CENTRE FOR POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS

17 August 1995

Mr Mick Young,

Chairman,

Queensland Election Review Panel,

C\- State Secretary,

Australian Labor Party.

Dear Mr Young,

Because of my concern about the effectiveness of our system of government, I should like to draw your panel's attention to certain background issues related to their inquiries.

In brief my concern is that: Australia faces severe economic challenges and the community has increasing expectations of government; meeting these challenges and expectations is intrinsically beyond the capabilities of the political process on its own; none-the-less solutions are being sought through political mechanisms which are economically inadequate and are also doing significant damage to ordinary public administration.

This is relevant to your panel's inquiry because the electoral backlash experienced in Queensland is not just a consequence of bad luck, or the way the election campaign was conducted. Rather it reflects deep concern about the effectiveness of ordinary administration and about the future (by both the public and by public sector staff).

A two page submission to your panel is attached. Also enclosed is a more detailed version of that submission (Towards Good Government in Queensland) and a number of supporting documents.

My background for presenting these observations is 25 years study combined with practical experience of both public administration and economic development issues, which has included many opportunities to observe what does and does not work.

Yours faithfully

John Craig