In the last quarter of a century while New Zealand has suffered three recessions, Australia has enjoyed an uninterrupted and unprecedented run of economic growth. Why would we need economic reform? The problem in Australia is that any suggestion of economic reform gets shouted down before it has even had a chance to be debated and considered. Australia's GST rate is just 10 per cent, compared with an OECD average of close to 20 per cent, and food, healthcare and education are untaxed. The hard-earned part of Australia's prosperity is due to economic reforms introduced by the Hawke and Keating Labor governments of 30 years ago.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 19, 2016 23:31 UTC