The John Hyde Archives
Historic archive of articles and newspaper columns written by former Australian politician John Hyde OAM.
Law
Retrospective taxation can be fair
- The argument against it is retrospective taxation is the imposition of an unforeseen retribution.
- The party that is liable should have their liability limited to the Crown.
- An individual's liability should be limited only up to the net benefit from the sale of the company.
Less Haste makes for better bills
- The Parliament passes legislation too quickly.
- Most members understood or even read any bills, which are unnecessarily complex.
- Only in rare circumstances, should innovative legislation be passed in less than four months.
Sex Discrimination
- Society discriminates and would not function without doing so.
- Legislation fails to distinguish between choice from prejudice
- It is not possible to stop rational discrimination by passing laws.
- There is an economic cost to discrimination and it is better to let the market dictate.
Democracy & Property Rights
Individual Rights Law Politics
- Governments when they revoke property rights change the value of whatever underlying property the rights were attached to.
- The right to trade one's efforts is as important as a right to free speech and is even more relevant in everyday life.
- Many politicians don't understand the principles that they violate and the harm the arises.
Who's a liberal?
- Traditional young liberal concern for human rights, environment and discrimination is in good hands.
- The spread of income level is narrowest in societies which are the freest and the disadvantaged the least oppressed where privilege is not maintained by law.
Of Paddington Bear and Medicare
- Regulation as a means of control
- Uneven enforcement
- Confusing legislation, that is, it is hard to adhere to the regulations.
Keep the Czar far away from us.
Individual Rights Law Politics
- Liberty is freedom from the only legal organisation that is permitted to use force (The government)
On the right to strike
Industrial Relations Monopoly Law
- There is a misuse of legal power to create monopolies.
When Elephants Mate
- Consensus should never be used to replace a clear legal framework that protects the rights of the individual.
The Wages Debate
- Most people resent the abuse of union power and fear that the unions will bring the country to its knees before giving up power.
- Legally binding awards and trade union monopoly powers which constraint people which they did not agree to are morally reprehensible.
Retrospectivity 3
- When a law is interpreted in an unintended way, a new law confirming things are they are thought to be may enhance certainty and equity.
The Constitution and Human Rights
- We are all underprivileged in something and none of us in everything. *
- The most important role of any constitution should be the protection of citizens by limiting the power of the government.
Two Ways of Coping with Unions
- Reducing the power of unions until they have to obey the law like everyone else.
- Passing legislation to override the power of the unions.
Political Corruption
- Legislators are above the law in that if they do not like a law they can amend it. However, they can never be above the principles of justice and equality.
- A state that confers privileges that it cannot legitimately justify is corrupt.
One Australia
Politics Individual Rights Law
- The state cannot give us complete legal equality. We also will not agree with the privileges afford to the different classes of Australians.
- However, if Mr John Howard can get rid of unreasonable privileges, it will have the result of making the most of us equal legally.
Strong Government
- We should not slavishly follow any other country, but we can learn from some. The legal and moral restrains that support a free-market economy should be reformed to make them better.
Donald Trump Must Be an Australian*
- One possible consequence of current corporate troubles is new laws that constrains the honest, enables the dishonest and raises inefficiencies. Donald Trump might consider emigrating to Australia.
SGIC
- Civil authority relies on trust and the true cost to WA society is the potential damage to legislative authority.
The Environment
Environment Law Regulation Politics
- Governments thinking of using regulations to protect the environment should take into account any externalities them proceed with caution and having respect for the rule-of-law and democracy.
Of Paddington Bear and Medicare
- By using the law without any overview to punish doctors for procedural errors that are hard to get correct, it causes the principle of certainty before the law.
About
John Hyde OAM is a former Australian politician. He was elected as the member for the Division of Moore in Western Australia for the Liberal Party.
John Hyde OAM is the author of Dry: In Defence of Economic Freedom.