It's our system that is stuffed

Another problem is the crisis in the level of talent among our elected officials. Political parties are suffering from declining memberships and their own gene pool is contracting. Fewer of our elected officials are from the broader community.

More of them have had only limited careers or work experience outside their own parties, which, in turn, have ceased to be representative of the electorate. So let's consider other methods of recruiting into the ministry the best and brightest that our society has rather than just relying on those of one political allegiance.

This means a fundamental change to Westminster government, but Westminster is not working in Queensland, so let's do it.

Then there is our public service. It has grown too much and has become increasingly politicised during the past two decades. It has lost any semblance of independence and the quality of its advice has declined. It has become too responsive to the whims of elected officials.

Even Queensland Treasury is a pushover these days as Queensland's growing herd of white-elephant projects, deficit fiscal situation and declining credit rating testify.

Unlike Canberra we do not have the independent advisory bodies that provide the analysis that we all can see. We need a State Priorities Commission to identify key infrastructure needs based on publicly released cost-benefit studies and with open consultation.

Where is Queensland's intergenerational report on our ageing population and its policy impact for the future? Do we have to wait for another crisis? The present Planning Information and Forecasting Unit has done great work on population issues but is now buried in State Treasury. It should be an external independent body so we can see all the evidence and hear its unfiltered views on population trends.

Voters also want more direct means to input into decision-making, not sham consultations about decisions already made. Community cabinets had some impact, but more substantial changes are required. That means opening up the decision-making processes and devolving responsibility to local communities.

We could start with a parliamentary committee on education to consider community input on our school curriculums.

We could have more community ownership of public schools.

We could promote more open and competitive arrangements in the delivery of a whole range of public policies, from education to infrastructure.

Queensland needs a new public service that is re-professionalised (not restructured) and insulated from political interference but accountable through annual reporting to independent boards of management about specified performance targets.

This means a revitalised and independent Public Service Commission to manage the integrity of the system and public and bipartisan scrutiny of senior appointments to the bureaucracy, government boards and the judiciary.

Queensland will soon have lots of shiny new infrastructure. But to get the most out of it we need a new governance infrastructure based on the solid foundations of democratic practice, transparency and maximum citizen involvement.

With fewer constitutional limitations than at the federal level, there is no reason why Queensland cannot lead in this process of governance renewal. We need to start now. It needs to happen at a state level.