Advancing Australia's 'human capital agenda'

Gary Banks: Thank you for calling attention in your speech as the 4th Ian Little Lecture on 13 April to the "Human capital" issue. This is an issue very close to my heart .

You will not recall my meeting with you and some of your colleagues from the Productivity Commission.

My efforts to call attention to gaps in public policy have continued to be sustained and relentless despite a degree of disenchantment that I cannot begin to describe adequately and certainly not in the context of an online blog that may be moderated on word count parameters alone, leaving aside any possible merit. Brevity is not my strength.

However, I will never forget the occasion as it was a big learning experience for me as one in which I became tongue tied through stage fright. I have long forgiven myself since how can I deny that nothing educates better than those experiences that are negative. I learned instantly to "get back onto the horse" so to speak."

I have not looked back since, so must have learnt something. Whilst I still have so much more to learn,

I am so glad that the experience did not freeze me forever from endeavouring to speak my mind as a concerned citizen; or disable me from participating further in the public policy debate. I will not delve further into the experience as it impacted on me.

My blogging experience in an attempt to engage with government and its numerous associated incorporated bodies will reach its 30-day anniversary tomorrow, so this is a good time for me to respond again on line in the context of the emphasis currently placed on creative and innovative ways in which elected governments (and associated bodies) can attempt to engage with its diverse constituents.

However, I will say this. I am delighted to hear that some pertinent questions are being asked. I too am seeking the answers to the same questions, as posed in your delivery at the Ian Little Lecture on 13 April 2010.

I do not think you will know how timely your questions are from my perspective.

The CoAG Reform Agenda could not be more pertinent to my concerns in terms of appropriate governance and proper direction for policies across the board.

In this regard I have in my numerous public submissions cited the views of David Adams as someone whose writings have had a huge impact on me.

David Adams in the abstract to his 2001 award-winning essay "Poverty: A Precarious Public Policy Idea" discusses the “rebuilding of a cohesive epistemic community with an outcomes focus.” David Adams He also holds the view that COAG and ministerial councils are “creatures of government for government”.

Adams believes that: “Broader forums and structured arrangements are needed to focus effort. Despite being a rather exclusive and tightly managed club COAG still represents the most obvious forum within which the states and territories and the Commonwealth could canvass a national approach.

However a truly national forum where the policy community clans can meet with other partners (such as business and local government) would be a good way of testing the new settlement. (Cited from Adams, D (2001) Sir George Murray Essay Competition Winner “Poverty – A Precarious Public Policy Idea.” Australian Journal of Public Administration 69(4) 89-98 National Council of the Institute of Public Administration., p95).

My purpose in raising these issues are unrelated to poverty. However Adams' views may be extrapolated to almost any arena. My personal view is controversial.

The impact and value of CoAG and the various Inter-governmental Agreements made under its umbrella in these times of massive regulatory reform may need to be reconsidered in the public interest. If you or other stakeholders would like to discuss this matter further, particularly in the arena of energy policy, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any faith in citizen-driven initiatives.

If not hold your peace.

I thank the APO in my usual way for bringing this important issue to my attention. I have already publicly acknowledged the role of the APO in keeping social policy issues pertinent and bringing these issues to the attention of stakeholders

Madeleine Kingston

mkin2711@bigpond.net.au

(03) 9017-3127