Our trust bites the dust
OAUSTRALIANS WILL REMEMBER THE ABSENCE OF TRANSPARENCY AS WELL AS THE BLATANT COVER-UPS
ur new normal has seen an almost effortless acceptance of beards, bad haircuts, makeup-free faces and bra-less boobs.
We’ve seen the need for traditional office space challenged, and we’ve appreciated the necessity of a good internet connection.
We’ve also seen what happens when trust, from all levels of government, both at home and abroad, is eroded.
Daily briefings have allowed US citizens to see their President, Donald Trump, indulge in baseless self-congratulation, dangerous misinformation and infantile treatment of reporters who dare to question his loose grasp of facts, while their death toll rises, unabated.
In the UK, newly elected leader Boris Johnson championed “herd immunity” until catching the virus himself. While his government eventually changed its approach, the delay caused voter outrage, an ever-increasing death toll, and an overwhelmed health system.
Then there’s the secretive culture of Communism. Nobody seems to know how North
Korea’s ailing leader is faring; while China’s entrenched lack of transparency means our government’s official inquiry into the origins of the virus is unlikely to uncover anything but manufactured outrage, propaganda, and possible trade retaliation.
At home we’ve seen blame for the Ruby Princess debacle handballed from the man in charge of stopping boats, Peter Dutton, to Premier Gladys Berejiklian, whose legs can now be seen poking out from under the LNP tour bus.
This lack of accountability isn’t an isolated incident, but translates to other issues.
The uptake of the Covid-19 app isn’t yet where it needs to be, but assurances that it won’t track our movements are based on a faith that isn’t necessarily deserved.
Trust is a two-way street; our Prime Minister might have turned his office into a place of worship, but no amount of hopes and prayers will excuse blatant cover-ups.
People remember the denial then backtracking on the Hawaii holiday, they remember the admission that the bushfire relief fund was “notional”, they remember MP Angus Taylor’s questionable $80 million water deal and the jaw-dropping sports rorts.
With rollouts of the My Gov and My Health Record websites beset by security issues, not to mention the Queensland Health payroll software fiasco; it’s not surprising that voters are sceptical of government-endorsed technology.
But trust we must, to move forward.
At home, the new council got off to a shaky start, the first meeting saw previous developer campaign donations leading to the entire “Team Hill” members recusing themselves from voting on the proposed Fairfield Homemaker Centre development. Once again, the unelected CEO was the only bureaucrat to vote, and while independent Councillor Sue Blom was excluded due to her previous time on the council, she is not bound by the Walker Street “cone of silence”, so it’s been refreshing to see her honesty in detailing her council experience so far via her Facebook page;
“From inductions and learning the new way of doing things to dealing with being the odd one out and secret meetings …”
With the Mayor publicly announcing she won’t download the government’s COVID-19 app, it’s probably safer being excluded from “team” meetings, for now.
But we elect governments in good faith, and at the very least, shouldn’t they behave accordingly?
capitalists. The film documents who is making money from renewables (China, billionaires etc.) and who is paying. Us. Also that so called renewables are more damaging to the planet than coal and gas. Steve take the blinkers off.
RICHARD AITKENVALE
For far too long southern politicians have hidden behind the decisions of overpaid southern bureaucrats, the pencil pushers and bean counters, while Townsville and NQ is sold short. Thank you Phillip Thompson and George Christensen for your strength. If only our 3 state mice cousins understood their job like you 2, we wouldn’t have this crime chaos. PEDRO CRANBROOK
Straight up, I’m no MD but I challenge Dr Clements (TB 29.4.20) to publish details of study he used to debunk hydrochloroquine. Yet there are many articles now that show it IS effective if used correctly, it’s the drug of choice around the world and with almost ZERO side effects. Over to you.
ROBERT PIMLICO
To Shoelace, I can assure you that the money spent on revamping Tobruk Memorial Baths has been well spent and will not be a lost opportunity! That pool deserves to stay, it is very much needed for the swimmers in this area and is very much patronised. Sometimes it is too busy. What would you do with Heatley and Long Tan when they get old, bulldoze them and make people out that way use Ross River to swim and exercise in? JC. 4810 Please do not denigrate Jenny Hill for not downloading an app. this is supposed to be a FREE country. Pauline Hanson is not doing it same for me. There is No pandemic in this town or i’m blind freddy. Take the blinkers off people. L.G.WULGURU.