Ok election over,you won, control of the senate too.
What 3 policy's would you put in place in your first few months?
Mine, Nuclear power stations, not for greens policy's but Australia's good all new power stations would have to be Nuclear.
Flood crisis present and future, a not to be touched crisis fund,about .$2 a week for every one so we have cash in the bank next time,50% of interest only interest, could be spent on such as mitigation.
3rd after research and costing, try to recycle all sewage in land and as much storm water as can be done to both help out back and stop polluting the sea,

that's pretty good Belly not that you need my endorsement.

Belly:

Two of your policies are great, except I would prefer renewal energy (of which Australia has plenty) instead of nuclear power - because of the waste disposal problem, possible hazards (disasters), and the high-cost of maintenance involved. I can understand high-density countries like France, and others, that don't have the advantage of extensive solar and wind energy, not to mention other sources, going for nuclear - they have no other choice. We do.

My three preferences as PM would be:

1) Referendum for a Republic.
2) Eliminate State Governments - to save on bureaucracy and for equitable distribution of funding and services.
3) Allocate a fund for flood control mechanisms to prevent future major flood disasters.

cont'd ...

Belly:

I forgot to mention - that a friend of mine suggested to get rid of the two-party system and vote for the individual (best and the brightest) that they want to run the country. Just a thought. This should stir things up a bit.

Where to start Belly - I like your 2nd and 3rd proposals. Here are three areas I would work on:

1. Raise the standards of quality tertiary (and other) education and remove the commercial business model it now operates under. Return to a merit based model with emphasis on research. Expand on TAFES, Colleges of Further Education and other skills based education 'tiers'.

2. Cut government spending in wasteful programs and bloated management structures within the APS and transfer this 'windfall' to real services in health, aged care and the community sector.

3. Real taxation reform including, but not limited to, better tax benefits for small business, tax on super profits, and remove tax loopholes for the wealthy. Remove GST and the burden of collection from business.

4. (Okay I know you only said three). Place essential services back into the ownership of the people including in the areas of energy, postal, utilities, banking, retirement infrastructure and basic communications. Allow the private sector, philanthropy and patronage to fund other areas of personal activity (the majority of arts, sport etal) currently subsidised by taxes.

Remove GST,
Pelican,
In Australia's case this would amount to throwing away life jackets from a sinking ship.

All good comments.
Standing by my Nuclear power one, it in fact would fix all our needs to cut emissions and more.
Lexi best? ok but if we look at this Parliament and the one we will have by years end I am not sure.
A great deal of dealing is being done, some I doubt is in the country's best interests.
This mornings headlines bring me to question my limit of 3 , I now need 4 in fact deleted this in post one.
It is said 2 million are not in work or not looking for work.
That is 20% of our population, now we know unemployment is not even close to that.
We need to take those who have no need to work, some exist out of that.
Strange figure, based on?? unknown but it is true youth find social security too easy?
We need to review the welfare policys of this country.
Yes still bolted on Labor but every dollars saved could be put back to those who truely need it.

If I were in Julia Gillard's position with my sense of integrity then I would subcontract the Government to the opposition.

Jail politicians who were corrupt instead of rewarding them all the time, ending all 'tax havens' in Australia and take actions against rogue nations like Switzerland who openly support crime, cease funding to private education-schools and uni's, tax religions,stop funding private health funds and pour that money into the public system, end all the exemptions for the Plymouth Brethren and bring them into the Australian community, end the NSCP nonsense and claw back the monies spent via a special levy on religions with chaplains in schools, folow up the crimes conducted by the AWB and during the assault on the wharf workers under Howard, jail the public servants who aided Howard to lie during and after the 'children overboard, remove Garret from any political position beyond 'drinks boy'- being sports minister would be all he should handle, something of no value at all, and force Rudd into a monastery where he would be much happier than in the public view, oh yes, repatriate Gillard to Barry Island to run a carnival show 'see the world's only atheist-Baptist' or some similar freak show, and 'retire' Howard and his cabinet mates on Christmas Island, or should that be Easter Island- I do get so mixed up with these Christian islands.

