Anthony Penney , Executive Director Industry and Government Engagement
We are living in a world which seems to be void of political consensus – black has to be black, white is white, and there is rarely any grey. Or as Batman put it in the Lego Movie, sometimes “very, very dark grey” is not even allowed.
Rare are the days when a good policy initiative is raised by a Government or Opposition and is supported by the other side, recognising the value of the proposition.
When the Weatherill Government announced this month it would defer the start of its Energy Security Target (EST) by two years, recognising the majority of public submissions from a broad range of stakeholders including energy generators and retailers, community groups, large energy users and businesses concerned about the speed of its implementation and potential to increase costs, one would have expected the Opposition to quietly applaud it, or at least say nothing. It instead voiced concerns about the Government’s energy target.
Political opportunism in the current climate at both state and federal levels is rife. The South Australian Liberals oppose fracking in the South East while the Labor Government supports it. However, the Federal Liberal Government wants to see more fracking because it promotes economic growth and could open energy channels, but Federal Labor leader Bill Shorten supports the Northern Territory ban on fracking. The lack of consensus is not just local.
We need to stop political opportunism and value good ideas when they arise. When stakeholders support initiatives, governments and oppositions need to recognise why and stop arguing for the sake of point scoring.
Our politicians argued over the value of a tram to nowhere, but try fighting for standing room at peak hour or after a footy match.
Opposing an issue for the sake of an argument puts punters off politics when South Australia is crying out for leadership, fresh ideas and economic growth. We want our political leaders to propose bold ideas that of course, are subjected to robust debate, but not slam an idea simply because they didn’t come up with it in the first place.
South Australia needs its economy to flourish through job creation, small business growing to medium business, medium to large, attracting business to establish offices here, and population growth through skilled migration. And we need to stop the brain drain to the eastern states.
To create economic growth we need to foster a culture of ideas and stop fearing bipartisan support. There’s nothing wrong with supporting a good idea.
With an election approaching our politicians should remember that people tire of negativity. Just once, it would be good to applaud when applause is warranted.