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We’ve Lost Australia

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, May 12th, 2025 - 45 comments
Categories: australian politics, climate change, economy, employment, Environment, health - Tags:

New Zealand was once in a sustained Australasian partnership. Now, with New Zealand tracking further and further into policy extremes, Australia – and our children – are leaving New Zealand behind.

In the course of two weeks we have seen new extremes of the policy divergence between the Australian Labor Party and the New Zealand National-led coalition.

These are just a few of the policy highlights about to be implemented in Australia from Labor’s whopping 92-seat re-election:

Health

In their 2023-25 term they tripled the bulk billing incentive for people who need to see the GP most often: pensioners, concession card holders, and families with children.

They delivered the biggest-ever reduction in the cost of prescriptions. In this coming term they will bring the maximum prescription cost for their big Pharmaceutics Benefits Schene (PBS) down to $25.

In the previous term they opened the first specialist clinic for pelvic pain and endometriosis. In the new term they will open 11 more specialist clinics like this.

They’re opening 61 free medical mental health centres nationwide. 

They are undertaking the largest GP training programme in Australian history, and greatly expanding the scholarships available for more training in nursing and midwifing.

Economy

They’ve delivered the largest back to back budget surpluses in Australian history. They’ve brought down inflation by half, generated tax cuts, delivered energy bill relief, and provided more student debt relief, all of which has brought down the Australian cost of living. 

In this next term they will deliver a tax cut for all 14 million taxpayers. Every household gets a $150 of energy bill relief. They’re going to cut student debt by 20%, and raise the repayment threshold.

Labor’s reforms helped the gender pay gap drop to the lowest level ever. They’ve had three consecutive pay increases for the 6 million Australian workers on awards.

Labor delivered $10,000 incentive payments for apprenticeships, already delivering 600,000 free TAFE places.

They will legislate to ensure that penalty rates like time-and-a-half and double time are protected. 3 million Australian workers have agreements with this in.

They are generating a Strategic Minerals Reserve by becoming the buyer of specific minerals, which will set stable price limits and smooth market volatility for producers and customers alike.

Climate and the Environment

In 2023 they delivered the largest act of environmental conservation in the world by tripling the size of the Macquarrie Island Marine Park.

For the Murray-Darling river system they delivered 100 times more water back into this system in one term then the Coalition government did in a decade. They’ve committed to 82% renewable energy in 5 years time.

Electric vehicles are exempt from the Luxury Car Tax, from import tariffs, and from the Fringe Benefit Tax. Nearly 10% of all new cars bought in 2024 were electric, with hybrids a further 15% of new car sales.

New Zealand

In the last few weeks New Zealand’s National-led government has crushed worker rights including women’s equity in pay rights, gutted public sector spending by another $1 billion, continued to scale back all spending in health both staff and facility upgrades, and is preparing to merge, scale down or eradicate more Departments. 

Maori unemployment is now at 10%. Same for Pasifika peoples. The economy is in the doldrums and simply isn’t recovering.

Their shambles of school lunches is now finally being investigated by the Attorney-General.

They have legislated 149 deals for individual company and individual benefit – a clear breach of legislative protocols against enriching specific individuals.

As a result of this governments’ leadership we lost over 56,000 people from New Zealand last year as they departed. And they aren’t really missing us either. In Australia, one of our recent losses said to the Guardian, “There’s so many New Zealanders here, it’s kind of ridiculous. Bumping into people from Wellington is almost an everyday event.”

Massey University’s emeritus professor Paul Spoonley said “I don’t know why we’re not talking about this more. We have a steep decline in fertility, a rapidly ageing population, and, out of COVID, we are seeing the rise and rise of departures.”

Australia is now one of the wealthiest countries in the world with a Labor government that is redistributing that success right across its population led by a Prime Minister with explicit and clear values which he set out on election night 2025:

Today, the Australian people have voted for Australian values.

For fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all.

For the strength to show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need.

And Australians have voted for a future that holds true to these values.

