AUDIO
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Archbishop Peter Jensen's Christmas Message 2011 on the centrality of Jesus to human history
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With less than two weeks until the state election, here is my list of the top issues
1. Transport planning and infrastructure
Sydney just keeps getting bigger and bigger and yet transport planning has not kept up with demand. The easy solution has been to build another road and slap on a toll. But the public want better public transport options and are fed up with promises made and not delivered. A concomitant element is courage on the question of Sydney’s growth; planners keep talking about ‘urban infill’ but what this means is higher density housing in suburbs closer to the city. In quiet suburban streets close to train lines, nobody seems to want a block of flats built next to their home (even more so if it has an element of social or affordable housing).
2. Policies to assist people with disabilities
This has been highlighted already by Anglicare CEO, Peter Kell in this article.
3. The failure to get serious about alcohol supply, personal consumption and related violence
See my previous post.
4. Reform of the public service
For too long, the senior ranks of the public service has been peppered with political apparatchiks, unionists, friends of Sussex Street and others with close links to the Government. The notion of an independent public service giving fearless advice to a minister and the government of the day disappeared long ago. This great tradition of the Westminster system needs resurrecting in the interests of good government.
5. Reform of DOCS and child protection policies
Too many children have died because their parents, and the system that was meant to protect them, failed. Every death has been a tragedy. The incoming government needs to reform and resource this sector more effectively and bring some fresh policy thinking to the public arena.
6. Energy planning
I met an energy refugee over the weekend – a family who lived in leafy Katoomba for a number of years recently moved out of the Mountains into my high-density neighbourhood because of crippling heating costs. Higher costs are already changing behaviour and it will change votes on 26 March.
7. Farming v. mining
Vast swathes of western NSW around Scone, Gunnedah and other nearby districts are sitting on massive coal and other resources. The mining industry wants it. But mining, particularly open cut coal extraction, does irreparable damage to farming land, affects waterways and the health of local communities. With future pressure on food security, are we so prepared to give up valuable farming land to mining interests? This is shaping up as a key environmental battleground over the next parliamentary term.
8. Euthanasia
The rapid pace of social reforms that predictably took place in the dying months of last year’s parliament (think gay adoption, surrogacy etc) will slow down if the Coalition is elected. However, the NSW Greens have vowed to press ahead with legislation legalising euthanasia. With a more conservative parliament, this measure is unlikely to succeed, but still requires a watching brief.
9. Reform of the health system
Waiting lists, improved community care, more resources for mental health … the list goes on. And with an ageing population living longer, health costs will continue chewing up large parts of the state budget, along with our expectations of quality care. There are no easy answers here.
10. Who controls the NSW Legislative Council (upper house).
More on that next week.
Do readers know that a recent statistical study by University of South Australia researchers, and commissioned by the Victorian Government that suggests poker machines are the second highest cause of crime in the community after the illegal drug trade?
Do readers know that over 40% of poker machine losses come from problem gamblers?
Do readers know that each problem gambler impacts - often terribly - on a web of family relationships, work colleagues and so on, although often the problem is very well hidden?
Do readers know that Andrew Wilkie's agreement with the Gillard ALP Minority Government means we have a unique opportunity to see some effective harm minimisation measures introduced into poker machine usage, in particular, compulsory pre-commitment?
The reason I think this should be in your top ten is that the politics is right for change, despite them massive vested interests against such reform from the AHA, Clubs NSW, etc, and pressure should be brought to bear on the NSW Parliament to work with the federal level agreement and not to drag their heels!
Added to this, the NSW Lib-Nat Coalition have entered into an agreement with Clubs NSW to reduce their tax burden and have said they will resist compulsory pre-commitment.
It is worth remembering that AHA and Clubs NSW are two of the largest single political donors in NSW, and that the flow of their donations has swung markedly to the Coalition away from the ALP as they have sniffed the wind in the last 12-18 months.
Perhaps this raises a twelfth issue for your list, that of further reform to aid the transparency of political donations, and to improve conflict of interest provisions.
I know of a local candidate down my way, who has worked for years in the poker machine industry, but who apparently, by publicly reported remarks, cannot see any conflict of interest in remaining involved in this industry if elected to parliament. He is certain he will do what is best for problem gamblers. Excuse my cynicism.
1. Health Reform-24 hours a day 7 days a week, and not the oncall after hours system we have...One area of many I would reform is to advertise and make it known, say, what Neurologist specialises in ABI or Epilepsy or MS rather than simply being referred to a Neurologist outside his or her speciality for this adversely affects patient care and quality of life for life.
2. Disabilities Reform-Long over due and must be a top priority.
3. Issues impacting on Singles,Formerly Marrieds who make up 50.4% of population and their kids.
4. Transport,planning and infrastructure.
5. Task forces to rid some parts of the Public Servants, Corporate, Community Services, Schools and Churches of bullies and the issue of bullying of kids and adults in general.
6. Domestic violence of women and men plus abuse of children by women and men.
7. Reform and support of Carers across NSW and Australia.
8. Reform of Welfare and Homelessness.
The Hon Rev Dr Gordon Moyes former CEO and Superintendent for 27 years of Wesley Mission is seeking re-election in the Upper House as the NSW State Leader of Family First.
There needs to be a better management of conflicts of interest and a reassertion of probity in Government. New South Wales has always had governments with crooked members going back to the Rum Rebellion, and the corruption virus has never quite been eliminated from the body politic.
Hopefully a new Government will change this and bring in proper rules for the conduct of government business.
Hopefully also ICAC will be busy examining some of the former government's dealings.