The path to neoliberalism

Bandt v Keating

It is probably foolish to get into this argument, given how absolutely committed the rusted-ons on either side will be to their version of events—and given that the terms involved, ‘neoliberalism’ in particular—are infinitely contested at the best of times, but it did strike me as interesting that Paul Keating rejected the label of neoliberalism when his government was described as such by Adam Bandt the other day:

Keating rejected Bandt’s claim, made in a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, that Labor had pursued “neoliberal” policies like privatisation and engaged in “austerity” budget policy.

“This is both a lie and a slur,” Keating said.

“How could any reasonable person describe the universality of Medicare as an exercise in conservative neoliberalism? Or providing the whole Australian community, every working person, with mandated capital savings leading to substantial superannuation assets and retirement incomes.

“How could any reasonable person describe these mammoth ch…