Response to a NT News Letter which advocates solar subsidies.

Dear Editor,

Di Koser (NT news Letters 15^th September, 2014) extolls the virtues of her roof top solar panels – which she has had installed on her roof since 2007.

Whether Di used the taxpayer-funded subsidy to install her panels is unclear from her letter. If the panels were installed with only her funds, then I have no problem.

However, I am most definitely against taxpayer funding (by way of subsidies) of so-called renewable energy systems like solar and wind.

Does Di not realise that the “cheap alternative energy” electricity that many Australians are receiving is only possible because of massive taxpayer funding running at well over $3 billion per annum? And let us not forget that there is also significant government control in the marketplace to enable consumers to “sell” their power back to the electricity supplier. This is not the way a free society should operate.

Whilst Di correctly points out that battery technology is advancing rapidly, I very much doubt she (or I) will be around long enough to see a mass electricity storage system of the capacity required to make solar and wind even slightly competitive over power from coal, gas or nuclear.

Do not get me wrong: I would like to see competitive advances in so-called renewable methods of electricity generation – eventually making them viable replacements to coal, gas or nuclear. However massive taxpayer subsidisation of these expensive forms of power generation is the last thing any wise and fair government should be doing with taxpayer’s funds. In fact it could easily be argued that subsidisation of any industry destroys innovation and therefore seriously reduces the chances of any eventual competitiveness.

The years of subsidisation of automobile makers Mitsubishi, Holden, Ford and Toyota --- only to see those companies pull out when the money was withdrawn is a typical example of what occurs when governments try to pick winners.

Australia has abundant coal reserves which at current estimates will last at least 400 years. We also have massive gas reserves. Australia should have the world’s cheapest electricity, instead, we have amongst the most costly power on the planet. And all due to unnecessary government intervention (rules, regulations and subsidies) in the electricity market place.

Yours Sincerely,

Dave Wane

Darwin

Local Government recognition referendum

In the September 14th referendum about the recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution, Lord Mayor Fong Lim, not unexpectedly, urges a “yes” vote.
Mayor Fong Lim, like many government leaders these days, seem...s to believe in bigger government, and therefore is keen for a “yes” vote to be successful – thereby enabling direct (and legal)Federal Government funding to local government to pay for “local facilities” - as she puts it.
Surely it would be better for Darwin City Council to concentrate only on basic functions like roads, stormwater, parks & gardens, street lighting, dog control, and the like – and fund it all with the rates collected, rather than dream up new “ideas” and then find ways to fund them?
Of course the real danger of direct Federal Government funding of local government is the influence and control they could exert on a local council.
For example, a socialist-style federal government, like the current Rudd-Gillard regime, could use local government as a proxy or agent to implement policies that may be abhorrent to the ratepayers by using “funding” as a bargaining chip or even a straight “bribe”.
This is one of many good reasons why the Australian people rejected two similar constitutional amendment proposals in 1974 and 1988.
The thought of any Federal Government having direct control in local government through “targeted funding” and the like frightens me.
I urge a “NO” vote. Keep Local Government small, efficient and free from Canberra’s control.
Yours truly,
Dave Wane
13th June, 2013

In the September 14th referendum about the recognition of local government in the Australian Constitution, Lord Mayor Fong Lim, not unexpectedly, urges a “yes” vote.

Mayor Fong Lim, like many government leaders these days, seem...s to believe in bigger government, and therefore is keen for a “yes” vote to be successful – thereby enabling direct (and legal)Federal Government funding to local government to pay for “local facilities” - as she puts it.
 
Surely it would be better for Darwin City Council to concentrate only on basic functions like roads, stormwater, parks & gardens, street lighting, dog control, and the like – and fund it all with the rates collected, rather than dream up new “ideas” and then find ways to fund them?
 
Of course the real danger of direct Federal Government funding of local government is the influence and control they could exert on a local council.
 
For example, a socialist-style federal government, like the current Rudd-Gillard regime, could use local government as a proxy or agent to implement policies that may be abhorrent to the ratepayers by using “funding” as a bargaining chip or even a straight “bribe”.
This is one of many good reasons why the Australian people rejected two similar constitutional amendment proposals in 1974 and 1988.

