The teeth of common sense need to be bared

Parliament can create this protected structure for vital long term economic policy by injecting real democracy into democracy, not just voting along party lines so the next Government can overturn decisions to appear different. That's not real democracy.

I've suggested we have a two year parliamentary debate, drawing from expert sources nationally and internationally. Collectively we decide what is the vital 30% long term economic policy that will underpin Australia's economic growth and security?

After this two year debate, covered extensively by the media, legislation is drafted. Real democracy is injected into democracy by allowing all 226 Members and Senators to have a conscience vote on what is best for Australia.

226 politicians take off their party hats, their career hats, their self-interest hats and put on their "what's-best-for-Australia" hat. After all, isn't that why they were first elected?

Once this long term Bedrock Economic Policy is locked in and legislated it is only amended every five years. This only happens after another two year parliamentary debate to improve legislation followed by another conscience vote by all Members and Senators.

Bedrock Economic Policy - including core tax, infrastructure, health, education and productivity policy- is now owned by the institution called the Federal Parliament and not by any political party that happens to be in power at a given point in time.

Bedrock Economic Policy is never a political football. It's too important. Its five year review cycle never coincides with the three year election cycle. That still leaves 70% of federal policy with which the political parties can play PR branding games where they pretend to be oh so different.

All parties win because the Australian economy grows which means bigger tax revenues to allow Governments of the day do better things for Australia. Hard decisions can be made with Bedrock Economic Policy because there will be no finger pointing between parties. All take credit, all take blame – all decisions are done for what's best for the country not party.

I haven't met any individual in Australia over the past two years who thinks my idea is not at least worth discussing – including individual politicians and media. Yet, as individuals become groups, hunting for headlines and votes, neither media nor politicians show interest in putting Bedrock Economic Policy on the national agenda for this election.

It appears what's best for Australia doesn't come first on anyone's agenda. This includes most of the voting public, who enjoy complaining (because it's easier) or sending nasty emails or tweets (because its anonymous or just plain trolling fun).

On a recent trip north I couldn't get a regional newspaper interested in the virtue of Bedrock Economic Policy or even 12 Queensland Senators hunting for Queensland on tourism and infrastructure projects rather than simply voting along party lines. Instead the paper gave a next morning splash to a candidate running for the Rise Up Australia Party who was convinced the recent Queensland floods were caused by a United Nations secret cloud seeding experiment.

Yep - plenty of logic, common sense and maturity there to secure our long term economic future for our kids and grand kids.