Friday 29th of March 2024

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NI


diabolical problem...

The problem of vested interests and their corruption of public debate must be addressed. It is urgent if we are to have democratic renewal, restore some faith in our public institutions and develop sound public policies. John Menadue reports.

THERE ARE many key public issues that we must address such as climate change, growing inequality, tax avoidance, budget repair, an ageing population, lifting our productivity and our treatment of asylum seekers.

But our capacity to address these and other important issues is becoming very difficult because of the power of vested interests with their lobbying power to influence governments in a quite disproportionate way.

Lobbying has grown dramatically in recent years, particularly in Canberra. It now represents a growing and serious corruption of good governance and the development of sound public policy.

In referring to the so-called public debate on climate change, Professor Ross Garnaut highlighted the "diabolical problem" that vested interests brought to bear.

Ken Henry, a former secretary of Treasury, says he

"… can't remember a time in the last 25 years when the quality of public policy debate has been as bad as it is right now.”

read more: https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/democratic-renewal-vested-interests-and-the-subversion-of-the-public-interest,7948