Rudd’s Innovation Scorecard to date 8/10
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ANALYSIS, Australia – In the first 70 days of Australia’s new leadership, the 2thinknow assessment is that things look promising for innovation under new Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The 2thinknow scorecard on Rudd and innovation is an 8 out of 10.
Why?
The main reason, is that unlike some politicians he is actually personally championing change. And it’s not change of ideology or dogma, but the sort of practical change Australia needs.
Shortly, I will list the 7 steps Rudd took towards innovation in the 70 days.
But first some background.
The Howard Year’s Innovation not a priority…
Departed Prime Minister Howard’s free-market-at-all-costs attitude has hamstrung infrastructure investment, and is the reason for rampant (previously undiagnosed) inflation.
Inflation in Australia, and globally, has been rampant for some time now, and will only get far worse, as small business and households in Australia strain under rising costs.
Inflation driven by growth. And as a result of the Howard years, many Australian voices had turned against government intervention in the economy.
Which is like ignoring your left arm (government), because you want to practice doing everything with you right (business) only.
The 2thinknow position is that a society functions best with strong private and State involvement in the economy, and smaller countries like Australia should be a ‘middle-way’ between France and the USA.
The Rudd 70 days of innovation
Here’s an initial analysis of what Rudd is doing for innovation.
As we said, first of all it’s coming off a low base. So any PM after Howard (the Great Obfuscator) will look like he is creating change.
And as an increasingly Right-wing government, Howard stifled innovation and focused on conservative business over any form of innovation. Howard could be heard to yawn at the mention of innovation.
But Rudd is making real progress, solid progress, on a national agenda of innovation.
The Democrats in America should look South.
1. Catch-up & Innovation - ratify Kyoto and lead America
Rudd ratified Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. Largely symbolic, yes. But important. Rudd met with Gore.
Rudd’s team Penny Wong & Peter Garrett, as well as other’s in the room, stood up to the USA representatives and Australia’s role was instrumental to the changed US position on climate change, made more difficult under the current US administration.
Globally significant action on climate change.
2. Catch-up - Apologize to indigenous people
Steal their land and their children, at least, we should say sorry. Other countries did.
And we also need to move forward pragmatically. The devil’s in the detail, but this issue should have been resolved before 2008. Well done to strike a balance.
3. Potential Innovation - New Garnaut Report, (hopefully) authoritative on Climate Change
The Stern Report doesn’t go far enough, although Europe is leading the way. I think Stern had a lot of flawed assumptions. Australia’s potential role for global leadership is potent.
The Jury’s still out on this, but it’s important to get it right. Initial news seems good.
As long as coal, mining and Australia’s heavy vested interests in carbon intensive business and lifestyles don’t dilute the report.
4. Catch-up - Initiatives on homelessness
As written in the Global Innovation Review and in this journal, homelessness, mental health and drug use are endemic issues.
Fix these issues (really about mental health, ostensibly a bi-partisan issue) and fix broader social problems that block positive, healthy societies.
Homelessness is an important component of social justice. Ignored until now by States & Howard.
5. Catch-up - Start to fix Health Care federally
Initial commitments and start towards this. State & Federal co-operation. Big issues after Howard privatized and ‘gutted’ the national health care system.
French State health-care delivers better outcomes than US-style private healthcare. We can hope to see a rise in health care standards, as a minimum.
6. Innovation - Solid Ministerial choices
Whilst Howard had some good ministers, his final 5 years not about doing anything. And Peter Costello and his team did the economic heavy lifting.
In terms of services, Howard’s goal was to do as little as possible and have the free market do all the public services heavy lifting.
7. Innovation and Catch-up - Infrastructure Australia
The single biggest potential problem in Australia is infrastructure.
Transport, roads, ports, rail, aviation and related logistics were identified as major issues to future innovation in Australia within the Global Innovation Review.
Setting up Infrastructure Australia, run by a cross-function national, states, local & business team is a potential solution to the issue.
Sadly, Howard allowed total neglect of infrastructure in Australia and overheated the economy so that infrastructure gaps would become distinctly noticeable.
Rudd now has a chance to rectify it. As always detail is needed.
But the broad direction is sound from the viewpoint of enabling implementation of innovation, and access to overseas markets mid-term & longer-term.
8/10 to date
Well done Mr Rudd.
Soon, we will post an analysis of the major roadblocks to innovation in Australia.
Christopher
Speaker. Author. Editor-In-Chief. Executive Director of Innovation, 2thinknow.
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