Peta Credlin: Without strong leaders our country is doomed

It is not consensus that delivers change but leadership that makes a case for change — and is prepared to lose in a good cause, writes Peta Credlin.

Two reports this week have shown that we’re good at calling for reform but hopeless at deciding what that reform should be.

That’s been the story of the past few years: lots of demands for reform, in general, but no one prepared to take a political risk by advocating anything in particular. Other than more immigration, of course, which makes overall GDP larger, but not necessarily GDP per person, which is the only thing that really counts.

First, there was the latest iteration of the Inter-Generational Report, released every five years, which forecast the Commonwealth budget remaining in deficit for the next 40 years.

Even this, though, was far too optimistic because it was based on an assumption of productivity growth being consistently much higher than anything we’ve actually achieved over the past decade.

Australia is in desperate need of reform in certain areas. Picture: iStock

Then, there was a so-called blueprint for reform from the Business Council of Australia seeking a “modern tax regime, export diversification, open borders, educational excellence, reduced social disadvantage, a robust federation, and (naturally) a clear path to net zero emissions by 2050”.

It was billed as a “bold action plan” but was actually a complete cop-out, given that the BCA is not prepared to lend its name to any particular policy to deliver all these outcomes.

Rather than put forward specific proposals, instead, the BCA just puts forward topics for discussion.

That’s not leadership from what I regard as the country’s premier business group. Is it any wonder that elected and accountable governments are reluctant to put their hands up for reform, when the bodies that are supposed to be the experts are too timid to make any specific recommendations?

Sadly, given the numbers in the senate, the only “reforms” capable of getting through involve more spending and more regulating.

Wanted: people in authority who understand that it’s not consensus that delivers change; but leadership that makes a case for change; and is prepared to lose in a good cause.

Without such leadership, our country is doomed to slow decline.

Watch Peta Credlin on Sky News, weeknights at 6pm