the end of federalism

was called a violation of democracy when Gough Whitlam began to strengthen local government over 30 years ago and now we get the right wing mouth piece Alan Jones this morning talking about the wastage of resources through duplication of health, education and transport responsibilities by means of the States. Why is it a good idea now but it was not a good idea when Whitlam proposed it and you fought it tooth and nail? Why was the identity card proposed by Hawke a bad idea then but a good idea now to stop the terrorists?

Conservatives behave like the proverbial dog in the manger. An idea is no good because it was proposed by Labor. We would have been 30 years into the future if we had done what Whitlam and Hawke wanted to do. Not that I am an apologist for Labor but I am an apologist for efficiency and good governance and I hate hypocricy.