TOPIC:

I would put it to everybody that Australia’s political system needs a major overhaul to re-engage the public and produce effective government in todays society. The downsizing of State Governments, changes to the voting system, the recruitment of more talented politicians, and a more liberal attitude to the disclosure of information are amongst a suite of reforms that the doyen of political commentators says should be considered.
The federal structure was essential in the formation of the nation. Nowadays it has become a hindrance to efficient and effective government. Duplication, even triplication is rife and inefficiencies everywhere. The recruitment of more talented politicians should be of paramount importance.

Ain't gunna happen mate. Too many fat cats getting too much money. They all look after themselves - whichever party they belong to.

The public is perfectly engaged in this debate about the budget, it is the reason the minor parties have blocked it. If you are in any doubt about what will happen to those minor parties should they let the budget cuts pass, think about what happened to the Democrats; they helped 'water down' Howard's GST, and rightly, were never seen again. The man never included those budget cuts in the Queen's speech; he has no right to complain at all. The duplication is caused by the Commonwealth not the States

Each state should consider its own GST to get out of the financial stranglehold of Canberra. This is common place in Canada, there being a federal VAT from Ottawa and Ontario VAT and so on. Re-forming the Federation would in no way assist WA, the end result would be more power going to the East and Canberra itself.

westaussieguy wrote: I would put it to everybody that Australia’s political system needs a major overhaul to re-engage the public and produce effective government in todays society. The downsizing of State Governments, changes to the voting system, the recruitment of more talented politicians, and a more liberal attitude to the disclosure of information are amongst a suite of reforms that the doyen of political commentators says should be considered.
The federal structure was essential in the formation of the nation. Nowadays it has become a hindrance to efficient and effective government. Duplication, even triplication is rife and inefficiencies everywhere. The recruitment of more talented politicians should be of paramount importance.

Maybe they should look at the South Australian system where their House of Assembly(the upper house) is only a house of review and amendments and CANNOT overturn a bill from the lower house. South Australian Legislative Council.(the lower house. could have that back the front? Read this for information

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australian_Legislative_Council

It is is almost impossible to govern when you have a hostile Senate and one party just doesnt play the game because they motives are not Australia but Party politics with a few erratic independents who got voted in because of the Stupid Senate proportion of votes where they get very little support jet get in.

Both parties have had this problem and not just picking on Labor here.
Once again the voters have the final call at the next election if they are not happy instead of a minority party running this country.

Better still do what Queensland did and abolish the upper house all together.

The Senate does give a bit of balance, but it has gone haywire, it was only ever designed to represent and protect state rights, that pricipal has been diregarded. It needs to get back to its original purpose.

Don't get me started on that damned gst thing. When introduced, it was apparently going to be divided equally amongst the states, so we were all told. Wonder how we went off the track there? The government scammed everyone with that. Politicians still squabble to this day about it, when it was supposedly the answer to everything and the states would be simply awash with money! So we were told.

Yeah the Rules were that it would allow for short falls , the broke states got top ups when needed and the cashed up ones got less, what it didnt factor in was thing like although WA had big Royalties cash , it also had huge population growth with all the extra costs associated with and extra infrastructre health, education, law and order etc.

The rate is ridiculously low, the lowest in the world and the fact that half the stuff is excempt is a joke.

Wack it up to 15%, broaden the base and be done with it.

the worst thing about the GST allocation model is its based on 3 year old data. when working out how much each state should get, currently WA is still seen as rolling in the stuff based on iron ore royalties from 3 years ago which we all know has dropped significantly in recent times.

the data needs to be current and up to date...also the eastern states should have their gambling revenue included which at present they don't for whatever reason. we're really getting screwed by the other states and agree with barnett when he whinges about lack of fairness.

An article on radio today said that if we don't reign in the deficit, it could blow out to 1 trillion dollars over the next 10 or so years. Probably not a good time to have the Drunken Sailor Party in power methinks.

Cardy wrote:

westaussieguy wrote: I would put it to everybody that Australia’s political system needs a major overhaul to re-engage the public and produce effective government in todays society. The downsizing of State Governments, changes to the voting system, the recruitment of more talented politicians, and a more liberal attitude to the disclosure of information are amongst a suite of reforms that the doyen of political commentators says should be considered.
The federal structure was essential in the formation of the nation. Nowadays it has become a hindrance to efficient and effective government. Duplication, even triplication is rife and inefficiencies everywhere. The recruitment of more talented politicians should be of paramount importance.

Maybe they should look at the South Australian system where their House of Assembly(the upper house) is only a house of review and amendments and CANNOT overturn a bill from the lower house. South Australian Legislative Council.(the lower house. could have that back the front? Read this for information

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australian_Legislative_Council

It is is almost impossible to govern when you have a hostile Senate and one party just doesnt play the game because they motives are not Australia but Party politics with a few erratic independents who got voted in because of the Stupid Senate proportion of votes where they get very little support jet get in.

Both parties have had this problem and not just picking on Labor here.
Once again the voters have the final call at the next election if they are not happy instead of a minority party running this country.

What is a joke is when Abbott, Hockey, Cormann, Pyne et al complain about a hostile Senate and mandates. Perhaps they should review what their party did in 1974 and 1975 and after the 2007 election as three examples of heir pure and base hypocrisy.