When he ended 2019 amid literal and political smoke, it might have appeared inconceivable Scott Morrison may end 2020 on a excessive. Or that he’d have reached there on the again of Australia’s worst downturn because the Despair.
Morrison discovered from his errors of final summer time, about how he wanted to adapt his personal type, and the place energy actually lies within the federation. That information served him effectively within the COVID disaster.
He was ever-present, with frequent information conferences, and the creation of the “nationwide cupboard” – a hit regardless of arguments and fragmentation – maximised the federal authorities’s clout in a scenario the place the preponderance of energy rested with the states.
The imperatives of 2021 shall be completely different – assuming we stay largely COVID-free. In juggling the twin health-economic challenges, the emphasis shall be on the latter. Lowering unemployment shall be high precedence, requiring some delicate balancing because the fiscal life assist is eliminated.
And Australia shall be working in a world the place COVID remains to be rampant, and in a scenario additional sophisticated by deep tensions in our relationship with China.
The general public could – or could not – be in additional of a temper for political disputation in 2021, which they actually haven’t been this 12 months. If they don’t seem to be, that may work in opposition to Anthony Albanese.
The (unhealthy) instances have suited Morrison, together with making it simpler to maintain his personal troops in line. Subsequent 12 months will convey the local weather debate critically to the fore – by no means straightforward to handle internally.
With a really wholesome lead as most popular prime minister, Morrison feels assured he has Albanese’s measure. However one uncertainty is whether or not Labor would possibly change leaders. How would Morrison need to adapt his type if he confronted Jim Chalmers or, extra intriguingly, Tanya Plibersek?
As he now contemplates an unpredictable 2021, what points will the PM have entrance of thoughts? And what do consultants consider must be finished on them?
THE ECONOMY
Thursday’s finances replace instructed a greater story than anticipated as lately because the October finances. The virus’s containment and large fiscal assist have made Australia one of many few constructive standouts in a devastated world.
Development is forecast at 4.5% in calender 2021, after a fall of two.5% in 2020. Unemployment, 6.8% in November, is ready to peak at 7.5% within the 2021 March quarter. But it surely gained’t be “comfortably” underneath 6% (5.25%) till 2024.
Regardless of the encouraging prospects, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg emphasises the street forward shall be powerful and lengthy, as we transfer to a post-COVID economic system, and there are dangers to the restoration.
“These embrace the timing, distribution, and effectiveness of the vaccine in stopping the unfold of the virus globally; commerce tensions that restrict Australia’s entry to worldwide export markets; and home financial uncertainty that would result in larger family financial savings and decrease consumption,” he stated.
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
Saul Eslake, unbiased economist: “What the federal government has to do is handle and speed up the transition from insurance policies that assist pre-existing jobs and companies to insurance policies that nurture the brand new jobs and companies that shall be sustainable within the post-COVID world – and in a ‘put up China’ world the place we have to diversify markets”.
Learn extra:
To this point so good: MYEFO finances replace exhibits restoration gathering tempo
CHINA
The bilateral relationship was already unhealthy, however the 2020 deterioration has been spectacular and alarming. Riled by varied Australian insurance policies, China was additional angered by the early name for a COVID inquiry.
China is now concentrating on Australian exports starting from barley and wine to coal; this week Australia referred the barley dispute to the World Commerce Organisation. Earlier, the parliamentary 12 months ended with laws on overseas funding and agreements with overseas governments that had China within the sights.
Dealing with the connection is Australia’s 2021 overseas coverage conundrum. There’s no apparent approach ahead, with China decided to make an instance of Australia, as payback and a warning to different international locations.
Morrison repeatedly declares the federal government needs ministerial and management dialogue to renew. The Chinese language present no curiosity. Issues have been made tougher by COVID’s “digital” summit diplomacy. If 2021 sees some face-to-face summits there’ll be probabilities for in-person encounters.
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
Richard McGregor, China specialist on the Lowy Institute: “The answer isn’t solely in Australia’s arms. However assuming we wish to dial this down, we’ve to search out the best mixture of agency language (which affords no retreat from our core pursuits) and diplomatic signalling which inspires China to additionally agree to determine a ground underneath the bilateral relationship”.
Learn extra:
Taking China to the World Commerce Organisation crops a seed. It will not be a fast or straightforward win
CLIMATE POLICY
Morrison has been shifting on local weather, and the place he lands shall be vital for home politics and Australia’s worldwide popularity. Eyes are on whether or not he’ll commit Australia to the goal of zero internet emissions by 2050, endorsed by all states and, in a current Important ballot, 81% of Australians.
Joe Biden’s election, Britain’s robust stance, subsequent 12 months’s Glasgow local weather convention, and the potential for commerce limitations – all will put strain on Australia. However Morrison has to take care of Nationals and a few Liberals for whom the 2050 goal is anathema.
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
Tony Wooden, director of the Grattan Institute’s power program: “Morrison ought to announce that the federal government’s strategic goal is internet zero emissions by 2050. To make that credible, he ought to complement his authorities’s know-how focus with a dedication to ship an economy-wide funding framework to deploy these applied sciences, with legislated milestones tightly set within the brief time period and per the strategic goal in the long run”.
Learn extra:
The Paris Settlement 5 years on: huge coal exporters like Australia face a reckoning
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Onerous liners see the federal government’s reform package deal as a Clayton’s effort; pragmatists say it’s sensibly reasonable. It is going to be extremely contested over the summer time, however the authorities is signalling it should compromise. Morrison doesn’t need IR to value votes. Nonetheless he wants some outcomes, which suggests persuading Senate crossbenchers.
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
Ray Markey, emeritus professor of employment relations, Macquarie College: “The federal government ought to rebalance its employer-influenced proposals to genuinely shield casuals and gig staff, and assist real enterprise bargaining”.
Learn extra:
Likelihood for real industrial relations reform thrown underneath the omnibus
AGED CARE
The federal government this week introduced $1 billion further, however the huge selections await the royal fee’s February report. We all know – from COVID which claimed almost 700 lives amongst aged care residents and from the fee’s interim findings – the system is unfit for objective, because it faces the child boomer bubble.
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
Joseph Ibrahim, geriatrician, Monash College: “The aged care laws must be rewritten to place human rights at its centre, and sufficient cash supplied so older folks can take pleasure in their lives in the identical approach as everybody else”.
Learn extra:
3 methods to rework our ‘Soviet-style’ aged-care mess right into a system that places older Australians first
WAR CRIMES
The fallout out from the inquiry into alleged Australian atrocities in Afghanistan has been swift and divisive, with some serving and former troopers livid at Defence Pressure Chief Angus Campbell’s plan to take away a sub-unit’s quotation and the federal government’s forcing him to delay.
Veterans additionally attacked Defence Minister Linda Reynolds’ frank reference to “incidents of alleged cold-blooded homicide”.
THE EXPERT’S VIEW
Neil James, government director of the Australian Defence Affiliation: “We simply have to let passions cool so goal selections might be made within the new 12 months”.
The methods forward on all these points shall be complicated. In political phrases, the query is whether or not Morrison can keep within the new circumstances of 2021 the ascendancy he established, considerably unexpectedly, in 2020.
Learn extra:
Grattan on Friday: Australia’s conflict crimes in Afghanistan – how may these up the chain not know?
Michelle Grattan doesn’t work for, seek the advice of, personal shares in or obtain funding from any firm or group that will profit from this text, and has disclosed no related affiliations past their educational appointment.