The thought of any Federal Government having direct control in local government through “targeted funding” and the like frightens me.
 
I urge a “NO” vote. Keep Local Government small, efficient and free from Canberra’s control.
Yours truly,
Dave Wane
13th June, 2013

The following is the original letter I wrote to The Northern Territory News. It was never published. Hardly surprising, in retrospect, given the unprecedented stance the NT News has taken against the new CLP Territory Government and Chief Minister Terry Mills. Of course, I realise the political difficulties of implementing such policies. However it seems to me that Terry Mills is copping a ridiculous amount of political flack, yet failing to seize the opportunity to carry out real, and very necessary reform.


Also at the end of the letter, I have included the same list of ideas, but sent to all ministers, including the Chief Minister, and with a different covering introduction. Someone from Terry Mills' office acknowledged receipt of the letter, as did someone from Peter Chandler's office.

So, if interested: please read-on after this letter.

Dear Editor,

Now that Chief Minister Terry Mills has commenced reducing the massive Martin-Henderson Labor debt, I thought it would be a good idea to offer some additional cost-saving and revenue-raising measures, as well as suggesting some valuable structural changes he may wish to consider.

Hopefully, these proposals will be able to seriously reduce the NT’s crippling debt burden and set the NT up for the future prosperity it deserves.

Arts and Entertainment – Publish full details of expenditure in this area over the past 5 years. Hold a referendum and let the public decide if they want such expenditure to continue. If not those involved would need to seek corporate sponsorship, or heaven-forbid, borrow the funds and hope to make a profit from their production – like the rest of us.

Container Deposit Scheme – Abolish this scheme. It simply places an additional cost burden on Territorians and achieves nothing. We already have a re-cycling system in place by way of our existing garbage collection regime.

Climate Change – Abolish all departments, agencies, subsidies and anything else to do with the theory of man-caused-climate-change. The NT is only responsible for 2.4% of Australia’s miniscule 1.5% of world CO2 emissions, and since Gillard’s Carbon Tax is not going to stop “warming” why should we further damage our disastrous financial position by wasting money on such useless nonsense?

Electricity- Privatise (by public float) or sell off PAWA, either as an entire entity or in sections. Use the funds to pay off as much debt as possible. Fully open the NT electricity market to all players – thereby ensuring real marketplace competition.

Education- Issue Education Vouchers to all NT parents for use in the school of their choice. This would have at least two advantages: encourage competition and therefore better performance amongst government-run schools; and encourage the establishment of more private schools. The massive education bureaucracy, of course, needs to be heavily culled. I suggest advertising worldwide for Education Administrator – with a proven track record of delivering education at the coal-face at the lowest possible cost. Public-Service types need not apply – only private sector people. Such a person would be employed on a performance-based contract for 3 years, negotiable after that period subject to results.

Government Printing Office- Sell the Government Printing Office, or if I buyer cannot be found, simply close it down and sell the assets. Printing, like most government requirements can be contracted out as required. There is no need for the government to own a printing office, especially these days when all documents are available on-line.

Health Department – Drastically reduce the size of the massively wasteful health bureaucracy. This could be done, ideally, by advertising worldwide for a Chief Executive with an impeccable record of efficiency and good management in health administration. Public-service types need not apply - only private sector people. A performance-based contract would be offered for a period of 3 years, re-negotiable by both parties at the end of that period.

Insurance- Privatise (by public float) or sell off TIO. There is no valid reason for the NT Government to be in the insurance business.

Institute of Sport- Privatise this costly and increasingly bureaucratic body. Sporting clubs that believe in its existence could possibly become the main shareholders of some kind of Institute of Sport Co-operative.

Liquor Commission- Abolish the Liquor Commission. There is no need for a body to determine who can sell liquor and under what conditions. Let the market work as it should without unnecessary constraints. Police would come down heavily, using existing laws, on any bad behaviour by patrons.

Police – Advertise worldwide for a new Police Commissioner – initially for a 3 year contract. The contract would also be performance –based and include a number of targets, such as a measurable reduction in crime and verifiable cost savings by increased management efficiency. If after 3 years all the targets were reached and all parties were in agreement, then a new contract would be drawn up along similar lines.