A. EDUCATION - Keep private education for those who care enough about their kids to pay $20k a year for a decent education. Let the states maintain a free child minding service for poor people who don't care about their kids, so they can still go off and do the cheap labour jobs we need. Wash my hands as much as possible from university education because it's too costly, and run by closet communists. Smart rich kids should be the only ones at UNI anyway. It should be run by the private sector, who can pimp the UNIS to Hong Kong, and keep scholarships for the few exceptional poor kids. Tafe is a waste of money, just encourage apprenticeships to exploit the cheap labour they provide.

B. ECONOMY - Open up the market totally and stop picking winners. The market is king. We are the world's mine and shouldn't aspire to anything else. The uneducated can stay in the service industry or in the mines and the educated can shuffle the money.

C. RETIREMENT - Get rid of the pension. Families are the best form of social security. Create better tax perks for the rich using superannuation.

D. PRIVATISE - those essential services such as power, water and telecommunications. Providing services for the public is costly. They should be on a user pays basis, as people don't notice that as their tax comes down, their living costs go up. Added benefit is nobody comes whinging to me if their phone doesn't work or their bill is always wrong. Good little earner for the government as natural monopolies are always in high demand from investors. Put in a faux regulator to keep the public happy, and create good post politics career options.

E. HEALTH - Restrict numbers of doctors as they're expensive to train, and we need to keep wages for them high. Import doctors at cheaper rates from developing countries to keep training/education costs down. Don't worry about regional areas, as who really wants to live there if you have enough money to enjoy a house in Rose Bay. Those country folk normally seem to pull together ok and work something out. They could always move too.

F. ENVIRONMENT - Talk lots and lots about the environment.

FUNDING IT - hand out all sorts of bandaid inspired rebates like the baby bonus, maternity leave, first home owners grant and other rebates. When an issue arrises on ACA, the public likes to feel you are doing something about it, and hey, every likes to be given free money. Fiddle with these around election time to target key demographics in swinging seats.

LEXI - 10 out of 10

HOUELLEBECQ (what ever that is) 0 out of 10

I note several suggestion already made are merely political and an expense and does nothing for any real benifit for Australian productivity and development to create wealth or employment.

Mine would be:
1. Build transport lanes for better movement of goods - rail and heavy roads.
2. Build nuclear, wind and solar power stations in country areas,
to decentralise industry across the country and reduce pressure on Cities.
3. Establish public works to pump water into central Australian river systems from the North to increase land productivity. Construct more weirs and dams.
4. Classify all land use suitable for agriculture [not allow any other use or sale to foreign countries], timbered areas grow more dedicated hardwood and softwood forests, housing [none in areas of 1 in a 100 year flood levels], tourism and sport[retain suitable areas for exclusive use], mining [only in undeveloped areas].

This is no time to talk about things. Its time to DO things.

1. Take all necessary steps to ensure that a soundly based renewable energy industry can thrive with certainty. Loan guarantees would be a major component.

2. Make it impossible to construct buildings of any description that were inefficient with energy usage.

3. Ensure that biologically based transport fuels, especially for agriculture were developed as urgently as possible, and ensuring that the energy balance was as near neutral as it can be.

It's a good idea not to build houses in creek beds and flood plains Lexi. Your 'flood fund', is it going to extend to a 'fire fund' and an 'earthquake fund' as well?

If so, just how many jamjars do you think we should fill with ATO monies to keep 'disaster' way?

Houellebecq,I detect grim humour in your post, as I recognised the status quo so loved by governments of all hues, particularly current ALP ones, who so enjoy dismantling what the ALP once stood for.

As for the 'republic' Lexi- are you going to support a republic of the people, or the one the Pellites and Eureka Street apologists are hankering for, a republic with God at the top, just like we have now?

I'd hope you'd expect a genuine republic with a separation of church FROM state, for ever.

And, do humour me, having done away with the Keneally's and Blighs (and the WA and others types of course) of this world (I'd be happy with that) just who do you think would emerge from the slime?

We'd be back to the same troglodytes we have now, wouldn't we?

Houellebecq,you have pinched Mr Howard's policies.

