This tree has one last season to perform or it is out!
It doesn't look too flash at the moment but it has received excellent care for many years.
When Grand Final Day comes a decision will be made on its future!
Monday, 12 March 2012
One last season
This tree has one last season to perform or it is out!
It doesn't look too flash at the moment but it has received excellent care for many years.
When Grand Final Day comes a decision will be made on its future!
Monday, 5 March 2012
The same old issues
State Parliament resumes tomorrow.
The pundits are tipping the Forestry issue will be the dominant issue. There is so much more that we could be discussing.
It seems likely that at some point over the next two years there will be a successful move to expand the parliament to 35 seats - a return to 7 members for each of our 5 electorates. The Hare-Clark system, which by entrenching personal politics and intra-party rivalry, encourages conservative policies, wont be changed.
At the moment a lobby group is also pushing for changes in our local government - suggesting amalgamations and therefore rationalisation is badly needed. But there are bigger issues than this.
In the last week former Premier Jeff Kennett has suggested Tasmania and South Australia should merge with Victoria to form a super unit that would rival Queensland and Western Australia. The reaction to this has been predictable. Only Greg Barns has taken the call up with any enthusiasm - and he has made this call previously.
So it seems most people - or at least those that the Tasmanian media identify as spokespeople - are willing to discuss some types of changes but not wholesale change that would see Tasmania renegotiate its place in the Federation. We have a chance to sort out what sort of political and administrative structures are appropriate now - rather than what was appropriate prior to air travel, instant communication and on-line communities. The local government (municipal) question takes on a different complexion if we consider it in the context of renegotiating our state structures.
Typically communities only consider changes like these at the time of crisis - whether they be economic, natural disaster or military. Leadership - placing the issue on the agenda for serious discussion without resorting to emotional calls to "Save Our State" - could see us considering these questions over the next few years. What role do State Governments have? What services should they provide? What models would see efficient and effective service provision? Where does local government fit in this? How much are we prepared to pay for this?
I think Forestry will dominate again.
The pundits are tipping the Forestry issue will be the dominant issue. There is so much more that we could be discussing.
It seems likely that at some point over the next two years there will be a successful move to expand the parliament to 35 seats - a return to 7 members for each of our 5 electorates. The Hare-Clark system, which by entrenching personal politics and intra-party rivalry, encourages conservative policies, wont be changed.
At the moment a lobby group is also pushing for changes in our local government - suggesting amalgamations and therefore rationalisation is badly needed. But there are bigger issues than this.
In the last week former Premier Jeff Kennett has suggested Tasmania and South Australia should merge with Victoria to form a super unit that would rival Queensland and Western Australia. The reaction to this has been predictable. Only Greg Barns has taken the call up with any enthusiasm - and he has made this call previously.
So it seems most people - or at least those that the Tasmanian media identify as spokespeople - are willing to discuss some types of changes but not wholesale change that would see Tasmania renegotiate its place in the Federation. We have a chance to sort out what sort of political and administrative structures are appropriate now - rather than what was appropriate prior to air travel, instant communication and on-line communities. The local government (municipal) question takes on a different complexion if we consider it in the context of renegotiating our state structures.
Typically communities only consider changes like these at the time of crisis - whether they be economic, natural disaster or military. Leadership - placing the issue on the agenda for serious discussion without resorting to emotional calls to "Save Our State" - could see us considering these questions over the next few years. What role do State Governments have? What services should they provide? What models would see efficient and effective service provision? Where does local government fit in this? How much are we prepared to pay for this?
I think Forestry will dominate again.
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