===============·Beyond
Federation Conference 10/11 July 2004
Address
by
Charles
S Mollison
Chairman, The Foundation for National Renewal
The
following notes were used to expand a Powerpoint presentation.
Introduction
Slide 1
The
idea with this presentation is to give you the detail on one particular Model so
we all have a common start point for the Workshops tomorrow.
The
Model Explained
This
solution to our problem is referred to as a National/Regional Model.
I
have put this model together by gleaning the best ideas from a dozen forums such
as this one.
My
plan is to give you an overall look at the model first and then to examine each
of the criteria in more detail.
Slide
2.
The model envisages...
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1. A National Gov't & Approx 100 Regions each with its own Parliament.
The final number of regions will depend on practicalities that will only become
apparent when we actually get around to delineating regions.
It might end up being 80 or 120.
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2. We envisage the Regions
would have Populations of between 90,000 and 250,000 people.
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3. The National Government would be responsible for all policy.
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4. There would be only one set
of laws instead of having different laws in each State as we currently endure.
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5. The National Gov't would
retain responsibility to implement such things as Defence, Foreign Affairs,
Customs, Immigration, etc.
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6. The Regional Gov'ts would
become responsible to implement everything else.
Slide
3. Now lets talk about the
Regions
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1. When delineating the
Regions, one of the prime considerations will be to base them, wherever
possible, on Water Catchment Areas.
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2. The 100 Regional Gov'ts will
be responsible for delivering all services except those we just talked about
remaining with the National Gov't.
Regional governments would deliver all those services currently delivered by
local and State Gov'ts including health, education, welfare.
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3. Regional Governments would have, on average, 40 Members of Parliament.
Average because Regions with a small population would have less MPs than
those with a large population.
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4. And these Regional MPs would be elected from tiny, single member
electorates of only 5000 voters.
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5. Electors would have the
power to recall their representative if they prove unsatisfactory or continually
fail to vote as expected by their constituents.
This applies to both the National and the
Regional Parliaments.
Slide
4: Now lets have a look at the National Parliament.
The
National Parliament; that is, the parliament that passes all the laws and lays
down national policy, is not made up of any Joe blow who happens to win a seat
in some obscure electorate and is gone again at the next election.
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1. The National Parliament,
both the Senate & the H of R, would be made up of experienced and proven
representatives elected by the Regional Parl'ts from the best of their members.
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2. The Parl't would have both a
H of R & a Senate
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3. With one Senator & two H
of R MPs, this would give 100 Senators and 200 H of R.
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4. The electors (that is, the
Regional Parl'ts) would have power to recall the regional representatives and
hold another election.
Finish
of overview.
Now let's have a closer look at these Regions.
Slide
5. There are a number of
advantages that would accrue from having 100 Regions instead of 6 States, 2
Territories and 670 local governments.
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1. This would mean that the Regions are small enough to allow Intimacy of
government at the Regional Level. Compare
a maximum population of a Region of 250,000 with the 6 million of NSW or even
the 1.5 million pop of SA.
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2. But when compared to Local Gov't as we now have, these Regions
would allow for a parliament large enough to handle a wide range of
responsibilities.
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3. They would also be large enough to be viable, autonomous regions.
And large enough to allow economy of scale in a wide range of activities.
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4. 100 Regions would also give a big boost to decentralisation - 100
'Capitals' instead of Seven.
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5. And
unlike the plight of current State & Local Gov't, these Regions would have a
constitutionally guaranteed % of national revenue.
Now
if we look at the idea of having Regions of varying sizes.
Slide
6. Populations of 90,000 to
250,000
This
range may have to be extended depending on practicalities when we get down to
delineating Regions; particularly those in the outback.
However, this model is designed to cope with that.
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1. This flexibility in size of
population would not only facilitate introduction of the new system; but also
planning it in the first place.
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2. Each Region would be
delineated by grouping electorates of 5000 voters.
That is, somewhere between 18 and 50 of these electorates would make up a
region.
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3. In this way, the principle
of 'One-vote-one-value' is retained.
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4. Regions with larger
populations could have more problems. This
Model gives them more MPs to handle that.
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5. Allowing more sparsely
populated areas to have Regions with smaller populations means land areas can be
of manageable sizes.
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6. Populations of this size are
large enough to allow a sense of identity.
We could well have Region of Origin matches to rival State of Origin.
Now
let's have a look at how we would delineate these Regions.
Slide
7. A
prime criterion would be that they be based on water catchment areas wherever
possible
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1. This would provide logical, natural boundaries.
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2. It would give Regions
enormous control over the environment of their Region.
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3. It would also give Regions
control over water supply and facilitate the management of effluent.
