Originally Posted by
Jamo
KRudd (and to some extent the Reserve Bank) made a fundamental mistake in dealing with the GFC.
The IMF instructed countries to engage in massive expenditure/incentive programmes to mitigate the worst effects. KRudd listened and obeyed blindly.
Australia, unlike the majority of the western world, had relatively high interest rates at the time (some would now argue that they were too high, but that's another argument).
The rest of the world had to engage in spending because they had virtually no room to lower rates. Australia on the other hand had plenty of room. We should have lowered rates substantially before looking at expenditure and handouts. They were lowered, but nowhere near far enough.
Yes, on the surface Krudd did get us through the GFC, but at what cost? We now have massive debt. The immediate effects of the GFC may have been mitigated, but the resultant debt will cause some very serious aftershocks.