Month: June 2011

Yesterday was a hot news day. President Obama announced the withdrawal of 10,000 from Afghanistan, the NBN Co was formally launched, Lord Monckton was hauled up for calling Ross Garnaut fascist, and the departing league of Australia’s 2004 Senators said farewell. Meanwhile, I found myself held up by the security guards in Ultimo, Sydney because my name wasn’t down on their guest list. I was there to appear on the ABC The Drum panel discussion but the security guards did not care one bit. “You’re not on the list so you can’t come in,” they said as I sat in my orange Toyota corolla on Ultimo Road.

I managed to get in eventually. For my take on the latest issues hitting the airwaves, catch Thursday’s (June 23rd) broadcast of The Drum on ABC iview. It’s available for the next seven or so days here. I appear with Tim Soutophamasanne, author of Reclaiming Patriotism, and John Barron, ABC journalist.

We tend to think of Australia as a country whose most valuable resources lie underground. I think that values what we have above ground too lightly. In The Monthly, out now, I make the case through one of Australia’s most compelling entrepreneurs. Shi Zhengrong is not a household name – but he should be. What he has produced is a template for a different kind of Australia – one that weaves its way in the global economy by the thread of its best minds and budding businessmen. Buy a copy or subscribe here to read my essay.

The Economist released a special issue on Australia last week which made a related point. I have written a piece in The Age today – click here – which begins to draw the connections. This is a question ripe for now . We are a country whose economy is booming and whose chief customer, China, is ascendant. It won’ always be, so what are we doing to invest the surplus wisely? Canberra is not giving a lot away in that respect but in my piece in The Age I begin to explore some ideas.