Policy Spotlight
Part II:Programmable Money
Two years ago the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, Sir John Cunliffe, spoke the most sinister sentence I’d heard in a long while. The menace was unmistakable: “giving your children pocket money but programming the money so that it couldn’t be used for sweets.” This statement was offered in the context of Central Bank Digital Currencies. Let me explain...
It Takes Two To Tango
Australia’s centrally planned economy is failing - intergenerational wealth gaps are widening, economic prospects are waning, and the side effects from the Reserve Bank’s (RBA) medicine are becoming worse than the disease. Inflation is a scourge, insidiously stealing wealth from those least able to protect themselves, and it benefits the least needy. We hear all sorts of explanations as to why...
5 Ways to Maximise Peace in the World
Welcome to Part 1 of my 3-Part series on geopolitics. If you haven’t listened to the Lex Fridman podcast, do. Its long-form interviews with notable guests are fantastic, covering topics ranging from the nature of God to developments in bioengineering, from the essence of motivation to world politics. In Episode #401, Lex interviews University of Chicago international relations scholar, John Mearsheimer. Mutually beneficial...
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...
The Misguided Quest for “Fair Share”
“Grab your torch and pitch-fork” was the rallying cry of the left in the recent debate over stage three tax cuts. And so the mob was led to follow a trail of sprinkled money to the door of high income earners to rob them of tax relief. In the debate over Australia's tax system, the concept of "fair share" has...
Section 51(xxvi). Repeal. Rescind. Delete!
By crikey, I’m a little bothered we’re always at sea politically. The Left is pounding us with wave after relentless policy wave. The Liberal Party has drowned, its body face-down, bobbing and drifting. We libertarians, classical liberals and the otherwise centre-right are in danger of the rip sweeping us to sea. Things are perilous. Just look at the eddies and currents fatiguing...
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...
It’s Not Our Fight. Vote Yes.
I read hundreds of bills when I was advising Senator Leyonhjelm. Some of the bills would significantly alter the size of government or the extent of government interference in the lives of individuals. For these bills, my advice and the Senator’s decisions were aligned and easy to predict. But most bills were not like this. We should consider ourselves lucky that, in...
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 -...
A Letter to My Kid’s Childcare Centre
Background: A few weeks ago, when dropping off my child at their childcare centre, I noticed something on the classroom whiteboard that I hadn't paid attention to before – the "Daily Routine". Amid the usual activities, one particular sticker caught my eye: “Acknowledgement of Country”. I was SHOCKED. It prompted me to write the following letter to the Centre. Dear Centre...
