I am a broken record this election. In fact, there is not an election period in my memory when I didn’t ask for the same things on my election wish list; repeated the same sad song. And you all know the tune: We need better telecommunications, We need better roads, We need to improve our health and education services, We need to develop new industries, We need less tax complications, we need better infrastructure, WE JUST NEED.
I can sadly say, I was not exactly ‘courted’ in the lead up to the vote on Saturday. Maybe it is because we reside in a fairly safe seat, maybe Australia Post has made junk mail too expensive to send mass political flyers to me or maybe they stayed away because they did not want to hear me singing my same old tune off key again! Yet here I am, wanting to be romanced with new ideas and solutions from prospective leaders and enthusiastic MPs. I want them to answer my song.
The new political buzz word at the moment is ‘innovation’. We must have innovation (it rates slightly higher than resilience in my list of least favourite words used by politicians). Innovation will save the world and re-ignite the regions! The National Innovation and Science Agenda says innovation is important to every sector of the economy; keeps us competitive. It keeps us at the cutting edge. It creates jobs. And it will keep our standard of living high.
Well, perhaps someone in government can be innovative enough to allow us to have access to internet and mobile services and basic services, so we can be on a level playing field and encourage more ‘innovation’.
Until then, I am sure I will continue to sing my song into the future.
NB: I did meet with David Littleproud, our local LNP candidate for Maranoa and Senator Barry O’Sullivan. We had a good hearing and I am confident they understand all of our issues. Solving them will be a different story….or a new tune we can innovatively sing together.
- Cr Lindsay Godfrey, South West RED board chair and Mayor of the Paroo Shire
