The Dutch Disease has infected the Australian economy

Both sides of politics are committed to continued high immigration rates – despite evidence that we do not need skilled migrants, we are continuing to import so called skilled migrants at a rate of 180,000 per annum...Strange, how all our taxi drivers are from other lands.

We are lead by politicians who have no vision for the future – who are not prepared to put the country in a position where we are able to be self sufficient. Locked into the golden strait jacket of the WTO we are willing to sacrifice domestic industry regardless of the fact that when the mining boom ends (as all mining booms do) we need to be able to look after ourselves.

A responsible government would treat mining as a bit of cream but recognize that the main game is to build a strong manufacturing base and ensure that our primary industry remains viable. This need not imply that we should become protectionist but rather we should ensure that our primary and secondary industries can compete in the international market place.

The Dutch disease is insidious because it creates the illusion of prosperity whilst the disease eats away at the economy. The external perception is of a strong robust economy but it is a hollowed out economy.

The transition from boom to bust will be swift and unforgiving simply because our politicians do not have the wit to ensure that the fundamentals of our economy remain strong.

So next time when Wayne Swann or Joe Hockey spruik about our wonderful economy ask them what the state of our economy would be without mining. Putting all of our eggs in the mining basket has reduced the rest of our economy to a basket case.