing students at the were recognised in the 2011 awards as having provided annual Prizes and Scholarships Ceremony outstanding quality supervision and support to our research T: 02 6125 6726 students. F: 02 6125 0744 ACE 2011 14 June saw the first ANU College of Business and E: [email protected] We preview the 40th Australian Conference of Economists, hosted Economics Alumni function in Bangkok, Thailand. With by the ANU College of Business and Economics for the first time Welcome to the winter 2011 issue of Margin. W: www.cbe.anu.edu.au/margin over 70 alumni and guests in attendance and so much It is my great pleasure to address you for the first time enthusiasm and excitement on the night, it is sure to be the Movers and Shakers 22 as the Dean of the ANU College of Business and Economics. first of many events to be held in Bangkok. My thanks go to Mail: Margin ANU economists and the academic reforms of the ‘80s and ‘90s As you will be aware, the College is an extraordinary Insight Education Consulting and the ANU Alumni Office for combination of exceptional academics and talented Marketing and Development Office helping to make the occasion so memorable. Working with business 24 students across the full spectrum of business and economics ANU College of Business and The Integrated Business Projects course within ANU’s Also in June, the College hosted a networking event disciplines. Recognising the outstanding competition from Economics for the Postgraduate and Research Students’ Association MBA program within and outside Australia, I am nonetheless looking Australian National University (PARSA). This proved to be a great success, allowing staff forward to the College being, and being recognised as, the What makes a good teacher? 26 and students to meet outside the classroom context, and Canberra ACT 0200 leading business school in our region. This will be based Education Innovation Manager Deborah Veness on how ANU to share the pleasure and pain of recent exams! We are upon the excellence of our research and education. is helping academics in their teaching responsibilities proud to support PARSA and look forward to hosting similar Design: Stephen Green Excellence in research and education attracts high events in future. quality students and in May the College recognised the Production: ANU Print Services Economics of happiness 28 Meantime, I look forward to sharing many more of our excellence of our students when we held our prestigious Alternative measures of collective prosperity successes with you in future editions of Margin. annual Scholarships and Prizes Ceremony. This ceremony Views expressed in Margin are not celebrated the achievements of our highest-performing necessarily the views of the Australian REGULARS students at all levels, with 106 of our students receiving National University. recognition for their outstanding academic efforts. News 4 May also heralded the beginning of an important and ANU becomes a CFA partner prestigious partnership with the CFA Institute when the ISSUE 4 Australian Research Council Grants College received accreditation for the Corporate Finance WINTER 2011 CBE alumnus appointed Chief of Navy and Investment Management major within the Bachelor Top Supervisor awards of Finance degree. The CFA Institute partnership offers Next issue published October 2011 Alumni in Thailand unique benefits to finance graduates, including professional The CBE Student Apprentice Challenge recognition and ongoing development opportunities. We Professor Jayne Godfrey ANU CRICOS Provider number: 00120C Erin Pugh, on stage and on song are very pleased to begin what we trust will be a long and Dean and Director fruitful partnership. ANU College of Business and Economics Recent publications 29 2 | MARGIN | Winter 2011 MARGIN | Winter 2011 | 3 NEWS NEWS ARC Linkage grant successes Academics from the ANU College of Business and in Australia on a project looking at the development of Economics feature prominently in the latest round of Standard Business Reporting in Australia. Standard Business Australian Research Council Linkage Grant proposals to be Reporting is a government response to the business ANU becomes CFA Program Partner approved. Of the 11 projects administered by ANU to receive regulatory burden and streamlines business to government funding, two feature staff from the College. In addition, reporting, but involves some cost to business in its initial that they will provide students with excellent preparation Professor George Chen of the School of Management, uptake. The researchers will examine the adoption decisions both for a career in the