George Orwell once observed:

‘Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them.’

What would Orwell say about Australian academics?

There is a Federal election coming and so out come all the grand ideas. A particular favourite is tax reform which is really a euphemism for tax increases. And stepping up to the plate, yet again, is the academic op-ed writer in chief, Profession Richard Holden of the University of NSW.

Writing in the AFR, Professor Holden notes:

‘Whichever side of politics wins the federal election will need to face up to the urgent task of tax reform.