The AGE argues that reforming negative gearing and reversing cuts to foreign aid will offer a ready political win for the government that often seems out of touch.
The AGE points out that sensible economic management should always be guided by the goal of creating opportunity for all Australians to prosper.
To put this into perspective, the government should change its approach to negative gearing and foreign aid.
The paper says rather than tackling structural problems driving up property prices, especially with negative gearing, factions within the government floated an idea that would only serve to damage what has proved a world-leading scheme for retirement savings.
Housing affordability is arguably the most challenging issue facing young people as they are driven out of the market. But the government has ruled out negative gearing changes. The AGE suggests that the Coalition should take the initiative to negotiate with the opposition a change to negative gearing that would avoid deadlock in the Senate.
It also indicates that the governments approach to foreign aid is mean-spirited in that it is woefully inadequate that barely 25¢ of every $100 of Australia's official income goes to helping the world's poor. And the paper emphasizes that beyond the moral justification, helping to strengthen regional economies will offer more markets for Australian goods and reduce the potential security threats from fragile states.
The AGE argues that reforming negative gearing and reversing cuts to foreign aid will offer a ready political win for a government that often seems out of touch.