investment profession, and to go Marketing and International Business is part of the project made and their consequences for business entities choosing on and complete the CFA Program. The CFA Institute makes team for a successful proposal administered by Monash to use this voluntary reporting channel. available a range of information to their partners, including University. In total six CBE academics are involved in the Professor Chen will be working with colleagues from CFA curriculum materials, examination samples, daily successful projects. Monash University, in a project investigating human investment briefings, and complimentary magazines. They resource management practices in the resources sector in also make available a number of student scholarships. Australia and China. The outcomes of the project, entitled The agreement was formally signed at a ceremony at Managing human resources in an advanced economy from the ANU College of Business and Economics on 27 May. the perspective of emerging Chinese multinationals: the case Representing ANU were Dean of the College, Professor Jayne of NWII in Australia, will provide important theoretical and Godfrey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Cram, operational insights into Chinese foreign direct investment and Professor Terry O’Neill, Head of the School of Finance, for stakeholders such as the Australian government, From left to right: Professor Doug Foster, Professor Terry O’Neill, Professor Actuarial Studies and Applied Statistics, as well as staff and community, employees and their representatives. Jayne Godfrey, Dean of the ANU College of Business and Economics, Mr students of the College. Speaking on behalf of the College, Ashvin Vibhakar, Managing Director of Asia Pacific Operations for CFA , Ms Brinda Gunasingham, President of CFA Society of Sydney, and Professor Professor Godfrey said, ”it is important to us that our Lawrence Cram, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of ANU at the signing ceremony. students are given every possible opportunity , both during their studies and after they graduate. Partnerships with key The Australian National University has been officially industry bodies such as the CFA Institute play an important Dr Tiim Higgins (L) and Dr Mathias Sinning (R) will investigate the extended use of income contingent loans for student support named as a CFA Program Partner for the Bachelor of Finance role in ensuring that our graduates are identified as among program with a major in Corporate Finance and Investment the most talented available, and that they have access to Dr Tim Higgins of the School of Finance, Actuarial Management. professional development opportunities throughout their Studies and Applied Statistics, and Dr Mathias Sinning The CFA (Chartered Financial Analysts) Institute is a careers.” of the Research School of Economics have teamed up global not-for-profit association of investment professionals In response, Mr Ashvin Vibhakar, Manager of Asia- with Professor Bruce Chapman, Professor Glenn Withers that seeks to lead the investment profession by setting the Pacific operations for the CFA, paid tribute to the hard and Kiatanantha Lounkaew, in a project examining the highest standards in ethics, education and professional work of Professors Terry O’Neill and Doug Foster in enabling possibilities of expanding the use of income contingent loans excellence. It has over 100,000 members worldwide. Central the partnership agreement to come to pass. He went on (ICLs) in higher education funding, both in Australia and to its aims is the CFA Program, a graduate level curriculum to explain how the Program Partner initiative came into overseas. The researchers will employ the latest
Recommended publications
  • Additional Estimates 2010-11
    Dinner on the occasion of the First Meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Kirribilli House, Kirribilli, Sydney Sunday, 19 October 2008 Host Mr Francois Heisbourg The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP Commissioner (France) Prime Minister Chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Geneva Centre for Official Party Security Policy, Special Adviser at the The Honourable Gareth Evans AO QC Foundation pour la Recherche Strategique Co-Chair International Commission on Nuclear Non- General (Ret'd) Jehangir Karamat proliferation and Disarmament Commissioner (Pakistan) and President of the International Crisis Director, Spearhead Research Group Mrs Nilofar Karamat Ms Yoriko Kawaguchi General ((Ret'd) Klaus Naumann Co-Chair Commissioner (Germany) International Commission on Nuclear