Solomon Lew slams ’political disconnect’

The Premier chairman has blasted both sides of Australian politics for social disconnect and lack of economic focus.

Mr Lew said recent parliamentary stunts seemed to underline a disconnect with the real world.

Billionaire rag trader Solomon Lew has blasted politicians for squandering the proceeds of the once-in-a-century mining boom while at the same time running up a huge public debt, and taken special aim at Labor Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for his steering of the state and ceding the levers of power to his union benefactors.

Introducing Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison at an Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce lunch in Melbourne today, Mr Lew took great pleasure at skewering Mr Andrews and his vindictive attack on voluntary firefighters in the state, which many experts believed kept local Coalition seats safe during the recent federal election that cost Bill Shorten what should have been an assured victory.

“In Victoria the Government appears to have ceded the control of government to its union benefactors,’’ Mr Lew told the crowd, which included a number of Liberal party powerbrokers such as Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger and Financial Services Minister Kelly O’Dwyer.

“In fact I’m surprised Daniel Andrews isn’t with us today. Given his key role in returning the Turnbull Government to office it is somewhat refreshing that he apparently doesn’t feel the need to be publicly acknowledged for his contribution before such a distinguished audience.”

But Mr Lew’s most stinging attack was reserved for the state of the national economy, including high levels of debt, a sclerotic industrial relations system, the sustainable strength of the Australian economy and its ability to face future shocks.

“Having largely squandered the proceeds of a once in a century minerals boom we now confront a spiralling public debt, high levels of personal debt, an industrial relations system that has no apparent link to productivity (weekend penalty rates being an urgent issue in retail), limited infrastructure development and pipeline, a debased system of skills formation, and the list goes on — and on and on.”

Mr Lew, who is the chairman of fashion and clothing empire Premier Investments as well as one of Australia’s richest men, also lamented the shenanigans in the nation’s parliament as Australia’s economic problems worsened.

“Against the background of the fragility of the international markets and the sheer unknowns of the international geopolitical order, your challenges — our challenges — are even greater.

“Not to mention the state of our Parliament and political parties and therefore the capacity to develop sound public policy and to govern in the national interest. I have been overseas recently, and while some say that distance provides for greater perspective and clarity, let me tell you that when I read about the recent Parliamentary sitting period, my distance away had no affect on my level of distress.”

Mr Lew said recent parliamentary stunts seemed to underline the disconnect that is developing between the imperatives and needs of the real world and the distorted priorities of many of the political class.

“As business people what we seek is a predictable government and a responsible Opposition working in the national interest to maintain an environment which supports business investment and growth.

“Australia desperately needs leadership — including through a responsible Opposition — to deal with our debt, expenditure, productivity, tax reform, industrial relations reform and our preparedness to confront our future challenges as we transition from a resource economy to a broader based economy in an increasingly turbulent world.”