Invitations to 34,000 randomly selected people in Ireland have gone out, asking them to take part in Citizens' Assemblies on the mayoralty of Dublin, and on biodiversity. Ireland is also making preparations to hold a citizens' assembly on drug use early next year.
Lack of housing to meet the broader community’s needs;
houses vulnerable to flooding and bushfires; an ever-escalating cost spiral!
Australian governments’ housing policies (federal, state and
local) badly fail the community.
As with other systemic failures, we need a Royal Commission
to investigate and recommend how we should go about fixing this unacceptable
situation.
We regularly hear piecemeal announcements on Australian
defence procurement and the planned location of facilities. These look to be
more politically driven than as part of a coherent strategy.
Both sides of politics have badly let the community down on
Defence. Our military structure, posture and equipment are more suited to the last
century than today. Our procurement record is littered with poor choices based
on political bias and defence department overreach. We have wasted enormous
amounts of money on the procurement of ineffective equipment and cancelled
programs.
A Royal Commission is required to sort out the mess!
As our two significant parties shape up for the coming federal
election, there is more emphasis on what they will not do rather than what they
will do.
We need politicians committed to developing policies that reflect
the common good - not partisan bias or the needs of vested interests - and to implement
efficiently and effectively.
Let’s demand some effective policies covering: Government
income and expenditure; Energy policy and climate change; Defence; Affordable
housing; Adequate staffing and funding for Health, Aged Care and NDIS services;
Community reconciliation and healing; The social safety net; Equal education opportunities
starting at pre-school…
