There are many aspects of Australian life that are sub-optimal because our governments are scared of change, clinging on to old ways, to our detriment. I’d like to see all of the following happen in one fell swoop, and given a catchy progressive name akin to the New Deal.
Gambling
Gambling gives many people some excitement and thrill. But also destroys lives. Lotto rarely is a problem, and it gives hope, so we keep that as is.
Get rid of pokies. They are stupid, pointless, and not actually enjoyable. People use them as an escape from whatever torment they have. We need to address that and provide alternatives.
Pokies can remain in casinos…
Sports betting is online, which means it can be controlled. We just need limits. Nobody needs to put $10K on number 7 to win. The same thrill can be had with $100. So, we set limits.
Juvenile Crime
Not only, but including a lot of crime from African juveniles, plus criminal organisations hiring young vulnerable or mentally ill people, and significant car theft.
Sending kids to juvenile detention is well understood to create lifelong criminals and angry people. Letting them out on bail has become a joke. The only credible solution is to confine them to home and school with ankle bracelets. They need their parents and the parents need some accountability. Back it up with 24/7 phone counselling, and mentors. Hell, even find them work.
We need to reward people who dob in adults who hire kids to commit crime. Like a $50K reward. That will stop it cold. Outsider of juveniles, the same reward system can be used to uncover illegal weapons.
Unions
Unions are fine for when their members are spread thin and wide in the community. But when they can influence industries like construction, they need to be operated differently, with the current unions dismantled.
Protective Services Officers
In Victoria these not-quite-police have greatly reduced crime and violence on the train networks. I was sceptical, giving guns to people with minimum training, but I don’t think there has been a single issue of them doing wrong. Visible authority is a deterrent. The Liberal party is promising their presence in hospitals. I would go a step further and get them randomly appearing wherever society is currently having problems.
EVs
Everything is going well, but there is a major concern. Some of the myriad Chinese brands will fail to compete and give up on Australia, leaving people potentially with lemons. Privacy is also a potential catastrophe.
Bring back the Holden brand, in conjunction with one major Chinese manufacturer. Assemble the cars here. Make sure that Australia controls the data. Guarantee parts etc. Put a 30% tariff on all Chinese EVs
Income Tax and CGT
In NZ income splitting for couples is simple and sensible. We need that here, rather than having to create family trusts.
We need different rates of income tax according to the source of the income. Wages and salaries should be taxed less than investments.
Not taxing profits from selling the family home is fine, within reason. It is not fine when that “family home” was bought for $20M and sold for $30M. Anything other $2M (or maybe $3M) should be taxed.
Red Tape
It needs to be reduced. Especially when it comes to housing. While the government being our nanny is good in some cases (seat belt laws), me not being able to live in a tent on my own property is insane. Non-standard structures should be permitted for sane people who sign a waiver. That waiver becomes part of the property title and perpetuates. if I want a house without windows, I can. My land, my choice. This can apply to so many things.
Cigarettes
We need the NZ plan, which National ripped up, of saying anyone born after 2008 cannot buy cigarette, ever. Combine that with actually cracking down on sellers of illegal cigarettes. The new laws which took years to arrive in Victoria only give such sellers a slap on the wrist. They need prison.