boyo
Mark Ella (57)
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-joe-tripodi-to-be-investigated-for-corruption-20131101-2wn1j.html
Joe Tripodi comes under ICAC scrutiny.
About time.
Joe Tripodi comes under ICAC scrutiny.
About time.
Well, I'm going to stand up for state governments, more for the concept than the reality. If we need to reduce the amount of government, I'd rather get the Federal government back to focussing on its core functions, and leaving items like health and education to the states, as far as possible. Duplication of funding and oversight leads to confusion and buck-passing, obviously. But better then to let the states do what they are supposed to be doing, and keep the Federal government out of it.
Should Australia remove a layer of government and remove state governments, but keep the states as geographical areas?
Some say that Australia is over-governed.
Discuss.
Well, I'm going to stand up for state governments, more for the concept than the reality. If we need to reduce the amount of government, I'd rather get the Federal government back to focussing on its core functions, and leaving items like health and education to the states, as far as possible. Duplication of funding and oversight leads to confusion and buck-passing, obviously. But better then to let the states do what they are supposed to be doing, and keep the Federal government out of it.
Why not rid ourselves of the 800 odd local councils and the thousands of councillors etc
The problem with this is the constitution is just not geared to handle modern day challenges and a global community. The classic example of this is the Commonwealth through the Tasmanian Dams case reinforcing its section 51 powers regarding foreign affairs. Personally I think it vital the Commonwealth have an element of control over environmental policy for an example. If not, Joh would have logged the Daintree without even having to have his plans scrutinized by an upper house which QLD doesn't have.
But Mr Smith, 65, is believed to want to give his son Nathaniel the best possible chance of taking over his seat of Epping before the next election, and retaining his position in cabinet will help to achieve this.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/attorneygeneral-greg-smith-on-outer-over-mandatory-sentencing-laws-20140202-31v04.html#ixzz2sZicqgBs
Speaking of walkabouts - did you see the footage of Greg Smith parading through the X getting a "feel" for what its like. with 20 coppers all round him - fantastic fact finding effort.
And what about this for a means of devising important, liberty infringing, policy:
Well, I'm going to stand up for state governments, more for the concept than the reality. If we need to reduce the amount of government, I'd rather get the Federal government back to focussing on its core functions, and leaving items like health and education to the states, as far as possible. Duplication of funding and oversight leads to confusion and buck-passing, obviously. But better then to let the states do what they are supposed to be doing, and keep the Federal government out of it.
What is fair in Tasmania with less that 500,000 people having say 10 senators while NSW has the same number. That is unrepresentative of the majority. Then there would be no greens and we could get on with developing the country.
To get the number of politicians down and save money abolish the 800 local gov't and the 8000 local politicians that go with it.
Then redraw the state boundaries so they have better populations.. Abolish Tasmania put it back into Victoria, rejoin NT and South Australia into WA. So with 3 States we save on 24 Senators and 50 odd House of Reps. That should save 100 million a year.
What is fair in Tasmania with less that 500,000 people having say 10 senators while NSW has the same number. That is unrepresentative of the majority. Then there would be no greens and we could get on with developing the country.