Ping but mostly pong

We should have a TV game show that guesses which other essential services workers the NSW Liberal/National party can alienate.

Though to be honest there’s not a lot left.

It’s been a big week for the erosion of what makes a society tick: NSW premier Barry O’Farrell and his Sydney mates managed to have the parliament house in Sydney hosed by fire fighters unhappy at changes to their work health insurance. That was gold!

Then there is the planned teachers’ strike for Wednesday June 27. Maybe the teachers can make the politicians write ‘I must maintain the current levels of staffing and resources’ a hundred times.

At a local level, MP Don Page has expressed through the letters pages his displeasure at The Echo’s reporting on the planned reduction of personnel at the Mullumbimby Hospital, yet refuses to provide a clear commitment to support the community’s call for retaining its night doctor.

But the worst part? Having the NSW Labor Party ring this office wanting to respond to that story in an almost gloating tone. Who can forget the 16 years of poor management from NSW Labor that left the mess. Two party political oligarchies still rule with almost complete corporate influence on state and federal levels – is this really the best we can do?

One piece of good news this week however is the NSW Nationals passing a unanimous motion calling for tighter controls on coal-seam gas exploration (despite still committing to it). Odd it took a party that claims to represent farmers that long to come to that conclusion, but at least it’s a start.