Our Pollies And We, The Voters, Need To Start Communicating

With the government/voter turbulence we are experiencing, and several thoughtful, often insightful analyses, maybe we are finally starting to have the conversation we need to have about Australia’s future and the unpalatable reform that must come from ONE of our major parties?

Some Noteworthy Comments

1. Waleed Aly, writing in The Age comments that the Coalition’s budget/austerity drive targets the poor, the sick, and youth, something we voters found repugnant and a charge the Coalition has never clearly answered. They do not reveal their financial backers either, do they? Waleed says:

“The Coalition needs a heart transplant, not a facelift…
Cosmetic changes are pointless. The Liberals need a leader who articulates the big picture and makes sense of the pain we are required to wear.”

2. Jennifer Westacott of the Business Council (BCA) commented on policy reform of previous Prime Ministers, Whitlam, Hawke, Keating and Howard in her Australia Day speech. She said we need better leadership from all our ministers.

“The country needs to adopt a radical ’10-year plan’ with clear horizons, staggered in stages, so everyone will know where we are heading.

The death of Gough Whitlam reminded me of his capacity, both in Opposition and in government, to prepare us for a more progressive, more outward-looking society.”

3. Don Argus, AO for service to banking and finance, speaks of TRUST

“A vision without trust becomes an empty slogan. To build trust leaders must be predictable and they must be prepared to share information and power…

Knowledge of human nature is the beginning and end of political education…

The goal should be a culture of candour…

The starting point is to get away from single issues and short-termism…

Greater productivity is key, and with it a focus on non-wage drivers of cost.

4. Tony Fitzgerald reminds us that governing is about the nation. All our pollies need to re-acquaint themselves with the principles for accountability and good governance.

• Govern for the peace, welfare and good government of the State;
• Make all decisions and take all actions, including public appointments, in the public interest without regard to personal, party political or other immaterial considerations;
• Treat all people equally without permitting any person or corporation special access or influence;
• Promptly and accurately inform the public of its reasons for all significant or potentially controversial decisions and actions.

The Future?

Let’s forget about sound bytes. Let’s listen to our academics and informed bureaucrats and journos. Let’s look at what works here and elsewehere in the world. Let’s look at the whole big picture, determine a fair middle path. We may need some bi-partisanship but let’s resurrect democracy and the Australian way.