Non- Member of the International Advisory Board proliferation and Disarmament and member of the World Security Network Foundation of the House of Councillors and Chair of the Liberal Democratic Party Research Dr William Perry Commission on the Environment Commissioner (United States) Professor of Stanford University School of Mr Ali Alatas Engineering and Institute of International Commissioner (Indonesia) Studies Adviser and Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia Ambassador Wang Yingfan Mrs Junisa Alatas Commissioner (China) Formerly China's Vice Foreign Minister Dr Alexei Arbatov (1995-2000), China's Ambassador and Commissioner (Russia) Permanent Representative to the United Scholar-in-residence
    [Show full text]
  • Federation of the Future Agenda
    Federation of the Future NSW Review of Federal Financial Relations 17 February 2020 1. Welcome to Country (9.00am – 9.10am) 2. NSW Treasurer’s Welcome (9.10am - 9.30am) - The challenges before us 3. Why now is the time for transformation (9.30am - 10.30am) - NSW Federal Financial Relations Review Panel: David Thodey AO, the Rt Hon Sir Bill English KNZM, the Hon John Anderson AO, Jane Halton AO PSM, Professor John Freebairn AO and Professor Anne Twomey Morning tea break (10.30am – 11.00am) 4. How the states and the Commonwealth can work together to solve today’s federation challenges (11.00am - 12.00pm) - The Hon Jay Weatherill, Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, Dr Cassandra Goldie, Paul McClintock AO Lunch break (12.00pm - 12.45pm) 5. Funding the future – reform priorities and practical pathways (12.45pm - 1.45pm) - Dr Ken Henry AC, Helen Silver AO, Blair Comley PSM 6. Doing things differently – practical issues and options for reform How can we do better than transfer duty? (1.45pm - 2.45pm) Transfer duties are widely considered to have large costs on society, but for state governments what are the feasible alternatives and practical pathways to get there? Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute, Belinda Ngo, Property Council of Australia, Professor John Freebairn AO , Belinda Ngo, Future State: Rethinking how we move and build for our citizens (2.45pm – 3.45pm) How can we keep our citizens moving while ensuring road use costs (like maintenance, congestion, and pollution) are priced sustainably? What are the best avenues for the federation to support nation building infrastructure? Romilly Madew AO, Infrastructure Australia, Gabriel Metcalf, Committee for Sydney, Adrian Dwyer, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia Afternoon tea (3.45pm – 4.00pm) Reform of Federation is possible - the international experience (4.00pm – 4.45pm) Panel discussion on how the Australian Federation compares against international peers and the opportunities and learnings from the international experience with reform.
    [Show full text]
  • After COVID-19: Creating the Best of Times from the Worst of Times
    After COVID-19: Creating the Best of Times from the Worst of Times Thursday 5th November, 2020 Government House, Sydney One hundred years after the 1918 Spanish flu claimed more than 50 million lives, pandemics remain on the list of major global risks. They are difficult to predict and invariably alter the course of history in ways we cannot foresee. The impact of this year’s COVID-19 pandemic spread quickly well beyond the people it infected, creating massive shifts across society and all sectors of the economy. The pandemic has exposed the social and economic vulnerabilities of today’s highly leveraged and interconnected world. It has also compounded prevailing existential risks for Australia, including the impact of climate change, a decade of household income stagnation, and an erosion of critically important political institutions that underpin national prosperity and our free, open, democratic society. The Royal Society of New South Wales will again join with the four Learned Academies of Australia to stage our annual Forum in Government House, Sydney, on 5th November under the gracious Vice Regal Patronage of Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of New South Wales.The Forum will examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has become a wake-up call for all of us to drive a wide-ranging, national program that will create a more resilient, self-sufficient and prosperous Australia. Transformations achieved already during the pandemic include escalations of telemedicine, automation, and digital commerce and communications, to name but a few. These show us what is possible when the wrecking-ball of a virus exacts its human and economic toll.
