I just heard Minister Stephen Conroy say that his Government is so busy in major reform that it is quite understandable that it suffers some unpopularity.
Isn't it more like a case of still working on getting the country back on track after decades of Labor mismanagement ? It reminds me of our consulting engineers who are now doing upgrades. They're not upgrades at all, the jobs weren't done properly in the first place. The question here is will the same people who failed be capable of making good ?

there is plenty of blame to go arround
one party takes things too far..so the other takes things too far back

howard shouldnt have sold telstra
and labratters should have been content to build fibre to the node

howard took work 'choices' too far
and juliar is still making it up as she goes

the latest destraction seems to be fast rail...[lol only 60 billion]
when the only thing keeping current rail going is the free travel option for pensioners..

but is the rail thing
only to stop us finding out ever more pain
inherant in giving the money changers a big new trading commodity
over the least of the greenhouse gasses..

[or so we stop talking about malasia]..
or so qanda..can have a new topic labratters wont get flogged again over]

its the policy on the run..that is of most concern
then its those with adgendas...the second they get..''the numbers''

[ok i peeved at the dumbing down
the fucuss groups..spin..[and that silky voice too]
then there is meeting the media in private

everything our public officials do
should be on a public record..!

thats where the media has gone over into treason
reporting commentary as new/s

absolute power
corrupts absolutly

the fish goes rotten
from the head down

Well said OUG.

Conroy's comments are typical of the spin on both sides of politics. The ALP is on a reform agenda - I can't think of one party that does not use the platform of reform when forming new government. Reform is a word used often to portray improvement and sometimes that is the case depending on one's POV, however change does not necessarily mean improvement.

The NBN is a good idea IMO if we are to compete in a growing online world, in particular providing access to business in regional areas. It may assist in reducing the infrastructure problems in larger cities by allowing some business decentralisation. If that is further supported by a fast train link all the better. Many regional areas are fully supportive of the NBN for this reason.

The problem has been transparency for most governments. 'We' expect businesses and individuals to be open and honest in business dealings and the taxation system ensures that our earnings and expenditure are available for scrutiny. Not so our own governments.

Accountability comes from transparency. If each government body was to publish a financial running sheet on their website showing the details of expenditure and costs of government each financial year.
As OUG said:

"everything our public officials do
should be on a public record..!"

I can only think of mainly positive impacts this requirment would have on promoting more transparent and accountable governments. Governments are the agents of the people which should not be forgotten in holding governments to account.

In addition all approaches by lobby groups should be open to public scrutiny whether it be mining companies, logging groups, environmentalists, religious organisations, animal welfare, business councils, unions and so on...

UOG, yes I heard the discussion about fast rail from Brisbane to
Melbourne, via Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra & Albury.
Don't worry about that, it won't happen, it is too late now.
There will not be enough credit or other funds available to do it.
It is a project for the 1990s and early 2000s before the end of growth.

They would be far better off duplicating the line and electrifying it.
They should have spent the NBN money on railway infrastructure as that
is what we will need to move our food around the country.

However, just listen to the politicians talking, they have no idea
what is happening around them.
They are still talking of recovery and growth in the economy.
All this while the US and Europe are going broke at a rate of knots.
They still believe in 10% growth in China, yee gods ! We pay them !

Can we be far behind ?

A clear difference exists here, I find much to like in Pelicans post.
I however while unhappy, to say the least,with delivery under Gillard/Rudd think Labor is the party of reform.
And that its record says that is true.
I think the fast train will and must come.
But a little understanding is called for.
First environmentalists will try every thing to stop it, it has a need for 200 meter wide corridor.
It would, and should be privately owned but in part paid for by tax payers.
I recommend detractors of every thing Labor does, or fails to do, the Henny Penny the bank is empty folk, take in to consideration these two things.
Our economy is in enought trouble,why run it down/and do you want Labor and its suporters in opposition to act in such a divisive manner?

Yes Belly, Pelican's post is fine and transparency is needed.
There has always been a need for better governance.
However, from now on our problem is generating growth, or rather
managing the growth that will be available.
Notice how the economists in Europe, the US and here are complaining
about lack off or low growth.
Without growth we cannot pay interest or repay capital loans.
Normally we have made these payments out of our GDP.
Our GDP is now being used to a large extent to pay increased food bills
and increased energy costs, so leaving little for new projects.
What growth there has been has largely been burnt up by China & India
in their growth. We are getting very little and the poorer countries
are getting contraction, eg Egypt, hence its revolution.

I am halfway through reading Richard Heinberg's "End of Growth" and
it pulls together the factors in the new regime that we are facing.
This not something for the next decade, it is here and now and is at
the centre of Europe's problems.
Just last night a US politician or economist was complaining about
the difficulty of increasing US's low growth.
Just listen to them, they keep coming back to it, although they do not
seem to realise the significance of the growth problem.