Ports- Privatise (by public float) or sell off East Arm Port either in parts, by tender or as a single entity. There is no reason for government to own a port. A privatised port or ports would encourage far greater productivity – possibly going close to making the dream of an efficient “Asian Gateway Port” a reality.

Prisons- It seems we are locked into a contract to build a very expensive new prison. We must therefore accept that the taxpayer will be responsible for the eventual cost. However, there is no reason, after the prison is built, that worldwide tenders could not be called to operate it. There is no reason for a government department (correctional services) with a large bureaucracy and workforce to run prisons if a private operator can do it more cheaply.

Roads- Investigate the possibility of selling off some roads to private investors – thereby raising more funds to repay debt, and avoiding future maintenance costs. Tolls charged by the owners would ideally be set at a level that would be profitable for the operators and yet not too burdensome on motorists. If it did not stack up, forget it. But at least check it out.

Transport- Privatise as much as is possible of the government-owned bus services, if not all. Issue transport vouchers to pensioners and others who may qualify for taxpayer- subsidised transport. The remaining people would then pay a market-based fare.

WorkSafe- Privatise the services provided by this expensive over-manned bureaucracy. And then open up the safety inspection industry to the marketplace. There is no reason for the government to be involved in work-site safety inspections. Builders could even self-certify the safety on their sites – in a similar way that plumbers and electricians self-certify their work.

The above are just some basic ideas to help improve the productivity of the NT and in so doing make this wonderful place even better with a higher standard of living and a far better quality of life.

Big Government only “works” for a relatively short time. Eventually the money runs out - as has happened in every former Labor state in Australia, in Greece, Spain and Portugal, and of course is happening before our eyes under the debt-laden Rudd-Gillard Labor government.

Yours truly,

Dave Wane

25^th November, 2012

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Country Liberal Members of the Legislative Assembly,

It was a feeling of great despair that hit me when I learnt of the way this new government is dealing with the financial catastrophe left by Labor.

In my view, this Labor-Created-Mess was a golden opportunity for you people, the members of the new government, to really bite the bullet and set the NT up as the nation’s only small government, with: low taxes and charges, minimum regulation of business and individuals, a pro-free-enterprise attitude and a place where the hard-working and enterprising could flourish.

Instead it seems Terry Mills and much of his cabinet have apparently opted for plenty of political pain, but very little economic and structural gain by opting for the usual measures of increased power, water and sewerage charges and car registration increases.

Surely if one has to suffer political pain (as clearly one must –given the repair job required) one must strive to rectify as much as possible and of course do it as quickly as possible as well.

Why suffer all this current hate from so many quarters, yet achieve very little, if any, real structural reform to the very bloated and extremely inefficient NT Government administration you have inherited?

With this in mind, and although the mini-budget has now been handed down, I thought I would put forward a few ideas for creating a far better, debt-free, low- tax, low-regulation, prosperous, enterprising and more free Northern Territory.

In my view, the period from Self-Government in 1978 and up until the mid to late 1980,s was, the best years for the NT.

Since then, government, and all the unnecessary nonsense that governments create, has stifled the proper realisation of the NT’s true potential. And of course, as Big Government always does; has placed the NT in serious debt.

 

 

Whilst the Gillard Socialist Labor Wreckers continue to destroy our nation’s finances, wasting ever more money on totally unnecessary nonsense, it is crucial that we get our books and our structure in order to help us withstand the economic meltdown that will inevitably result from their totally incompetent management.

 

Please read my ideas; and at least consider a very different Northern Territory; a far better Territory - a Territory where the dead hand of government and all that comes with it, is kept lean and mean – and thereby allows all freedom-loving, enterprising Territorians to go forward and help make this wonderful place realise the future it deserves.

Regards,

Dave Wane

12^th December, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Editor,

Now that Chief Minister Terry Mills has commenced reducing the massive Martin-Henderson Labor debt, I thought it would be a good idea to offer some additional cost-saving and revenue-raising measures, as well as suggesting some valuable structural changes he may wish to consider.

Hopefully, these proposals will be able to seriously reduce the NT’s crippling debt burden and set the NT up for the future prosperity it deserves.

