Communications, Transparency and Consultation

I am standing for the ACT assembly in many ways due to the lack of transparency, quality communications and consultation from the government.

A government that has been in power for a long time will, by its very nature, end up communicating and consulting with itself. In the early years of this government, it may have done a better job. But after 23 years they might as well consult and communicate with mirrors.

We now have a public service that is high quality but is hamstrung by stale political leadership.

This isn’t a criticism, per se, of the individuals, but of the impact that a long time in power has on the capacity to make decisions and understand reality.

Below are examples of the failures and where the government would have done better if there were good quality independents in the Assembly. There would have been better outcomes for ratepayers, parents, health workers and, well, everybody - except for the minority consisting of the biggest developers, the CFMEU and Labor and Green politicians who continue to win.

Communications
The government announced it would decriminalise the possession of small amounts of illegal drugs. This is a good idea as a person should not be penalised with a criminal record for the rest of their life for a small (but grave) mistake made when they are young.

But drugs are such a serious issue and has such an impact on all parts of our society that if changes are made they have to be communicated in a way that will not create a bigger problem.

The government communications failed. There are many teenagers around Canberra telling their parents or carers or grandparents, or their Uncles and Aunts, or their teachers and friends, that ‘it’s  Ok as the government has said it’s ok’. The government didn’t say drugs were OK, but they failed to communicate effectively the reasons for the change. This will potentially have far-reaching negative health and safety outcomes.

It is not acceptable to fail to effectively communicate on such an important issue.

Transparency 
There are probably many cases where transparent decisions are not made. The prime example is light rail.

Many people love the light rail and many don’t. It can be quite polarising. What is missing is any business case and any price comparisons with other options.

For the next stage of the light rail (stage 2b) – from Commonwealth Park to Woden, what will the cost be? The government has said they would provide a business case after the election in October, so obviously they have something to hide. We already know the current stage (2a) is at a cost of over $600m per kilometre. That’s a lot.

If the government was transparent and if it respected the ratepayers and voters of Canberra they would provide the information.

Better still they should provide a cost benefit analysis of light rail versus electric buses.

If the transport corridor was still created with stations at regular intervals but there were electric buses instead of trams (or are they trains?) we would not need the steel rail lines or the overhead wires or all the work associated with their installation.

So, to be fair to voters and ratepayers – what is the costs difference if any? It is probably at least $1.5b cheaper to go with the electric buses. Voters can at least, then, vote knowing the costs and the impact on rates and taxes.

Transparency is missing when it comes to major projects.

That makes me ask the question why? Because the unions and some bid developers certainly are friendly. And we know the unions own the Labor Party.

Consultation
The government claims that it consults widely before making decisions. It doesn’t.

One example which shows the complete lack of consultation, and also a lack of care of the impact of these poor consultations, is the implementing of the 40km zone on Northbourne Avenue and Barry Drive in the city centre. When the new speed limit was introduced there were some 8000 Canberrans who received fines for speeding in the first month of its operation. Most were shocked as they were unaware of the change. Many people received multiple fines in the one day.

Too many people continue to receive fines for a change that still makes no sense.

Interestingly a group known as the ‘Braddon Collective’ had been lobbying for 40km zones to be created in Mort and Lonsdale Streets just around the corner from Northbourne Avenue - where the interaction between cars and pedestrians is much closer. They also asked for a pedestrian crossing. But the government ignored their needs and went after the drivers on Northbourne instead. After much more lobbying the crossing and the speed change has finally happened – but that is probably because an election is coming.