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CRAIG
COMMENTS |
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Don't
beat about the bush
"Sydney or the bush" is an expression that evolved as a way of expressing
extremes. If a couple of mates were deciding how much of their money to put
on a good tip at the races, one might say "It's Sydney or the bush".
This meant that they would throw caution to the winds and put the lot on. If
they won, it implied that they would be able to live it up in Sydney - if they
lost, it was back to the bush.
The concept that Sydney - or Melbourne, Brisbane and the other capital cities
- is for the winners and that "the bush" is for the losers has become
part of the Australian culture. In rural politics that is exactly what happens
- the winners go off to the capital cities and the losers remain in the country.
The problem is that from a distance, the cracks, the flaws and evidence of decay
cannot be seen. Unless regular inspections and basic maintenance are carried
out, the life of any structure is likely to be shortened.
Who would tolerate a doctor, who took a look from the doorway and said, "You
look alright to me", and left you to sort out your own problems? Every
patient expects the doctor to first, listen, and then to conduct a thorough
examination.
Ministers of governments that take care of the economic health of the nation
are like the doctor in the doorway. Everything looks all right to them from
a distance but they are not getting close enough to see the neglect, the cracks
and the decay occurring in rural communities. They are not listening. Instead,
city people are appointed to committees to decide what is best for the country.
Governments continue to ignore the warning signs of rural disquiet, hoping that
the occasional handout will keep the peasants happy. A classic illustration
is the recent announcement on telephone charging, touted as a benefit to country
people when its main effect is to extent the already massive local call area
of the city.
Country people are fed up with people sitting in air conditioned comfort with
no experience or knowledge of country life deciding what is best for the country.
page last
edited: 07-Sep-2001