    [Show full text]
  • A Freedom of Information Request Seeking the 2013 Treasury Incoming Government Brief Documents
    PROTECTED SENSITIVE INCOMING GOVERNMENT BRIEF 2013 THE TREASURY PORTFOLIO & TREASURY SUPPORT SERVICES CONTENTS Ministerial Office Setup 02 Ministerial Office Staff 03 Part A: Creation of a Ministerial Office 05 Part B: Detailed List of CSSG Services and Contacts 06 IT 06 Property 07 Security 07 Courier 07 Minister’s Website 08 Financial Services 08 Business Cards 08 Part C: Treasury Portfolio Boards and Upcoming Appointments 09 Part D: Treasury Management Contacts 15 Part E: Treasury SES Biographies 17 22 22 22 Ministerial Office Setup Corporate Strategy and Services Group (CSSG) will work closely with you in the creation of your ministerial office and any associated arrangements. CSSG are responsible for a wide range of processes and services to assist the creation of a ministerial office. This includes the key services for: • provision and support for IT equipment (computers, laptops/iPads, phones, printers) and office equipment including secure storage — both APH and remote offices; • assistance in logistical arrangements including the setup of the office workflows for parliamentary processes, security clearances for Treasury staff seconded to ministerial offices; • organising Departmental Liaison Officers from Treasury and other staff for advisor roles if required; • setting up office budget arrangements for portfolio business and fleet vehicle services; • creation of media monitoring arrangements, ministerial websites, business cards, office stationery and courier services; and • assisting you with any other requirements you have
    [Show full text]
  • Rory Robertson Calls for Bans on Sugary Softdrinks, Fruit Juices, Flavoured Milks and Other Sugary Drinks in All Schools in Australia and Globally (Who? What? Why?) 1
    Happy National Diabetes Week (Australia), 14–20 July 2013 MEDIA RELEASE 18 July 2013 Rory Robertson calls for bans on sugary softdrinks, fruit juices, flavoured milks and other sugary drinks in all schools in Australia and globally (Who? What? Why?) 1. The proposed bans x Rory Robertson (RR) - an "economist and former fattie" (see 4. Background, below) – today called on the principals of all schools in Australia and the heads of all schools globally to remove all (remaining) sugary softdrinks, fruit juices, flavoured milks and other sugary drinks from their canteens/tuckshops and vending machines. Sugary drinks matter because they are the largest source of unhealthy sugar in our modern diets. The proposed ban is designed to reduce sugar consumption, probably the single-biggest driver of the disturbing global trends towards obesity and type 2 diabetes, together the greatest public health-challenge of our times (see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2963518/ and Resources, below). x A wise dietitian of note once wrote: “Sugar may taste nice but there is no nutritional reason why anyone should eat it”. Or drink it! Importantly, RR views the proposed ban on sugary drinks in schools as having great potential to provide a major fillip to Indigenous health in Australia and elsewhere, given that outsized rates of sugar consumption – alongside alcohol and tobacco – are a major driver of the unacceptable “gap” in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians: (bottom row of Box 2/Table 2 and “Comments”) https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2013/198/7/characteristics-
    [Show full text]
  • Reflections on Australia's Era of Economic Reform
    Reflections on Australia’s era of economic reform* Address to the European Australian Business Council Dr Martin Parkinson PSM, Secretary to the Treasury 5 December 2014, Sydney * I would like to express my appreciation to Jason Allford, Bryn Battersby, Luke Willard, Jenny Wilkinson, Christiane Gerblinger and Marty Robinson for their assistance in preparing these remarks. Due to time constraints, a summary version of this speech was delivered to the EABC. It’s yet again a huge pleasure to be with the European Australian Business Council. I have spoken here on a number of occasions and have always enjoyed these engagements. Perhaps unsurprisingly, today I’m in the frame of mind to reflect a little on the some of the major economic reforms that have happened over the course of my career, and how they have affected the Australian economy. So, as they say in the classics, let’s start in the beginning. I first joined the Treasury more than three decades ago. For me, it was a temporary stop on the path to becoming an academic. Working for the public service was a means of gaining some experience — and some cash — before going on to do further studies. If you had told me in 1981 that I would stay on long enough to be able to speak to you tonight as Treasury Secretary, then I would have been shocked. I dare say John Stone, the Secretary at the time, would have been shocked as well! Of course, I have managed in those 30-something years to get out of the Treasury building and do a few other things.
