Anna and Lawrence - It's about what you can influence

Our two State political leaders are sprouting their respective plans for relieving the impact of the global financial crisis on Queensland.

Realistically, how much can they really do?

The domain of local Government is sewerage, water distribution, garbage, sewerage, traffic control and local public transport.

The Federal Government deals with defence, tax and fiscal policy, foreign affairs, social security, border security, customs and excise and tertiary education.

And State Governments primarily deal with State transport infrastructure, power, water, primary and secondary education, health and law and order.

So why are our Queensland Political Leaders talking about relieving the impact of the global financial crisis when in reality, what ever they do will have limited if any impact.

Prime Minister Rudd and Treasurer Swann quite reasonably point out there is little if we in Australia can do about what is happening in financial markets overseas. Our economy is so small in the wider scheme of things that we are being taken and will continue to be taken along for the economic ride.

Sure, we have had several stimulus packages and while it is claimed these measure have had an effect, measuring the effect is virtually impossible.

Queensland, and all other States are a further rung down the global ladder, so why do our State political leaders think they can do what all other National Governments the world over are failing to do?

Both leaders are making promises around health; however our public health system is in such a mess, it will take a decade or more to really achieve anything. Besides neither party want to say too much about Health that they can be held accountable for at a future date.

There has been passing attention to education and infrastructure, and water is not as high on our awareness barometers since recent rains in the South East.

So what about Law and Order? I am not aware of any substantive reference to Law and Order during the campaign. Although I have not seen any outputs from today’s campaign launches.

I had a call from a close friend last Friday. His 70 year old uncle had been attacked and robbed just near his home in a major regional city. The attack like all attacks was cowardly. It was also cruel and vicious and involved what appears to be acid being thrown in his face. He is still unconscious and in intensive care having been transferred to Brisbane.

It is a sickening act in every way.

Law and Order is not just about policing and jails. It is also about education and reform programs for first time and juvenile offenders.

From what I have seen, there has been little if anything mentioned to do with law and order during the campaign. It obviously isn’t sexy, or is it a case of if it hasn’t effected me, it doesn’t matter, therefore there are few votes to be won.

Time for our State Leaders to get back to the issues they can genuinely and meaningfully influence and leave the global financial crisis to those who can do something about that too.

Political Deceit and Scrutiny Avoidance

The Queensland State Premier Anna Bligh visited the Governor this morning asking that Parliament be dissolved and an election be held on 21 March 2009.

This action is totally within the rules and part of the strong democratic system we are privileged to operate under in this State and in this Country.

But, is it morally corrupt?

Premier Anna Bligh took over the top job from Peter Beattie about 20 months ago so this will be her first time facing the election as Premier.

Premier Bligh has for 20 months been repeating over and over her commitment to run a full term. A full term would see an election in September.

Now, I am sure there are many who would point out that her words have more often than not been “an intention to run a full term”.

In my opinion, Anna Bligh has treated the electorate like brainless idiots. There is no doubt in my mind that she has wanted us to believe she will run full turn.

However, things are tough and are to get tougher. For one, unemployment will almost certainly rise and rising unemployment affects a Government electoral chances. As Prime Minister, her Labour colleague Bob Hawke was successfully re-elected on several occasions despite a severe unemployment. He didn’t run from the issue, he addressed it and communicated with the electorate. Among other things he restructured the automotive industry and manufacturing in general. He developed a compulsory savings system via superannuation and kept wage inflation to a competitive level via a structured arbitration system that kept lost work days to a respectable level.

In Queensland, we will go into a period of political inaction due to an election we should not be having yet. Government freezes during an election, decisions cannot be made and implemented at a time we need a Government actively with its hands on the levers supporting and communicating with business and employees. We do not need 5 weeks of political rhetoric and game playing.

And one other thing, Parliament was due to sit next week and now wont be.

Last Thursday, the state Treasurer Andrew Fraser together with Anna Bligh announced that the State was to have an estimated deficit of over $1 billion for the 2008/09 financial year. When you consider the original estimate was for a surplus of $800 million, revised in December to $54 million, this is a drastic turn around. By calling the election now, the Government is avoiding Parliamentary scrutiny.

The calling of an early election after leading the electorate to believe she will go full term together with avoiding the scrutiny of Parliament over the deficit leads me to have severe doubts about the credibility, leadership skills and courage of Premier Anna Bligh.

The question I therefore have to address is – “Is this the type of person I want to trust this State too during a period of tough economic circumstances?”

Right now, I am inclined to think she lacks the character to do the job.