NSW Premier Mike Baird. Strong leadership at work.

Late night revellers not yet accepting legislation designed for ” their own good”

NSW Streets cleansed of crime.

Dear reader, it is not often we feel obliged to give praise to a reformist government, but recent events in New South Wales compel us to give praise wherever it’s due. Crisis of confidence has galvanised the N.S.W government into a frenzy of activity. The government, long the standard in “progressive planning and policy” had to do something about drunken louts and abusive agressive behaviour on the streets. This is a fraught and complex issue. Leading planners and academics have long wrangled with the monoculturalisation of precincts in which all kinds of vices proliferate. In some, (we have been told) the drinks are horrendously expensive, and the character of the owners is shady to say the least. Added to this are the habits of club-goers. Often after consuming copious amounts of alcohol, they emerge full of fight and this atmosphere of alcohol fueled exuberance spills onto the street. The N.S.W government deliberated long and hard and arrived at a solution. Lock out laws. Overnight, the problem has ceased. Now New South Welsh, (is there such a term?) younger adults are encouraged to stay at home, play pokemon, or enjoy the infinite delights of television. There are rumours that sales of Tupperware and rubber-goods have skyrocketed since the late night curfews. And all the anecdotal evidence south of the border indicates that the live music scene is flourishing, such is the eagerness of northern bands to abandon New South Wales altogether. Either way you look at it, good, cleverly designed legislation has stopped the rot. There are no late night brawls, no horrific one punch incidents, because the venues have all closed down. As a consequence, ‘Drunk Crime’ has been eradicated.

Criminalising bicycle riders. More evidence of ‘Strong Leadership’

Similarly bicycle accidents. There were shocking incidents of horrific bicycle accidents. Some of these resulted in damage to cars. After publicly shaming cyclists by ‘radio personalities’, the New South Wales government stepped in. Rather than look at long term co ordination of bicycles as distinct from other traffic, and policies designed to integrate the transport modes the government opted for ‘Strong leadership’. In an instant, Bicycles were removed form the streets. Bicycle usage in Sydney had fallen dramatically. On a bike you can be fined for not having a bell, incorrectly adjusted seat, unattractive helmet, or in some instances “ unfashionable clothing”. As a consequence a new revenue stream has been opened, and like the backpacker tax, (for which Joe Hockey shall be justly remembered) the fines have proven staggering. Once again a demonstration of ‘Strong Leadership’ changing bad behaviour. Allegedly no one is game to ride a bicycle in Sydney at all, and as a consequence, the problem of safety and driver courtesy is solved.

‘Out with the old, in with the new’, Changing ICAC to reduce corruption.

Now these are just two small instances of good legislation solving behavioural issues. But most recently the New South Wales Government has gone further, Since the Rum Rebellion there have been allegations of systematic corruption. Some say it’s a part of NSW political Culture. As a consequence they instigated ICAC. The Independent Committee Against Corruption. ICAC was very busy, rooting out corruption. So busy it snared almost a dozen Liberal pollies in the first year of a new government. Once again “strong leadership’ was required. And by jingo they’ve done it. Now there will be three ICAC commissioners, their deliberations will be kept secret, and must defer to the government. Happy to say Corruption on NSW is Solved. Further evidence of Strong Leadership. Good governance begins with strong leadership. The federal government recognises this, and that’s why our federal attorney general will leave no stone unturned to root out corruption and conflict of interest. That’s why he’s keen to help out state governments with problems to solve, and ensure that we get in the long run the best politicians that money can buy. And isn’t that all the time?