Our old broken federal system of government coupled with the dismal state of major political parties and the way they select candidate mates, all helps to fuel corruption.

Queenslanders have showed national leadership in opinion polls indicating an overwhelming desire to abolish state governments altogether. It's an excellent solution to state corruption and waste in Queensland and the entire country.

Corruption of state politicians will be solved absolutely as will needless over-government with the unification (or amalgamation) of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, achieving a strong national government that work in partnership with strengthened local governments to deliver regional infrastucture and services currently provided by the states.

Outcomes - financial benefits of about $20 billion per annum in the public sector, $40 billion per annum in the private sector, and at least $50 billion (or about five per cent of GDP) across the Australian economy as a whole. Other benefits:
• improved democracy and government at national and local levels
• no wasteful and coorupt State or Territory governments
• a seamless national economy
• a consistent approach to the environment
• a national education and health system
• a single body to prevent, monitor and prosecute corruption
• a single set of laws, licences for the whole of Australia as part of a national system of law, order and safety, and
• regional administration and cooperation that will no longer be constrained by State and Territory borders. We deserve better than half hearted approaches that keep failing.

I think I can agree on getting rid of state governments in favour of strengthened local or regional governments on the basis of efficiency and better fitness of purpose.

But on the subject of corruption, there's only one way to tackle it - by shining the spotlight straight in its eyes and exposing it. If you don't, the corruption just goes underground and regroups, as it works out where it can next sneak in through the back door. It may well be that it infiltrates the highest level of government next or even the national anti-corruption body itself.

Rob Say's on political corruption "It may well be that it infiltrates the highest level of government next or even the national anti-corruption body itself".

As one of a number of persons who closely viewed, and refused to take part in corrupt government practices before "the moonlight state" and has a first edition of "Fitzgerald report" and was an active participant at the local, therefore state government level of government between 1993-1997 when some of these much needed policy reforms were being wrestled with and now is an active application embracing these reforms implicit within the reformed acts, I can truthfully as a participant state that, corruption exists at these levels when local councilors and senior public servants representing their ministers compromise "corrupt" properly made applications.
Any government or corruption watchdogs narrowing of their responsibility or enquiry terms of reference, conveniently allows further corruption, you would have to question a broader range of vested interests not just "the big bad developers" (the home building industry). Leaving reform up to the "less that independent public service" is the first corrupting influence. As one who has an active application subject to further government compromise (corruption), cynically, I can reasonably expect, that government could not function without corruption that suits their agenda and now await the watchdogs and an extension the ones honest application lodged in 2004 after undertaking a whole of government consultation process whose purpose was to unearth all agency requirements, hidden agendas and snakes in the many woodpiles!

Concerned councilors, minsters, public servants and your favorites, this 5th generation australian vegemite is not giving up or going to be bought off or go away until the corruption and abuse administered by you on this applicant is correctly addressed and justice is served!

"... corruption exists at these levels when local councilors and senior public servants representing their ministers compromise "corrupt" properly made applications."

Dallas,

I believe there's no better example of institutionalised corruption than what's just happpened in the Country Fire Authority (CFA) in Victoria. The Royal Commission into the Black Saturday fires found that the head of the CFA essentially abandoned his post as chief operations officer for reasons unknown or unexplained. Even worse is that Brumby has stood by his man. How is it that a soft bureaucrat is ever parachuted into an agency with such a high operational tempo and requirement? It's got to be these guys are more interested in having a nice comfy life at the expense of the taxpayer and they throught they would infiltrate the CFA. Like, any port in a storm.

You have the situation now where many volunteer firefighters are reassessing whether or not they will continue to put in for their bush communities during the hot summer months if they're not going to be properly backed up by head office. In a job like that, having a man's man at the top of the CFA, who's "been there and done that", goes a long way to maintaining morale of the troops on the ground. A leader is needed who can visualise the problems that the troops are having on the ground, rather than an equivalent of a WWI British general.

I wonder how long it will be before the CFA fragments as a result of the current crop of leaders? As usual, the people on the ground are being played for mugs.

Everyone wants to own the good news, never the bad news, and now the bad guys are the process. Well who prescribed and enforces these impractical processes and the restrictions placed on homeowners who wanted to prepare for the bushfire season but continue to be thwarted at every level of government? when attempting to reduce fuel loads before disaster arrives again. Lazy politicians believing the greens, left dreams, don't touch anything, otherwise our savior "sustainability" will suffer irreparable damage. What responsibility are these thoughtless green thespians taking for those who are lost in Victoria's regular fireworks spectacular. Do they feel guilty and responsible or just run off and hide under the covers until another good new story comes along before once again appearing like a green shoot as they climb out from under their rock clutching the same corrupt policies and prescriptions.