Balancing the Budget: Getting Australian expectations of spending and revenue raising in order

30 August 2022 by Glenn Barnes

Governance

For too long now our politicians have dodged bringing the community into the discussion of our wicked budget dilemmas: 1. Community expectations for government-supplied services and support are greater than our potential to raise revenue and 2. Our taxation system is too dependent on personal taxes and puts an unfair load on working Australians. The avoidance is due to fear of electoral backlash.

Experience elsewhere suggests that the best way to resolve such wicked problems is to effectively draw the community into the deliberations. A citizens jury is one such approach.

Mr Chalmers and Albanese - why not?

https://ideaspies.com/posts/an-interactive-budget-that-shows-alternatives-to-planned-tax-cuts

https://ideaspies.com/posts/australians-have-an-opportunity-to-re-set-expectations-for-government-spending-and-funding

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Comments

Governance

Australian Institute for Ethics

Australia - as with many other liberal democracies - has a problem with TRUST!Loss of trust in our institutions and their leaders continues to wear down our social fabric. Continued flagrant lying by our politicians (including Prime Ministers) is just one example of why institutional trust is at such a low ebb.For the sake of future generations, we need to reverse this situation.Establishing and broad community support for an Ethics Institute would be a significant first step in stopping the rot and re-building trust and the compact that underpins our social fabric and order.

16 February 2024 by Glenn Barnes 1 Comments

Governance

Involving the public in selecting the Australian Governor General

Constitutional Law expert and Scientia Professor George Williams has proposed another exciting idea for Australia’s governance. That is, to explore the opportunities our constitution offers and that the conventions with the Crown provide for selecting and appointing our Governor General. Prof Williams raises several interesting issues regarding the potential powers of the position and alternative ways of selecting and appointing a Governor General. Public discourse over these issues could catalyse community interest in our country’s governance and help us evaluate options for constitutional refreshment and our head of state's role, status and powers.

14 February 2024 by Glenn Barnes 2 Comments

Governance

A Mission-Led Industry Policy to Improve Productivity

"A programme of investment in the key activities and technologies of the 21st century to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss

8 February 2024 by IdeaSpies 1 Comments

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