Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has delivered a speech on the economy to The Sydney Institute.
Whilst containing no new policy initiatives, the speech attempts to broaden Abbott’s campaign against the government into the prevailing discussion about China and the economic crisis in Europe.
Abbott reiterated his proposals for budget cuts, improved economic growth, productivity reform and workforce participation.
AUDIO of the speech will be posted here once it becomes available.
Official transcript of Tony Abbott’s speech to The Sydney Institute.
Almost 50 years ago, an influential book described Australia as the “lucky country”.
Author Donald Horne meant that we’d relied on our luck rather than on our insights or on our hard work to get where we are but the irony was largely missed.
As if to prove his point, the tag passed into popular use and ever since has helped to reinforce the complacent expectation that something would always turn up to keep us safe and prosperous.
There is a complacent assumption from people who should know better that Australia is largely immune to the economic turmoil threatening Europe because China’s growth guarantees our future prosperity.
There’s no doubt that the China boom has sustained Australia’s economic success over the past decade.
There should equally be no doubt that the boom will one day end. Otherwise, it would be the first never-ending boom in human history. [Read more...]
The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has outlined her “vision for the nation”, an economic future beyond the mining boom that positions Australia as a flexible market economy, highly skilled, high-tech, and low-pollution.
Thanks very much for having me and for that kind introduction.
