Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Accidents do happen, if you let them

By Graham Young - posted Tuesday, 3 February 2015


Bikie related drug crime was squashed and crime statistics improved dramatically.

Hospital queues were slashed and patients given a guarantee of treatment within time either in a public hospital, or paid by the state in a private one.

A $300M school maintenance backlog was cleared and exam results started to improve. Public housing waiting lists were cut by a third. Trains ran on time, and more frequently and construction of a congestion-busting cross-river public transport tunnel has begun.

Advertisement

Business was delighted with the government's proactive stance and the pipeline of new projects is impressive.

But good policy is not necessarily good politics.

From the beginning the government had a communications problem, which emanated from its chaotic internal management processes.

Instead of having a strong central management team which controlled the agenda, and the message, ensuring that battles were fought on only one front at a time, the ground prepared in advance, and volleys coordinated; assaults were chaotic with the government seemingly in a war against all most of the time.

One of these wars was even with the state's judiciary.

This pattern was repeated during the election campaign.

Advertisement

The government campaigned under the theme, "Strong Team, Strong Plan, Stronger Queensland" – an assertion which was never demonstrated to be true.

There was no compare and contrast with Labor's poor record.

There was also no attempt to rebut Labor's campaign, as often as not based around untruths – such as the claim that Newman had cut frontline services. In fact spending on health, education and police had increased over the period.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. 3
  5. All

A version of this article was published in the Australian FInancial Review.



Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

73 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Graham Young is chief editor and the publisher of On Line Opinion. He is executive director of the Australian Institute for Progress, an Australian think tank based in Brisbane, and the publisher of On Line Opinion.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Graham Young

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Photo of Graham Young
Article Tools
Comment 73 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy