Let me take a simple, practical, if disguised example.
Note to reader: Upon reflection, I have removed the example because I felt uncomfortable that it might be recognised even though disguised. I will use some other examples in later posts to make the point.
Still later: I have decided to use this post as an introductory post for a series of short posts using a range of examples to explain why I think that New England's future really depends upon the renewal of agitation for self government, the reactivation of the New England New State Movement.
At one level it does not matter whether we get self-government or not, although that remains my personal aspiration. In simple political terms, the very existence of new state agitation forces Governments to recognise and respond to New England needs in a way that does not presently happen.
The examples that I will use are all drawn from my own experience. They show the often unseen ways in which existing structures work against New England interests. Longer term reforms cannot be achieved without changing those structures. In the short term, political pressure can force responses from existing structures.
Some of the examples will seem small, even trivial. But it is the overall pattern that I want to draw out, because the cumulative effects are not trivial in the slightest.
Posts in the series:
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 2 - Industry Representation
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 3 - the conservation laboratory case
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 4 - Cockington Green
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 5 - the case of Tasmania
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 6 - conflicts in NSW tourism branding
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 7 - the case of the big river
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 8 - the electricity asset grab
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 9 - the price of neglect
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 10 - the sad case of Newcastle
- Why I Remain a New England New Stater 11 - capturing local talent
- Why I remain a New England Stater 12 - frustrations with New England tourism
- Why I remain a New England New Stater 13 - the fallacy of the NSW economy
- New States and Ontario
- Sydney's 1995 electricity heist
3 comments:
Well said, the northern part of NSW has not gained the true status and economic benefit it deserves, the sydney dominated state govt has little regard for regionalism and fair share of equity, australia today would have gained had the 1967 referendum been carried to form the stae of new england let alone the area it was to serve.
Hi anon and thanks. There seems to be a fair bit of interest around now in re-launching the New State Movement. To test this, I have created a Facebook group - http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=106438812712957&ref=nf
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