    [Show full text]
  • New Books January – June 2021 Our Team
    The discussion starts here NEW BOOKS JANUARY – JUNE 2021 OUR TEAM Greg Bain, Acting Director [email protected] Sarah Cannon, Senior Marketing Coordinator [email protected] New and forthcoming books 2 Joanne Mullins, Coordinator [email protected] Award winners and shortlisters 22 Les Thomas, Designer Recent highlights 24 [email protected] Sam van der Plank, Publishing Officer Backlist 25 [email protected] How to order and distributors 37 About our eBooks and open access books 37 Monash University Publishing Monash University Level 2, Matheson Library Annexe 44 Exhibition Walk, Clayton Campus Wellington Road Clayton VIC 3168, Australia +6 13 9905 0590 [email protected] www.publishing.monash.edu Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn CONTENTS New and forthcoming books 2 Award winners and shortlisters 22 Recent highlights 24 Backlist 25 How to order and distributors 37 About our eBooks and open access books 37 NEW AND FORTHCOMING BOOKS EVE LANGLEY AND THE PEA PICKERS By Helen Vines ‘Eve Langley’s strange story, its secrets and silences, has baffled many literary sleuths’ Brenda Niall ‘Such skilful literary detective work into one of Australia’s most astonishing and misunderstood writers’ Cathy Perkins Autobiography or fiction? This question has shadowed the work of enigmatic Australian author Eve Langley since her first novel, The Pea Pickers, was published in 1942. Almost immediately after, Eve was committed to a mental asylum in Auckland where she remained for more than seven years, separated from her three RRP: AUD/US $34.95 | May 2021 young children. Hailed as a tour de force, The Pea ISBN (paperback): 9781922464392 Pickers was based on Eve’s real-life experiences in the 1920s and tells the story of two feisty sisters who wander the Australian countryside dressed as men magazine and she co-authored seeking work and adventure.
    [Show full text]
  • Australia's Economy in an International Context Vol. 1
    Welcome to the electronic edition of Australia’s Economy in its International Context: The Joseph Fisher Lectures, Volume I: 1904 - 1954. The book opens with the bookmark panel and you will see the contents page. Click on this anytime to return to the contents. You can also add your own bookmarks. Each chapter heading in the contents table is clickable and will take you direct to the chapter. Return using the contents link in the bookmarks. The whole document is fully searchable. Enjoy. Australia’s Economy in its International Context Cover photos published with kind permission of Peter Morris/Courtesy of Fairfaxphotos.com, Nicholas Gruen, ANU ePress, Butlin Archives ANU, The University of Melbourne Archives, World Bank, wikicommons. L-R: Robert Menzies, Heinz Arndt, John Crawford, Fred Gruen, Anne Krueger, Paul Krugman. Australia’s Economy in its International Context Volume I: 1904 - 1954 Edited by Kym Anderson Published in Adelaide by University of Adelaide Press Level 1, 254 North Terrace The University of Adelaide South Australia 5005 [email protected] www.adelaide.edu.au/press The University of Adelaide Press publishes externally refereed scholarly books by staff of the University of Adelaide. It aims to maximise the accessibility to its best research by publishing works through the internet as free downloads and as high quality printed volumes on demand. Electronic Index: this book is available from the website as a downloadable PDF with fully searchable text. Please use the electronic version to complement the index. Originally published April 2001 by the Centre for International Economic Studies, University of Adelaide.
    [Show full text]
  • Martin Parkinson Psm
    DR MARTIN PARKINSON PSM Martin Parkinson is internationally renowned as one of Australia’s best known economists and policy thinkers. Martin has a global reputation as an innovative leader who challenges conventional thinking, linking economic, political and strategic perspectives to identify the opportunities and challenges that need to be navigated by nations, industries and individual organisations. Dr Martin Parkinson served as Australia’s Secretary to the Treasury from March 2011 to December 2014. Prior to this, Martin served as inaugural Secretary of the Department of Climate Change from its establishment in December 2007. The Secretary to the Treasury is the Australian Government's chief adviser on all areas of economic policy. As such, Martin led a team of around 1000 staff with direct responsibility for macro-economic analysis, design and implementation of budget and fiscal policy, taxation policy and legislative design, commonwealth-state financial relations, and microeconomic and structural issues including regulatory frameworks for the financial sector, capital markets, corporate and consumer law, and foreign investment. Martin also oversaw the direction and implementation of Australia's multilateral and bilateral economic diplomacy through Treasury's six international offices and Australia's representatives at the IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, OECD and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In 2014 he was heavily involved with the Finance track of Australia’s presidency of the G-20, and worked closely with business leaders on the B20. As Treasury Secretary of one of the world’s 20 largest economies, Martin was a key contributor to decisions around a national budget of over $400 billion, an annual Treasury Department budget in excess of $170 million, the management of payments on behalf of the Government of more than $100 billion annually, and for the operation of Australia’s $300 billion sovereign debt portfolio.