TBC:

Thank You for such an emotive response to my suggestions. I'll try to answer your questions. We've all seen from past events that it's not a good idea to build houses in creekbeds and flood plains - it is unfortunate that people choose to live in dangerous areas, and councils allow them to do so. There are mechanical means to control water - such as dams, canals, pumping stations, designated areas for flood basins, levee banks et cetera., therefore one of my policies was to implement a program allocate funds and try to control and minimise flood disasters in the future. I did not mention other diasters simply because the other diasters you mentioned - like fire and earthquakes cannot be mechanical controlled to the extent that water can. But as you know for fire - there are management plans in place for the control of undergrowth, back burning, fire-breaks, efficient fire-fighting services, a network of communication to inform the districts of impending threats. Unfortunately the communication network in the last Victorian fires broke down. Earthquakes are monitored in critical areas (eg. in California) they can be anticipated. Australia unfortunately has no such means - and so far doesn't appear to need it. You ask, "How many jam-jars do you think we should fill with ATO monies to keep "disaster" away?" I'm not an economist - and would have to ask for advice on that one - and come up with the best possible solution for the good of the nation -
it would also depend on the government's priorities wouldn't it?

As for the Republic? Of course I am for one of the people (like the US) and that is why the Referendum (minus the Howard spin). There are established and democratic models to choose from.

Finally, there are good people on both sides - unfortunately the party system doesn't allow them to work together in the interest of the nation.

Lexi

Yes, thanks. But really, fiddling with water courses is not a good solution is it?

As for 'working in the national interest', well, where is it?

Among this disparate mob of OLO opionists we all make up, just look at this thread Belly started, where is the common understanding of 'a national interest'?

There is no such thing.

In part, because we have no clear picture of what 'a nation' is, do we?

The 'national interest' of Howard is not mine, nor the Rudd one. Gillard has no idea what it is, and just makes jabs in the dark to gather votes, but hang on, we all love Katter, don't we?

He wants to part the Red Sea and send it to Alice Springs to populate the inland and turn it into a Club Med venue.

Now, is that 'in the national interest'?

Then again, Fred Nile maybe should be doing that, with his name, but does he have any idea what the 'national interest' is, or does he serve another nation altogether, the nation of Jesus?

Is that your nation? It ain't mine thanks!

No, fumbling around for 'national interest' ideas is hogwash.

Still smiling at Houlley's list.

individual
Scrapping the GST under the current system would indeed be throwing the life jackets overboard. Scrapping GST is just one aspect in a number of tax reforms.

Adding another one to the list:

Sustainable Population policy - based on a loose one-in, one-out policy flexible according to need and humanitarian principles (once an agreed population level (range)is set in place). Skills training would be improved to reduce the need to poach skilled labour from OS with expansion of training programs to include English language/skills training for willing refugees to enable them to establish a life in Australia and become self-supporting.

A good start Belly :)

I would add

1/ PUBLIC BANKING REFORM ACT

2/ DENTAL HEALTH REFORM ACT

3/ AUSTRALIAN SOVERIENTY REFORM ACT. Removing Australia's signatory status from an UN convention which undermines our sovereignty.

4/ LEGAL REPRESENTATION/PUBLIC FUNDING REFORM ACT to remove public funding for legal representation of assylum seekers and/or criminals.

5/ CITIZENSHIP & UNITY REFORM ACT -Civic life activly promoted rather than 'multi' cult-ism. No funding whatsoever if it involves emphasising division rather than true unity.

6/ PUBLIC BENEFIT REFORM ACT -A test for all major projects. i.e. if it can be shown that particular politicians or their families or their business associates or companies which have supported them benefit from major projects.. WHAMMO.. they will be so busted it isn't funny.

7/ FINANCIAL ADVISOR REFORM ACT A test for all financial advisors. It it can be shown that an advisor acted "in all likelihood" in a manner designed more for his/her own interests than his customer...WHAMMO! away you go. Financial advisors will be licenced on condition a portion of their income is collected to a 'remedial fund' for those they have screwed.

8/ INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS PROGRESS/REFORM ACT.. would prevent many of the outrageous practices of the CFMEU and ETU
This would involve...a number of tests. "PUBLIC DAMAGE" test..where, for example...if 80% of all maintainance electricians call in sick during a heatwave...and we all suffer from brownouts.. the test is "in all likelihood" that they acted in concert for a different purpose...WHAMMO....in the slammer for leaders.

8/ IMMIGRATION PROGRESS/REFORM ACT. Which takes very careful considering of 'creed' so that no religious or political belief which 'in all likelihood' could damage our social/cultural/religious/political stability.. will be accepted into Australia.

