China

[ElwoodBlues1]

So, because the LNP thought they were protected by the US so all they had to do was talk tough, it falls to Labor to do all the hard work and find the money? I'm thinking this is a bit like the Libs in Victoria committing $50b to the East-West Link on the eve of an election and imposing penalties for cancellation in the hope it would stuff up Labor's priorities.

We've recently discovered that a sharp increase in gas prices that ordinarily should have been revealed on 1 May was mysteriously delayed until after the election and just as mysteriously the RBA has just realised it needs to make serial interest rate rises. And now, without saying flatly that the LNP dropped the ball, you say that Labor needs to massively increase military expenditure to such a point it will become unpopular. Pardon me if I'm a bit cynical about your viewpoint that diplomacy is useless and a massive military buildup is the only way.

Everyone knew about the RBA rises well out from the election, inflation was running at 8% in the USA and is about 5% here, the RBA target about 2-3% inflation. The previous interest rate rise was too low as the RBA didnt want to go hard, there will be more rises as there will in the USA where we take our lead from. The reality is people who have over borrowed will be in trouble but low interest rates were never a given to stay that way even though Phil Lowe promised no hikes till 2024.
Australia is in for a tough time like a lot of countries but the Ukraine War, China Lockdown and inflation are the reasons...no one is blaming the Labor Government and the RBA are only doing their job.
Gas prices are due to the hike in global prices, bad timing for labor but not exactly a secret that energy prices are up around the world, no one is blaming Labor again, fossil fuel prices are up...supply and demand. Less reliance on fossil fuel energy needed...maybe time to think nuclear but someone needs to pay for the transmission line upgrades as the Australian system is falling apart, that means foreign investment and your Chinese friends owning more of our Electrical Suppliers/Distributors but you wouldnt mind that I guess?
Dan Andrews is your expert on how to blow money on infrastructure capital expenditure, think he holds the record for so many overblown budgets on infrastructure projects in Victoria. Dan isnt good with figures though and has a problem with working out who signs off on contracts and where the money went so maybe dont waste your time...