Economics
(Don’t) Be Your Own Boss
By ‘closing the loopholes’, Labor ultimately seeks to undermine self-employment, casual employment and competition, Libertarians must take note. November 17 2023 The scene is the 2023 HR Nicholls Society conference in North Sydney; the speaker is Ken Phillips; the topic: Federal Labor’s ‘Closing the Loopholes’ bill. Phillips is unassuming, plainly dressed, but he means business. In a conference otherwise dominated by...
FREE! The Kerry Packer Classical Liberal Masterclass
Some thirty plus years ago, a fellow by the name of Kerry Packer appeared before a House of Representatives Inquiry into Print Media. The context of the inquiry was that the owner of the main metropolitan newspapers and classifieds, Fairfax, had gone broke. And with Fairfax having gone broke, Packer was trying to buy into the re-floated business. This was a...
Golden Years?
The combination of an ageing population, lack of children being born and an unquenchable thirst for public spending on ever-expanding social services has the potential to wring the tax-base dry as a chronic demographic distortion unfolds. Although the mainstream media and most of the public are concerned about increasing population levels, an emerging demographic threat concerning the composition of the...
The Shrinking Forest
‘Itch’ (noun) “… an irritating sensation on the skin that makes one want to scratch the affected part”. What may have started as ‘an irritating sensation on the skin’, regrettably has developed into a full-blown cancer affecting the nation’s vital organs. I am talking about authoritarianism. Shortly after World War II, George Orwell published his novel ‘1984’. The story was set in...
Talkin’ About My Generation (Part 1)
In his excellent Liberty Itch post Golden Years last week, Max Payne writes, “By the time today’s young people are finally ready (or allowed) to retire, they may find they face a double challenge. First, their superannuation funds might have been ransacked by previous generations; second, the availability of quality care may be limited due to the challenge of...
Brave New World Wide Web
The reverse correlation between the internet’s growing accessibility and its diminishing freedom can only be arrested by changes in user habits Much has been made of the ACMA ‘misinformation bill’ and its potential impact on free speech online in Australia. But the internet hasn’t been a bastion of free expression for quite some time now, and like always, it ultimately...
Argentina Elected A Libertarian Leader, And It Could Happen Here
But it probably won’t. Argentinians recently voted in Javier Milei to be their President. Milei has good policies, and he will probably be able to implement a good chunk of them. This is not just good for Argentinians, it is good news for us. Having a libertarian doing libertarian things in Argentina will bolster the credibility of libertarian policies and parties in...
Full House?
As Australia grapples with a crisis of housing supply and affordability, the ‘M’ word is rapidly re-entering the lexicon, this time from both the conservatives and progressives. Yet I can’t help but wonder whether and how much Australia’s current levels of migration influences issues such as housing affordability. I believe this is a red herring that has allowed proper...
Free Markets Work Better for Energy
Energy is again front and centre in the news with the debate over the merits of nuclear energy becoming mainstream. But then last week the Prime Minister announced a new scheme to subsidise the manufacture of solar panels in Australia. One wonders whether this is to support industry or just to close down a debating point against solar -...
Wind Power Industry is a Scam
Is the business concept viable? To comprehend the vast folly of the wind power industry, we can ask one logical question: Is the business concept viable? Assessing business viability necessitates a comprehensive review of financial projections, operational feasibility, profitability and return on investment (ROI). Financial analysis demands meticulous examination of startup costs and operational expenses, versus revenue. Operational feasibility assesses practical aspects, evaluating...