There you go.. Country FIXED :)

Ooops.... sorry Belly.. I went psycho before reading your 3 things limit :)

forgive ok ?

Yes, we know, long before...

I would go further, but it it would violate forum rules and invoke Godwin's Law. But Boazy, there are quite a few peppered in there that could be, shall we say 'easily misinterpreted'?

Bugsy

I like AGIR point #8.

Or, at least if it meant we could deport screaming fundies to Jerusalem where I am sure they'd much rather be, or to Virginia even, but anywhere where they could not cause problems with their madness.

That might empty the OLO forums a bit too.

TBC:

You're entitled to your opinion. I see things somewhat differently to you however. I believe that living in a functional society requires that seeking a consensus is the operational principle for a sustainable polity. Humans are social animals needing to live together, and hence need to find "the mean" (middle-ground) between extemes, other wise they will be in continual dispute, or even worse, warfare. In recent times over the past 70 years, the Nordic countries have made consensus-building a fine art in societal decision-making. There is clearly something different about Scandinavian and Nordic countries. Perhaps we can learn something from them.

Lexi

So, let me get this right, the 'national interest' is 'the mean' is it?

What, where ACA and Melonkoshie are the high intellectual points of TV, and Alan Jones and Laws shape public opinion?

Where 'education' is spelled 'edumacation'?

Where sport is more important that anything else?

Where The Australian is allowed to pass as a 'thinking' newspaper?

Where we have a Governor General to represent gods and monarchs, as the majority deeply desire?

Thank you no, not for me.

Try reading "The Idea of The National Interest', Charles Beard, about 1934, arguably the first use of the phrase, which has overtaken the idea of the 'public interest'.

By all means, lets us build a civilised society, but we have to accept there are many 'nations' within a nation-state, not one, so creating 'a' national interest is not possible.

Many 'national interests' may be, of course.

1- Introduce Citizens Initiated REferenda and change the constitution to require other policies to need referendums to pass (including joining in wars)

2- Nationalize all formerly public assets whose services have deteriorated, or prices increased for no good reason.

3- Expand access of Australian markets- both our exports, imports, and also our access to renewables (particularly cars)

Can Lexie tell me how becoming a Rebublic will improve the position of citizens in Australia? How will it reduce prices or increase opportunities for employment and create greater wealth?

Can Pelican tell me how the removal of GST will improve opportunity and improve business?

Can The Blue Cross tell us how much will be raised by taxing charities, non profit church organisations and private schools, churches, the plymout Brethren etc.

Can Houellebecq tell us how having less doctors will improve public health, when more Docters means competition.

Well.....ban all religion, except in your own home.

New world laws that will have you jailed for not living sustainably.

Commit all who thinks we humans are having no effect on this planet.

Tax the rich, so the poor don't have to rob them.

Darren Lockyer, the Pope, John Howard and a school boy were all on the same airplane when the engine failed and they realised there was four of them but only three parachutes. Darren Lockyer got up and said, I am a sporting superstar and must live so that I can continue my career to beat the Kiwis and the Poms in the tri-nations series. He grabbed a parachute and jumped off the plane. John Howard got up and said I am the smartest Prime Minister Australia has ever had and I have to live to continue to govern the country. Then the Pope said to the school boy, well I am old and have lived my life so you should take the last parachute. The school boy replied, “No, it's ok, the world’s smartest Prime Minister just took my school bag so there’s one for each of us!”

And yes.....if anything like Mr Howard comes again, have it shoT:)

Reduce human impact on all systems that are clearly affected.

All AWG denialers are to be banned from posting anywhere in the world.

And runner to call on God to save all of mankind, rollies eyes.

All convicted Catholic priests to do community service work at child minding centers for the purposes of mental torture:)

The rich to beg for our forgiveness.

Bring back vinyl albums.

Stop sell out Australia.

Bring the greens into power as soon as possible.

and more funding for environmental causes.

BLUE:

Hey LEXI.. did you ever think I'd agree with you ? :)

I rather like your idea about electing people on merit...

BUT... much as I like it... reality unfortunatly is that we would end up with 100 people in parliament moving in 100 different directions.

Getting legislation up takes a lot of work..and I suspect it would boil down to those how had 'resources' to make it happen..and they (and their backers) would rise to the top... in effect.. being a 'party'.