Arts and Entertainment – Publish full details of expenditure in this area over the past 5 years. Hold a referendum and let the public decide if they want such expenditure to continue. If not those involved would need to seek corporate sponsorship, or heaven-forbid, borrow the funds and hope to make a profit from their production – like the rest of us.

Container Deposit Scheme – Abolish this scheme. It simply places an additional cost burden on Territorians and achieves nothing. We already have a re-cycling system in place by way of our existing garbage collection regime.

Climate Change – Abolish all departments, agencies, subsidies and anything else to do with the theory of man-caused-climate-change. The NT is only responsible for 2.4% of Australia’s miniscule 1.5% of world CO2 emissions, and since Gillard’s Carbon Tax is not going to stop “warming” why should we further damage our disastrous financial position by wasting money on such useless nonsense?

Electricity- Privatise (by public float) or sell off PAWA, either as an entire entity or in sections. Use the funds to pay off as much debt as possible. Fully open the NT electricity market to all players – thereby ensuring real marketplace competition.

Education- Issue Education Vouchers to all NT parents for use in the school of their choice. This would have at least two advantages: encourage competition and therefore better performance amongst government-run schools; and encourage the establishment of more private schools. The massive education bureaucracy, of course, needs to be heavily culled. I suggest advertising worldwide for Education Administrator – with a proven track record of delivering education at the coal-face at the lowest possible cost. Public-Service types need not apply – only private sector people. Such a person would be employed on a performance-based contract for 3 years, negotiable after that period subject to results.

Government Printing Office- Sell the Government Printing Office, or if I buyer cannot be found, simply close it down and sell the assets. Printing, like most government requirements can be contracted out as required. There is no need for the government to own a printing office, especially these days when all documents are available on-line.

Health Department – Drastically reduce the size of the massively wasteful health bureaucracy. This could be done, ideally, by advertising worldwide for a Chief Executive with an impeccable record of efficiency and good management in health administration. Public-service types need not apply - only private sector people. A performance-based contract would be offered for a period of 3 years, re-negotiable by both parties at the end of that period.

Insurance- Privatise (by public float) or sell off TIO. There is no valid reason for the NT Government to be in the insurance business.

Institute of Sport- Privatise this costly and increasingly bureaucratic body. Sporting clubs that believe in its existence could possibly become the main shareholders of some kind of Institute of Sport Co-operative.

Liquor Commission- Abolish the Liquor Commission. There is no need for a body to determine who can sell liquor and under what conditions. Let the market work as it should without unnecessary constraints. Police would come down heavily, using existing laws, on any bad behaviour by patrons.

Police – Advertise worldwide for a new Police Commissioner – initially for a 3 year contract. The contract would also be performance –based and include a number of targets, such as a measurable reduction in crime and verifiable cost savings by increased management efficiency. If after 3 years all the targets were reached and all parties were in agreement, then a new contract would be drawn up along similar lines.

Ports- Privatise (by public float) or sell off East Arm Port either in parts, by tender or as a single entity. There is no reason for government to own a port. A privatised port or ports would encourage far greater productivity – possibly going close to making the dream of an efficient “Asian Gateway Port” a reality.

Prisons- It seems we are locked into a contract to build a very expensive new prison. We must therefore accept that the taxpayer will be responsible for the eventual cost. However, there is no reason, after the prison is built, that worldwide tenders could not be called to operate it. There is no reason for a government department (correctional services) with a large bureaucracy and workforce to run prisons if a private operator can do it more cheaply.

Roads- Investigate the possibility of selling off some roads to private investors – thereby raising more funds to repay debt, and avoiding future maintenance costs. Tolls charged by the owners would ideally be set at a level that would be profitable for the operators and yet not too burdensome on motorists. If it did not stack up, forget it. But at least check it out.

Transport- Privatise as much as is possible of the government-owned bus services, if not all. Issue transport vouchers to pensioners and others who may qualify for taxpayer- subsidised transport. The remaining people would then pay a market-based fare.

WorkSafe- Privatise the services provided by this expensive over-manned bureaucracy. And then open up the safety inspection industry to the marketplace. There is no reason for the government to be involved in work-site safety inspections. Builders could even self-certify the safety on their sites – in a similar way that plumbers and electricians self-certify their work.