A future built on everything that brings us together as Australians and everything that sets our nation apart from the world.”

None of New Zealand’s National-coalition leaders could deliver words like that. Prime Minister Luxon is leading us away from partnership with our powerful, prosperous neighbour into a bitter, shrinking, contractarian society.

The net result is Australia is just leaving New Zealand far behind. At precisely the historic moment when our bilateral partnership needs to be at its strongest, we are declining into irrelevance.

We can only start to reverse this in 2026 by electing New Zealand Labour policies back in government, and aligning with those of the Australian Labor government who are destined to be fully the natural party of Australian leadership. 

45 comments on “We’ve Lost Australia ”

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  1. satty 1
    12 May 2025 at 9:27 am

    From an environmental point of view, there are still a number of noteworthy issues (mainly on state level). Couple of examples:

    The poor Koalas:

    Thousands of koalas are being displaced each year as blue gum plantations are cut down in Victoria, worsening overcrowding in nearby forests and exacerbating the risk of injury and death during bushfires.

    An estimated 42,500 koalas live in blue gum plantations in south-west Victoria, data shows. Between 8,000 and 10,000 hectares of plantation are harvested each year, making thousands of koalas homeless.

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/11/koalas-face-death-attacks-and-starvation-as-blue-gums-chopped-down-in-victoria

    Or the poor Maugean Skate:

    Is eating Tasmanian farmed salmon worth snuffing out 40m years of evolution?

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/07/is-eating-tasmanian-farmed-salmon-worth-snuffing-out-40m-years-of-evolution

    Of course, our Coalition of Destruction tries hard to top this:

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi’s permission from DoC to kill protected species at Mt Messenger ruled unlawful

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/nzta-waka-kotahis-permission-from-doc-to-kill-protected-species-at-mt-messenger-ruled-unlawful/RFU3VSE2UVELRGFU4BZEVF3FLY/

  2. Bearded Git 2
    12 May 2025 at 9:39 am

    Love the 82% renewable in 5 years in a country that has traditionally used fossil fuels, and the tax favourability for EV's.

    Labour over here should stand up to the COC dinosaurs by having an EV favourable tax regime in its next manifesto.

  3. tc 3
    12 May 2025 at 10:58 am

    Who can blame anyone under 40 with kids to raise. I wish them all the very best, a fantastic country.

    Aspiration over there versus austerity and a mean spiritedness here, a wrecking ball named nicola and maga styled minority parties calling the shots.

    Get out before theres an atlas hologram in charge.

    • AB 3.1
      12 May 2025 at 12:55 pm

      Aspiration over there….

      Collective aspiration there, only private aspiration here.

      • tc 3.1.1
        12 May 2025 at 1:56 pm

        Yes also the bipartisan approach to the key areas such as health, education, and infrastructure combined with State governments doing same and getting on with building it out for it's ever growing population.

  4. Scud 4
    12 May 2025 at 11:04 am

    You have forgotten it's Sovereign Wealth Fund, Future Australian Fund which has increased greatly under Albo.

    But it doesn't tax it's Gas Export revenues thanks to Johnny Howard's gas deal with the various Gas Companies, thence there is bugger all for domestic consumption especially the manufacturing sector which effects not only domestic consumption ie the building the sector but also it's ability to generate export revenues.

    • Ad 4.1
      12 May 2025 at 2:19 pm

      Oh the items I could list showing Australia's growing advantage.

      If only we'd started the Superfund like Big Norm started.

      Now, our grandchildren come back for funerals, a few come back for weddings, otherwise it's just the skiing.

      • Macro 4.1.1
        12 May 2025 at 4:32 pm

        My mokopuna are Aussie citizens now. They have spent most of their life in Australia despite being born in NZ. Indeed my eldest is hoping to join the RAN and train as a marine engineer. She could have come back here crying .

        • Scud 4.1.1.1
          12 May 2025 at 5:47 pm

          Well she will have better Pay & Conditions of Service expect for new ADF Super Scheme & the new Veterans Act which is a bit of a Dog's Bollocks than she will have in the RNZN.

          Just found some old Pay Slips just before my Med Discharge from the RAAF.

          Probably should post it up on The Standard for shits & giggles. And btw we were the scum of the Airforce as ADG's (Airfield Defence Guards aka Airforce Infantry)

      • Scud 4.1.2
        12 May 2025 at 4:53 pm

        Then you have the Australian Industry Super Funds ie the Workers Co Op non for profit Super Funds like Oz Super from the AWU investing into critical Australia infrastructure which help boost returns for its members like me.

        Haven't heard if the KiwiSaver is doing that back NZ?

        Did hear it was sniffing around the Auckland Light Rail before the Muppets decided to go underground instead above ground.

        Met up with my ex SSM on Friday, about the only good news he had was QAMR's New Bushmaster's but everything else was depressing like the cost of living ie fuel above $3 NZD, which about the same for the NT & Rural Oz. Let alone everything else atm.

        He said this National Govt reminds him of the 90's LoL.

  5. SPC 5
    12 May 2025 at 2:49 pm

    The 1901 drum calling us to be the seventh state will be heard by 2040.

    Project 139 is the alternative to the degradation of a failed state.

    The alternative to a failed state is the end of neo-liberal class rule in 2026.

  6. Binders full of women 6
    12 May 2025 at 5:29 pm

    Labour policies back in 2026.?? They had 6 years incl 3 with absolute majority. EvERY main measure went backwards incl child poverty, education, homeless, mental health. And no CGT!! Hard to trust them. Go Green & bring back Bussy

    • SPC 6.1
      12 May 2025 at 5:40 pm

      Troll No 1, I can explain why you supplied no evidence.

      AI.

      Overall, there was a decrease in the proportion of children living in households with income below 50% of the median before housing costs, with 12.7% in 2024 compared to 16.5% in 2018.

      from

      https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/child-poverty-statistics-year-ended-june-2023/

      • SPC 6.1.1
        12 May 2025 at 5:43 pm

        Since 2023

        The proportion of children living in households experiencing material hardship also saw a slight increase, with 13.4% in 2024 compared to 13.3% in 2023.

        It will be worse in 2025, because of the change of government – MW increases being so small.

    • Exactly 6.2
      15 May 2025 at 8:03 am

      6 years of Labour and almost nothing happened apart from talk, revision committees and empty promises.

      I thought with there second term they had almost total control we'd see some real progress but they just sat on there hands looking confused and lost. Sure covid happened but it did everywhere. Labour here is nothing like the Australian version.

      We are a different country and we we won't use our natural resources to our best advantage. We are small and reduced to being a producer of food for export and tourism. Till we wake up and invest in using what we have and more research and development so we can work smarter not harder nothing will change.

      Now we have Labour's coalition partner wanting to tax everyone with the money to get us moving again into packing up and running.

  7. Stephen D 7
    12 May 2025 at 5:39 pm

    Ever heard of COVID?

    • Ad 7.1
      12 May 2025 at 6:22 pm

      Your point?

      • SPC 7.1.1
        12 May 2025 at 6:32 pm

        6 response

        • Ad 7.1.1.1
          12 May 2025 at 8:56 pm

          I can't see any form or combination of government that will get what you are proposing in 2026.

          On any rational grounds, anyone who can get out of New Zealand probably should.

          • SPC 7.1.1.1.1
            12 May 2025 at 9:06 pm

            All I have mentioned here (5) is that the alternative to us becoming a failed state is to end neo-liberal class rule in 2026.

            A Labour led government would certainly end class based rule (rule of by and for the privileged), how successful otherwise in making us a 2040 bi-centennial nation state that had a continuing future would depend on a sustained period in office doing "good things".

  8. Muttonbird 8
    12 May 2025 at 6:48 pm

    Fcuk me, some unconscionable green washing of Australia by the OP:

    In 2023, Australia exported a total of $386B, making it the number 19 exporter in the world.

    During the last five reported years, the exports of Australia have increased by $101B from $284B in 2018 to $386B in 2023.