My preferred approach would be that the major parties exist..but a small band of independants can keep them honest.

TBC:

As you well know the Australian National Interest is osmething that's defined by the Australian Government and the Australian people. It's not static and it depends in part on prior strategic choices we have made and is informed by the view we have of ourselves as a country, and by what we want to stand for. I trust that this clarifies things for you.

Philo:

The people will decide whether they want this country to be a Republic or not. That's why I suggested a Referendum. The people have to decide whether a monarchy is an appropriate symbol for an egalitarian and independent nation. Whether the Queen of England represents the average Australian. Whether an Australian should have the right to aspire to be Australia's Head of State? When the Queen travels overseas she promotes British companies and British trade - not Australian interests - perhaps we need a Head of State who promotes the interests of Australia? Perhaps our Head of State should be a position awarded based on merit - not birthright? These are just some of the questions that Australians will need to consider.
Basically - it's how we see ourselves in the 21st Century - I was merely suggesting the right of the people to be heard. Ultimately - it's their decision to make.

AGIR:

I'm not at all surprised that we agree. I think that were we to meet face to face - we'd find much to talk about.

Lets be clear it is every ones thread post as you wish.
I am ALP till death after if possible but that is not stopping me rattling the chains.
Only the party system can rule this country pick your one get ready to be bored and jump in.
Fight the seeming ownership of some branches but make your mark.
Having said that I now demolish my good name.
Some good comes from both sides, before workchoices Howard owned the lodge, like it or lump it he did much as Rudd did, controlled others too much but he won elections.
Hawk and his treasurer later gave us great gains.
The money others spend here is still to be found, look at Nuclear closer, it is world wide now.
And would cut our carbon emissions greatly, do not look at Chernobyl or five mile Island today its better.
Individual,congrats, once again bile and no real contribution to the subject,but as that is the best you can do I except it.

This made me laugh, Deep-Blue.

>>Bring back vinyl albums<<

Then I looked again at the rest of your list, and realized that you were being quite serious.

No Pericles....just a bit of comedy:)...although Iam quite serious about our be-loved planet we call home. While humans continue to be destructive with no common goal in mind, there's little point to an opinion that will work in the best interests for all concerned. I think AL and Lexi would make great prime Ministers with combine intercultural/intersected minds:) ( A new love affair beginning ):)

Seriously......with this many people on the planet........you can have the job.

Your one of the best Pericles.

More minds like you are needed.

BLUE

Individual,congrats, once again bile and no real contribution to the subject,but as that is the best you can do I except it.
Belly,
In order to ridicule others due to lack of retort it may be of help to learn how to spell

BLUE:

Pericles is the one who'd make a great PM. Besides, he's the one I've got a secret crush on. ;-)

Belly I agree with your 1, 2, 3, except I would call it 1, 2, because water management and flood mitigation should be the same portfolio for logistics.

My third choice would be to pick various high tech manufacturing industries that have synergy, seek local investment, retain 25% as State owned, employ the CSIRO to direct the technology and support the segment with tax breaks. I want to make something.

Lexi...lol....

BLUE:)

Lexie,
Being a Republic would not cange the image of Australia or the individual one iota. It is just another political system. Ask Americans if they are currently better off than we in Australia. I have among my friends Americans now currently living in Australia and they love Australia and would love to stay here. What did Oprah say about Australia. The image of Republicanism being better than what we now have is just in your own mind and not a reality.

Try another Republic that exceeds the position of the individual in Australia, and exceeds the conditions and image we now enjoy.

Obviously you reject our current constution, and do not respect citizenship under it. If you do not like it leave.

Individual know this, I can not spell!
My spell check is constantly breaking down trying to work out what I wanted to say.
You are no shrinking violet, have opinions on every thing, very fixed ones.
Given only this task, having control of both house you are in charge your only thought?
Hand it over to some one else, ROFL!
Lets become a republic, lets get our own flag and let us stop the rubbish about our troops dieing for any flag, it never happened .
They died under many flags not just ours but Britain's too some at Britain's hands.
Never for a flag but for this country,time to say we are grown up and cut the apron strings.

