The sound bites by Rudd do more than demonstrate his inclination to leapfrog other senior government ministers such as Treasurer Wayne Swan, and Prime Minister Julia Gillard for that matter, to hog the limelight.
It shows that Kevin Rudd hasn't learned the basic economic lesson that economic growth, be it at a national or global level, can only be led from the front by a private sector unencumbered by the unsustainable debts, uncompetitive tax regimes and onerous regulations of big governments.
However Rudd's lack of economic nous, demonstrated through his approval of the wasteful and growth‑retarding 2008‑09 fiscal stimulus, doesn't appear to dent his undiminished public popularity which might prove pivotal to his return to the top job in the land.
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And, if a return of a Rudd prime ministership occurs within the next two years, that could spell a repeat of economic policy trouble for Australia if another global recession lands on our doorstep.
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About the Author
Mikayla Novak is a Research Fellow with the Institute of Public Affairs. She has previously worked for Commonwealth and State public sector agencies, including the Commonwealth Treasury and Productivity Commission. Mikayla was also previously advisor to the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her opinion pieces have been published in The Australian, Australian Financial Review, The Age, and The Courier-Mail, on issues ranging from state public finances to social services reform.
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