Anthony Albanese presides over a party that has lost its way on border protection, has zero economic credibility with the electorate following insane tax policies it took to the last election, is mired in corruption allegations surrounding its apparent Chinese paymasters and chooses to side with the freaks and fantasists of Extinction Rebellion and the Greens on climate and energy policy rather than the attitudes of the voters it needs to win over.

The current foolish jabbering of the American import denigrating border protection and cackling about repatriating women who deliberately left Australia with terrorist husbands is something Albanese cannot afford. His inability or unwillingness to curb the woman says a lot about his leadership; that Kenneally, an extreme Leftist, was let loose on the public at at all, is unbelievable. All of his quota women are out of control.

Yes, why the asinine aversion to a flat tax!

If it's ok for everyone to pay a flat tax on goods/services! A flat fuel tax!

What possible objection can there then be for applying the same rationale to income earned?

If you are worried that those on very low incomes may find they're paying tax and in so doing creating a hardship? That is alleviated by raising the tax-free threshold, increasing subsidised means-tested medicine, education and child endowment!

The de-privatisation of essential services is a good and worthwhile objective, but probably shouldn't be sovietized as the only other alternative to privatised monopolies!

Instead, we could and should consider replacing the privatized monopolies with cooperative capitalism that replaces the private monopolies with employee operated co-ops!?

Co-ops were the only private enterprise, free-market model, that almost alone survived the Great depression largely intact!

And because they are the most efficient and productive!

As a bonus keep far more of OUR money here working for us in OUR economy, allowing one dollar to do the work of seven or more, as the first consequence! Via the usual economic flow on factors, creating jobs and opportunity in the process!

Many could be created via government facilitation and off-budget funding! And as such would allow us to re-industrialize and including in the regions and rural environs!

I understand that Labor is anal-retentive/averse to new ideas and a departure from the traditional union/Labor meld! This has to change given it gives the unions, 15% of the community, too much say on Labor policy/direction! As long as Labor chooses to allow this to continue? They will find they are largely controlled on energy policy by 12,000 CMUF members, as to their choice going forward on their preferred energy policy!

I mean, why should just 12,000 CMUF folks have a say over 25 million!?

When you can answer that question and still claim to be democratising Labor!

You may regain some greater popularity than you have now!

But particularly when climate rebels get their turn at the ballot box!

TBC.
Alan B.

The removal of negative gearing was and remains worthwhile! But should only cut in on houses owned above five. This would exclude all nurses, firies and policemen from the net! And blow the objection arguments out of the water!

Also, Labor need to stick to their guns on not giving tax breaks to folk not paying tax! It was and remains completely unsustainable!

Could offset some of the objections to this by raising the assets test and allowed income earned by real pensioners!

Proscribed pensions should cease to be measured as actual pensions when they and all other income exceed $50,000 P.A. The family home could also be included in the assets test if that limit was raised by half a million!?

We do face a predictable, very near future, where there will be more retirees than taxpayers! And means compelled change and all benefits, means-tested!

These measures would, among other things, allow housing to become progressively more affordable and still pass the pub test, fairness model!

Finally, we need a leader that can argue passionately with genuine belief for these and other GENUINE social reforms and with them, return to the egalitarian and debt-free Australia that was our home when my parents were still young adults!

Even the commies among us, Tristan, must be able to see, we can't stay on the current path we're on!
TBC.
Alan B.

One of Labor's excuses for their unexpected election loss was that they took to many policies' to the contest.

Now there's a sad delusion. If they had been good policies they would have romped in. As economist Peter Smith says, Donald Trump took a truck load of policies to the election, and the electorate went for them because they were good.

Making daft comments about 'too many policies' - and believing it! - is just one of the things that will keep them in opposition. As Smith says, "It’s simply a deflection from the sheer awfulness of their policies to blame our incapacity to take in their multiplicity."

Apart from stupid policies, the ALP has clearly abondoned its traditional voter base for the Green inner city extreme Left

Tristan,

Being a neo marxist I know that you must be really disappointed at the solid rejection Labor and its policies at an election that was supposedly a shoo in.

The high taxing and high spending policies along with the ridiculously expensive climate change policy was certain to affect pretty much everyone. The problem wasn't that the voters didn't understand Labor's policies, it was that they did.

Labor getting only 1 vote in 3 after the liberal problems shows how badly they were perceived, and that Albo's refusal to reconsider will only put labor in opposition for yet another term.

I am starting to wonder if Tristan might actually be a liberal plant.

