individual,
> We need to look at where funding is wasted rather than where it it spent.
What a strange claim - it's as if you think those two thqngsare mutually exclusive!
Surely we need todo both, and neither prevents or even diminishes the need for the other?

>Governments or rather many bureaucrats, are notorious in the flippancy with public funding.
Indeed, but the reputations haven't kept up with the reality.

Government departments were notoriously overstaffed in the 1970s.
Their staffing levels were slashed in the 1980s.
The cuts continued in the 1990s, but they went too far, and governments had to pay consults to do what used to be done in house for less.

How much of a false economy getting rid of too many bureaucrats is was demonstrated by the School Halls Scheme: the WA public service was still very capable; they scrutinised every contract and when the costs were higher than in the Rawlinsons, they demanded to know why. Therefore they achieved excellent value for money. Other states where the public service scrutinised the contracts, they didn't do so in as much detail but still got reasonable value for money. But in NSW and Victoria, where it was managed by the private sector, it was TERRIBLE value for money - huge sums were wasted!

>We simply cannot afford the 'Growth' mentality to continue for much longer.
On the contrary, we need dot turbocharge it! We do of course need to give greater priority to environmental objectives, but we all benefit from increasing the value of the work we do.

Aidan,
i think your claims are stranger than mine !

individual,
I think most people think everyone else's claims are stranger than their own.
So rather than stating the obvious, how about explaining what you find strange about them?
When we've discussed it, you'll probably not find them so strange any more.

On the contrary, we need dot (not or to *?)turbocharge it!
Aidan,
Wouldn't you need more people for that* to work ?

individual,
Sorry, "dot" should've been "to". I think that was an autocorrect error.

Anyway, having more people is not an absolute requirement for turbocharging economic growth. However it is highly desirable and plenty of people want to come here.

Aidan,
I'm more for balanced salary/wages balance. The present minimum wage is already at the upper limit for international competition, salaries are already way over the top.
Especially, the Public Service bureaucracy is an unsustainable luxury wed be better off without.
We must have a limit for Public Service salaries, five times the basic wage would be more than generous for the value in return. Anyone wanting to earn more is most welcome to do it on merit in private Corporate enterprise where they have to perform & where incompetence & uselessness would cut their careers short !
No Public servant is worth more than 300-400 Grand/year ! Anyone who thinks they are, please present your point !