August 28, 2013 Stratfor
Summary
The Chinese central government took what could be a bold step toward economic deregulation on Aug. 23 when the State Council officially approved the establishment of a free trade zone in Shanghai. The Shanghai zone will feature reforms not included in the special economic zones created in previous phases of Chinese economic development. If fully implemented, these measures will make the Shanghai zone a testing ground for economic liberalization under [...]
August 27, 2013 Colin Bettles North Queensland Register
SHADOW Regional Development Minister Barnaby Joyce says Kevin Rudd has “completely botched” Labor’s plans to develop northern Australia.
Senator Joyce is pushing a more considered option involving individual tax breaks over Mr Rudd’s key proposal to cut company tax rates by a third.
Mr Rudd said his three-pillared vision for northern Australia – announced recently on the federal election campaign trail – would attract new investment, creating [...]
August 26, 2013 Ross Muir The Canberra Times
Who would have believed that a remote northern settlement to keep out the French would become an important city for us? Yet George Goyder, Darwin’s founding father, saw its importance in 1869. And our colonial governments, even at that time, saw the benefits of a truly northern city. Darwin is set to play its role in Australia’s northward engagement. As building cranes rise over its skyline, our [...]
August 26, 2013 Larry Graham WA Today
As an old Norwester, I should be happy that there is emerging political interest in the northern half of our continent – but I am not.
The two major parties have just discovered there is something between them and Indonesia, and because there are folks up there who vote, they have to be promised stuff.
The Libs have promised a committee and Labor is promising a special economic [...]
August 25, 2013 James Regan Reuters
Former Chinese commodities trader Jerry Ren, who is quietly building a mining empire in the Australian outback, scoffs at talk the resources boom is over. For him its just moved north.
As some mining firms clock up billions of dollars in losses, Ren has secured millions of acres of exploration rights in Australia’s most remote regions that could soon make him a billionaire, helped by his connections [...]
August 25, 2013 Sinclair Davidson Catallaxy Files
The Age has a hit piece on the IPA this morning.
Some of the world’s largest companies have dropped financial support and membership of free-market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs amid concern at its vociferous campaign against action on climate change.
Sounds shocking, but …
Despite the loss of this support The Sunday Age can reveal the IPA is now Australia’s wealthiest private think [...]
August 25, 2013 Ben Schneiders and Royce Millar The Age
Some of the world’s largest companies have dropped financial support and membership of free-market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs amid concern at its vociferous campaign against action on climate change.
Petroleum giants ExxonMobil and Shell and large miners are among the multinationals that have confirmed leaving the Liberal-linked IPA, led by party member John Roskam, who this year was compared to Jesus Christ [...]
August 24, 2013 Brad Thompson The West Australian
Peter Stubbs is expecting a backlash over plans to increase the capacity of Lake Argyle on safety, environmental and economic grounds.
But the Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project director believes it is important for critics to look at the big picture.
Mr Stubbs said the development of 100,000ha for agriculture represented a tiny corner of the Kimberley and Northern Territory.
“It is the equivalent of 10 big farms [...]
August 24, 2013 Rob Garbutt The Northern Star
IT SEEMS as though we are once again choosing between Tweedledum and Tweedledee.
This election has lost nearly everyone’s interest. It has been on since January and aside from brief excitement when Kev13 was subbed on, it’s as exciting as listening to static.
Here we are, a democracy with a two-party system, and rather than having strawberry and chocolate to choose between we’ve got Blue Ribbon vanilla [...]
August 24, 2013 David Crowe The Australian
The Coalition’s coyness over costings for its policies adds to the poverty of the campaign
A declaration of intent is barely a policy unless backed by details on how it can be achieved
The ghosts of the 2010 election have returned to haunt this one as Tony Abbott fends off doubts over his ability to pay for his promises.
Abbott and his economic team assure the electorate that [...]