Oooooo-K... u've done it now Lexi :)

I was just about to publish my mobile number for you to call me and arrange a 1 on 1 great talk when I read... THIS :)

//Pericles is the one who'd make a great PM. Besides, he's the one I've got a secret crush on. ;-)//

ARRRGGGGGG.. that killed it :)... Now I feel like doing all kinds of 'male displays' to get your attention again :)

Last night I had an interesting experience.. was walking through the Dandenongs.. minding my own business when I came out from the bush onto a normal road which leads to a picnic ground where it picks up another track into the bush again..when.... A CAR...slowly pulls up beside me...and "Papers Please" (u know... Gestapo like) WOOPS... it was a police car. Yikes! An Irish constable and a cutie pie female officer at the wheel. (there was at least some consolation).. so.. "name... address...reason for being here, do you have ID on you"
Seriously..it was a "Papers please" moment.

When the Irish constable (who I'd asked "is that a scottish accent") asked 'why are you here', I thought it would be obvious..I'm in gym clobber and carrying some dumbells.. "I'm trying to lose weight" ..and due to my utter lack of self control in the face of a cute chick added "So I can impress this young lady here" :) yes..I live dangerously sometimes. But..live loud.. live colorfully..

Back to topic.. No dear.. Pericles would make the awfullest PM imaginable. He would jail you for keeping a domestic pet.. which he regards as 'slavery'.. ... well.. maybe not jail...but rebuke at least. Plus he does not think clearly about many things. Still..he does some good research :)

Had you indicated a crush on CJ MORGAN..I would have immediately committed hari kiri for sure.

1) Ban leaf-blowers. Use a broom.

2) Shut down Facebook one random day every month. It would really annoy some people who desperately deserve it.

3) People caught watching ACA/ today tonight are banned from voting.

4)Ditch the plethora of allowances that make tax returns so complicated. It should all fit on one A4 page.

Oh for the love of God...lol...this has to be a bad script from the pathetic T.v sob story/drama Queen fest, days of our lives:)

Al...which sad morsel are you.........?...Iam betting Al,s Rich Forrester:)

I think You are under arrest AL,..........For impersonating a human being:)

Lets all pray.......lol.

BLUE

Philo:

You're not your usual self in your recent posts. The Philo that I thought I knew - argued on a mature intelligent level and not on an emotional one. Belly asked for three policies - I suggested them. A Referendum for a Republic, being one of them because according to recent polls - many Australians support it - and you tell me that I should leave the country (having been born here), because of this suggestion? That's rather sad.

AGIR:

Thank You for cheering me up on a rather dismal morning. I've been watching the news on TV. and your post was just what I needed.

Vote 1 benk for PM!

Sensible policies all

Unlike some comments

I know
I understand
We are supposed to ignore it and they go away.
Not this one, but changed my policy, export flamers/trolls in barbed wire boats.
Lexi Philo is a little bit past it ,sorry but the post was needlessly offensive he is however not him self.
We will be a republic and have a new flag, we will still wonder at the bravery of our service men and women.
Remember them more than once a year and love our country.
We will pretend it is something in our eye when we publicly let our feelings and pride show.
In times like these floods fires and hurricanes we will get to know the people who lived in our street for years and we never said Gday to we are Australians.

I have been trying to work out why I'm having such a problem with Belly's question. Especially given that with some of the comments here ringing in my ears [blush] I simply have to put myself forward for the job...

...and I think I've worked it out.

Is "now I am elected, and have control of the Senate too", the right time for a Prime Minister to be formulating and pushing through policies?

Would it not be a better idea, first to determine what is best for the country, put it together in a manifesto, and then have the Australian people vote on it?

One of the problems we have right now is the concept of "policy-on-the-run", which is a direct result of the last election having been won by... no-one in particular, and no party in general.

That result, in turn, was caused by an electorate who hadn't been given any kind of serious choice, except that between an overly ambitious red-haired battler-from-the-burbs, and a not-yet-fully-grown-up surfing god-botherer.

Can anyone remember a serious policy statement, from either of them, that has outlasted the election campaign?

So, my apologies Belly, but the one proposal I have that might ultimately get things done is one that I have made before. Which is to make the politicians accountable for the commitments they make in their election campaigns.

They would be disallowed from voting for anything that they had not committed to, and from voting against anything that they had previously promised. That would ensure that the campaigns - which are after all about "selling" policies to the electorate - are policy-rich, rather than policy-barren.

