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WHAT COULD A HUNG COUNCIL DO?
How unstable could local politics become when an elected council becomes hung?
If party politicians join independents on the cross-bench, would developments wanted by the public be more or less likely to be approved?
‘Presumed Dead’ is a novel by Martin Knox set in a fictional council chamber within the Westminster system. Corruption at the big end of town is suspected when Jane Kenwood, a feisty councillor, disappears.
KNOW IF GROWTH IS GOOD OR BAD?
Australia's GDP growth was 0.2 percentage points for the quarter ending September 3rd, 2019, bringing the annual pace of GDP growth to 1.2 per cent. It has been higher in the past and is almost at the zero growth rate favoured for a steady state economy. It is a half of the US rate of 2.3 percent for the 4th quarter in 2019. Australia's production is growing slowly. Are we to suppose there has been improvement in something else? Unlike Bhutan, Australia does not record happiness. If there has been an increase in happiness, or a decrease, we wouldn't know. Media reports of growth and its effects provide only a partial picture.. To appreciate what growth is occurring and how beneficial it is, I will switch my viewpoint to individual developments, the criteria for identifying winners and losers, and what they can expect. This is investigated in my paper DOES GROWTH BENEFIT SOME GROUPS AT AN EQUIVALENT COST TO OTHERS? For developments where this occurs, there are several possible philosophies of compensation. A conclusion is that development proposals should be audited for their attention to: markets; the public good; resource use efficiency; disadvantaged people; and conserving environments. Careful development will ensure that growth, although it may be slow, will be fair. My novel Presumed Dead is a crime fiction story that illustrates a government decision process for a casino development involving a sassy woman city councillor.
growth-benefits-and-costs-160819.docx
Will my vote in the BCC election matter?
On 28 March 2020, Brisbane and 77 councils across Queensland had local government elections. Councils’ political processes under the Westminster System are described in a crime fiction novel ‘Presumed Dead’ by Martin Knox. Read this exciting story to find out how local government works — and fails.
Buy the book from Amazon or Zeus Publications at the bookstore:
See a Youtube video book trailer at this link:
Could this book change how you vote for political parties?
For more information, go to author Martin Knox’s website:
Are city councils too small for political competition?
Are bears better at dancing than debating? Presumed Dead is a book that shows what can go wrong in a Westminster System council ruled by partisan duopoly when it supposed to consider approval of development of a megacasino. It takes an independent councillor who is elected mayor to inaugurate a non-partisan council. This is a political crime thriller that exposes weaknesses familiar in town hall politics, with entertaining drama and a positive perspective.
http://www.martinknox.wordpress.com
