Club Troppo

A few months ago there was a blog debate about the tensions between a movement left and a wonkish left in pursuing political change, summarised neatly here by Matt Cowgill . A domestic sequel has arisen in Australia. In the United States the wonkish left, from Riksbank laureat...

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I recently decided to install an air conditioner in my study. Naturally, caring about the environment (but not enough to forego my comfort) I chose the most energy efficient model on the market (the only 6 star split system).[1] Got a phone call yesterday – the importer is out...

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I muse at CDU Law and Business Online about the broader implications of Eatock v Bolt in light of last night's Austin Asche Oration in Law and Governance by Federal Court Chief Justice Pat Keane. Discussion is solicited, there rather than here by preference.

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From today's piece for Crikey: First a declaration of interest. I’ve known Allan Asher, thought only really to say 'hello' to, since the mid 1990s. I liked him and, at least from my limited vantage point think he was shaping up to be a good Commonwealth Ombudsman. He’d also in...

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A winner-takes-all-society will fail: America's top 1 per cent might have the best educations, the best doctors and the best lifestyles, but their fate is bound up with how the other 99 per cent live, writes Joe Stiglitz . Harry Clarke agrees : "the inequality threat to the su...

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Well I can't say I really agree with the criterion of quality - but anyway, at least by our intrepid old friend Joel's lights file sharing hasn't harmed music making. Recent technological changes may have altered the balance between technology and copyright law for digital pro...

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It is by no means the first time that people blinded by faith or ideology have pursued false premises to absurd conclusions – and, like their religious and political predecessors, come to believe that those who disagree are driven by ‘woeful ignorance or intentional disregard’...

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It was a sign of things to come perhaps. As the All Blacks performed their pre-match war dance with its stamping, grunting, eye-bulging and tongue lolling, the camera cut away to a shot of Australia's Radike Samo. His face shiny with perspiration, was framed by a 'do that look...

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The Lodge in Canberra, the official residence of the Prime Minister will be closed for repairs for the next 18 months . Several figures, including Jeff Kennett , former NCDC head Tony Powell and Andrew Carr of the Lowy Institute deem this an exercise in turd polishing. A new,...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jskDDLjFvGA Ever since I've been being invited to the Prime Minister's Science Prizes I've regarded it as a great privilege to attend - even if I have to fly myself to Canberra and back. Almost invariably the people who wi...

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On my recent trip to the US it was fun that my previously measly Oz dollars bought nearly US$1.10. But another thing that illustrated was what a poor deal we get on many global goods and services. Before I went I investigated getting noise cancelling headphones. I didn't want...

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The Occupy Wall Street Movement is growing: "The challenge for those of us who believe in market economics is how to restore business legitimacy", writes Peter Shergold . The top one per cent: "One of the most striking successes of the Occupy Wall Street movement has been the...

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New post by me at CDU Law and Business Online . An extract: Moreover, yesterday’s behaviour by Murdoch’s Brisbane Courier-Mail of publishing edited extracts of a Liberal-National “dirt” file on Queensland Labor MPs rather suggests that it is high time for media behaviour to be...

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Why is tax reform so hard? Reviews such as the Henry Review often point to 'low-hanging fruit' where efficiency gains can be made without any significant equity costs. One oft-noted example is property stamp duty, where the Henry Review recommended its replacement by land taxe...

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ii8m1jgn_M&feature=player_embedded

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I'm pleased to say that we have taken possession of several container loads of these items which Ken has suggested using as prizes instead of the Troppo Mercedes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V3G1cwqYkO4

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Anne Summers' essay on Andrew Bolt in The Monthly is free access for 24 hours. A key extract: Media and politics today are less a contest of ideas and more a continuing conflict of opinion. “Bolt’s genius is that he’s always finding the fault lines and finding an argument,” La...

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The OECD are entertaining the readers of their newsletter by asking them whether the worst is over. Apparently only 10% of people don't know. That's one informed readership. Nothing like having a few clairvoyants on board. Current results Is the worst of the global economic cr...

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At CDU Law Online - Colourful lawyers, police and the media (the Adam Houda wrongful arrest saga).

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In light of Paul Frijter's sketpticism about the possibility of co-ordinated international action on carbon emissions and his recent offer of a wager on the outcome of international action, I thought I'd try to put the economic problem into some of the language of Internationa...

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