While navigating the CPRS – sludge of a policy that it is – through the Senate will undoubtedly provide much of the political theatre this year, there are a number of other government reviews that will start to report back over the next few months. We’ll finally start to get some meat on the bones of the Rudd government’s policy agenda…a few months later than originally planned, but that’s hardly surprising.
For instance, the Defence White Paper, originally to report last year, is now scheduled to be released around April. If I recall correctly, there’s also a major health funding review due out soon. And the second-biggest of them all, the Henry taxation review, will roll on through 2009 (the biggest, in my view, was the CPRS). On top of that, the government will presumably respond to things like the Bradley higher education review, which reported recently.
I’d like to check with LP readers – what other major bits of policy (aside from the obvious major set-piece, the Budget) are coming over the next few months? And what kind of things might we expect in them? What should we be keeping an eye out for?
The Productivity Commission will unleash it’s Paid parental Leave recommendations this February. Despite Rudd’s “biting the bullet” comments I expect the introduction of a PPL policy to be stalled ‘due to the current economic circumstances’ till next year (conveniently before an election).
But who knows, he may have meant what he said.
The National Gas Retail Law and National Electricity Retail Law, coming out of the National Energy Customer Framework, should see the light of day as exposure drafts between now and mid feb.
An energy white paper has been announced by COAG, including upstream from exploration all the way downstream to consumer policy.
Maybe we can look forward to some results from the enormous love in last year – or perhaps the results will come out in 2020.
The Innovation White Paper is due out sometime “early” this year. It will include the response to the review of the national innovation system that was released in September.
I can’t wait to see the government’s response to the sustainability stream report. It should be a giggle, if nothing else…
Govt response to the Mortimer Review due too.
An inquiry into Gene Patent Law will have long-lasting effects, and is part of a worldwide tussle between commercial and human interests.
I’ve got details of the inquiry along with some initial thoughts here. I’m after perspectives from more people to inform my planned submission, and Pollycylics note pointed to some useful examples of the tensions and the risks if commercial interests patent us.
A study into the effects of flooding Lake Albert with seawater to combat the effects of drying acid sulphate soil deposits is expected soon. Environment Minister Peter Garrett announced the Lower Murray study early this month. You get the impression that this is one of those reluctant reports that no one wants to do, let alone implement the possible recommendations?