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Public Policy and the media

I was thinking about posting on the hysterical reaction of both the mainstream press, as well as the blogging world, to the proposed cut to the one off bonuses to pensioners and carers awarded by the previous government. Aside from the logical incongruity of a 'cut' to a 'one-off bonus', I am sick of hearing about the 'proposed scrapping of the carers pension', which is something altogether different and in no way part of the announcement. If ‘journalists’ or news editors cannot get basic stuff like that correct, then public discussion around important areas of public concern has no hope.

Now, I happen to think that the Howard response represented the most cynical type of politics, and is very poor public policy. Addressing some of the previous government's public policy failures – as well as some poor economic management – can only be a good thing. It's not like the present government are not targeting many areas, my day to day job has revealed to me some simply appalling mismanagement that will require funding freezes, cuts, and probably complete restructure to avoid the dreadful wastage and efficiency losses that can be seen every day.

There is no doubt that Rudd could have handled the media better, but forgive me for thinking that the lack of media spin might be a good thing! Unfortunately, yet again the Australian media prove that it is simply incapable of handling complexity, and that, at present, public debate proves that simplistic sloganeering and political posturing rule the day, with the complexities that arise from tricky public policy solutions being easily manipulated by those a) looking to score a political point; b) are ignorant of these complexities (wilfully or otherwise); c) are looking for commercial advantage; or d) in fear [both justified and unjustified] of losing something (fear that is fed by a hysterical and superficial media reaction).

Anyway, I don't want to carp on any longer, but I thought that Mark Bahnisch eloquently summarised the whole kerfuffle on Larvatus Prodeo this morning.

As an aside, it's good to see the dirt on an even more disgraceful public policy decision emerge, the Mersey Hospital 'rescue'! If anyone wants a neat little example of the same 'mistake' [read: grubby politics trumps rational policy-making] being made over and over and over again, this is it.

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Jane Hards Photography said…
From one island dweller to another, thanks for stopping by my blog.

Interesting to see veiws and policy of another counrty, especially as my partner is a cartoonist,mainly political( BBC Politics Show To name one)and still teaching.

the "angry" tag in your labels for this post definately remeinded me of my own blogs.
1 April 2008 at 06:08
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