SR wrote: "For the likes of mhaze who want to put all this debt on both Labor and the pandemic."

Becoming rather deranged there ol' boy. I didn't mention Labor in my post. Nor did I blame the so-called pandemic for the debt (two for two SR)- I blame the government's the responses to the pandemic. A response that was supported by a large majority of the population who are now aghast that spending money you don't have has consequences.

Do try to keep up with the rest of the class.

The only workers that the public should be paying are those in essential services: health, defence, treasury, utilities, police, fire services.
ttbn,
Yes and, even their bureaucrats need to be made way more responsible than has been the case for decades now. Remember, it's the bureaucrats who are the virus in the Public Service, not any of the professionals.
The only way to sort that mess is via natural attrition & any new positions need to be reviewed & revised in their salary rates. The present situation is that they're simply overpaid for their required duties. The nation can no longer afford them !
As I said before, introduce a National Service & only someone who has served can be eligible for a position in the Public Service. This is the ONLY way to ensure accountability !

Debating the pros and cons of policies is like comparing the merits of religions.

In the end, as PM Jack Lang once said "In the race of life, always back self-interest - at least you know it's trying" or in the version stated by Gough Whitlam - "The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-interest always runs a good race.“

Considering the serious issues humanity faces and the potential fate of future generations it says a lot about the political system but even more about us.

Individual,
>introduce a National Service & only someone who has served can be eligible for a position in the Public Service.
That would result in the Public Service being barred from hiring most of the competent people. It's like you're TRYING to make it as incompetent as you keep baselessly insisting it is!

>This is the ONLY way to ensure accountability !
False for two reasons:
First it would do ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to improve accountability.
Second there are many ways to ensure accountability. Crowdsourcing scrutiny is the best IMO.

Hi rache,

John (Jack) Thomas Lang, the one I consider Australia's greatest politician who was destined to never be Prime Minister. Lang never shirked a political fight, particularly if it meant standing up for the rights and welfare of the battlers and oppressed of society. Lang was never defeated by his political enemies through the true democratic process, rather they had to resort to unconscionable means to bring the "Big Fella" down, be they his conservative enemies in parliament and outside, or the traitors of the working class within the Labor Party, a party he was ultimately expelled from, only to be readmitted in the last years of his life. Living to the age of 98 years Lang never gave up the struggle for the rights of the common man.

His books 'The Great Bust', 'I Remember' and 'The Turbulent Years' make for fascinating reading. I have read everything I can about Lang including 'Dismissal Of A Premier' by Bethia Foott which attempts to justify the undemocratic actions of the Governor of NSW Sir Philip Game in sacking Lang in 1932.

Only those elderly folk like Indy, who have completed 2 years of Seniors National Service should eligible for aged welfare payments. That payment should be in the form of a cashless debit card to stop the practice of much of the money being squandered on beer and pokies down at God's Waiting Room. Indy you're all for that, ah?