A third of the way through its term, the Rudd Government now confronts the twin crises of the economy and environment. Policy on climate change and economic restructuring as well as workplace and education reforms face critical scrutiny. To maintain its support, the government will have to match the scale of these challenges. Australian Options will continue to focus on these policy issues in future.
Kevin Rudd is being sustained by the “not John Howard” effect, as Blair was after the dismal years of Thatcherism. Hope for a better future is still strong, and people want to believe that it can be achieved. There have been some good decisions to reverse the induced fear and xenophobia of the Howard years. And a great piece of political symbolism seen in the Apology which needs to be followed by real change which listens to and acts upon issues raised by Indigenous people in the NT intervention in particular.
If the political truth, “It's the economy, stupid” prevails, then the long Treasury marriage to neo-liberal policies will have to end for the Rudd Government to survive. Kevin Rudd's jokey present to Treasury Head Ken Henry, a copy of Keynes' General Theory, may prove very useful after all. The economic security package of October 11 is likely to prove worthwhile but inadequate as the economy is dragged further South, chained as it is to global fortunes. Ministers Tanner and Swan in particular need to overcome the neo-liberal fetish with budget surpluses and be willing to invest funds in the infrastructure needed to create an ecologically-sustainable and socially-equitable society.
The politics of the next decade will be dominated by capitalism's attempt to find a new modus operandi and official theory to go with it. Market failure is evident to all in both the global economic and environment crises. Populist responses to reign in big salary packages and restrain “extreme capitalism” can't succeed if they remain at the level of spin which is all the G20 produced. A big program to build public investment, public accountability and democratic public ownership is justified now. Public funds, rather than being hijacked by the same corporations that have created the current environmental, financial and social problems, must instead be directed to support new initiatives that empower ordinary people and local communities, and restore the environment.
Climate change can't be pushed on the back-burner in attempting to avert economic crisis. Business-as-usual is no longer a credible option. Hard decisions need to be made to tax carbon and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Transitional support to affected workers and communities, and low income families is needed, but research shows that a shift to a clean energy economy will create thousands of new, high skilled, well-paid, green jobs. It will position Australia as a leader in tackling climate change, support rural communities and revitalise Australia's manufacturing industry in the process. Investment in public transport and sustainable cities (including sustainable food systems) will create thousands more jobs and prepare Australia for the inevitable challenge of Peak Oil.
To avoid the education revolution becoming little more than spin, the 2008 Budget bias in favour of private schools at the expense of public schools, TAFE and universities must be reversed.'
In industrial relations, the Rudd Government will need to address the fact that Modern Awards and National Employment Standards framed to comply with Ministerial “requests” are no substitute for independent tribunals which use conciliation and arbitration powers to settle disputes. The industrial relations system must also provide provisions for workers to intervene in environmental and other social issues in and beyond the workplace.
In foreign policy an independent role is needed which resists the call to “win the war in Afghanistan” and which gives priority to regional issues, including those caused by climate change and food insecurity.
Source: Australian Options, Issue 55, Summer 2008/09, pp. 1-2.