After the Budget - debating our future

The National Broadband Network could be prioritised as a fully-public project, fast-tracking construction as far as is possible, and avoiding the long-term pitfalls of private monopoly, inaccessibility for the disadvantaged, and profit-gouging.

And Karen Churchill, commenting at the Crikey website, has argued that public housing projects could be taken much further. According to Churchill, “low income people have to wait up to six years for public housing and two or three for ‘crisis’ housing”.

Strong investment in public housing could also produce a long-term correction to Costello’s disastrous “housing bubble” which placed home ownership and even rental affordability out of the reach of so many Australians.

Finally, Labor could make a greater investment in renewable energy. Bob Brown, speaking on behalf of the Australian Greens, condemned Labor policy, arguing that “A single coal project in the Hunter Valley will receive almost the same amount of money as the entire $1.5 billion Solar Flagship program over the next six years."

Labor’s commitment, here, could easily be doubled: although it would certainly earn the chagrin of powerful coal interests in Australia.

Understandably, investment in renewable energy is a priority for the Greens. But to broaden their appeal leading into the next election, the Greens need to take as strong a stand on welfare, unemployment, a democratic mixed economy, and economic stimulus as we have come to expect from them on the environment.

Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon could also improve their credibility and relevance by offering critically-needed support on these concerns.

During hard times such as these, the oppressed and the vulnerable ought not lose heart. Together, Australians can emerge victorious in the struggle for justice.