Who knows where the recovery will come from, if it comes at all. It certainly will come not from the government that caused the problem in the first place. It wasn't the China virus that put so many people out of work and wrecked the economy; it was Scott Morrison's panic and over-reaction to it, based on the advice of 'experts' whose predictions - or wild guesses - were mostly wrong. Now, Morrison has entered into an unholy alliance with communist unions, who represent almost nobody, and big business, ignoring the small business owners who employ the most people, and who have suffered the most through Morrison's incompetence and lack of connection with real people

Hi Tristan,

Does Australia really need fast rail?

Does out sparse population and water difficulties warrant such an expensive exercise given that few interior cities are anywhere near the population levels of other countries where fast railway exists and links the many large cities?

sure, the Sydney to Melbourne corridor is quite busy, even by global standards, but there are few large cities in between.

What I would prefer is a faster rail network, one that is world class rather the embarrassment that is the Albury to Melbourne line, but one which is much cheaper. We can aim for 180-200km per hour rather than just jump to the expensive 300+km/h option which would require much greater infrastructure.

Australia must respond in a sensible way with infrastructure, and one that is within our means that need not emulate the biggest and fastest in the world.

We are not China, with its small ... mentality that wants to lead the world with just about everything.

We are a pragmatic people that builds in accordance to demand, albeit our railways could be a lot better.

I think we need to make daily travel between Bendigo, Albury and Melbourne viable ; and that it would create significant population growth in those areas. That's good because population growth is really straining our infrastructure and creating big problems with transit times. But 200km/hour rail would be a step up.

Which way will the ball bounce? Stay nimble. That's how to survive in tough times.

Recognise opportunities by looking for them.

That's how populations survive. Stay unified. Divided you fall.

Don't hold cash. It's worthless, otherwise, why are those in charge of the asylum handing it out?

And otherwise, wait patiently for the arrival of hyper inflation from a propped-up property market, and its inevitable crash: And then the end will come.

Dan

yes, but why make regional cities larger without appropriate employment beyond an expansion of the welfare sector and housing investment.

Where would the industry come from, given that farming is much less labour intensive than past decades, and manufacturing has largely gone?

It is great to have ideas, but there has to be a reason why people would move there beyond those who choose to move from large cities after selling their homes or those who want cheaper rent on welfare.

Chris, that is why you have an active industry policy as well. I better hold off on commenting or I'll run out of chances to comment. (limit of 4 a day)