9. SELLING THE FARM AND THE ESSENTIALS

This warrants more comment. Not only do we sell our companies to overseas ownership, but our country has also gone from heavyweight to lightweight. We sell millions of tonnes of ‘Australia’ offshore each year –

 then buy back as manufactured products. Never would we put that resource through local manufacturing processes.  We mine gas and commit almost all (WA excepted) to fulfilling overseas contracts. We sell it in the futures market, leaving our domestic situation short and compensating by charging hugely for energy consumption on the home front.   Now Treasurer Hockey wants states and territories to sell government-owned assets, using money to commit to infrastructure – which will depreciate with time. So, we are going toward short-term gain for long-term pain. Our blessed country is in a poor state of health.