Issue 1, 01/07/08

Julian Leeser Executive Director Menzies Research Centre

Your Support is Welcome

Dear Reader,

Foresight is being launched today together with our new website. The New website contains information on MRC activities as well as new section on the ideas, policies and life of Sir Robert Menzies after whom the Centre is named. A particular highlight is our new documentary, Robert Menzies a life of Liberalism, as well as rare footage and audio of Menzies' speeches in our Resources Centre. There are also new papers by international relations specialist Professor Alan Dupont on Australia's new Defence whitepaper and the distinguished historian Ian Hancock on Recurring themes in Liberal history.

Innovations

We want to hear your policy ideas. You can give us your suggestions about what you would like to see Governments do in our new section I wish the Government would. We have also commenced a weekly policy forum. In this week's forum we ask, given increasing demands on the public hospital system due to an aging population, better technology and an increase in chronic health conditions, shouldn't the Government be finding a way of encouraging more people to take up private health insurance? Read more and tell us your view. If you enjoy Foresight and our new website, you might like to consider sponsoring one of our forthcoming publications or making a donation to the Menzies Research Centre.

Business and Economics

New round of British privatisations would generate operational & financial benefits.
The Adam Smith Institute argues that privatising a number of public owned British organizations and entities would deliver significant economic benefits. In a new paper by investment analyst Nigel Hawkins, the Institute makes the case for privatisation based on the British experiences dating back to 1984 The Institute estimates that the total amount generated by a new round of privatisations could be in the vicinity of £20 billion. At the same time, it would also achieve significant operational, investment and financial efficiencies.
To access the report, click here.

OECD issues profile on the future of the Internet economy.
The OECD has released a statistical profile on the future of the Internet economy. The profile compares major trends in use of the Internet across OECD and selected non-OECD countries. Among the report's conclusions is that while the Internet is opening up new business opportunities, concerns about security, trust and privacy are still stopping many Internet users from buying. There are some interesting facts about Australia in the report as well. 64% of Australian households have access to the internet. 93.5% of Australian businesses use the internet. 42% of Australians buy goods over the internet compared to an OECD average of 26%. In 2007 95% of Australian primary and secondary schools and 89.7% of businesses, had broadband access. 54.8% of businesses had their own website as well – although this is lower than the OECD average of 67%. Australia could improve e-governance - only 48.4% of businesses used the internet to return completed forms to government. E-commerce accounts for around 9.8% of Australian business turnover although 27% (OECD average 17%) of business sell and 49% (OECD average 33%) of businesses buy goods and services over the internet. One in five Australians do not shop on the internet because of security concerns. To access the OECD report, click here.

Prison reform

Drugs in prisons requires pre-emptive, intelligence-led approach.
The use of illicit drugs in Britain's prisons is widespread, but a report from the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) argues that the British government is more concerned with managing the problem, rather than resolving it. This is evidenced by the government's practice of prescribing substitute drugs, rather than preventing addiction. In place of the government's reactive approach to the problem of drugs in prisons, the CPS proposes a pre-emptive, intelligence-led approach. This would allow relevant information and intelligence to be shared throughout the prison system, as practised by other law enforcement agencies. To access the report, click here.

Education

Inexpensive private schools better serve needs of kids from low-income families.
A Canadian study has found that children from low-income homes attending inexpensive private schools perform better academically and experience fewer social problems than children attending public schools. Undertaken by The Fraser Institute, the study, based on a survey of parents, found that the incidence of bullying, fighting, drug use, and racism in inexpensive private schools was far less than in public schools. At the same time, the academic performance and social skills of private school groups was higher when compared with a similar cohort from public schools. To access the report, click here.

Housing

Delivering social justice through housing.
In a speech given to the Chartered Institute of Housing in the UK, the Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith MP – founder of the Centre of Social Justice (CSJ)– recently examined the issue of delivering social justice through housing. Duncan Smith puts forward a number of suggestions to combat what he describes as "the endemic worklessness blighting social housing". He believes that the best way to encourage personal responsibility and work requires a balance of positive incentives (e.g. financial rewards) and sanctions (obliging claimants to accept the help they're offered). Access Iain Duncan Smith's speech, click here.

Disclaimer
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Menzies Research Centre or the Liberal Party of Australia. Research and analysis produced by other organizations and reported in Foresight in no way implies the endorsement of the Menzies Research Centre or the Liberal Party of Australia. The Menzies Research Centre disclaims any liability for any statement made in this publication. The use of the materials or any information, in whole or in part, contained on this publication is your sole responsibility. The Menzies Research Centre Ltd disclaims any liability for any damages whatsoever including without limitation direct, indirect, incidental and/or consequential damages resulting from your use of materials and/or the information provided in this publication.