Governments routinely ignore expert advice and community lobbying. Caroline Fitzwarryne argues that Australians must organise, draft reforms and lead practical projects themselves, rather than waiting for politicians to act.

The article in P&I on 10 December _Governments are hiding data and threatening democracy_ is a wake up call. When governments prevent the production or release of data, communities need to rise up and produce it themselves, so proper planning and implementation of services can occur.  Well done Brazil – you did it very successfully with COVID data!

There have been many attempts to lobby government to change or introduce policies. For example, the Australian War Powers Reform lobbied government for decisions on wars to be taken by Parliament.  Despite the Senate agreeing to it, Cabinet rejected the change. Similarly Gambling Reform was agreed in the Senate but rejected by Cabinet.

We have to accept that Australia has a neo-liberal Labor government whose priority is to win the next election, not to implement the priorities of the people.

The article by

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