Hinterland Grapevine - Is it time for an Australian Republic

During the 1980's State Governments in Australia started to turn Government Departments into business models that were more like private companies rather than government service providers.   Initially this may have saved a few dollars but over a longer period service standards slipped and today we are paying the cost.

Look at the problems we have or had had with our electrical supplies, health services, ambulance service and the lack of police resources.   The fire service in the past has also had some problems.   Every department is struggling for finances and are unable to carry out their duties to their best ability.

This is not a situation that exists only in Queensland.   All the other states have their own problems to more or lesser degrees.   Not only are the states struggling to keep up with the provision of services but also each state has its own level of service standards.   This makes it difficult for people shifting from one part of Australia to another to live.   This movement of the population is a growing phenomenon and it will continue.   No longer is our mobility restricted as it was 100 years ago.

There has also been a strong push to have the Commonwealth of Australia changed to the Republic of Australia.

Over the last 100 years since the first constitution Australia has changed and the ways we live in this modern society have also changed.   Many of the laws that were introduced at that time have no relevance to our modern society.

The world situation also has changed.   Australia and its people must be able to change to function with those world changes.   No longer can Australia survive because of its isolationist policies.   Problems with health epidemics involving not only people but also animals and crops are more likely to become problems because of our easier mobility.   Terrorism is a problem that we have to deal with on a more common basis.   The world is now truly a global country.

The numbers of bureaucrats in any government department, both state and federal outgrows the numbers of real service providers. This ever-in creasing amount of bureaucracy in Australia is unsustainable.   The Australian people are being taxed at higher and higher rates in an effort to keep services at a standard that is expected.   The majority of Australians cannot sustain paying these taxes at continuing increasing rates.   The ever-increasing burden is causing the standard of living for the majority of Australians to drop as the gap between those who have and those who have not grows.

Perhaps the time has come to review Australia's Constitution and make changes to bring it into the 21st century.

Perhaps this is a good time to revisit the Republican move in Australia.

We should consider the place that individual states play in the functioning of Australia's government and provisioning of Australia's governmental services to the Australian people.

Perhaps now is a good time to consider the expansion of the role of the various local government councils and city councils and do away with the individual states.

By placing services such as health, law and order, emergency services into the hands of the Federal Government those tasks can be co-ordinated Australia wide.   Think of the benefits to ALL of Australia if there was a common electrical grid throughout Australia controlled by a single body or even a railway with a single rail gauge running from one side of Australia to the other, again run by a single body.    By combining bodies such as customs, immigration and a coast guard looking at matters such as rescues, illegal fishing, drug running etc. efficiency could be gained thus cost savings to the tax paying population.

The amount of bureaucracy would be reduced and the provision of the various services could be standardised.   The amount of duplication in government services should be reduced.    Disputation between state and federal bodies creates many unknowns in most fields of governmental endeavours, thus it is possible for the various governmental bodies "buck-pass" any problem issues.    If one body has full responsibility for a situation there would be less of this "buck-passing" of those problem issues.

This is very evident in problems that we are presently experiencing with the Queensland Health Department.   Politics being politics the Federal and State bodies want to blame each other for those problems. (ie who is responsible for Doctor numbers, finances, registrations, etc.)    Even in a more local situation, which arm of government is responsible for this road or that road - who really should have had a better look at the problems with approvals for that store on the banks of that creek?

One cannot forget the comedy situation in the television show, "Yes Minister" whereby a new hospital, complete with administration staff was provided to an English country area but NO medical staff to provide actual medical services and the politicians could not see a problem.    This may appear humorous in a television show but have a good think about it.

By reducing the number of levels of government there should also be a similar reduction in the amount of money needed "to run" the services provided by the government thus leaving more money for the actual provision of those services.

Politicians of all levels would not want to give up their positions of power so reducing the number of levels of government would never be suggested or even agreed to by ANY political party.    Any changes to the government or bureaucracy would have to come from Australia's population.

What do you think?

Comments Index (Total Messages: 1)

Peter Written by Guest on 2005-10-17 11:17:30

Last Updated ( Saturday, 02 January 2010 )

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