Ive always found the obsession with Ross Gittins a bit peculiar. It seems that teachers peddle his articles in class, and because they are mostly editorial pieces he has a certain freedom that other journalists do not enjoy when reporting on other economic issues. He takes advantage of this freedom, and is quite deliberately controversial (in the same way as Andrew Bolt or Piers Ackerman - kind of like the shock jocks of print). So because he is left of centre, and writes with the HSC in mind, I suppose that explains why he is embraced by teachers. But god he is not. He is not even a good economist. He's just a journalist. Plenty more actual academics (not journalists) in Australia (and abroad) worthy of more praise and attention than him.