cheers bro.... theres no easy answers to managing inflation with conundrums everywhere. raise wages and the right cry poor and blame the workers for their greedy need for food andrent (either/or is not adequate they say).
yet the Libs keep chiding the gov for ignoring increasing expenses to families as if they want a 10% wage increase.... really only setting up a dilemma trap for the Labs - if they increase wages they can then be said to put more inflationary pressure and if they don't push wages up they're ignoring the need of the poor.
the Libs want it both ways but Albanese has taken the middle course and defused the dilemma by asking for an inflationary neutral pay rise.
yes its highly contentious and I would rather they'd push for a 3.5% rise to reduce inflationary pressure, but I can't blame them for going to the more neutral position.
on the other hand, austerity is an immoderate term. it implies a severity of budget and wage cuts rather than any increase at all. this has been shown in previous recessions to reduce GDP growth excessively.
will the Libs have the courage to argue against a pay rise? or will they go and hide in their offices again?
