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Originally Posted by geckoGT
I have lived in rural WA for a lot of years and I have to say I do not see the huge difference between what rural and metro get. The roads are just as good in most country areas, if not better than Perth. Perhaps WA just does it better than NSW (WA does a lot of things better than NSW  )Yes there are shortfalls in areas of schools, public amenities, hospitals etc but these shortfalls are predominately in areas of very small population that simply can not justify a hospital in a town of 500 people etc. In such areas this infrastructure has to come from a regional basis and breaking a state up to two smaller states will not change this fact.
What makes you think that when the Hunter Region becomes the State of New England, the new state government is not going to mine the same land? Of course they will because they will need the money. |
I'll have to take your word about WA doing it better than NSW. I don't think I have a basis there to disagree with you there.
Yes, the expense of another state government is a very good point. A new state government in the 21st century could be more like that in the ACT and not necessarily like the state governments of today. Having the Australian Government look after essential services with locals administering it. Having a smaller population DEMANDS less bureaucracy too. Less ministers and departments and less duplication with Federal administration. Adpotion of existing NSW state law but with a greater say in how these laws apply to local communities. Federal police and hospitals, education etc. It needs to less of what we have now and more efficient for tax payers. Is this a challenge too great for the 21st century? I hope not.
For the record, I have no issue with mining. The issue that I have is that we have local government that represents local communities that ultimately gets steamrolled by the Sydney government without proper consultation with locals. Also, the money(royalites) that are gouged out by the Sydney government are not repaid to the local communities. Once upon a time, it was local government that was paid mining royalties.
We have a more recent issue come to light over the minister for planning give my local council 21 days to show why it shouldn't have its planning powers seized by the Sydney government. Why cannot the people of NSW give the Sydney government 21 days to explain why it should continue to mismanage and fragment the state? These feelings are across the state and not just in my area.
It is the lack of representation because of the ever widening of the "city-country divide" that makes these issues harder and harder to get heard because metropolitan areas increase in size and influence. At the beginning of Federation, it was the other way around but as time went by this balance has tilted towards central cities leaving those in regional areas without a voice.
It's about locals controlling local issues.