Gallop’s ministers need a sense of urgency 9 September 2005
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945), a revolution by animals sees the overthrow of a farm’s human owners and the beasts become the new landlords.
Their ideal is for everyone to be equal but eventually the pigs take over, breaking commandments set to never walk on two legs and not have any advantages over the other animals.
Coincidentally, life mirrors art in Western Australia as the Gallop Labor Government – long promoted by its leader as concerned with the people of Western Australia – has joined the ‘pigs’.
Treasurer Eric Ripper laughs at journalists about not knowing the price of a tank of fuel because it has been a long time since he filled up at the pump.
“About $60,” he guessed, “or more,” he mused. The correct answer is closer to $100.
Mr Ripper cannot help looking porcine but he has a duty to the people of Western Australia not to behave so. His smirking smile at journalists as they cornered him with his lack of concern was reminiscent of Orwell’s characters.
Ljiljanna Ravlich tries to change the focus of education in the state while letting students in Fitzroy Crossing endure conditions at school that no person of ‘equal’ status would be asked to bear.
Aboriginal people are affected.
The treatment of Aboriginals, so long a Labor Party indicator for all they see as wrong with conservative politics, becomes an issue that the new ‘pigs’ don’t care about. Promises aren’t kept.
Financial mismanagement is rife in all Labor Government policies but the mismanagement is having immediate effects on the people.
Aboriginals at Fitzroy Crossing send their children to a sub-standard school and at Kalumburu Mission the Aboriginal community is promised $45,000 to get the general store running again.
Fresh food cannot be bought, affecting the mostly children and elderly people who live there.
The minister announces the funding after being prompted by a call from the Opposition spokesman.
A week later the CEO of Kalumburu still has not been told.
On Sunday, it will be four years since two planes crashed into the Twin Towers of New York. Still the WA people are not covered by counter-terrorism legislation.
Four years!
When does urgency become a factor for this government?
I WRIGHT 