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4. And it would facilitate
communications. The Regional Gov't
would not have to co-ordinate and haggle with a neighbouring government about
where bridges should go or who should pay for them.
Because the Regional Government owns both sides of the river, they would
be able to just get on with it.
However,
in some cases (particularly in the outback) it could well be impractical to base
Regional boundaries on catchment areas. In
that case, boundaries would be delineated using...
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5. Social and/or Economic
factors as the criteria for deciding boundaries.
Slide
8. Regional Parliaments
You
will recall I mentioned the Regions would be allocated a fixed % of gross
revenue. Using current budget
figures we calculate that expenditure on those activities we plan for the
national Gov't would gobble up about 20% of national revenue.
That
would leave 80% of Nat Revenue to be distributed to Regions.
Currently, local government expenditure represents only about 6% of
public sector spending.
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1. This means Regional Parliaments are very powerful.
They are not jumped up Local Government bodies.
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2. However, because Regions only average 200,000 people, the organisations
delivering government services are 'Close to the People'.
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3. And because the MPs are elected from tiny electorates, we get very
intimate representation.
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4. And yet, the parliaments will be large enough to handle a wide range of
responsibilities thus overcoming a deficiency of the ACT government that does
not have enough members - each Minister has a number of portfolios.
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5. Because we are talking about a relatively small area, with
Representatives elected by tiny electorates, these Regional Parliaments would be
more representative and accountable than anything we have seen in the past.
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6. At the same time, these Parliaments (about 40 MPs) will be small enough
to allow effective debate.
Let's
look at how these Regional MPs are elected.
Slide
9. 5000 Voter Electorates
These
small electorates are an essential element of this Model.
(Currently, a Federal House of Reps electorate is about 80,000 voters.)
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1. Small enough to allow effective campaigning.
Even a very poor independent candidate could knock on every door in such
an electorate.
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2. Eliminates taxpayer funded electoral allowances (This involves
$millions.)
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3. Undermines power of political parties.
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4. Each Member of a Regional parliament will represent only 5,000 voters.
This is very intimate representation.
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5. And will give us representation of communities rather than
representation of Political Parties.
Slide
10. Regional delivery of all
other services
These
Regional Parliaments would be responsible for the delivery of all government
services except those we spoke about before.
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1.
And because these Regions are so much smaller than our current States, this
delivery would develop a very "close to the People" relationship.
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2. And the smallness will also enhance accountability.
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3. What is more, each Region will be able to design a delivery structure to
suit their Region.
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4. It will also be possible for a close relationship to be forged between
politicians and bureaucrats.
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5. And this can only lead to a more efficient bureaucracy.
Slide
11. Guaranteed % of Revenue to Regions
This Model envisages that the Constitution will guarantee a set % of revenue
to the Regions. On current
calculations that % would be in the vicinity of 80%.
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1. Such guaranteed revenue would establish and maintain Regional Autonomy.
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2. This ironclad guarantee would facilitate planning.
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3. It would eliminate political manipulation and pork barrelling.
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4. It would prevent centralisation.
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5. And it would promote accountability.
Are
you starting to get a feel for these regions?
They
have a population averaging 200,000 people.
Each
Region has a single-house parliament of approx 40 MPs and each of these MPs are
elected from tiny electorates of only 5000 voters.
And
these Regional Governments would be responsible for the delivery of all
government services except things such as Defence and Foreign Affairs that are
obviously better done at a national level.
Slide
12. Now let us look at the
National Parliament
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1. This National Government
would be responsible for all policy.
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2. And, as it would be the only
law-making parliament, we would have only one set of laws nationwide.
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3. Common policy and common
laws nation-wide would greatly facilitate mobility of the population.
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4. It would simplify business
compliance. Currently, more than
90% of business in Australia is conducted within a State. A major reason for this is the need to conform to half a
dozen different requirements.
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5. This simplicity and mobility
will in turn facilitate employment.
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6. And, need I say it; all this
will reduce the need for thousands of bureaucrats.
Slide
13.
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1. Each Region would have one
Senator & two Representatives in the National Parliament. Although this
could mean a bigger National Parliament than we have now, there would be less
politicians overall.
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2. Why retain the Senate?
If you look at most other civilisations past & present, you will find
the elders exercising governance.
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3. There is also strong
argument for a house of review; particularly to identify unforseen outcomes.
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4. And there is also value in
Senate Committees.
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5. However, this model
envisages that laws would only be initiated in the Lower House.
Slide
14. National Parliament elected
by and from Regional Parliaments
What
does this mean? It means that the
National Parliament elected by Regional Parliaments from among their members.
Why do it this way?
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1.
It means we have only experienced representatives in the National Parliament.
