“Politics has become a vocation once again, ruled by an ethic of responsibility, whereby options need to be carefully calibrated against alternatives, probabilities assessed, decisions made even though the outcome is unclear, and responsibility taken for the result, whatever it may happen to be. “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Politics has been lifted above the banal everyday swamp of networking for influence, career opportunism and public relations.”      Prof. John Carroll (Sociology, La Trobe University) A better future is possible if we can lock in these improved behaviours of our politicians. Is that too much to ask for?

"We must show, not merely in the great crises but in the everyday affairs of life, the qualities of practical intelligence, of courage, of hardihood, and endurance, and above all the power of devotion to a lofty ideal."  "The principles for which we stand are the principles of fair play and a Square Deal for every man and every woman in the United States: a Square Deal politically, a Square Deal in matters social and industrial." THEODORE ROOSEVELT

We are starting to see cooperation fray as politicians move back to re-embrace the varied wishes of their constituencies, their ideologies and the need to garner enough votes to gain and hold power. The nation’s chance of a rational and timely recovery rests on the ability of our elected representatives to keep their egos and political instincts in check and focus on the task at hand. It is up to us all to encourage the right behaviours…as citizens, business people, journalists +

“We truly do have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to recraft the kind of society we want to be and the type of economy we need to achieve it.” “We must be an aspirational society that rewards hard work and puts money in the pockets of ordinary Australians, and an entrepreneurial society where we can keep and attract the best and brightest.” Jennifer Westacott  (The Australian 27/4/20)

As we face the need to reboot our economy and paydown the debt created by the pandemic crisis, there is a once in a lifetime opportunity to re-think and re-focus our taxation structure to give improved incentive to work and make productive investments. We should seek taxation structures that are simple to administer and difficult to avoid.   For too long we have seen people taxed on their work at too high a level relative to the returns given to passive capital (including the family home). All taxes should be put on the table for consideration with no sacred cows.

It is promising to hear the Prime Minister publicly signalling a desire to replace the fraught COAG process with a National C