Teals can break the vested interests’ stranglehold
We have carbon polluting the atmosphere, plastic polluting the seas, healthy soil being killed by pesticides and fertilisers, forests shrinking to make way for further development. These pressures are growing exponentially as people in both the developing and developed worlds seek ever-higher standards of living.
Successive governments have failed to address these crises effectively because they have been, and remain, held in thrall by powerful vested interests. Mark Diesendorf cites five key areas through which vested interests achieve state capture: political donations, election expenditure, revolving door jobs, concentrated media ownership, and neoliberalism. All, he says, are vulnerable to attack.
In the current parliament this attack has been led by the community-based MPs. Monique Ryan, Zoe Daniel, Kate Chaney, David Pocock and Helen Haynes have all initiated private members’ bills or government enquiries aimed to strengthen government integrity and secure a healthy environment. Their success has been limited by the major parties, who have deferred or disempowered legislation. If we want to see improved government integrity and a secured environment we must vote for those community-based candidates who have their communities’ interests at heart, not those of the powerful vested interests which have a stranglehold on current government policy.
Contributions to Pearls and Irritations
Your contribution will fund quality independent comment and analysis in Pearls and Irritations
Contribute