With his advocacy of the far left ratbaggery he must surely encourage some lesser ratbags to push Labor even further left than it already is. Even if it doesn't it must surely warn many of the danger when those with such Marxist ideas are members of the organisation.

Could it be that ideas such as Tristans are actually the unstated objectives of Labor if we are stupid enough to elect them again?

My aim is to raise tax to the OECD average to make possible Medicare Dental, National Aged Care Insurance, reform of pensions , reform of health including mental health, and efficient public provision of public infrastructure. And for that to be achieved incrementally. I am strongly influenced by Marxism personally, but these policies could just as easily be supported by progressive liberals and traditional social democrats. Soon the Aged Care Royal Commission will come down with its findings. What would either Party do without the revenue to fund the necessary reforms?

We know that Labor is considering 'moving to the Centre' (ie: to the old neo-liberal consensus). And that - as opposed to 'Labor moving to the Left' is the main problem. I am promoting policies that would be 'non controversial' in many parts of Europe. Also consider Vienna with 60 per cent high quality public housing and some of the highest living standards in the world. If Labor gives up on 'changing society's common sense' to someone more social democratic what does it exist for?

With all Labours woes of late, all Penny Wong could whinge about was the rumour that ScoMO wanted Brian Housten from Hillsong at a dinner with Trump. Whether its true or not I have no idea but you wonder how irrevelant someone can become. I doubt Trump would of enjoyed Penny's company or although you never know. That Ellen woman was seen having a good time with George Bush recently. I think Penny needs to stop her nasty marxist attitudes and stick to real issues. That goes for all of Labour. As soon as they dump their fanciful gw religion the better.

The author and current respondents focus solely on Income, while the big money in Australia has and always will be made on Property. Hence a Property Tax is where the debate should be. Several university studies have been made on this issue and of course, the Fisher Government's Land Tax implemented in 1915 proved how successful a tax on landed assets could be. Unfortunately Arthur Fadden, the Treasurer in the Menzies Government of 1956 saw fit to revoke the legislation as he stated it was cheaper to collect income tax than through land tax assessors. A graph of land values shows how spectacularly high Australian property values have risen- a much steeper rise than on personal income over the past 63 years. The State Governments have exemptions on their collection of Land Tax, which restrict its effectively as a revenue base, in many cases, gambling taxes exceed this land tax incomes. A Federal tax on all property would be the fairest method of taxation.

Probably the biggest increase in inequality in this country is the growth of public service jobs. Thousands and thousands of bureaucrats on healthy and sometimes obscene salaries and often putting up red, black, yellow or rainbow tape to prevent real production in this nation. Some Marxist commentators on abc receiving 400 or 500 thousand per year to push their propaganda. Then we have the Greens leader on over 300000 a year robbing others of a hospital bed as he bludges even more on the system. The growing inequality is between the elite and those just wanting to work for a living. Hopefully more and more of the quite Aussies will wake up to this. Yep the ceo's salaries of corporate Australia is obscene however matched greatly by overpaid bureacrats who desperately want labour/greens in power to keep the tax payers money filling their wallets.

The tax year ending 2017 was a year where the top tax paid as non-returnable revenue by any corporation was 13% or If you will 2% lower than a flat tax of just 15% Moreover, many had gotten it down to 4% with a reported 40% paying none!?

A very wise visiting Republican Senator said, if memory serves, on Q+A some years ago, that opaque rules always equate to corruption and our system is corrupt!

And you not only want to keep it!? But increase the burden on those unable to use the law and current privilege? Made to pay more!

Given you and your clearly corrupt cronies get their way?

We'll avoid real tax reform! Reform that simply prevents the avoiders from avoiding! As well as increasing revenue, by at least 2%! Also removes the tax compliance cost burden from small business/everyone else!

Thereby, allow an averaged 7% to be returned to the bottom line!

We stand alone as the most over-governed country, bar one, on the planet!

Left to anal retentives like you appear to be? This will not be allowed to change and thus we the taxpaying average joe will have to continue to shell out completely wasted annual 70+ Billion.
Just paying these anachronisms to remain pretty much useless double handling appendages on the political system, which has to be streamlined to remove the huge and costly inefficiencies, state governments really are.

We are but one country, not even or eight and we just don't need this level of money wasting administration! There are those who like the Labor party and Tristan who will block any change here for purely self-serving reasons, in my view.

And because there is no other logical reason to throw an extra 70+ annual billions into a broken model served by a broken tax system that those with the power to change! Refuse on the basis of idiotic ideological grounds.

