Incompetent decisions by both sides of politics are undermining our social, cultural and environmental commonalities. Neo-liberalism that infected our political system in the late 1990’s has created identity politics based divisiveness not on results.
Presently we are being sold talking points instead of progressive platforms. Our politicians are being investigated and sentenced for massive corruption and yet only spend up to only 10 years in Jail to come out Millionaires and for some Billionaires. An example, Eddie Obeid and Ian Macdonald as recent convictions, there will be more.
Corrupt economists and treasury consultants are sprouting economic austerity in order to reduce regulation and red tape, when they are only trying to destroy public safety and protection. We are being told it’s about creating “Freedom”, but their “Freedom” means the subordination to decisions of the concentrated, unaccountable, private power of the unelected few.
"The institutions of governance, federal, state, territory and local are being systematically weakened and this is the real threat to democracy," in my opinion.
“We are called a Democracy because the administration is in the hands of the Many and Not the few.” Thucydides
The way Australia was able to survive and defeat the neo-liberal agenda that led to the depression and to thousands of deaths due to poverty, crime and bigotry in the past was through education.
"In the Top End we are seeing the most destructive and damaging effects of the neo-liberal agenda and it is only due to our smaller population that the damage has so far been disregarded or ignored."
Successful governments have been able to corporatize almost every part of the Darwin experience. Jack the Slasher and the corner stores have been replaced by Coles and Woolworths. The small local business such as Murray Oakley’s have all but a few, been bankrupted by massive multi-national companies that provide subsistence wages due to enterprise bargaining agreements and due to the undermining of unions and other forms of association, they now refuse to even negotiate basic inflationary raises.
“This has lead directly to stagnation and in some cases a decrease in wages, during a time corporations are experiencing massive profits due to exploitation of the people, tax avoidance and a lack of political will.”
After the owners of the Wilson’s Security Company were found guilty of political corruption overseas and sentenced, their Australian Arm was provided massive contracts and provided the ability to charge fines for parking in private complex’s challenging the very Australian Constitution that disputes such rights. Even after the international arm was again implicated in international tax evasion and money laundering through the release of the “Panama Papers”, no consequences nor government ordered investigation into these allegations.
“This has lead to billions of dollars being redirected away from the Australian people and a loss to every man, woman and child in the country.”
Our present government signed the Australian people to an agreement “The Trans Pacific Pact” (TPP) that undermines Australia’s sovereignty and creates a private tribunal funded by corporations to ensure the protection for the corporations. The creation of the Pact and documentation was by industry lobbyists, including the Pharmaceutical industry that included longer wait times for generic branding and secured increases in health cost to the Australian people.
"These incompetent decisions will lead to thousands of Australian dying due to the failure to provide life saving treatments at an affordable price. Not only will it lead to deaths but it also creates a breach of national security and increases the chance of litigation by a foreign entity."
Locally the taxation rates and royalties negotiated with both multi-national and international companies in the gas, oil and mining sector have seen Billions of dollars of lost revenue as our governments negotiate rates at less than 1/30th the amount that countries like Qatar receive for a population 1/10 the size.
So how do we fight back?
"Our greatest asset in the Northern Territory is our culture and our people." So when people complain about the public drunkenness , the high levels of domestic violence and substance abuse and the lack of health and education in the communities and Darwin City, "I personally believe the cost to our community isn’t just in $millions but $billions of dollars and we need to do something about it now."
A new government has already started with the BDR (banned drinking register) coming in September but the NT government and local Council will be required to do even more if we want to create the army of people required to amplify our voice and to renegotiate deals to better serve our community.
It is important that our local council is not weighed down by Party politics. Darwin can only be served by those that respect, love and honor our local culture and people and to those welcomed and adopted to this land.
"In this coming election think progressive, #thinkNT, we don’t have the time or money to waste on divisiveness, it’s time we work together, Territorians all!"
Note : Written and Authorized by Sam Wilks. The views included may not be those of others mentioned in the article but are those of Sam Wilks. If you have other idea’s feel free to comment below. Idea’s and differing opinion is recognition of a free and just democratic society. A Society I am happy to live in. Please however try not to be abusive or discriminate, you may be. But if I feel that your opinion may be harmful or is reported as being harmful, I will delete it. Sam Wilks 0402 152 929 PO Box 40441 Casuarina NT 0810 sam4richardson@gmail.com