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Robert Miller has built an empire that is about to be sucked into the mire by a bad investment. Now he wants to offload it quickly before the purchaser realises anything is amiss. His practical obligations to his family and employees usurp his human obligations to those who become pawns in his efforts to maintain order.
For most Australians, Government compensation for the carbon tax won't cover the steep rise in the cost of electricity caused by unrelated investment in infrastructure. That was not its intention. But the carbon tax will still not ensure the price of 'dirty' electricity is high enough to make coal-fired generators uncompetitive and force a 'clean energy future'.
The action takes place in 2008 on the eve of the GFC, at an investment bank loosely modelled on Lehman Bros. The CEO is monstrous; a kind of sinewy bishop to capitalism, gaunt and vicious. Yet even the most principled characters are shown to compromise to varying degrees in the name of self-interest.
Critics of Australia's bid to join the UN Security Council have either a narrow view of what constitutes Australia's national interest, or a view of Australian taxpayers as shareholders who should expect a financial return on every investment.
The Budget contains a number of positive measures to promote mental health, employment and training. But without greater investment in individualised support for job seekers and those on disability support pensions to assist their transition to work, we are not likely to see major change.
There is nothing wrong with mums and dads buying shares as an exercise in responsible stewardship of family assets. But they need to be ready to face consequences if profiting from their investments involves exploiting other Australians.
An ethos of tough love balks at taxpayer subsidies for anyone foolish or unlucky enough to make the wrong investment decision. In Australia we prefer to see people as victims and expect the government to clean up the mess.
The problems besetting Wall Street investment banks seem a long way from life in downtown Australia. The need to know the context of the economic crisis, and to keep a clear head, has never been more important.
The current higher education review is hindered by a focus on 'productivity' and 'efficient investment'. Universities should be homes of knowledge whose graduates are more than just pegs to plug the holes in Australia's skills set.
Political leaders attribute hospital crises to administrative bungles rather than a lack of political oversight or investment. But they can't continue to put off dealing with the rising public frustration at the inadequacy of the system's capacity to meet the demand of an ageing population.
Andy Blunden examines proposals to target poverty and exclusion.
37-47 out of 47 results.