Displacing private welfare

A $250 million package for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the largest in the 80 year history of the Service, was recently announced by the Federal Government.

The RFDS is one of the most well supported charities in non-metropolitan Australia, attracting enormous support from business, community organisations and individuals. On the same day as the Government’s announcement, for example, ABC Radio carried a story about thousands of dollars being raised for the Service at the annual Nullabor Muster, held in the tiny community of Rawlinna 400 km east of Kalgoorlie. Despite the isolation, a record crowd of more than 400 turned up. There are hundreds of similar events held every year to raise funds for the Service.

How likely is it that this level of commitment will continue in the face of such overwhelming government largesse? It is almost inevitable that some potential donors will abandon fund-raising for the RFDS in favour of other charities or, perhaps equally rationally, to simply lobby the government to contribute further funds when additional support appears needed.

The other troubling aspect is that such a high level of government support will undoubtedly come with government strings attached. The RFDS might now be expected to have appropriate written policies on bullying in the workplace and affirmative action, for example. Staff remuneration will be negotiated in the context of public sector guidelines, with its inherent lack of flexibility. The operating costs of the RFDS are sure to increase relative to the service it provides.

Few would begrudge the RFDS the funds it requires to provide such a vitally needed service. The question is, will the Government’s giant imprint make it better or worse?

As the preamble to the LDP’s welfare policy states, “Over successive generations the role of government welfare has shifted from being an ancillary service that supplements and supports community and family-based efforts to full scale intervention that in many instances completely displaces civil society.”

The Government’s press announcement is reproduced below the fold.

Draft Health Policy

This is a draft health policy, posted here for comment by members and supporters. It has not been adopted and is subject to change.

The policy deliberately focuses on principles rather than details. The health field is very complex and there is no benefit to be gained from going into detail at the moment.

Health Policy: Returning Control to the Consumer

In an ideal health system individuals would be the centre of knowledge, decision-making and responsibility in relation to their own health.

Say no to poverty – support deregulation

Late last year the World Bank published the latest in its multi-country analyses of the quality of governance. The most detailed of its type ever attempted, covering 213 countries and data from 1996 to 2005, it provides empirical evidence that the fastest-growing nations are those that regulate lightly in a democratically accountable environment.