The above are just some basic ideas to help improve the productivity of the NT and in so doing make this wonderful place even better with a higher standard of living and a far better quality of life.

Big Government only “works” for a relatively short time. Eventually the money runs out - as has happened in every former Labor state in Australia, in Greece, Spain and Portugal, and of course is happening before our eyes under the debt-laden Rudd-Gillard Labor government.

Yours truly,

Dave Wane

25^th November, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Editor,






Andrew Tupper (NT News Letters 7th November, 2011) apparently believes in the theory that human-induced-climate-change presents some kind of future catastrophic threat to life on this planet.






At the end of his letter he even provides a website where readers can check out some of the dire predictions of the World Meteorological Organisation.






Andrew says in his letter: “Proper debate associated with the peer-review process is our best way of avoiding bullying, conspiracy, funding rorts and so on.”






Who could disagree with such a statement?






Although it seems to me that all the bullying, conspiracy and funding rorts clearly involve those who endorse (or pretend to endorse) and promote the theory and affects of man-induced-climate-change.






Those of us who do not accept the theory, generally, do not engage in any of the above.




Andrew would of course be well aware that there are thousands of eminent scientists all around the world – and many here in Australia who do not share his views.




However, forgetting the arguments for and against the theory of man-induced-catastrophic-climate-change, my main problem is as follows:



*Most Australians did not vote for a Carbon Dioxide Tax when they voted at the last election. Indeed Prime Minister Gillard told us there would not be a Carbon Tax under the government she led. She stole the election by telling a lie!






*The Carbon Dioxide Tax, now passed by the Senate, and when implemented will not reduce Australia’s Carbon Dioxide emissions. In fact they will increase. The Government’s own figures tell us so. Those companies that emit high volumes of Carbon Dioxide, such as power-generation companies will be forced to buy so-called carbon credits from shonky overseas countries just to stay in business – whilst at the same time increasing power costs to the consumer. This crazy nonsense will send billions upon billions of Australian dollars to overseas schemers who could not care less about Australia or the theory of human-induced-climate-change. The only beneficiaries, apart from these fraudsters, will be China, India – and in fact every other country that has not imposed such unnecessary constraints on their industries.






*Australia produces less than 1.4% of world Carbon Dioxide Emissions. If, one day, the theory of man-induced- catastrophic-climate-change is found to be true, Australia’s efforts would have had no affect whatsoever. Even if we shut the entire country down the affect on the world’s climate would not be measurable.














*The effect of this totally useless, yet dangerously destructive Carbon Dioxide Tax threatens the future prosperity of all Australians.










*Recently the Minerals Council of Australia has calculated that: “Australia’s GDP will be a cumulative $180 billion lower in 2020 rather than $32 billion lower suggested by the Treasury analysis.”










*The Carbon Dioxide Tax is Socialism by stealth; a climate-change Trojan Horse aimed at producing a massive tax grab for a hopelessly wasteful and breathtakingly incompetent government - with a bit of good old socialist wealth re-distribution thrown in as a sweetener.






*Whether one believes in the theory of man-caused-catastrophic-climate-change or not, we must stop this destructive tax.







Yours truly,



Dave Wane

Gillard and her Socialist Wreckers must go.

Dear Editor,


The election of Kevin Rudd in 2007 and then the eventual emergence of the minority Gillard Labor Government last year have in my view been major disasters for our nation.




As I see it Rudd and Gillard have in three and a half years destroyed all of the good work of the Howard/Costello Government – arguably Australia’s best government ever.




Nothing the Rudd-Gillard Labor Government has done has been of any value whatsoever to Australia or Australians.




In fact everything the Rudd-Gillard Government has done has been totally unnecessary and in all cases, disastrously expensive.




But this nonsensical tax on carbon dioxide emissions is without doubt the most unnecessary and destructive of all of their crazy schemes.




It will destroy our economy at a time when we need more than ever for it to remain strong -- as the world faces more dark financial clouds with Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal all verging on bankruptcy.




Fortunately, as current polls suggest, Australians have at last come to their senses and wised up to this incompetent government.



We now need an election as soon as possible to dispatch Gillard and her socialist allies to the dust bin of history.