Listen only for the purpose of debate, opposing and refuting real reform and the now needed, fundamental changes

Good luck with the next election that is yours to lose!
Alan B..

You all want to know what 'social justice' means?

It means punishing people that aren't actually breaking any laws.
Bullying, coercing and peer pressing people to change a behavior that was never unlawful in the first place.

Take this as an example:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-21/st-kevins-apologises-after-students-sexist-chant/11623880

Now we can all agree it wasn't a good look.
And what they were chanting wasn't exactly respectful to women.
Other passengers may have had cause to be offended by their behavior.
But the question is this:

Is what they said illegal?
Did they break any laws in their 'chant'?

'Social Justice' says they broke laws
- That don't even exist.

Australian Labor Party: Vote 1 - Incompetence
http://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/fines-victoria-system-collapses-leaving-massive-hole-in-state-budget-20191022-p5333d.html

Armchair,
Social justice is a fair go for all.
Overreacting to schoolboys singing I Wish All The Women has very little to do with social justice.

Before WW2 the ALP was a national socialist party. In other words their ideology was authoritarian socialism, but at least they were patriotic or Australia First.

After WW2 the ALP began progressively shifting away from national socialism towards international socialism. In other words their ideology is still authoritarian socialism & they are anti-patriotic or Australia Last as well. Which is even worse.

What part of that simple equation are the Wokely Award Losers struggling to understand?

You shouldn't throw around the term 'national socialism' so lightly as a consequence of the associations with Nazism. International socialism is appropriate as without internationalism there are political and economic barriers to reform. BTW - that doesn't mean you don't care about your country. It does mean you may co-operate to prevent pointless and costly wars ; to improve labour standards ; to reverse the trend of a 'race to the bottom on tax' which hurts services, welfare and infrastructure.

BTW, talking about authoritarianism - it's the Liberals clamping down on a free media, and criminalising movements to boycott coal. It's also the Liberals who want to pass legislation which could see unions dissolved for exercising their right to strike to secure wages and conditions for members. Or as an act of political protest. There's a divide in the Liberal Party, and it's the authoritarian Conservatives who are winning.

That said: Claire O'Neil was right that Labor has to be careful not to ostracise those don't accept the entirety of 'the progressive agenda'. If we're too hard line and don't engage respectfully we'll lose votes.

@ Tristan Ewins... What's wrong with stating facts?

National Socialism & International Socialism are both Authoritarian Socialist left wing religions. Clearly the one that is the most left wing, with the most negative results is the most evil & must receive the most resistance from the people.

International Socialism has done nothing other than create pointless costly wars, lower labour standards, a race to the bottom on tax lowering living standards, poverty, grooming & abuse of children.

The ruling, leftist, Major Mistakes parties have BOTH been clamping down on free media & criminalising normal people going about their business. It's also Labor who brought black lung back into QLD coal mining & who have been ripping off Hunter Valley coal miners. Only One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts is protecting coal miners from the evil cabal of big unions, big bureaucracy & foreign owned big business.

There's nothing conservative about the Labor Lite, Liberal-National closet communist coalition. They have cheerfully adopted many leftist policies. If there was a shred of decency in Clare O'Neil she would follow Mark Latham's lead & join One Nation.

Almost all dirty deeds done dirt cheap on the Australian people involved the Major Mistakes parties voting together.

you could put nationalism and socialism together and argue for a more moderate interpretation. But since Nazism 'national socialism' has an unbearable connotation. And is also indicative of where such a combination can lead. Nonetheless I care about my country. I also care about the rest of the world.

Calling a hard-line big 'C' Conservative government 'closet communist' shows we're on entirely different planets from each other.

That Pauline Hanson is capitalising on the dairy farmers' plight shows parties of the fringe right can capitalise on neglect from the major parties. Both need to learn their lesson here so this does not become a pattern.

@ Tristan Ewins,

The ruling, left wing elites in both of the Major Mistakes coalitions have been putting Australia & Australians Last for at least half a century.

The number of Australian voters willing to trust the Liberal, Labor, National or Green parties, or even listen to them is growing EVERY day & main stream media is now on side supporting Pauline Hanson & Bob Katter.

@ Tristan Ewins,

Nazism or national socialism may indeed have negative connotations.

But for the average Australian worker the ALP & Greens have even worse reputations.

and you're calling yourself a centrist moderate?

@ Tristan Ewins,

"I didn't leave the ALP. The ALP left me." Mark Latham & MANY other former Labor voters i meet regularly.

It's the same for the Liberal, National & even Green parties. Many former supporters have been betrayed & given up on them.