It would be a start, at least.

Pericles,
So far we have not heard or read your policy speech on this thread so how can we vote you in as PM.

I like King Hazza's suggestion of Citizens Initated Referenda.
(Never get this as it takes power from the polys)

Also pelican's 'one in, one out' immigration policy, which is known as 'Zero net' (Never get this either as long as big business donates to the main parties.

Also Pelicans idea to train our own skilled workers rather than poach them from other countries that may need them more than we do.(the current situation is cheaper for big business and governments)

Did Pelican also mention a 'population policy' where we determine what we can sustain and cater for.(Much needed)

I would stop the 'illegals' simply by not giving them permanent residency visas, thus removing their need to come here.

I would also stop importing those cultural groups that cannot/will not abide by our laws or general social standards.

Gone over limit, best stop.

You are most welcome Lexi.. after all..now I'm in competition with King Pericles for your affection :)

Yes.. all light hearted indeed.. and glad to have cheered you.

Sheesh, things are moving along on this thread. We now have Pericles
as the potential next PM and Lexi as his potential wife!

Never a dull moment :)

The problem with politics is that the punters are sometimes not
the brightest and politicians have worked that out.

Keating told people the truth and they rejected him. Howard crawled
on all 4s and it worked for him. So the idea it seems to be, is to
talk alot of whah whah, but promise as little as possible, for
whatever you decide, somebody will hold it against you, costing
votes. No point upsetting them, for no good reason.

So come up with policies which work in the short term, putting a
few shillings in the majority of voters back pockets. Never mind
the long term reality, just colour that over with vague whah whah
promises, but nothing specific.

Blame everything on the banks, large supermarket chains and large
corporations. That will cost you few votes and suck in the punters,
who want to get rid of their frustrations and feel better about
themselves.

Ok, you won't be a statesman, but you will be a typical politician
who gives the punters what they seemingly want and deserve.

I wanted you to be in control not to have to do deals with any one so it would be you,and the team you are part of that made policy's.
I think a way of letting us all have a say exists,we say no way more than yes,referendums.
I know we like kicking politicians but in truth if all of them, on any side ,are as bad as we say [and they are not] we would be in big trouble.
What can you Mr/Mrs Prime Minister do to see Parliament work better?
Maybe a different system for the Senate
Why not a full election of both houses every election?
Maybe our senate committee system, over looking bills and actions needs to be expanded?
Yep no defense, guilty I dislike the upper houses all of them,yet they save us from the excesses of both party's ,have stopping mine doing dreadful things too.
And yes, it is the fact Representatives of few voters can find power over us all in those houses that gets under my skin.Ideas?

Further declarations (due to large posts about immigration/population).

Drop all 'knowledge tests' and other general unnecessary hinderances to immigration- replace with moral and character tests, and use strict marking criteria; Persons who arrive with paperwork will benefit from having much of their character assessed from checking their records instead of as much direct quizzing.
Tests will determine if a person has any fanatical religious tendencies (including support for the burqa),extreme views, criminal records/ regular conduct, morals and capacity to integrate (and also education); if judged (or suspected) incompatible with Australian society (even down to their willingness to obey road rules but most importantly how they would treat people outside their own religious/ethnic group, views on certain issues) they are barred: Otherwise they are let in without any further hassle. This is regardless of refugee or non status.

Allow all residents of an electorate, town or suburb to set their own housing development/highrise allowance: Thus, population growth is forced to happen more where it is actually needed than where it is not welcome by virtue of housing availability, that corresponds to human needs than marketing opportunity.

Remove all baby-bonuses. Try to reduce the cost of living in other areas so children are affordable again.
Strong support of contraceptives and public shaming of those who say it is 'evil'.

Thus, I fixed the immigration AND population debates with solutions that are comparatively light-handed and more fair; allowing population limitation or growth where the PEOPLE want it with no inhibition by me, and only is a hindrance to those who quite frankly aught to be hindered and more importantly, entirely and willingly bring it on themselves.

"Lexi as his potential wife!"....no way hosay :)

I'm getting the brightest red ferrari, a leather jacket, and am going to cruise the eastern suburbs until Lexi notices me and comes screaming down from her architect designed pad and jumps in beside me. So ner.

