By: Hal Duell

Hal Duell — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:01:10 +0000

Erwin
You ask, What, really, is the main game? And the answer is – numbers.
It’s always numbers in our political system, and getting enough of them to form government is the main game, whether in the NT, SA, WA or Queensland.
The remote, sparsely populated desert regions in those electorates will never have enough elected representatives to sway the policy directives in their respective capital cities. Nor will they ever be able to access sufficient funds for remote regions to prosper. All pollies spend money where the votes are. Their jobs depend on it.
And the way out? I suggest two, or perhaps it’s one in two parts.
First, we need a constitutional amendment that recognises local and regional government. They need the legal recognition currently reserved for the states.
Second, using this amendment we need to break the control state governments have over their remote regions. We need to by-pass the states in favour of regions, and give regions a direct line to the money in Canberra.
Admittedly this would be a huge and fundamental change to governance as we know it, and I don’t presume to know how it would play out. But there are those who study these things who might have an idea on how we could make it work.
What I do know is that ruling central Australia from Darwin doesn’t give us much, and that doesn’t seem to change no matter who forms government in the NT.
We deserve more, and we need more if we are to retain our place and grow in viability.

Comments on: Pollies and public disconnect: is there a bigger main game?

By: Hal Duell