    The most recent exports are led by Iron Ore ($93.5B), Coal Briquettes ($77.5B), Petroleum Gas ($47.8B), Gold ($25.9B), and Other Mineral ($12.9B).

    $125B in exported fossil fuels, fully 1/3 of total exports in 2023…

    https://oec.world/en/profile/country/aus

    Fine, whack one out over how much much they spend on health and education but don’t pretend those monies are not the result a major contribution to global emmissions.

    • bwaghorn 8.1
      12 May 2025 at 6:59 pm

      Also don't pretend nz can compete with a country that has mineral wealth out the wazoo. That doesn't mean national are hopless by the way.

    • Ad 8.2
      12 May 2025 at 8:51 pm

      Grasping for that final thread of moral superiority may feel warm for a final few here, but most now don't blink an eye heading straight for the Western Australian mines starting at AU$150,000. They do that for 5 years working 6 days a week and they are set up for family and for life.

      Still, that warm feeling about our lower NZ carbon cost per tonne exported will certainly top up that Super.

      • Muttonbird 8.2.1
        12 May 2025 at 8:57 pm

        It's not about moral superiority, it's about you not explaining any reason for Australia's higher wealth, let alone that half its exports are from extractive industry.

        A bit of dignity and truth in posts from authors, please!

        • Ad 8.2.1.1
          12 May 2025 at 9:27 pm

          We could if we chose turn our own mined commodity – rain – into higher value exports if we chose.

          We consistently don't. Not for 150 years.

          It's not a matter of luck.

          • Muttonbird 8.2.1.1.1
            13 May 2025 at 9:07 pm

            What does this mean? I can think of four ways rain might be used:

            Irrigation (widely compromises natural habitats).

            Hydro electricity (locally destroys natural habitats).

            Fusion reactor/Deuterium production.

            Water bottling.

            Only one (maybe two) is a "mined commodity" able to be exported with higher value.

            • Ad 8.2.1.1.1.1
              15 May 2025 at 12:32 pm

              Dairy, wine, fruit, drinks, wood.

              Tourism aside those are our largest exports and they all essentially mine rain.

      • weka 8.2.2
        12 May 2025 at 10:44 pm

        They do that for 5 years working 6 days a week and they are set up for family and for life.

        except for the bit about climate and ecological collapse and their grandkids, or even their kids hating them because 'for life' no longer applies to them.

  9. Psycho Milt 9
    12 May 2025 at 8:13 pm

    Pretty sure we lost Australia at the point when they started shipping their criminals over here and both main parties were entirely OK with it. That’s going back a way now.

  10. gsays 10
    13 May 2025 at 8:54 am

    Economically and selfish points seem accurate.

    Where we are streets ahead and the envy of any Ocker with a conscious is our relationship with our first peoples, our tangata whenua.

    When a bill from the flaky extreme end of politics got proposed it was slammed down overwhelmingly by the citizenry.

    Contrast the response to Seymour's brain fart with The Voice referendum in Ozzie. They have a long way to go.

  11. Tiger Mountain 11
    13 May 2025 at 9:20 am

    My brother has lived in Queensland Australia since the 70s and he has become one in terms of comfortable conservatism.

    Oz does a number of things better than NZ in terms of pay rates and housing–but the interior is basically a burnt out sand pit with a plague of deadly fires regularly nibbling away at populated areas.

    It seems a deeply racist society given the treatment of indigenous people and migrants and Pacific neighbours. The Police are full of thugs and bent officers who are hard on dissenters. For decades Australia was US Imperialism’s Deputy Dog in the Pacific, as still evidenced lately by AUKUS.

    • Ad 11.1
      13 May 2025 at 9:28 am

      I think Queensland's comfortable conservatism is a pretty close match to our own. Queensland is the remaining Liberal stronghold.

      I wouldn't dare call New Zealand less racist than Australia. Our record is pretty damn dark.

  12. Larry 12
    14 May 2025 at 3:17 pm

    They dig all their riches out if the ground.