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2. Retains the best of representatives in government. There is much support for the view that politicians should be
restricted in the number of terms they can serve. This system allows for that policy and at the same time
provides an avenue for the best of the bunch to be retained in government.
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3.
This model envisages National Parliament MPs being required to sit in their
Regional Parliament for a couple of days each month.
Such a requirement will really facilitate accountability.
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4.
It would also enhance effective representation.
The Regional Parliamentarians would be able to ensure that Regional
concerns are aired in the National Parliament instead of individual citizens
trying to keep track.
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5.
Retains voter value without increasing the number of politicians and it greatly
facilitates recall of unsatisfactory politicians.
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6. Last but not least, this system reduces the number of Elections.
Slide
15. National Government
Responsibilities
We envisage the National Parliament being responsible for establishing
national policy on most aspects of governance and being the sole law-making
Parliament in the country.
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1.
This is a logical division of responsibilities.
In
addition, the National Parliament would retain responsibility for
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2. Defence
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3. Foreign Affairs
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4. Customs
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5. Immigration
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5. Quarantine
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6. International trade and
commerce.
This
represents no additions but the Regions would take on responsibility for Health,
Education, Welfare, etc currently State and Federal responsibilities.
Slide
16.
The advantages of this Model are considered to be:
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1. We will save about $30
billion every year. However, even
if it didn't save one red cent, it would be a much better system of government
in that:
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2. It would bring government
closer to the People and that, in turn:
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3. Will enhance our democracy.
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4. It would streamline business
compliance and this has to be a big plus for the economy.
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5. It would stop the
buck-passing and that has to be a big plus for accountability.
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6. It would help save the
environment by having Regions based on water catchment areas and smaller areas
of responsibility.
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7. The idea of having one
policy for the whole nation and one set of laws nation-wide needs no
embellishment.
And
last but not least;
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8. It will restore sovereignty
to the People.
Conclusion:
Ladies & Gentlemen
Slide
17
This regional model:
Retains a type of federal structure
whereas the Nat/Local model falls more in the category of a unitary system.
Professor Geoffrey de Q Walker, who has given this subject a great deal
of study, has concluded that a unitary system gobbles up a greater proportion of
GDP than does a federal system.
I
believe this system will
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1.
Eliminate many of the current ills of government and society.
No more "buck-passing", "pork-barrelling", remoteness
or lack of accountability.
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2.
It allows an appropriate allocation of responsibilities to both national and
sub-national governments.
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3. It will reduce the Number of
politicians across the country and will reduce the size of the bureaucracy in
Canberra
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4.
It is simple in structure, easily understood and is achievable without major
disruption.
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5. It will cope with social and technological change and provide huge scope
for innovation and diversity.
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6. It will save waste in government spending, and
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7. Last but not least, it will empower the People and thereby enhance
democracy.
Special
Notes
Power
of recall
This
would apply to both levels of government. I
don't envisage it being used all that often, but
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1.
It would certainly enhance accountability.
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2. And symbolically it is important because it retains power in the hands of
the People
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3. It would provide a means of eliminating 'rogue' representatives
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4. But more importantly, it would encourage consultation with constituents
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5. All these things empower the People and I think that an empowered people
will take more interest in public policy. Who
knows? We might see the end of the
Great Australian Apathy.
Deficiencies
of the National/Local Model
100
sub-national gov'ts is manageable. 700
sub-national gov'ts would not be easily managed.
The
Regional Model achieves "close to the People" delivery of services.
It might be argued that "Local Governments" could give
"even closer to the people" delivery of services.
However,
if we have 700 sub-national gov'ts, each of those must necessarily be small.
Otherwise we have an enormous increase in the number of politicians.
These small councils would not be capable of delivering the wide range of
services expected of gov'ts these days.
Therefore,
many gov't services would have to be delivered by the National Gov't.
This would necessitate an increase in the size of the Canberra
bureaucracy. And we all know that
huge bureaucracies are inherently inefficient.
This
model REDUCES the number of politicians
This
model also reduces the bureaucracy in Canberra
There
would of course be bureaucracies in each of the 100 Regions.
However, these would absorb those currently employed by the 700 councils
and those currently employed by State Governments.
And, being relatively small, they would not suffer the inefficiencies
inherent in huge bureaucracies.
Conversely,
we have government services being delivered by organisations close to the
people. The People can talk direct to the responsible bureaucrat
and/or politician and he will have the authority to make a decision.
This
allocation of responsibilities to the national and the sub-national governments,
avoids duplication and overlap that would be inevitable if we retain 700 local
gov'ts.
In
the system I have outlined to you in this model, liaison and feedback between
the two levels of government is enhanced. It
is facilitated by having National Senators and MPs elected from Regional
Parliaments and reporting back to those regional parliaments every month.
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Last updated: 15 August 2004