This week and next the Bert Kelly Research Centre and the Institute of Public Affairs will be launching the release of the much-anticipated biography of “The Modest Member” Bert Kelly, written by Hal Colebatch.
As many readers of this blog are aware, Bert Kelly was for many years an unceasing advocate for free-market ideas and policy reform within the commonwealth parliament. Kelly was famed for his “Modest Member” and “Modest Farmer” newspaper columns, which had a critical effect in shifting sentiment away from protectionist policies which distorted Australia’s industrial structure and impeded economic progress.
The launch promises to be an event not to be missed! For those interested in attending the Adelaide or Melbourne functions, the booking details are below:
Adelaide
Date: Tuesday 16 October 2012
Time: 12.30pm
Venue: Bert Kelly Research Centre, 77 Fullarton Road, Kent Town
RSVP: [email protected] or phone 08 7070 0077
Melbourne
Date: Thursday 25 October 2012
Time: 5.30pm-7pm
Venue: Rendezvous Hotel, 328 Flinders Street, Melbourne
RSVP: http://rsvp.ipa.org.au/?ee=37 or phone 03 9600 4744
Any Australian with a remote understanding of political and economic history would be despairing at what currently passes as government and policy making in this country – on both sides of the House.
Bert Kelly provides just another very good example.
Fortunately for Australia, we’ve been moving away from the fanatical so-called “free market” ideology which did so much to make this country such an unequal and unfair place during the last quarter century. Kevin Rudd made a marvellous speech during his prime-ministership on this point.
Bert Kelly was a poisonous element in this aberration, as was John Hyde. Amazing how so few individuals can be so destructive in such a short time span.
An accurate summation of our current feral gubberment.
Well done, hammster.
Whitlam referred to Kelly’s contributions as the greatest of all members. (hmmmm….but is that a compliment?)
S’funny, since his policies were basically the same, but incompetent. in fact, I’m pretty sure that privatisation ground along at the same snail’s pace and various subsidies were wound back at about the same rate.
In fact, the ALP quietly and completely eliminated a grant that was in place to help farmers buy a house when their farm went under thanks to drought; 6-10 years of no income and a local collapse in farm prices can annihilate the best-laid plans, pushing even established businesses past zero equity so fast it’d make your head spin.
Kevin Rudd, the Farmer’s Friend! Turns out that the ALP’s compassion extends only to people who vote their way.
Yeah, Howard was such a flash in the pan that it’s astounding he had any impact at all…