The John Hyde Archives

Historic archive of articles and newspaper columns written by former Australian politician John Hyde OAM.

The Australian Financial Review

Fraser's Budget error - not enough Thatcher

Economics 

  • During the 82/83 years, the treasury expects gross product to fall and likewise, real wage earnings should also fall. If not, unemployment will increase.
  • Only if a UK type strategy is adopted, which is a long-term strategy of growing real product demand faster than real wage increases.
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Retrospective taxation can be fair

Taxation  Law 

  • The argument against it is retrospective taxation is the imposition of an unforeseen retribution.
  • The party that is liable should have their liability limited to the Crown.
  • An individual's liability should be limited only up to the net benefit from the sale of the company.
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It's not just avoidance or evasion - just waste

Taxation  Welfare 

  • Tax revenue is almost universally understood as once collected, is wastefully spent.
  • Welfare payments are going to those who are neither in financial need or those who have caused their own financial plight.
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High price of nappies built into BHP costs

Cronyism  Trade  Regulation 

  • The Australian Government should not insulate the management of BHP from the wrath of the shareholders for making bad decisions lest they do not learn their lesson.
  • There is a need to understand the true relationship between unemployment to the tariff.
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Abuses of privilege cost MPs respect

Politics 

  • Is it necessary for an MP to raise the issue in Parliament?
  • Is it necessary to identify the guilty party?
  • Has the MP done no more than address the wrong done?
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Some heavy losses but the battle continues

Economics 

  • Dry politicians reflect the changing view of how an economy should be run.
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Labour's stand on sales tax should be queried

Taxation  Economics  Trade 

  • A Tariff tax falls most heavily on necessities of life versus a sales tax which falls most heavily on luxury goods.
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Ord River sugar sage leaves a sour taste

Cronyism  Subsidies  Taxation 

  • WA consumers subsidise the price of sugar for growers in QLD & NSW.
  • The cost of establishing a sugar industry is high and there is no reason why foreign capital be used instead of taxpayer dollars.
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Facing up to structural change

Trade  Economics 

  • The Australian government cannot do much to prevent the world trade patterns from changing.
  • Various interests need to be more balanced in a fair manner.
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An evaluation of OECD cures for economic ills

Economics  Currencies & Commodities  Economics 

  • General world economic downturn, poor world commodities markets and the drought have caused Australia to suffer a shock worse than Japan's oil shocks.
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Simple explanation for the unemployment crisis

Industrial Relations 

  • It is vital that those who demand and grant wage increases feel the consequences.
  • The failure of the labour market is better understood by the rank and file unionist and his or her family.
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Less Haste makes for better bills

Law  Politics 

  • The Parliament passes legislation too quickly.
  • Most members understood or even read any bills, which are unnecessarily complex.
  • Only in rare circumstances, should innovative legislation be passed in less than four months.
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The NFF and the Balderstone Report

Protectionism  Industrial Relations  Regulations  Trade 

  • The report states that Australia's comparatively efficient agriculture is burdened with unnecessary regulation.
  • It is in Australia's interest that the agricultural industry propers while remaining efficient.
  • Australian agriculture suffers a considerable burden placed upon it by protected industries and trade unions and is under the mercy of international prices.
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Australia Writ Small

Protectionism  Trade  Regulation 

  • Both Australia and New Zealand have high import barriers.
  • Min price arrangements and export incentives are poor means of re-allocation of the nation's (New Zealand) resources.
  • Both nations have adequate natural advantages that are blunted by government intervention.
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When is a Wage Freeze not a Freeze?

Industrial Relations  Economics 

  • Wages must increase less than prices.
  • High wages decrease demand
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The 1983 Budget

Budget  Fiscal Policy 

  • How much of the damage done by the previous budget can be undone.
  • Displaying fiscal responsibility will enable the govt to be re-elected.
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Labels - an easy way to discredit but they count

Individual Rights  Cronyism 

  • A more relevant classification of politics should be whether you believe that choice should be exercised by individuals or to be exercised on their behalf.
  • Vested interests are only wrong when governments pander to them.
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Wage-fixing priesthood keeps its god alive

Industrial Relations  Economics 

  • Centralised wage-fixing is the creation of jobs for some who would otherwise be unemployed.
  • A minimum wage is often set so high that it comes the permanent wage of those in the group with employers unwilling to offer more to capable individuals.
  • Marginal employees such as the young, old, and unskilled are permanently shut out.
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