Find below last night’s Treasurer’s debate on ABC Q&A. My view is that it was a win for Chris Bowen. Joe Hockey showed a lot flair at times but despite his likability he was repeatedly evasive about his own costings, plans for the GST (right or wrong) and the parental leave plan. He stuck more with rhetoric than he did real argument and repeatedly interrupted Bowen which made him appear blustering.
Bowen was weak when cleaning up Kevin Rudd’s messes but was more measured in his delivery than Hockey, even a little boring, and showed backbone in putting Hockey on the back foot for much of the debate.
Both pollies were hopeless on housing affordability – first home buyers really are the forgotten interest group – although Hockey at least mentioned supply side reform.
As for whether the debate covered anything of use, yes, in terms of the benefits or otherwise of narrow interests, which seems our only frame of reference these days. However, any economic debate that doesn’t once mention commodities, and mentions China, competitiveness and the mining boom just once at the end is really operating in an alternative universe.
