Exchange self-seeking bumblers for supporters of privilege?

Mr Klaas Woldring is a Peninsula treasure and often makes a positive contribution to local debate.

He has done so again in his discussion about our broken constitution with its fracturing of responsibility and accountability between the Commonwealth and the States.

Unfortunately, I think Mr Woldring is a little too optimistic in his hopes for progress through a Labor - Green alliance.

The Greens have demonstrated their unfitness for Government responsibility in recent years by undermining moderate Labor positions on climate change and asylum seekers.

In this way, the Greens have paved the way for a likely conservative victory.

Rather than conservative, I would call it a likely victory for privilege, divisiveness, and stagnation.

The idea of having a so-called conservative Government that would unwind the NBN, stop Gonski, and replace the current very fair and financially responsible parental leave scheme with one that gives the greatest rewards to high income earners should ensure the Liberals hardly get a vote on the Coast.

As for Labor, despite the policy plusses of the NBN, Gonski, Disability Care, realistic parental leave and the Murray-Darling agreements they've achieved, I'll believe there's substantial and lasting hope when they introduce US style primaries across the country to clean out head office and factional corruption and local branch inertia, when the party-union nexus is radically modified to reduce the influence of union conservatism and corruption, and when all senior Labor people discipline themselves into singing from the same song sheet in public.

Of course it would be impressive if Labor could also produce a 21st century industry, education and employment strategy that makes sense, and if they could put forward a realistic, progressive taxation policy that allowed this country to achieve its full potential and security.

But I won't hold my breath.

In September we have to make a choice among a bad lot, perhaps without enthusiasm.

Hopefully we can see clearly enough not to exchange a bunch of self-seeking but occasionally well-intentioned bumblers for equally incompetent supporters of privilege and division.

Email, 29 May 2013

Tom Mangan, Woy Woy Bay