In this extended episode, we dissect the chaotic second week of the election campaign, where the Coalition’s China-baiting tactics, policy backflips, and internal sabotage took centre stage.
Albanese is doing well by refusing to grovel to Trump over tariffs and instead backing moves to redirect the 5% of Australia's exports which currently go to the USA away to other markets.
Only 20% of global trade involves the USA, so there is plenty of scope to expand other trade.
Only 15% of China's exports go to the USA, and President Xi is deeply offended by attempts to bully China, so Trump won't have his ass kissed by Xi, or Albanese, and nor should they grovel.
Was interesting to see Woodside Australia sign a deal to export $1.6 billion of LNG to China from 2027, after China blocked US LNG imports.
Meanwhile, Dutton's claim he could get Trump to cancel tariffs on Australia looks more and more like empty BS.
The worse Trump behaves, the more Aussies look at Dutton and say, 'No thanks'.
Thanks for your comment. The more I look at it the more it’s seems it’s just a ruse to enrich the already mega wealthy. The banker Lord Rothschild apparently said ‘the time to buy is when blood is running in the streets’. You’ll note he didn’t definitively state who causes the blood (though I think he was talking about events happening not him causing them). Brexit was a similar scam except the dithering cost them. Add in any favours owed to various foreign powers and Trumps agenda becomes clear. It’s mostly keep out of jail and trouble.
Warren Buffet, very canny investor, sold down last year to be ready to buy when Trump crashed the market, as he is.
China won't bow to Trump, but is increasing links with the EU, Japan, Korea, Canada and Australia.
As Trump's tariffs make Chibese products too expensive to buy, they will be redirected to other markets, probably as bargains.
Apple will just shift iPhone production from China to its factory in India to avoid Trump's tariffs.
Trump's America is already losing the trade war.
Investors are pulling out of the US bond market, so if China sells US$ the US$ will cease to be the world currency. China just did a deal with Brazil which is in Yuan.
The news that the ALP is gaining in the 2PP polls is intriguing, but I am still expecting big swings against the ALP given the party’s alienation of swathes of the population. The LNP are a disaster, but the ALP’s poll results in some states are hovering in the low 30s. It’s too soon and the efforts of local campaigns will surely play a role.
Penny Wong is extremely disingenuous on all her statements on Palestine. No one should believe a word that she says, after she took the side of Israel over the drone attack that killed Zomi Frankom.
Thanks again John. I think we underestimate poll accuracy at our peril, BUT: as you said it’s still pretty early. And I think we can kiss goodbye forever to the notion of a safe seat. Seats that were once dyed red will be permanently marginal and like deep blue seats for the liberal party will possibly disappear over the next few elections. If I hedge it’s because dud local members like Josh frydenburg and Tim Wilson certainly helped the process. While there are dud local members in the ALP a couple of disappointing elections may clear them out. But of course as NSW shows, duds can do well in the party.
Thanks David. I think as you and Eddy showed in your book Fixing Australian Politics, the current electoral system masterfully disguises the declining primary votes of the major parties.
Failure to provide Greater proportionality in parliamentary seats against casted votes will create more future instability as the ALP claims a complete and total mandate when 68% of the population voted for someone else.
Albanese is doing well by refusing to grovel to Trump over tariffs and instead backing moves to redirect the 5% of Australia's exports which currently go to the USA away to other markets.
Only 20% of global trade involves the USA, so there is plenty of scope to expand other trade.
Only 15% of China's exports go to the USA, and President Xi is deeply offended by attempts to bully China, so Trump won't have his ass kissed by Xi, or Albanese, and nor should they grovel.
Was interesting to see Woodside Australia sign a deal to export $1.6 billion of LNG to China from 2027, after China blocked US LNG imports.
Meanwhile, Dutton's claim he could get Trump to cancel tariffs on Australia looks more and more like empty BS.
The worse Trump behaves, the more Aussies look at Dutton and say, 'No thanks'.
Thanks for your comment. The more I look at it the more it’s seems it’s just a ruse to enrich the already mega wealthy. The banker Lord Rothschild apparently said ‘the time to buy is when blood is running in the streets’. You’ll note he didn’t definitively state who causes the blood (though I think he was talking about events happening not him causing them). Brexit was a similar scam except the dithering cost them. Add in any favours owed to various foreign powers and Trumps agenda becomes clear. It’s mostly keep out of jail and trouble.
Warren Buffet, very canny investor, sold down last year to be ready to buy when Trump crashed the market, as he is.
China won't bow to Trump, but is increasing links with the EU, Japan, Korea, Canada and Australia.
As Trump's tariffs make Chibese products too expensive to buy, they will be redirected to other markets, probably as bargains.
Apple will just shift iPhone production from China to its factory in India to avoid Trump's tariffs.
Trump's America is already losing the trade war.
Investors are pulling out of the US bond market, so if China sells US$ the US$ will cease to be the world currency. China just did a deal with Brazil which is in Yuan.
I think we can draw a line under US economic hegemony. The Yuan and the Euro and the Rupee will be the currency of trade.
This may drive the price of Chinese goods up as the yuan strengthens. DL.
Yes, if China sells its vast hoard of US$ the US Government will face great difficulty financing its deficits, which are growing under Trump.
The news that the ALP is gaining in the 2PP polls is intriguing, but I am still expecting big swings against the ALP given the party’s alienation of swathes of the population. The LNP are a disaster, but the ALP’s poll results in some states are hovering in the low 30s. It’s too soon and the efforts of local campaigns will surely play a role.
Penny Wong is extremely disingenuous on all her statements on Palestine. No one should believe a word that she says, after she took the side of Israel over the drone attack that killed Zomi Frankom.
Thanks again John. I think we underestimate poll accuracy at our peril, BUT: as you said it’s still pretty early. And I think we can kiss goodbye forever to the notion of a safe seat. Seats that were once dyed red will be permanently marginal and like deep blue seats for the liberal party will possibly disappear over the next few elections. If I hedge it’s because dud local members like Josh frydenburg and Tim Wilson certainly helped the process. While there are dud local members in the ALP a couple of disappointing elections may clear them out. But of course as NSW shows, duds can do well in the party.
Thanks David. I think as you and Eddy showed in your book Fixing Australian Politics, the current electoral system masterfully disguises the declining primary votes of the major parties.
Failure to provide Greater proportionality in parliamentary seats against casted votes will create more future instability as the ALP claims a complete and total mandate when 68% of the population voted for someone else.