    [Show full text]
  • Choice, Responsibility, Justice: Work and Family in Australia Mary Leahy
    Choice, responsibility, justice: Work and family in Australia Mary Leahy BA (Hons) (Melb.); Grad. Dip. (Asian Studies) (Monash) Centre for Strategic Economic Studies, Faculty of Business and Law, Victoria University Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy March 2012 Abstract We all start life needy, dependent on adults for our survival. Many of us will rely on the care of others during the final stages of our lives. Between these two periods we may draw on intensive support to help us cope with illness, disability or tragedy. Our dependence is a core characteristic of our humanity, yet it is ignored or denied by dominant political and economic theories. In Australia, as in every other country, it is mostly women who provide the care of children as well as people who are sick, disabled or aged. Although there are often intrinsic rewards, unpaid care work is time consuming and limits the carer's ability to engage in other types of activities, including paid employment. The majority of employed carers are women, with their work attracting low levels of pay. Characterised by an uneven distribution of both care work and resources, the dynamics of work and family life in Australia raise important questions of justice. While the Australian work and family literature is rich in detail, it tends to be under theorised. My research helps fill this gap, providing theoretical depth and greater conceptual clarity to an ongoing and often heated public debate. Using philosophical inquiry I examine the nature of the problem of care, the way it is framed and the implications for social policy.
    [Show full text]
  • I Thesis Declaration I Certify That This Work Contains No Material Which
    Thesis declaration I certify that this work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in my name, in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. In addition, I certify that no part of this work will, in the future, be used in a submission in my name, for any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution without the prior approval of the University of Adelaide and where applicable, any partner institution responsible for the joint-award of this degree. I acknowledge that copyright of published works contained within this thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of those works. I also give permission for the digital version of my thesis to be made available on the web, via the University’s digital research repository, the Library Search and also through web search engines, unless permission has been granted by the University to restrict access for a period of time. I acknowledge the support I have received for my research through the provision of an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. 25 May 2020 i Hear the Lion Roar Trade unionism at General Motors-Holden’s in South Australia, 1930-1980. David Justin Chadwick University of Adelaide 25 May 2020 ii Acknowledgments I would like to sincerely thank my supervisor, Associate Professor Vesna Drapac, for all her contribution and invaluable insight throughout this project.
    [Show full text]
  • Trade Liberalisation and the ALP V5
    Under Revise and Resubmit for the Australian Journal of Politics and History Trade Liberalisation and the Australian Labor Party Andrew Leigh* PhD Student, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University Former Senior Adviser to Senator Peter Cook, Shadow Minister for Trade Abstract The three most substantial decisions to reduce Australia’s trade barriers – in 1973, 1988 and 1991 – were made by Labor Governments. Labor’s policy shift preceded the conversion of social democratic parties in other countries to trade liberalisation. To understand why this was so, it is necessary to consider trade policy as being shaped by more than interest groups and political institutions. Drawing on interviews with the main political figures, including Gough Whit lam, Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and John Button, this article explores why the intellectual arguments for free trade had such a powerful impact on Labor’s leadership, and how those leaders managed to implement major tariff cuts, while largely maintaining party unity. * * * * * * * * * [T]he ideas of economists and political philosophers, both when they are right and when they are wrong, are more powerful than is commonly understood. Indeed the world is ruled by little else. John Maynard Keynes1 Labor and Free Trade In the space of a generation, Australia’s tariff walls have been dismantled. From 1970 to 2001, the average level of industry assistance fell from over 30 percent to under 5 percent.2 Yet in retrospect, what was perhaps most surprising was not that the era of protectionism came to an end – after all, this was a period in which tariffs were reduced across much of the developed world – but that in Australia, it was Labor Governments that took the lead in cutting industry protection.
    [Show full text]