Let’s get real. Australia’s exceptionalism is being lost, not found
Tuesday’s budget will frame a narrow political contest in which the main parties avoid the decisions needed to secure what is slipping from the nation’s grasp.
Jim Chalmers is promising Australian exceptionalism, but it could be too late. AFR
Jim Chalmers spouts a new Labor-supported “Australian exceptionalism” that Tuesday’s election budget supposedly will build upon in its next term.
But let’s get real. Australia’s exceptionalism is being lost, not found. Tuesday night’s budget will frame a narrow political contest in which the main parties avoid the policy decisions needed to secure an exceptionalism that is slipping from the nation’s grasp.
Michael StutchburyEditor-at-largeMichael Stutchbury is editor-at-large. He is in his fourth decade of writing for and editing national newspapers. After nearly six years as editor of The Australian, he returned to the Financial Review as editor-in-chief (2011-2024). Email Michael at mstutchbury@afr.com
