Who is accountable?

Dear Editor
I've read with interest the call for one authority to manage the Bellarine (BT 18/8), together with recent suggestions that there should be one authority to manage the Bellarine coastline (BT 4/8, 18/8 Letters).

At first sight, each idea makes sense, especially to anyone who has faced the over-management and replication that are features of the current system. However, these systemic problems won't be solved by large, unified authorities in themselves. An earlier Coalition State Government under Jeff Kennett thought that they would and gave us, for example, the City of Greater Geelong.

In my view, the problem isn't that there are too many authorities, it's that none of them is sufficiently accountable to local people. Thus, calls for new, unified authorities reflect the failure by local and state governments to reflect local communities' wishes and expectations. Our current form of parliamentary representation - at local, state and federal levels - just doesn't reflect people's views and doesn't enable local people to get rid of 'representatives' who promise one thing on the campaign trail then do the opposite on the parliamentary benches. For example, the Bellarine Times reports almost every week that 'developments' (e.g. the Stockland site at Point Lonsdale and, of course, the bridges at Barwon Heads) are proceeding despite community opposition; and that other proposals are going to independent panels because the Council has been unable to meet objectors' concerns.

Yes, let's try to reduce the current over-management, bureaucracy and replication in the governance of the Bellarine, but let's ensure that any alternative ensures effective accountability by our elected representatives and real consequences for any of them who resist it.

Patrick Hughes

(Published as a Letter to the Editor in the Bellarine Times 25 August 2009.)