    Even without the greens stopping here we haven't got that wealth basis.

  13. average kiwi 13
    15 May 2025 at 10:02 am

    No, we haven’t “lost Australia.” We’ve just got different governing styles and political priorities. That’s democracy, not disaster. Luxon may not be inspirational, but governance is not just about poetry. If that were true, Shakespeare would have been Secretary-General.

    Public sector cuts in NZ? >>>>>>>>>>>Yes – $1 billion is being slashed. But Australia’s federal government cut over 3,500 public service jobs under Labor in 2023. Let’s not pretend both aren’t trimming.

    Māori & Pasifika unemployment? >>>>>>>>>>>>>True – disproportionately high. But so is Indigenous unemployment in Australia – still around 19% in some remote areas.

    56,000 people leaving NZ? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>True. But net migration surged back to record highs by early 2025 (Stats NZ), and most NZers leaving went to Australia since the 1970s – that’s not new.

    ____________________________________________

    It takes money and resources to build a country. Without strong productivity growth, innovation, and execution discipline, spending alone doesn’t make a country stronger. It just makes future corrections more painful.

    Facts:

    High Spending During Inflation Fueled More Inflation

    • Labour ramped up government expenditure significantly — especially during COVID-19 — with total expenses rising from $98 billion in 2019 to $137 billion in 2022 (Treasury NZ). Yet, GDP growth lagged behind inflation, meaning more money chased fewer goods. Result? Inflation peaked at 7.3% in 2022, the highest in three decades.

    Spending Did Not Build Lasting Infrastructure or Technological Gains

    • Despite the huge fiscal spend, major infrastructure projects remained stalled: KiwiBuild failed to meet targets, Light Rail in Auckland never broke ground, and regional connectivity remained weak.
    • Tech and innovation spending remained small relative to OECD peers. In 2022, NZ's R&D investment was only 1.47% of GDP, well below the OECD average of 2.7%.
    • SPC 13.1
      15 May 2025 at 10:38 am

      Two facts

      1.In 2024, a record number of New Zealanders migrated to Australia, driven by a significant net loss of New Zealand citizens. The New Zealand Statistics website reported a net migration loss of just over 47,000, with 72,000 departures exceeding 24,900 arrivals. The majority of these departures, approximately 56% based on available estimates, were to Australia.

      2.2024 saw a record number of people leaving New Zealand. The 127,800 departures in the year ending November 2024 were the highest on record for an annual period, according to Statistics New Zealand. This figure was up 28% compared to the previous 12-month period.

      suggest it is not possible to downplay this.

      The net migration gain of non-New Zealand citizens is 71,200.

      And so

      New Zealand had a net migration gain of 27100 in 2024

      https://www.stats.govt.nz/news/net-migration-falls-in-2024/

      Conclusions

      New Zealanders can do better offshore.

      Migrants can do better here.

      New Zealanders are becoming Australian.

      Migrants are becoming New Zealanders who serve the local rentier class. They either then realise home ownership, or they go to Oz once citizens.

      • SPC 13.1.1
        15 May 2025 at 10:43 am

        Why?

        We pay workers less and get less of our government funded by the wealthy.

        Oz has progressive stamp duty, a CGT and a top income tax rate of 45 cents.

        They have large super funds and they half own their banks.

        They get better government revenues with which to sustain a first world society economy.

        That means better universities, better research funding and a better public health system.

        • average kiwi 13.1.1.1
          15 May 2025 at 11:45 am

          Agree government as market regulator. Just at the end of the day, we need market economy to work under best economic principles for best efficiency, meanwhile we still need to take care of equality, happiness, safety, public innovations, public interests, etc.

          Purely going for the extreme left leads to tragedies. Communism, a left ideology, caused more than 30 million deaths due to hunger. The communism mechanism demotivated people to be productive and turned out not even enough food being produced. Hopefully the left ideology of NZ socialism does go too far to the extreme repeating tragedies.

          We need a strong economy, technology, and productivity, to support our socialism ideology.