Who's got the power in Canberra?

Oh for god’s sake.

Individuals most definitely have power and none of us have a clue who they are?

“Maybe a green after a hypothetical election in two years” ????

Hooray, I love a successful Roland. (Those Rowlands though. can;t trust them.)

Roland is an excellent name, and not at all bogan. (It’s French, from the German Raudland.)

Go Roland!

Although JB has excluded pollies from the list of influential people, it just may be that Greens will hold the balance of power after the next ACT election, and we may get some sanity back into our democracy. That’s not to say that the Greens have all the answers, but it will provide the checks and balances that are woefully lacking right now.

There’s a certain Roland from a certain local greens party that’s probably going to fill the hole left by the least green green’s politician I’ve ever encountered at the next election.

At a glance, he’s demi-competent which is something of a first in a greens party representative which is reknown for it’s ability to find troglodytes from under rocks to stand as political representatives.

Man, my typing was all over the place there.

If protests dictated government policy, not a lot would get done. Take the dragway for example – which lobby group should the government side with? Is there any point in consulting when there are two diametrically-opposed views? It’s best for governments to obtain expert advice about the community needs as a whole (versus what small parts of it wants) and then to act decisively.n

Also I think the ACT govt has thrown cuation to the winds and decided to pay no attention to the public. The huge protest at Griffith library was a clear demonstration of public support, but the govt has chosen to ignore it.

Chris, some of us at RA come under the bracketted point after choice bro.

S4santa, you are right – to a point.

The problem is that very few Canberrans actually exercise their right to actually influence outcomes. This could be through lack of opportunity (many double-income partners with little time available), apathy (unless it happens to be right in their backyard), or choice (where public servants need to be careful as to how active they can become in social/political issues).

I think it’s a real shame that too many Canberrans are don’t get involved, or are armchair critics. I’m not saying this about all of you, but it seems that a number of Riotacters are just critical of things without actually doing anything to change things. Notable exceptions are those big-hearted among you who are members of the SES, bushfire brigades and the like.

I suggest that the partners from the local office of the big 4 Accounting and big 5 Law firms wield a quiet but powerful influence around the place.

As far as I am concerned, the real power of canberra, lies in the Canberrans themselves. As a city/society/whatever, there are higher than average figures for income, education and social understanding. In my opinion, as a result there tends to be alot more community activism, and social awareness of the issues that affect us as a whole. That is before you add the fact that as a ‘public service’ town, there is a higher than average understanding of the way government works, and to how affect change in said system.

As an individual, Mr Graeme Evans The Mayor of Belconnen.

CMFEU and their stooges in control of the ACT Legislative Assembly – think the favourable tax and planning breaks given to Clubs ACT and other Union related organisations…

Who are the big businessmen – the big development owners? Terry Snow obviously, QIC owns half of Civic office space – who else are the big players?

Jorian Gardner …. sorry, just kidding.

Opus Dei.

I’m not talking about power in Government as much as power in the community (although i concede the two are related).

The big four lobbyists are: Gavin Anderson & Co, Parker & Partners, CrosbyTextor and Government Relations Australia.

But as they rarely excercise their power for their own benefit let’s move on to individuals.

Here’s the link, Sulla.

Hmmm…

Check out John Warhurst’s comments on the topic of lobbyists in today’s Canberra Times.

(Sorry, no link)

why, Johnboy, of course.

There’s a large, shadowy and unaccountable underworld in this city, made up of lobbyists, companies that contribute money (and favours/influence) much of which is unaccounted for to political parties, and large employer bodies such as MBA/HIA/PCA.

These are unelected people and bodies that are nameless and faceless, but have significant access to politicians. They also have the influence to be able to call in favours.

For example, the PCA charges its members something in the order of $30,000 each purely for lobbying purposes. Much of this goes on the lobby companies themselves, but a lot goes toward currying favour through various “incentives” provided to pollies.

Developers and other businesses don’t spend a lot of money on lobbying unless it is worth their while. It’s interesting that the developers themselves are calling for an end to political donations, as even they realise how unethical it is.