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.

"DECADES of Labour mismanagement?"

From my recollection, we've had far more Conservative years than Labour ones.

As well as upgrades, there is a requirement just to catch up on maintenance that was shelved (under Conservatives) in the name of Economic Rationalism, privatisation and the widespread use of external Contractors to save money and cut corners.

Belly & others;
Here is a short video talk by Richard Heinberg on end of growth.

http://youtu.be/EQqDS9wGsxQ

8 minutes I think.

Bazz

That video clearly spells out where we are right now.

Of course, you must understand that it will be viewed as a socialist plot:

That planet Earth is not infinite is a clever ploy by scientists to receive grant money and re-introduce government regulations and corporate accountability.

Thanks Bazz rache sorry but no chance exists in my view of Individual understanding how silly that is.
Here is dangerous stuff, treat it carefully it contains TRUTH.
Italy Greece Spain, other European country's, too many have debt 20 to 30% above the annual total income.
No way out! they just have to fail, DEPRESSION is a big chance.
America is not better, the same fate may be on the way, dreadful but true.
We owe nothing like that thanks two both sides of politics in the 20 years before 2007.
And the coal and mining explosion.
BUT we have in the past, individually, spent far too much, some continue, it has to be paid back!
Under what will be a Liberal government, only Gillard going soon and regime change in press could save Labor.
Watch however the incoming government,see now its failures to say how it funds it promises what ones are non core.
I recommend old fashioned budgeting , buy only what you can pay for, leave the credit card at home.
Any day any second the GFC could return much much harder than ever before

http://www.smh.com.au/business/debt-wrangling-your-guide-to-economic-chaos-20110804-1icr9.html
I offer this link to further under standing we are only part of this world wide matter of concern.
And far better than some.
Still it was and is the very wealthy who drove us on to the rocks.
I truly fear, not for me but humanity another depression may be near.

From my recollection, we've had far more Conservative years than Labour ones.
rache,
the point here is that even when the Coalition was in they still had to battle 50% of their time with Labor incompetence which saturates the Public Service..

Who would have thought that Dick Smith would be criticising the consumption/growth mentality as in this Crikey article by Andrew Crook.

http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/08/04/dick-smith-get-used-to-pain-retailers-time-to-stop-the-growth-fetish/

There has to be some serious discussion around this, it won't happen in the US for a while given their entrenched cultural blinkers, but hopefully Australia will embrace or consider alternatives in a well managed process of change.

Pelican said;
it won't happen in the US for a while given their entrenched cultural blinkers

Problem is, it has already happened in the US.
A few of the symptoms;
Smaller cities closing down their police forces.
Most states in financial difficulties.
California basically bankrupt.
Many States and counties (local councils) turning roads from tar to gravel.
Bridges not being repaired and being closed.
If you go looking there are many examples of this.
These are all examples of very low or zero growth.

I think it will happen here, and perhaps sooner than we think once
China has to wind back its production and opens its iron ore mines
in Africa. It will then force down the price of iron ore.
Watch out for signs like in the US local councils letting roads go
back to gravel.
We live in interesting times.

I think we need to get away from this more growth mentality asap. We can have a better & cleaner economy via providing quality rather than quantity.
We don't need more hospital beds we just need a better health service. We can reduce obesity, one of the major cancers on our health budgets along with way too generous pays for the health bureaucracy.
Don't blame people, make people accountable. If bureaucrats fail badly then demote them instead of promoting them away only to become an even bigger problem. We need to stop employing bureaucrats according to the Peter Principle.

Bazz
The problems have started in the US but not the enlightenment as to 'why'. And not much bipartisan discussion about what is wrong with the system.

Pelican; from my reading of it, when during 2007 the oil price was
rising it put strain on the average US budget in that food & petrol
went up and people stopped paying their mortgages.
That triggered off the mad sub prime loans debacle.

In 2008 oil hit US$147 a barrel and the US economy just rolled over
dead because the cost of oil exceed 4% of US GDP !

They gave it hits with the defibrillator and it stagged on struggling
to get on its feet. But there was big a backpack that had been loaded
with bricks, ie US$14,000,000,000 debt.

Industry cannot borrow money because there isn't any and that is
because industry has not been able to generate growth.
Growth needs energy, and it had all been used up with no spare
production in 2008. Peak Oil had arrived.

So! everyone's in the hurry to get rich......see the problem yet:)

Yeah, right......sure you do and the world is getting GREENER by the minuet. Oh dear...

Get your solar power as fast as time will permit. Free hot water/grid profits......like I have said.....all will have to go green in the end.

The question is, will our technologies be in time for our lost in space:) I enjoyed the new scripted movie, and maybe it wont come to that, fingers crossed.

LEAP

When Stephen Conroy made that comment it also reminded me on the standard catch-cry for every election; education & families. Neither has made any positive progress whatsoever. So far as the economy goes, there are plain & simply too many people sponging off either other people or by way of being in utterly unproductive employment which only taxpayers can for. No private enterprise would tolerate an employee doing nothing for years on end. We need to create jobs for the unemployable which in turn will give them the incentive to improve themselves. We could start off with manual labour tasks instead of paying good money for nothing but growing more obese by the day. A National Service would be a great kick-off for that. Remember people should work their way up not start at the top. Another insanity are CEO pays for Telstra, the Banks & other institutions which hold the public at ransom with their monopoly services. In my area Qantas is given a monopoly by the local Council?Government & it's mainly the Public Servants who fly at taxpayers expense. The list of misuse, incompetence & corruption is just about endless.
Julia Gillard's Government will fix all that so not all's lost yet.

Well said Individual,
Totally agree with you.
NSB