Saturday, March 23, 2019

NSW E*ection: What does open government mean to you?

“I can scarcely believe we had sex in the Houses of Parliament. I can scarcely believe that we ever had sex at all. That acute feeling, the giddiness of it, as if I had plunged my face into a bouquet of lilies, their scent so blissful it would make me feel faint – that was what it was like. Was it happiness? Was that all it was? Or was it a kind of addiction, to the story, to the drama of what we were doing? If it was a film, we were the stars.”

Jozef Imrich


democracysausage.org



While it is sensible to retain a triple-A credit rating, it is puzzling why a government that claims to be led by talented financial managers would have this as its main fiscal objective – and to waste parliamentary time by enshrining it in legislation.

During the current NSW election campaign, the most shocking claims are about the Berejiklian government’s record in financial management. If you listen to the Premier the government deserves to be applauded for "paying down Labor’s debt".

State "debt" refers mainly to formal borrowings. But a government’s balance sheet – like those of private sector businesses – summarises and values total "assets" and total "liabilities". Those liabilities are not just formal borrowings, but other amounts that the government is obliged to pay. 


'We're all about positive policies, no strings attached': Daley's day at the polls


Before he cast his vote, Michael Daley's first election day commitment was for what he calls his lucky pie - 'just a plain pie, no sauce' - and a strawberry milk at a Matraville shop.




Ballot papers quarantined in Strathfield after election day bungle

A person who wasn't employed by the electoral commission began issuing ballot papers to voters at a booth in Sydney's west.



Federal brand a key reason for Berejiklian's near-death experience

How did a stable Berejiklian regime, presiding over a boom economy, get the scare of its life and only just manage to hold on, clinging like cats to a curtain to what looks to be a tiny majority?



The path to power: How the Coalition and Labor could win, lose, or both fall short

There are signs Saturday’s vote will defy at least one of the norms of electoral politics in NSW.



If Liberals Won’t Enforce Borders, Fascists Will


We need to make hard decisions now about what will truly benefit current and future Americans.


30 Hours With Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice - Kotaku Australia


When you screw up royally: recovery strategies



Zoe Routh, via LinkedIn


Some things to consider if you’ve ever found yourself in the pit of professional shame. 



'Something is not sticking': Why the NSW poll has failed to fire up voters


Berejiklian is spending big on problems all over the state. And yet the polls have been running at 50:50.



A pay rise for public servants would do us all some good



Ibrah Khan, via UNSW Newsroom


There is more than one point of view on public servant salaries – and the choices the next state government makes after the election will have widespread consequences.


Why is east coast High Speed Rail still being taken seriously?



Alan Davies, for Crikey


It says something truly awful about our political culture and the standard of public discourse, especially around cities and transport, that east coast High Speed Rail can still be trotted out to applause all round.




What does open government mean to you? 



Nook Studios with makingopen.org

What is open government? Hear what it means to NSW's Information Commissioner Elizabeth Tydd.