The vision thing

Three layers of government and associated bureaucracy is excessive for a population that is smaller than some metropolitan regions around the world.

It duplicates effort, creates curious overlaps in responsibility, and wastes resources.

Let’s tick off the policy issues mentioned by Prime Minister Gillard in her speech at the 2010 ALP campaign launch - economic management, skills development, employment, infrastructure, industrial relations, education, costs of living, health, taxation, and immigration.

What about the key issues in state politics? Let’s take a look at Ted Baillieu, kick-starting his campaign to win the Victorian election - he covered economic management, costs of living, taxation, law and order, health, and infrastructure.

Picking some themes? Sometimes the clearest difference between the two is that one side campaigns on assuming national control of services while the other talks about standing up to Canberra.

This breeds political fatigue and cynicism among the public. But it’s also a lost opportunity.

Of all the levels of government, federal government should be about more than just the politics of the kitchen table. It should be about those things we can do as a nation that we can’t do as individuals or separate states.

Of course people most want to hear about how policies are going to affect their lives.

But there needs to be space in federal politics for leadership on issues that extend beyond the daily routine. Like what future we want for Australia. Or the role our country can play in shaping the world the way we would like it to be, not just reacting to the way it is.

It’s that vision thing - and it’s lacking in the engine-room of Australian public policy.

The most inspiring leaders in history weren’t known as such because of their views on budget deficits, interest rates, or the costs of living. They were inspiring because they called for collective action that transcended day to day life.

Despite the cynical age we live in, that desire is still there. And policy that sets specific, inspiring goals and commits the resources to meet them, is one way to tap into it.