579,
In our area we have consultants appointed by the federal government to manage funding. They get an awful lot of money for doing what our Departments & managers should be doing. Why give millions to private enterprise for doing government work ? Obviously, one of them is not needed. Health bureaucrats taking a huge slice out of health services. Education consultants on very generous money just to travel around for no apparent outcome. CEA offices with more employees than clients. local govt CEOs on huge contracts for what ? They still pay big money (ours) to get consultants doing the job for them. Do you know how many hundreds of millions are spent on aircraft with Customs, ships, vehicles, offices etc ? where is the value for our tax Dollar. Don't sack people, reduce the money spent on them. Can anyone say that a Mayor for a community of 3000 should get 120 grand a year plus benefits. The CEO 300 grand plus benefits, Exec Officers 200 grand plus benefits is not immoral ?
An average of 10 grand a month for air travel to meetings plus travel allowances for each one of them ? That 579 is where our taxes are so tragically wasted. Then you have the legal lot, the fire lot, the Uni lot, the immigration & Centrelink lot etc etc. I'm not saying we don't need them, some of them are doing a reasonable job but the majority aren't yet they absorb the bulk of our Dollars & that's why everything is going to crap. Some even admit themselves that it is out of hand. It doesn't need a sudden axe but it does need cutting back via natural attrition & early retirement. They CAN afford that. In our 3000 strong community there are at least a hundred like this, imagine in the whole of the country.

individual, I think cutting the public service is a great idea, sack all those on say $40k p/a and above. Lets start with public transport, state rail first, sack those over paid engine drivers and controllers they must be 40K people for sure. I hear you asking who's going to drive my morning train, no problem, there are plenty of staff left at the previously over staffed state rail, the under 40 brigade, cleaners, ticket collectors etc, we'll get someone to drive your train, no problem. After the derailment, don't worry Stan the garbo will rush you off to hospital, quick as a flash, well after the lads have finished the morning run that is. We saved a heap by using Stan, those over paid ambos had to go! The medical staff at the hospital will have you stitched up in no time. I can say Col the ex-porter assisted by the girls from the cafe do a fantastic job when it comes to ops, no prob's, got rid of those expensive doctors and nurse, saved a motza.
You say your house was burgled while you were in hospital, shame, but again not a problem, Clem the council street sweeper will be around soon to get all the details, he'll have the perpetrators under lock and key before you can say "call the overpaid cops!"
579, can I count on your support for my fantastic idea?

Paul1405,
who's talking about cutting the public service ? I & others are for gradually reducing the number of public servants & their pay. You're obviously one of those bureaucrats when asked what your job is you can't think of an answer.
If you were as efficient in work as you are in covering your backside then all would be good but unfortunately that isn't the case.
You'd never concede that too many people do too little but cost us too much.
You really need two years in National service to get the gist. I see those parasites & how much taxpayers money they waste just to cover their backsides. It's criminal but I don't think you know what that is either.

individual,
"You're (Paul) obviously one of those bureaucrats" No
"when asked what your job is you can't think of an answer." Engineer
"You'd never concede that too many people do too little but cost us too much." As I do not have the same philosophical bee in my bonnet as you do, I will have to agree. I should say through many years of working with people I have come across a percentage whom I would deem to be lazy. Larger the organisation, more lazy people I have come across, stands to reason.
"You really need two years in National service to get the gist" Your hobby horse, this idea of some kind of National Service boot camp. Pack them off to the wilds of North Queensland, no idea of the un-reality of this notion. Spell it out for all to see, if its such a good idea.
How many people at a time?
Where will it operate?
What will people be doing?
How do they get there?
Where will they live?
How will they be fed and clothed?
How many people required to set up and run?
What logistic needed to get it up and running?
Will there be exemptions for study, jobs etc?
Will people get to go home during their 2 year stint?
What will you do with absconders?
What is the set up cost?
What is the on going costs?
What would be the cost per person?

Just a few questions off the top of my head. With your blind philosophy I'm sure you have never considered any of this. I await your answers. No answers I'll take it you have no idea.

your blind philosophy
Paul 1405,
All I can say re your list that you have absolutely zilch imagination & as my line manager is also an engineer I fully understand that you will never understand.
I discuss this with people all the time & let me assure you that 95 % are with me on the National service proposal. I'm of course talking about normal people with logic. It's only those in the public service & bureaucrats who are against it. Possibly because of self-interest but I suspect poor mentality is the major component.

You have pretty much shown you bias again 579, as you say to give to the rich, you must take from the poor.

So you are quite happy to take from the rich, to support the poor, but you simply won't have it the other way.

What the likes of you don't understand, or more so, appreciate, is that the rich already give so much to the poor, yet, rather than be grateful, you still want more.

Typical!