Here’s proof positive of the malaise that besets our once-clever country. In the lead-up to the budget last Monday, ABC radio’s “The World Today” interviewed just one senior business identity for their view on what the economy needed from the government. It was Gerry Harvey.
In a progressive, innovative, competitive country – like Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Ireland or Finland perhaps – you’d expect to hear from CEOs in smart, export-oriented industries, such as biotech, energy, IT or communications. But in Australia, the most influential magnate we have is a consumer goods retailer. Isn't it really pathetic that a country's economy can be so dominated by the retail sector? No wonder the chief economic policy lever in Australia is the blunt instrument of interest rates.
And to add insult to injury for those of us who wish we were cleverer, when interest rates are hiked to slow things down, the Gerry Harveys of the world proudly proclaim it's not making any difference to them. Nope, sales just keep on keep rising!
Stephen Wilson is Managing Director of the Lockstep Group.
Lockstep Consulting provides independent advice and analysis on identity management, PKI and smartcards. Lockstep Technologies develops unique new smart technologies to address transaction privacy and web fraud.
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Comments
right interviewee - wrong ideas
The problem with interviewing someone like Gerry Harvey is of course, the trends which are concerning to the economy generally are beneficial to his sector. Specifically the electronics retail sector's interests in terms of increased spending on imported consumer goods contrasts starkly with the interests of the economy.
Although it should be recognised that in a couple of areas Mr Harvey is quite progressive and is quite rightly considered a thought leader. Harvey Norman have some great programs in terms of employing older people, and Gerry Harvey's support Peter Andrews' land management techniques has been very important in forcing a re-think in the way we manage water flow in this big dry continent.
However, from the sound of things he wasn't brought in to comment on land management or employment - he was picked on the basis that he is a successful business person not on the basis of his more progressive ideas. This reflects a deeply ingrained cultural tendency to respect individuals who have amassed wealth on that basis alone, rather than to consider other virtues.
However, it's far from new or unique to Australia. Centuries ago Adam Smith made the following observation:
Still, I agree with Mr Wilson, if we are to progress as a nation we need to cultivate a society which looks up to individuals on the basis of their actions, wisdom, talents and generosity, rather than their capacity to accumulate wealth.
Who would a clever country have as its captains of industry?
Douglasscomms makes some good points about what it is that we should admire in our leaders, and how they should come to command our respect. I agree and in this respect I have no beef with Gerry Harvey.
My only point is that a country said to be committed to innovation, competitiveness, export, and 21st century emerging industries could be expected to have prominent captains of industry other than retail chain proprietors. The fact that the sales of imported plasma TVs more or less defines our most influential and/or noteworthy leaders is surely emblematic, at so many levels, of the state of the nation.