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[Opinion]: Failure or Opportunism by The Australian Government?
January 5, 2022 | By Christian Brown | In #THEPLACARD
Opportunism is defined as the art, policy, or practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances often with little regard for principles or consequences.
Back in 2007, award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author. Naomi Klein researched this issue in her book The Shock Doctrine. Klein laid out how corporate elites worldwide have continually preyed on the confusion and disarray of the public, caused by the cumulative shock of global and national events, to push through profound change, like rapid deregulation, privatization, and severe cuts to government spending. Klein coined the phrase disaster capitalism complex, describing it as a privatized system of waste and rebuilding, funnelling billions of dollars into corporate pockets. In the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, the Australian government created JobKeeper, funnelling Hundreds of millions of dollars in JobKeeper to companies where turnover doubled or even tripled, the ABC reports thousands of profitable companies qualified for the subsidy based on projected turnover falls that never eventuated and one in six JobKeeper businesses did not suffer a downturn during the scheme's first three months, racking up $4 billion in subsidies during the period.
Klein sees history repeating, this time in the coronavirus crisis, with a foreseeable process of corporate opportunism in an economic crisis. Australian health bodies are urging the federal government to hold off on changes to Medicare Benefits Schedule telehealth service, with changes starting 1 January, which would impact patients adversely, specifically cancer patients and would strict access to care for vulnerable demographics, and those living in regional Australia. Landmark changes to Medicare include, more than 900 health services and procedures eligible for government rebates are set to change on 1 July. And what’s more, is the Morrison government seeking to capitalise on the escalating Covid-19 virus gripping Australia with an exponential rise in omicron cases, changing the rules around what will be covered by Medicare, relating to covid testing? Now people wanting a covid test need a formal request from a medical or nurse practitioner is required, and rebates can only be claimed where a patient’s treating practitioner determines that the test is necessary for the clinical management of their patient. Morrison has defended the changes saying he will not undercut businesses by providing free rapid antigen tests,
Previously, I have discussed Prime Minister Scott Morrison economic agenda, in that economic recovery will be achieved, by deregulation needless, disproportionate, and inefficiently implemented regulation and to improve the ease of doing business. For nearly three decades before COVID, Australia’s economy underwent microeconomic reforms, including deregulation. Australia is now facing a COVID economic downturn, with new private business investment falling by 3.5 per cent in the quarter to be 5.5 per cent lower through the year. Average annual productivity growth has also been slowing, with other deregulatory measures to be announced closer to Budget and on Budget night. Further, announcing some additional important measures as part of our deregulation agenda. I believe this announcement, was obfuscation and nothing more than appearing to do something and a distraction to his claim of Saving time and money.
THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating “free” enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Establish free trade agreements, reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminate workers’ rights that had been won over many years of struggle. Australians will remember former Federal Finance Minister Matthias Corman being unperturbed by the findings confirming, limiting wage growth is a design feature of economic policy. Free market neo-liberalism have exploited shocks to help push through their policies without popular democratic consent. Has been coined by Klein ‘disaster capitalism’ – a form of capitalism that uses large-scale disasters, seen with the escalating coronavirus pandemic, will the Morrison succeed with radical neo-liberal capitalist policies and its related privatization agenda for (formerly) public services (Hayes, G. and Horne, J., 2011. Sustainable development, shock, and awe? London 2012 and civil society. Sociology, 45(5), pp.749-764.)
The idea that capitalism advances on the back of disasters, or violent circumstances, is not a new one – Marx (1973[1867]) wrote at length in Capital about the extra-economic coercion required to bring about primitive accumulation in the 18th century in Western Europe.
The Shock doctrine measures can include getting rid of environmental and community protection laws, selling off public assets. The Federal Coalition has sold off state-owned enterprises to private investors, with the 99-year leasing of the Port of Darwin to Chinese investors in 2015 is a case in point, with ultimate responsibility resting with then-Treasurer and now Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Even with freshwater, more than 1,800 gigalitres of foreign-held water entitlements is within the Murray-Darling Basin, which is 9.4 per cent of the total Murray-Darling Basin water entitlement on the issue. The findings show the majority of foreign-held water entitlements are in the Northern Basin and the Southern Basin. Much of the public angst about foreign investment is linked to concerns over state-owned enterprises buying Australian water entitlements. The register, compiled by the Australian Tax Office, shows one in 10 water entitlements is owned by overseas interests.
The coronavirus saw Australia’s latest political institution National Cabinet formed, to lead a unified response to the coronavirus pandemic, has plagued by claims it lacks transparency and would have remained so if it were not for the actions of Independent Senator Rex Patrick, Freedom of information victory and the release of the records of National Cabinet. In my view, the shock doctrine is a reference to understanding how the government has used the coronavirus pandemic to implement neoliberal policies with fewer checks and balances.