What does Labor stand for these days? Having spent two-thirds of the time in opposition since federation, we might wonder. It’s a question that Labor greybeard, Stephen Loosely attempts to address today in the Murdoch Press. His points are:
- To move beyond the “barista philosophers” of the inner city.
- To lead the policy debate and make climate change about job creation.
- To inject new talent who listen to voters not themselves.
- And to have a clear message about what it stands for as a party.
Unfortunately, Mr Loosely does not go into what that is which is pretty telling in itself. But he does at least list full employment, social security, superannuation and the NDIS as examples of good government. That suggests that Mr Loosely believes Labor stands for workers, I guess, though he can’t bring himself to say so.
So, what should Labor stand for to get elected? To my mind, the best guidance comes from the US where the Biden Administration has shifted the Democratic platform from what MB refers to as the “fake left” – which is driven by globalisation, social progressiveness and climate change – to a more traditional left which stands for addressing class inequality in wages, wealth and living standards. As well as a much more skeptical view of unbridled globalisation.
If Labor were to translate this spirit locally into new platform what would it look like? To my mind it would comprise the following:
- The clearest message should be about Australian workers. Globalisation is all well and good but it must be modulated so that Australian workers are better off always.
- That means addressing historically wages growth first and foremost. To do that, Labor must get over its immigration fixation and stand for much lower levels of temporary migration and halving the permanent intake.
- Second, and just as important, it must get over its China fixation. Australia is prosperous because it has a long history of free trade and liberalised markets modulated by centrist policy. Not because of China. Labor must divorce the CCP to defend Australian sovereignty.
- Third, it must attack wealth inequality via reform to the taxation system. This includes ridding the nation of the scourge of negative gearing which has the fringe benefit of also lowering the AUD such that real tradable jobs can grow.
- Fourth, social security must be boosted and reformed in areas such as a higher JobSeeker payment and the scrapping of various middle-class giveaways.
- Fifth, climate change is being addressed now in the energy revolution that capitalism has unleashed. It’s time Labor talked this up big and supported it for decarbonisation and jobs.
- Sixth, get over the superannuation system sacred cow. The system is corrupt. It costs a lot more than a basic universal pension after many years of policy distortion. It needs reform.
- Seventh, attack capital in its rentier form wherever it appears for productivity reform.
- Eighth, reboot Australian industry. There is no single solution for this. It will take everything from select tariffs to tax concessions and education plus training.
- Ninth, reform the blood-sucking universities and cap the runaway international student numbers that are destroying pedagogical standards.
- Tenth, tax and invest in big infrastructure. Use MMT as well. But ensure it is done with probity and clarity of purpose.
All of these things can fit comfortably under the banner of Labor standing for Australian workers and a sensible productivity-driven centrist economic agenda. Moreover, it will win back QLD, the essential goal if Labor is ever to hold power again.
