A Government in Crisis
The end of the year in the NSW Parliament is a depressing time. It is not that there is little legislation, for we have 29 Bills stacked and waiting for our debates and voting in these last two weeks of the year. They each make fundamental changes in the law of this land without having been allowed time for proper scrutiny and debate.
This is because the Premier Nathan Rees and his disunited caucus behind him have not been clear in progressive policy. Take the issue of public transportation, for example. Labor has promised much but delivered little in terms of public transportation over the past 14 years in power.
There have been many backflips with announcements being made, then cancelled. The Premier has now announced his decision to move ahead with the $1.4 billion south-west rail link, having deferred it in the mini-budget last year. But he is stuck with the Metro with its $5 billion price tag, which means the Government has no idea how to fund the as-yet-unfunded $8 billion western rail, except to say that private funds will be required. The Metro is an unwanted lemon, and the Premier needs to dump it and direct the funds to the North West and the South West rail developments.
Barry O’Farrell, and his energetic Shadow Minister for Transport, Gladys Berejiklian, have their own list ready for when they become the Government. They include the North West Rail link (promised in 1998 and axed), North West Metro (announced and axed), Bondi Beach rail link (promised then axed), Parramatta to Epping rail link (halved to Epping to Chatswood rail link), CBD/second Harbour crossing rail link (promised and axed), F6 through southern Sydney, (on again, off again), M5 East duplication (long delayed), M4 East extension (long delayed). But they too have to supply details of how they will fund these programs of public transportation.
Meanwhile the state’s Health system is in parlous condition and it will take a miracle to resuscitate it. There are problems in every policy matter, and a lack of funding overall. What is needed is just not more money, but a greater vision – one that sees what is required, that makes the decisions, that gives priority to what is essential, and then transmits that vision to the public. That is a big ask and I can see nothing on the Legislative agenda that gives me hope that anything will change in the next year.
In the meanwhile, Family First will keep the pressure on the Government and the opposition, and by blunt questioning keep the focus on the Minister. As the Bible says, “Where there is no vision the people perish.”
Rev the Hon. Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC