Page 1535 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
My research suggests that the system is open to that sort of stacking. I can well believe that, while this system sounds wonderfully democratic and participatory, it actually puts power into the hands of a select few unelected officials. It would not be a matter of marginalised people getting involved in the system; rather, unelected activists purporting to represent these people would take advantage of the system. So whilst Dr Foskey sees benefits in this sort of system, the rest of us, one hopes, recognise the sort of ideological stuff that it clearly is.
If one were not immediately suspicious of the scheme and how well it might work in practice, the knowledge that it was initially introduced into Brazil by the Marxist workers party should be enough to ring alarm bells. I would have thought that people the world over, if not, evidently, some members of this chamber, would now accept that Marxism and systems based on Marxist models do not work. So while I am happy to talk about this sort of obscure political process, I will not agree, based on my understanding of this system and my deep distrust of any Marxist system, that it is a process that purports to offer benefits to the people of Canberra. In our side discussion a moment ago, Dr Foskey cited Toronto. She said it works in Toronto. Toronto is recognised in Canada—
Dr Foskey: I didn’t say it worked in Toronto.
MR SPEAKER: Order!
MR MULCAHY: Well, Toronto was cited as a possible place where it does. Toronto has to be the worst managed part of Canada economically. It has got the worst tax regime. While the rest of Canada has been going ahead under the Harper government, it is going backwards because of the crazy ideas that prevail in the municipal government of Toronto and throughout that province. If that is another example of a developed nation where it is in place, I fear for what it might mean.
Obviously, it is not possible to please every interest group or individual, but everyone in Canberra and Australia does have the ability to influence the political process. I would dread a political system where every interest group is able to allocate funds for their own needs, even if it is only part of the administration budget. The result would be spiralling costs and a burden on taxpayers. In any regard, in addition to the election of officials, residents do have the ability to participate in the budget process. The Chief Minister went to some lengths to talk about that. People make submissions, either individually or through a community association, a business association or similar entity, to the government in advance of the budget. We hear evidence during the estimates process. The fact that the government may choose not to take any notice of it or put the majority of people on it is one issue, but it is a forum where people can express that point of view.
Certainly, if enough noise is made within our political system, such as we are seeing with Mr Barr trekking off tonight to meet the Weston Creek folks who have stirred things up out there, it is entirely likely that things will be addressed. We have seen this time and again. Either the government of the day addresses people’s needs or they will be voted out in favour of someone more likely to meet the needs of the majority of the community.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .