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| Affiliation | Citizens Electoral Council |
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| Name | Robert "Rob" Larner |
| Address |
Launceston, Tasmania , Australia |
| Email | clarner@cecaust.com.au |
| Website | None |
| Born |
Unknown
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| Contributor | User 215 |
| Last Modifed | User 215
Dec 26, 2003 09:19pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | Tasmania is suffering a deepening economic crisis, but it is not alone.
The world is now hurtling toward the worst financial crash in history, which has been brought on by globalisation—the deregulation and privatisation policies that have bankrupted our industries, dismantled our hospitals, schools and other essential infrastructure, and slashed our jobs.
This crisis must be addressed before all others, and I support dumping globalisation, in favour of Points 1 and 2 of the CEC Fighting Platform, a regulated "New Bretton Woods" system of industry protection and low-interest national banking for investment in industry and infrastructure to create jobs.
"One hundred percent employment" is thought of as a concept of a bygone era, when governments built infrastructure and Australian industry actually produced goods, machinery and machine tools. Most people I talk to say, "Yes, I agree, but you can't go back to those days."
Well, I still wear clothes, eat food, drive a car, etc. So what has changed? Does technology steal jobs? No, technological progress requires a change in employment, from lower to higher quality of employment. Any different effect is not the result of technology but of bad policy. What has taken our jobs is our government's obsession with "free trade", "economic rationalism" and deregulation.
"It is inevitable," I hear you say, "It is here to stay and we can't do anything about it." Well, if you accept this, then be prepared for high unemployment and under-employment, and all the undesirable costs to society. You can expect an Argentina-style breakdown, or Africa-style epidemic, or both. Then you had better get used to paying for your education and healthcare, if you can afford them. If not, forget it!
When I was a child growing up in Launceston, members and friends of my family were employed in the textile industry. This was a considerable industry for Launceston and a large employer. In the 1970s, the Whitlam government removed the tariff from imported textiles. This was the beginning of the end for the textile industry in Australia. How could we compete with virtual slave labour conditions in developing countries? The decision to remove tariffs was not an inevitable policy.
An alternative policy to the "free trade" agenda of the past thirty years has its basis in the establishment of a National Bank, to provide long-term loans at 1-2% to agriculture, industry and infrastructure development.
Long term, low interest, government loans to the textile industry would have enabled it to modernise and expand. Instead, the government chose to invest in unemployment.
Similarly, education and healthcare are both an investment in the future. They should be universal and free for all, on an equal basis.
I am standing for election on these policies. I realise that I cannot achieve this on my own. I not only need your vote but I want you to join the C.E.C., to join the fight for a sovereign Australia and a return to policies that work.
I stand on the policy platform of the Citizens Electoral Councils of Australia.In the context of global economic breakdown presently threatening the entire world, I would work towards the following policies:
1. Establishment of a NEW BRETTON WOODS international monetary system to replace the currently bankrupt IMF system of free trade and globalisation.
2. Create 100% employment by the establishment of a national credit bank and state banks and re-regulate private banks restricting their capacity to borrow overseas, especially for speculative purposes.
3. The repeal of all anti-union legislation.
4. The repeal of recent fascist laws, such as recent 'anti-terror' laws.
5. A halt to the privatisation of commonwealth and state assets and a reversal of those not in the public good.
6. The elimination of the national competition policy.
7. The reassertion of control over our natural resouces.
8. Universal free Healthcare and education.
9. Dramatic upgrading of infrastructure; water, transport, schools, hospitals,power to act as a provider of jobs and a driver for economic activity.
10. A real war on drugs.
11. Establishment of generous immigration quotas to help build our nation.
12. Elimination of the GST and replacing it with a 0.1% tax on speculative turnover.
13. Constructive engagement with the rest of the world, and a reassesment of Australias commitment to a war on terror.
14. Actively pursue a policy of development of all nations in line with the vision of Lyndon H Larouche.
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