Sadly, Belly, there is a contradiction in what you are asking for.

>>I wanted you to be in control not to have to do deals with any one so it would be you,and the team you are part of that made policy's... What can you Mr/Mrs Prime Minister do to see Parliament work better?<<

If it is just "me-and-my-team" who make and implement policies, the only possibly action plan for Parliament would be... to do away with it completely.

After all, they don't play a part in the creation of the policy itself, and you won't let them interfere with the adoption of that policy and its implementation, so what would be left for them to do?

We have a system that - while relatively fair in concept - has become horribly over-engineered. From the selection of boot-licking party-hack candidates through the faction-fighting within Parties to the bloc-voting in Parliament itself, our "representative democracy" has become anything but representative.

Logically, the only way your dream can be realized - a strong policy leader coupled with the ability to implement - is through a form of dictatorship. Very few people (would-be-dictators like myself are the exception) are keen on that idea.

And this is positively baffling, Boaz.

>>I'm getting the brightest red ferrari, a leather jacket, and am going to cruise the eastern suburbs until Lexi notices me and comes screaming down from her architect designed pad and jumps in beside me.<<

I may be wrong, but I suspect that hell might freeze over before Lexi graces your passenger-seat. It won't be the Ferrari (how very '80s) or the (bleccch) leather jacket, though, that puts her off. It'll be that funny little beard of yours.

I say, this thread has taken a flirtatious turn - can I join in?

Have you really got a funny little beard, Al?

It's funny how some men automatically select a red Ferrari as a seductive symbol - must be something to do with the prancing stallion emblem...interesting....

I fantasize riding in a troika, (light, Russian sleigh pulled by three horses)through a winter wonderland. Or alternatively,
riding in a horse-drawn carriage in spring - through a leafy park in the moonlight. However, Back to the topic...

The PM that I admired greatly was Bob Hawke - he was a positive PM, more interested in building a consensus than finding fault in others.
He presided over an era where Australia had great economic development (and also great cultural enrichment - artists like Pro Heart, Brett Whitely, Jeffrey Samrt, provided new takes on the landscape and identity. Australia II won the America's Cup, Fosters took on the world and succeeded. Movies like 'Crocodile Dundee,' brought the world's attention to Australia). Different times ... I can't help feeling a bit nostalgic.

I think we can say, for the purpose of debate, Australians once knew what the team they elected had in mind.
And we once thought in terms of mandates,so yes you can be in charge your team and you.
We are far from it now, may take two decades,but we will return to a more civilized Parliament.
Laughing at the humor here don't stop please but why do we have upper houses.
If we do not want the party we elect to govern why elect them?
Why are seats won on preferences by the candidate who finished third?
Is one vote one value fairer.
And what happened please? to the Westminster system break those rules and you HAD to resign.
Boazy, your choice of car is a bit, lets say happy, sounds better, forget the leather two lowers IQ that stuff,, Holden Ute leave the rum stickers aerial's and just clean and green no blue singlet but jeans are ok, ,and you will look good.,

Belly:

A holden ute and jeans? Now you're talking!

Now Boazy do not stop now have enjoyed the humor, nice to see you about Lexi.
I as prime minster would demand every automatic telephone answering service be drowned at sea.
But demand a TV show with the results of unhappy customers, there Aussie humor and true.
The provider of my satellite TV, austar has the best collection in the Field.
I commend its systems operator for that and for upsetting nearly every fool looking for help.
So watch it bloke,I may not be able to contact your system to report a break down, you may have cut me off just a second before a human answered the phone but I could be PM.
I want those out takes, if we in OLO owned them it would make us rich, the print would be in Gold.
We could all drive holden Utes green is the in color

We went ok the thread got a few involved.
Wounder if it had been about what is wrong with party's?
We may be better at finding fault than answers.
No shortage of combatants in such threads.
One day, in my view,major party's,one or both, will find a basic principle and use it.
Politics should be about winning over your opponents voters, with policy not devision.
Room exists, right now for a new middle ground party,one that really has the interests of both squabbling sides voters in its policy's to jump in to a position and grow.

Since the election, the 'Labor-Green' government has borrowed an average $1.6 billion each week. Every fortnight that amounts to three new major public hospitals or the inland rail from Melbourne to Brisbane