The "Economic Reform Rountable"

about to be held in Canberra is unlikely to produce any meaningful change. We only need to look at who will be present to realise that.

The union movement, a body which now represents less than 14% of the workforce, has four seats at the table. Their latest push is for a four day working week. 

The mining industry, which may only represent 2.2% of the workforce but is one which powers the present economy, has only one seat. They do not want to see a four day working week. Neither do the other major companies. "Small business" does not want to see it either.

Yes, we need tax reform. This government is spending more money than ever before, money they are "borrowing" from future generations.  Where that money comes from right now is something that will be under "discussion" but we can be sure it will not come from meaningful tax reform.

For some reason or other this government is still "popular" according to opinion polls. This has to be because the government is not doing what needs to be done and, for the most part, people are not well educated with respect to the economy. Most people see it as easy to tax business more, especially what they see as being big business with massive profit, rather than do some hard work on reforming the tax system. 

I have real concerns at the way the present government is still so much under the thumb of the union movement. As a country we do not have a reputation for hard work. As one columnist puts it this morning there are too many bludgers and people who are prepared to bludge - or live off tax payer funded benefits. We have a disability support scheme which is out of control and far too many benefits for special interest groups. Yes, it is nice to have those benefits, those schemes and those special programs but how much is it saving the economy or producing an actual benefit?  There are too many people, especially children, on the NDIS scheme. "If we can get him/her on the NDIS then it is a bit more money coming in." How often have I heard those words said about a child with "autism" which is sometimes no more than a difficulty in paying attention in class and poor behaviour with it? There are families who are getting a financial benefit for poor parenting when families whose lives are being turned upside down because of the erratic and often dangerous behaviour of a severely autistic child are still getting nothing. 

There are "programs" for "indigenous" students whose claim to be indigenous is nothing more than possibly a great-great grandparent. There are financial and other benefits for the claim though and they must be respected. 

There is funding for all sorts of special interest groups to maintain their "cultural heritage". I happen to think that cultural heritage can be important, especially for refugees, but where do you draw the line?  

The government spent almost a billion dollars on just part of the funding for specialist programs for  "indigenous" people - just 3.8% of the population - but all the "closing the gap" reports suggest that there is little to show for it. 

Yes of course money can be saved but it will not be done because doing it would be politically unpopular. The union movement will soon have many people believe that a four day week is a good idea as long as it benefits them. That will mean four days a week for five days pay, no extra tax and no extra effort.

Somehow the mathematics of all this does not work for me.