There's this game that Local Government (LG) and State Governments (SG) play. SG tries to shoulder off and LG try to throw back. When the SG wants to cut spending on something for example the baby seats. The babyseats cost $3500. The SG used to buy these and give to LG´s to loan out to low income earners "the average joes".

Waynieo 2008!

So the SG goes on a cost cutting spree and say LG are responsible for the Babyseats and thus they should buy them. LG goes "well you used to buy them - you can continue to buy ´em.

In the end they get dumped and no-one buys them at all. But the political infighting that goes on costs a lot of money and the average joes who want to use the service get caught in the middle and end up with no service.

There is also an overlap between the SG and LG.

Think of how much John Brumby would be worth and how much all his mates would get paid? How much money in wages alone is paid? And what about the rest of the hangers on?

For every federal $ given to the SG and LG how much actually filters down to the people? We have no idea and 50c to $1 is a conservative estimate. It is worth asking, If we got rid of the States what would it do? The advantages, The same public transport costs accross the nation. Same laws with no state by state differences effecting trade and people moving, Same speeding fines, one license and one national school system. And all the money saved directed to services for the people.

The $60700000 mentioned on this site is the absolute bare minimum of potential savings. And what about the money spent on the Opposition? While they survive on donations they still get wages, staff, cars and offices paid for by taxpapers.

The Regional Council idea is good with part time counsellors but they would need to report to a staewide oversight mechanism. Certainly our current system of 3 tiers of government is too much. California has one government for 60 million people. Our system us based in part on the The UK model and their population survives with less governance than we do. If we got rid of the SG then just the SG wages alone would mean millions of $ freed up which would mean better hospitals and in Victoria we might be able to end this public transport mess!

Thanks to site member Waynieo for supporting Fagmedia and sending in this commentary for the edification of our brain cells!