Money is the weapon in this war

Perhaps if we want a more responsive political process we should change the system of voting to first past the post.

There is a case for decentralisation in rural areas; one area of concern is the provision of health services. A greater involvement on the part of local government in health delivery together with the reinstatement of hospital boards might assist in meeting normal standards.

The running of Post Offices might be contracted out to local government as a means of raising extra money. We might look at common purchasing practices by local government and the centralisation, or perhaps outsourcing, of town planning.

Even outside of this debate and certainly as part of any change to government the commonwealth should, as a matter of urgency (be made to) accept responsibility for all major infrastructure development, perhaps in conjunction with defence spending, spending on ports, airfields, roads, railways and the delivery and conservation of water.

The scope for the introduction and implementation of efficiencies within and between the three levels of government are infinite and would no doubt save a lot of money. I can’t see a case for the abolition of state government within the terms now being proposed, mainly because of the abuse of power by the Howard Government. If this democracy is going to function as we want, we need to look at ways of preventing those abuses occurring again.

A start might be to create a standing committee on the preservation and enhancement of democracy comprising members of all three tiers of government.

Issues relating to media reform, and ways and means of boosting our collective self confidence and respect, are matters for another debate and other papers.