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CRAIG COMMENTS |
The cricketing world
is shocked by the claims of graft and dishonesty among the ranks of its sporting
heroes. It seems unbelievable that, in an area of activity that is under constant
scrutiny and discussed ad nauseam on television and in the press, it should
be possible for a player or players to be able to throw a match. Even the most
respected and admired sportsmen seem to be vulnerable when there is big money
at stake. It is to be hoped that none of our Australian sportsmen are implicated
by the inquiry being conducted in South Africa.
There is another area where there is far less scrutiny and the stakes are far
greater than in a game of cricket. It would be extraordinary if those people
in the community trying to make a "quick quid" at someone else's expense
did not indulge in some financial manipulation to influence the outcome of government
decisions. It may not be in the form of direct cash payment but by ensuring
that they get unfair advantage over other sections of the community.
In a recently published letter, a four-year resident of East Gippsland stated
that his rates are three times the amount that he paid in Melbourne for far
better services. Unfortunately, he went on the blame the Shire Council when
the real culprits are the State and Commonwealth governments. They are paying
out billions annually to provide services and infrastructure that should be
paid by the ratepayers who benefit. Public transport is just one example with
the State forking out over $1 billion annually for Melbourne's benefit.
Now the government has
introduced a new Constitution Reform Bill into State Parliament to further entrench
the power of political parties. If skulduggery can occur on the cricket field
with thousands of people looking on, what is going on behind the closed doors
of the political parties? There is an occasional glimpse when the rank and file
resist the party machines manipulating the preselection process but there is
no-one to protest when governments cheat rural people of their fair share of
the wealth of this nation.
page last edited: 07-Sep-2001
