Community Alliance Party

Community Alliance Party candidate Mike Crowther responded to the Chief Minister’s unreadable report on Citizen Centred Governance with slightly bemused cynicism.

"Leopards don't change their spots. The most accurate indicator of future behaviour is past behaviour. I've heard their talk and I've seen their walk, and I'm afraid the two don't match up," said Mr Crowther, dismissing the report as more government sponsored pre-election spin.

The Community Alliance is committed to representing the community in the Legislative Assembly and ensuring that people are not only listened to, but also that their views are incorporated into decisions before they are made. This is true community consultation that no amount of spin can make up for.

Mr Crowther says it's been quite a while since he has read such self-serving rubbish as this report. He quotes the report: 'There is little that can be done to reverse the cynicism and scepticism of authority that is part of the human psyche.'

"Human psyche? Previous generations had an almost reverential faith in their institutions and leaders. What changed was the cynicism with which institutions and public office bearers have betrayed the trust that communities vested in them," said Mr Crowther.

Mr. Crowther did concede that there were some valuable subtle messages embedded in the report for those who read it carefully. The Chief Minister's press release on the report: says '… the changing demographics, technological, environmental and societal landscape of the ACT means that the government's direction setting, service delivery, reporting mechanisms need to adapt …’ In other words, 'Oh no, they're finally on to us!'

"The report also discusses 'consultation tools'. This is a complete waste of resources if the owner of those tools lacks the motivation to put them to their proper use," said Mr Crowther.

"This government has consistently ignored the clearly expressed will of the communities it purports to govern for. The school closures debacle, which is not even mentioned in this document, is a prime example," he said. "We would have to ask if they even approached any community 'consulted' in the last four years."

According to Mr Crowther, the Community Alliance Party will not try to ‘sell’ so-called tough decisions after they have been made with no input from communities.

"In fact, we actually want to hear what the community has to say and make decisions from that."

Contact: Mike Crowther, 0406 378 902