Queensland: two-state suggestion
Should we separate north and south? And the downside to 50-cent bus and train rides.
For as long as I can remember, at reasonably frequent intervals, the suggestion that Queensland be divided in two has been raised, debated and ultimately abandoned.
The issue came up again recently — although, for the life of me, I can’t remember where I saw it — so I thought I’d give it another hoist up the flagpole here.
The logic is that North, Far North and Western Queensland have little in common with the South-East, where the population and the power is concentrated.
A separate state would, in theory, give greater agency to the people of rural and regional Queensland who see life through a different lens.
It would also free up the Southerners to do the things they want to do, like eat smashed avocado on toast for Sunday brunch, adopt Daylight Saving in the Winter and pay over the odds for real estate all year round.
It’d be a win-win situation, with just a few hitches.
For example, I was born and bred in Brisbane, but due to a quirk of financial decision-making, the only property I own is in Cairns. So, presumably, I’d have to make a choice about my allegiances.
Also, with two Queenslands, State of Origin rugby league is going to become a bit tricky.
Then, of course, there’s the delicate issue of money. How would the coffers be divided up? What’s worth more: the commercial activity of Brisbane or the mineral and agricultural wealth of Not Brisbane?
And then there’s the question of exactly where the border would be. As far north as Rockhampton or Townsville, or as far south as Bundaberg or Caboolture?
No matter where it went, there would be complainers on both sides.
So maybe it’s not such a great idea after all.
A better one might be to abolish states altogether, and just have councils and the federal government.
It would reduce the duplication of services, eliminate confusion over laws and charges, and reduce the number of politicians.
Now there’s a win!
What do you think?
CHEAP, NOT CHEERFUL
My first reaction to the news that, at least for a trial period of six months, public transport trips would be reduced to just 50 cents was positive.
And then I remembered how poor our public transport service can be when met with a challenge (like extra passengers). If it’s crap and crowded, then I’m not so keen.
Without more, and better time-tabled, services, it will be unpleasant for everyone and will just convince car drivers that public transport is a lousy option at any price.
The more time I spent working in the QLD public service, the more obvious it seems to me that abolishing state govt in favour of Federal and larger council areas is the best way to go.
The issue is how big a council area should be. Small councils lack the resourcing needed to provide the citizenry with what is needed. Plus there's vast administrative waste with duplication of duties.
Maybe it's more a solution of Federal, councils, and a shared administrative body that can handle the mundane back room tasks like payment processing, printing, Web services, etc etc.
It'll never happen, much like the two state solution. Can we even use that phrase right now?