5 Years

Contradictory, is a word to describe this state election (if not all elections); contradictory claims is pretty much standard fare for any election campaign. Then after the election, contradictory actions; saying one thing but doing another is not unexpected. What I find contradictory is on a recent visit to Brisbane the number of inner city apartment complexes being built or planned to start and existing apartment towers with little provision for residents cars, many parked on the streets. If the State Government is serious about reducing congestion and the strain on existing infrastructure in the south east corner along with decentralising the state by encouraging residents to move north and west the raucous apartment construction industry appears contradictory. “Blame the Brisbane Council” could be a response as they’re responsible for the building approvals; but will either major party really get serious about spreading Queensland’s population throughout the state while non fixed 3 year terms remain. Tough decisions need to be made to encourage decentralisation. Decisions that could make the life of a south east Queensland resident less comfortable, thus more amenable to considering moving. Like moving their existing jobs to the regions as proposed for Public Service Departments in the Queensland Plan. Obviously unpopular decisions to S.E. corner residents, where the majority of voters live. While a term in Government is as short term as 30 to 36 months and polls indicate that a party who can’t presently field a full cricket team could win government,  what party would make decisions targeting the lifestyle of the majority of its voters? 5 year terms – would they be that unsavoury? It would give time for a Government serious on making reforms that benefit the whole state to implement them! Short non-fixed terms arguably appear to encourage ‘do little’. So far this election campaign appears only to have specifically delivered for the local region a dollar for dollar funded development for the Yeppoon foreshore. Where are the specific policy instruments to move towards a 50-50 state population split? And this requirement for dollar for dollar contribution from local governments to get projects approved, how is that fair on councils who have a high number of FIFO workers placing a strain on the infrastructure but pay rates in Cairns or Brisbane. Hopefully longer fixed term governments would result in real backbone being demonstrated increasing regional Queensland population at the expense of the S.E. corner, not actions contradicting words.