Saturday 6 December 2008

"I've been advised..."


Our new Premier, Nathan Rees, has the unenviable task of turning around the under performance of the NSW Government which has been lurching from one debacle to another.

I was listening to a radio interview with him during the week and his answers to question after question began with the phrase "I have been advised...".

Apart from the repetition being irritating this phrasing which seems very popular with our politicians at the moment seems a convenient way to avoid responsibility and hide behind the views and actions of anonymous public servants.

We elect politicians to make decisions and whilst it is appropriate for them to inform themselves on issues through advice and other sources, in the end they ought to take ownership of their decisions and expressed views.

3 comments:

  1. I will stay clear of anything relating to state politics from another state, but I did just want to chip in with my opinion of your newly added profile picture... very nice indeed!

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  2. To right about politicians needing to take responsibility for their actions. I get so irritated listening to them speak. They avoid answering questions in case they're held to later on. Even though I don't share in Barnaby Joyce's political beliefs, I appreciate his directness when speaking to journalists.

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  3. Kezza - I'll send you a referral for spectacles.

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