I wholeheartedly agree with Ken McKinnon.
For instance.
1. I watched the Four Corners program on the Super Hornet aircraft. I expected headlines in the print press on the following day. I have not seen nor heard any follow-up to this story. Why ?
2. I should like to learn more about the correspondence with the U.S. and the amount of Cabinet discussion that led to our supporting the invasion of Iraq. Can I access such material ?
3. Costs of various government activities is seldom printed. On what do members spend their allowances and how much is spent on each?
4. What does it cost...all up... to maintain two houses for our PM ? Why doesn't he live full-time in our capital city ?

There is just so many questions to be asked. Thank you for opening this imprtant discussion, Dr. McKinnon
Filip

this article precisely demonstrates why oz intelligentsia are well-named as "chatterati".

while i agree with the author that most of the reforms he names would be welcome, i am not so blind as to assert that the government 'needs' to do anything, just because i think it's a good idea. the government will do what it wishes. it only 'needs' to do whatever is necessary to stay in power.

i would guess that any activity that enlightens and empowers the electorate will not be seen as a good idea by a group of people whose prosperity depends on an ignorant and disengaged electorate.

in short, the changes this guy wants won't come from above. power isn't given, it has to be taken. will it come from below, through revolution? nope, not here.

if you want democracy, you have to first be citizen quality people. the author and the oz people at large are 'subject' quality, vastly different. they are treated as mugs because they are mugs. most of them prefer muggery, as it doesn't require thought or any personal responsibility.

Tony Abbott promised on the 7.30 Report that he would release details on making more PET scanners, more available by July, 2007. PET scanners are particularly useful in detecting cancers at a cellular level. Todate, despite much pressure all is secret and he would comment on the findings. Doctors have tried break the secrecy pack between the Minister and the Sir Humphreys, to keep all uninformed. Abbott has no kept hos end of July, 2007 promise.

Moreover, interested seeking information under FOI are being forced to Courts. Simply put, Abbott is of a firm mind not to release information on inport life and death issues before the Election. The future of our health is his little secret, whilst he is ou Master and money is needed for pork-barreling of less important issue.

The is only 1 PET scanner for every 1,312,500 Australians. Lesson don't have radical cell loose somewhere in your system, after the
removal of a primary. You might discovery the Grim Reaper is Tony Abbott.

Oh, Ken, you are assuming Australians want to know anything.

Willful blindness is a typical Aussie cultural value.

We'd rather not know. If we knew we'd have to take responsibility and that means taking action of some kind which is much too uncomfortable. Howard knows that. He's been excellent at dismissing/minimizing any unpleasantness and rationalizing it away.

I heard Rudd made noises about changing that. Doesn't he want his party to be in power for more than one term? Making us feel uncomfortable or, heaven forbid, having to face up to responsibility to some unpleasantness is a sure fire way of losing votes.

Australians DO want to know what the government is up to.
This is becoming more apparent every week.
The secrecy under which the Howard government has operated. for 11 years - this is now no longer tolerated - and more and more Australians are sick of Howard's lies, half-truths, and don't knows (e.g. as in the Wheat Board scandal).

For me, the battle against the nuclear industry is critical not just for reasons of environment, health, dangers of terrorism, of war, and even of cost.

The single most alarming fact about the nuclear cycle is that it must be carried out with such a high level of security that it necessitates secrecy and the loss of civil liberties.

The "nuclear renaissance" is looking more and more like a stillbirth, rather than a rebirth, as George Bush's plans for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership flounder. But, should the GNEP go ahead, it will usher in a "1984" style scenario of secrecy in government - whoever is in political power.
Christina Macpherson www.antinuclearaustralia.com