The economic importance of rent seeking. Not.
Picture this.
The head of the CFMEU, puts on a nice suit and tie, and writes a very articulate opinion piece. In it, he compares constructs a strawman camparing Australia’s worker protections to those in one of the “lesser” quality environments, lets say Qatar where, you know, slave labour was used to construct stadiums for world sporting events.
The well dressed, well coiffed, and articulate head of the CFMEU then makes a case for more anti-competitive regulation and subsidies to his members - because it is in the national interest.
How would Australians respond? Not favourably I imagine.
But throw a while lab coat over the suit and a fancy academic title and with that comes a difference response.
Well, writing last week in the pages of The Australian, the vice-president of the Australian Medical Association did just this.
But before getting into the details, let’s do a compare and contrast.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is the peak professional body for doctors in Australia.
The AMA promotes and protects the professional interests of doctors and the healthcare needs of patients and communities.
Representing doctors, the AMA works with governments to develop and influence health policy to provide the best outcomes for doctors, their patients, and the community.
The AMA represents and supports all Australian doctors and medical students. We are member-run and led, fighting for fairness and equality, and lobbying and campaigning on the issues affecting the medical profession.
According to the CFMEU website:
A Principled Union
The core principles and purpose on which the Union is founded is written in its rules. To uphold the right of combination of labour, and to improve, protect, and foster the best interests of the Union and its members, and to assist them to obtain their rights under industrial and social legislation. The principles that have underpinned the work of the Union include:
Solidarity – a Union bound in solidarity and unity with the members and the Union movement.
Justice – a Union that is committed to justice and fairness for the working class.
Equality – all members are equal no matter where they live and should be free of discrimination and harassment no matter who they are.
A Strong Union
The CFMEU will continue to deliver for its members. It keeps workers safe on site. It protects and improves wages and conditions. It leads campaigns that change the law and make life better for members and all working people. It will continue to make workplaces safe, free of violence and menacing behaviour.
The Union will have a plan covering its operations and build capacity to win for members, be a leader in the movement, and grow in strength.
They both exist to advance the interests of their members. One is a union. One is an association. Potato, potatoe.
Anyhow, in his piece in the Australian, Associate Professor Rait is vice-president of the Australian Medical Association complained about private hospitals abd insufficient government subsidies. He also requested a new regulator, of course, in the Private Health System Authority. Not to regulate doctors but to regulate private health insurers.
Why - to mandate a “minimum payout ratio of 90 per cent for hospital treatment”. The code for this is higher premiums and higher taxes (because of the health fund subsidy). And to where will this higher payout go? To Associate Professor Rait’s fellow AMA members.
Solidarity forever. Solidarity for every.
He is basically asking, demanding for a transfer of resources, using state force, from the citizens to the doctors.
Sounds like a union to me.
The AMA looks like a union and "quacks" like a union. If they ever had credibility (big IF), their stance during the Covid response removed what was left.
It is not a tax subsidy to allow for health costs against labour income - you have to stay well to work!