I suspect the economy will get a lot of attention from Just Peachey this year as the Government moves from managing a recession to leading a significant rise in the country's economic performance.

One of the things that the economy has to do is to replace the jobs lost in the recession. We can only do this by improving economic growth. It is economic growth that creates jobs, improves incomes and lifts living standards.

Drivers of economic growth that the Government will need to advance include:
* investment in productive infrastructure
* removing red tape and improving regulation
* supporting business innovation and trade
* lifting productivity
* improving services in the public sector
* modernising the tax system.

Look to Budget 2010 for initiatives in each of those areas.

As an aside I was interested to note that under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 assets valued at $7.4 million were seized in the first two months of the Act's operation. This is an example of the Act being used to crack down on illegal gang profits.