Eine Nation zu kopieren wird die Australier ärmer machen, warnt Minister Morrison

Australia's longest-serving finance minister, Mathias Cormann, has warned that copying the policies of populist political movements such as One Nation could leave the country economically weaker and more divided. Speaking at a speech in Brisbane on Saturday, Cormann urged both major political parties to adopt sweeping economic reforms to counter rising support for populist forces and prevent further erosion of mainstream political influence. Cormann, who previously served as finance minister under the Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison governments and is currently the head of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), outlined a comprehensive reform agenda during his address to the Centre for Independent Studies, a right-leaning think tank. His remarks came after the release of a biography by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who had recently cautioned the Liberal Party about the need to reconnect with the political center to maintain relevance among voters. According to Cormann, the growing appeal of populist movements is partly due to the inability of major parties to implement difficult but necessary economic reforms. He argued that mainstream parties that attempt to mimic populist agendas risk losing voters to both the original populist groups and the political center, which has no alternative but to retreat further. Cormann cited examples from countries such as Britain, France, and Germany, where mainstream parties that adopted populist economic strategies saw their support shrink while populist groups gained strength. He emphasized that the only way for mainstream parties to retain their base was to outperform populists, not emulate them. Cormann traced the current lack of appetite for reform back to 2005, when John Howard was prime minister. He attributed this trend to the revenue generated by the mining boom, which allowed all political parties to avoid making tough policy decisions. He noted that the reluctance to pursue reform was not confined to one side of the political spectrum but affected businesses, unions, and politicians alike. He explained that when economic conditions appear favorable, such as during a boom, the public does not perceive a need for change. As a result, politicians who advocate for reform are often penalized for addressing issues that are not immediately visible or felt by the public. Cormann proposed several key areas for reform, including changes to the tax system. He suggested raising and broadening the Goods and Services Tax (GST), reducing income tax rates, and indexing them to inflation. Additionally, he recommended replacing state stamp duties with more efficient land and property taxes. Cormann also pointed out that Australia's corporate tax rate is no longer internationally competitive and should be lowered. In a move that challenges his own party, particularly at the state level, Cormann argued that the only effective way to lower home rental prices is to significantly increase housing supply. This includes allowing the construction of medium-density housing near every rail and major bus line in capital cities, with approvals processed within 30 days. The Coalition has pledged to reduce net overseas migration to 100,000 over two years before gradually increasing it to 160,000. In contrast, One Nation has advocated for negative net migration for three years. Under both policies, Australia would experience a reduction in overall migration numbers.