SWTK: Should we get rid of a tier of government?

[Sventek]

There's been a bit of discussion on the news sites lately about getting rid of state governments. What does the collective wisdom of PSB reckon? Would we be better off without one of the levels of government?

[Charger]

I voted for local. It's the only one which you could seemingly get rid of. As the local government is unoffiliated with political parties it would be harder to force funding through. If you keep the State gov then they will be accountable to you at the next election and therefore it will be in their best interest to work in with their federal counterparts to get the funding out to the areas. Also Local Gov elections are not compulsory to vote in.

I know it already goes on now with State and Federal governments both blaming each other for failure to deliver on election promises but it would be worse with Federal and Local governments.

[Semi]

Fuck getting rid of local- i would hate to have to try and get the state govt. to get all the small things done.

[Captain Starfish]

I sometimes wonder whether it would be better to bring more power, funding and scope back into local government. Where things are kind of relevant to the residents.

Sometimes...

[DoctorOwl]

I don't even know what local government does.

[Cbr1k]

I sometimes wonder whether it would be better to bring more power, funding and scope back into local government. Where things are kind of relevant to the residents.

Sometimes...

I'd normally agree with that, but fuck they are IMHO the most corrupt bunch of people in government.

[Rob]

We would have to be one of the most over governed countries in the world. One tier to go would be a good start.

[Scoundrel]

Fuck getting rid of local- i would hate to have to try and get the state govt. to get all the small things done.

I sometimes wonder whether it would be better to bring more power, funding and scope back into local government. Where things are kind of relevant to the residents.

Sometimes...

Spot on.

Anyone read, or aware of, the Federal Government's Cost Shifting Inquiry that was carried out a year or two ago? The Inquiry found that state governments and the Federal government over the years have been withdrawing and under-funding services and that local government has been picking up the slack. It's no longer about 'roads, rates and rubbish' for the local Council, they do more and wield more power than the average punter is aware of. It's also scrutinised more and much more transparent than the state government.

That said, there are things that I simply would not trust local government with. Things like Policing, education, emergency services and so on.

[Ells]

I'd be keen to see a revised structure of government with federal remaining and a hybrid of state and local introduced.

I think local government areas are too small at the moment and if we had for example 3 or 4 super councils for the metro and then about 3 or 4 regional councils it would be much better.

Metro could be:
South West, North West and Eastern

Regional could be:
South West, Kimberley, Pilbarra / Gascoigne, Goldfields and Wheat Belt.

[DoctorOwl]

I don't want to let go of Federal government because, well it's necessary we have oversight for the country as a whole - for defense, taxation, etc purposes.

On the other hand that federal government has lots of stupid, stupid ideas that they can't implement because the states won't agree on anything, and we can avoid by moving from state to state if we have to.

ie: Look at the learner laws in (Victoria?) 12 months on your Ls! 120 hours of logbook entries! I think it's absolutely crazy. Can you imagine that moving over here? Argh.

Then again, I guess we get screwed on both counts and having just one government might help us focus efforts on lobbying against things we don't like... I don't know.

I imagine this area is really best answered by those who live and breathe politics.

[merctom]

We don't need to get rid of a tier of government, Just slim down what we have.

Getting rid of state gov is ridiculous if you actually sit down and think about it properly.

[Taylor]

Getting rid of state gov is ridiculous if you actually sit down and think about it properly.

Please don't use phrases like this. Please elaborate on your point citing specific circumstances.

I don't know if you're talking about uniform laws across the country or state based health care management.

Theoretically if local councils each held a percentage of the current senate vote that the state of Western Australia holds in the federal parliament then there would still be state based voting, and not a population controlled system.

[chew]

Local councils would be the most obvious to go, however I would rather see more controls on the participants in all levels of govmint. eg Most local councils are made up of people in real estate, when you go up a tier we have the lawyers and union officials up a tier again and we get merchant bankers and beauracrats plus lawyers and union officials.

[Ozboy]

Federal bureacracy would see all of this states earnings sent East, trickling funds back here to keep this place ticking over. Seriously, since this building/mining boom what has the Federal government sent our way?
It would be intersesting to know which state produces the greatest financial windfall for Australia year in year out.
To keep the pollies over East honest, we must have our own form of representation.

[chew]

^^^ Where does the investment for these projects come from? The east maybe?

[Taylor]

The federal senate would always be in place to keep check on federal spending.

[Ozboy]

^^^ Where does the investment for these projects come from? The east maybe?

World wide consortiums mainly.

[Taylor]

^^^ Where does the investment for these projects come from? The east maybe?

Asia?

[Ozboy]

The federal senate would always be in place to keep check on federal spending.

Yes Queen Armidala.

[Sventek]

Maybe I should have had 'Secede' as an option...