Neil Holm

John Howard is my local member of parliament. He wrote asking for advice on initiatives that we regard as important. Here is the reply that Margaret and I prepared:

Dear Mr Howard

Below are initiatives important to us. We could not use your list because too many of the items belong, in our mind, to the state and local government arenas, not the federal government.

• The Environment: Use of natural resources (NOT uranium/nuclear because of the significant problems associated with storage of depleted uranium and possible use of this waste on warheads ? being used in Shoalwater Bay in June?) for energy. ?Clean coal? technology creates carbon waste problems and while we encourage continuation of research, sun, wind and waves do not create similar waste problems, therefore, research and action in using these resources should be a priority.

• Harnessing current rain run-off and introduction of water recycling rather than broad use of desalination plants. Programs, such as the mooted Murray-Darling monitoring, to use water more efficiently and fairly throughout the country is a positive initiative.
• Education: Honing of state curricula to remove information transference overload from teachers. A Commonwealth curriculum guideline for consistency in literacy/numeracy teaching could be beneficial and alleviate stress for children moving interstate.
• Replacing current negative laws re our relationship with asylum seekers/refugees with positive ones that reflect the value of each human life. Offering simple respite from conflict and inhumane treatment/conditions, and providing assistance for people to heal physically, mentally and emotionally in a peaceful, supportive environment where they have time to evaluate options for their future.
• Full restoration of Freedom of Information processes.
• Elimination of talk of ?the Howard Government? rather than ?the Australian Government? to restore ownership of the Government to those who elected people to represent them in this institution.
• Action on Julian Burnside?s suggestion that politicians should be held to the same standards as companies in regard to misleading or deceptive conduct. This might also reduce the perception of bullying by politicians.
• Acceptance by the Australian Government that if the country?s workers have their salaries tied to productivity, so too those who constitute the Australian Government. Assessment of the value/productivity of the work of individual politicians may prove as difficult as assessing, for example, the value/productivity of the work of teachers.
• Elimination of all Government advertising blitzes at both State and Federal level in the year before an election.
• Renewed attention to reconciliation in Australia.
• Replacing our troops in Iraq with aid and redevelopment teams.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our thoughts with you.