I'm pinching myself!

It’s been 100 days since the election and in recent weeks, business executives and people from all walks of life have asked us the same question:

“What’s the mood like in Canberra?”

Not surprisingly, it’s rather mixed depending on whether you were expecting to be in government or not.

The Coalition, preparing for electoral defeat, is ecstatic – as one senior member exclaimed to us as we walked the Ministerial halls: “I’m pinching myself! I can’t believe we’re back!”.  

Despite being re-elected, it hasn’t been Business As Usual (BAU) for the Coalition – instead, PM Scott Morrison has refreshed his Ministry in key portfolios, and changed the top-brass in senior public service ranks.

Importantly, Morrison has also delivered a critical speech to Federal bureaucrats, urging them to “evolve”, to have a “laser-like focus on serving these quiet Australians” and to get on and implement the Government’s agenda, including through establishing new agencies like Service Australia (taking the learnings from the Service NSW model).

It’s been a somewhat quieter period for Labor members, many of whom are feeling demoralised and shellshocked as they connect with a new Leader and Shadow Ministry. As one Shadow Minister mentioned to us: “I thought we had a 50:50 chance of winning Queensland; now I realise that was being optimistic”.  

It will be another 60 days before Labor’s autopsy of its election campaign will be delivered. This will be a critical review as the ALP looks to reshape its policy agenda over the coming 3 years, and navigates the political damage caused by ICAC’s investigation into prohibited donations in NSW.

Economic and Policy priorities

The honeymoon period for Ministers and advisers has been relatively short-lived, with many needing to focus on:

• the 600-page report by the ACCC on Digital Platforms Inquiry, looking to regulate the tech behemoths Facebook, Google and other social media;

• an implementation roadmap for the Banking Royal Commission’s recommendations between now and end of 2020; and

• managing the $527 million Disability Royal Commission.

The Treasurer, in a speech to ASX-200 business executives, highlighted how corporate Australia must help lift subdued productivity and wages, by investing in growing businesses, nor share buy-backs and special dividends. Today’s Bureau of Statistics accounts for the Australian economy will provide an important litmus test for the direction in which the economy is heading.

First speeches

On a lighter note, it is always nice to be in Parliament to hear First (or “Maiden”) speeches of new Members and Senators. Below are a selection (all speeches can be found here).

Andrew Bragg (Liberal, Senator for NSW) Dave Sharma (Liberal, Member for Wentworth, NSW) Anika Wells (Labor, Member for Lilley, QLD) Daniel Mulino (Labor, Member for Fraser, VIC)