THE
PUSH
Tasmania's
Premier Political Journal
2001-December
EDITORIAL
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Tasmania has struggled for many years under malfunctioning public systems. It has taken us a long time to become aware of the creeping corruption and compromise in the mechanism which governs us. This gradual conversion from "common good" to "private interest" is not party political and arises in the bureaucracy itself.
Without our elected leaders demonstrating leadership and control, fiefdoms spring up in various government departments and agencies. Those working within the bureaucracy attempt to shore up their position with cronyism, nepotism and breaches of departmental rules (if there are any departmental rules). These individuals do not want ethical people in their work place, as their practices could be questioned, or worse, exposed through a public disclosure.
A situation of "negative evolution" then arises. No one is allowed to be more ethical or efficient than the drongo at the top of the bureaucratic heap who is avoiding exposure. Those with scruples or ethical boundaries are unlikely to rise to the top in the Tasmanian system.
This is why Tasmania is virtually drowning in corruption which is, to a large extent, below the radar of an ineffective media. People are leaving the state, possibly because of other issues - jobs, the need for social stimulation, the weather - however a deranged bureaucracy dealing out arbitrary and irrational judgement is not going to encourage settlement.
Am I saying that Tasmania is more likely than other states to be foundering in the mire of institutionalized corruption? Not necessarily - but because of the small size of this island - bureaucratic excess is more difficult to avoid.
This journal is going right inside the towers of power in order to expose the processes by which this elite group of paper shufflers comes to have such power over us through our elected representatives. We are calling for immediate reform.
If we do not have reform, Tasmania will become even more of a gulag - an island of imprisoned pensioners, at the mercy of a harassing and illogical administration.
Our motto is "no fear - no favour" and if you have a problem you can send copies of your documentation to: The Push, 26 Princes St, Launceston, 7250. The work on these pages is all the work of Gillian Maguire who is responsible for all mistakes. In this issue we will be looking at the issue of privacy in the light of the proposed Federal legislation.
features - privacy
Secret State
Privacy International's Simon Davies looks at privacy abuses in Australia
exposed by ICAC's "Operation TAMBA".
Arising
from a failed Tasmanian business transaction which was described by a lawyer
involved as "..a complicated series of transactions involving food
processing plants, dog foods and international fraud.."
Operation Differ
revealed problems with the storage of confidential files in Australia's most
important corporate regulator.
The
documents collected by Geoff
and Geraldine Allan during their marathon 18 year battle with Tasmania's
Consumer Affairs Council, show serious privacy breaches by public
servants. Some of these bureaucrats are now responsible for implementing
the state's privacy policy.
The poisoned pen letter as
a form of social control. A hidden culture of dobbing is apparent in these documents
which form part of departmental records.
Briefs/ DYK? /Legally Abused / Mortgage Funds / Land Titles / Freedom of Information / Police Harassment / Letter of the Month / Bureaucrats / Forestry / Health/ Archives/ Links
