Question: Do you want more car parking or more green space?  The District Council of Yankalilla, South Australia, went to the community to help determine the future of the Normanville Foreshore. Instead of using a tick box questionnaire they set up 6 stations which were staffed, so that alongside this visual activity was someone listening to the commentary and capturing comments. Council staff loved the opportunity to connect with the community and hear what they had to say.  This station clearly illustrates the preference of the community when it comes to the question of preference of green space vs car parking spaces.

This article by John Daley, CEO Grattan Institute, reinforces the need for reform in our governmental processes if we are to make

Nick Hossack, a former adviser to John Howard, has written an interesting article about truth and trust in politicians. https:/

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has called on Germans to think out of the box to cope with the challenges arising from global warming."To do this, we need more than ever the courage to think in a new way, the strength to leave familiar paths, the willingness to try new things, and the determination to act faster, convinced that the unusual can succeed - and must succeed if the generation of today's young people and their descendants should still be able to liv mi e well on this Earth," Merkel said.That is also a priority of the European Union's new executive Commission. Germany will hold the EU's rotating presidency in the second half of 2020.https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/all-man-made-merkel-vows-to-k

Historical political allegiances have weakened, and political parties are finding it very hard to win over and maintain a solid mandate.   In early December, a major post-election study by the ANU found trust in Australia’s Government was at its lowest level on record.   The nation's politicians need to do better in transparently determining “common interest” policies that the majority can live with.    Political parties will need to demonstrate that they can effectively address the economic issues plus make sensible progress on the more challenging and complex issues - such as climate change - to win future elections.   https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/politics-in-the-2020s-the-economy-th

More than 1000 domestic violence offenders in south-west Sydney have received a visit from police this Christmas season as part of a targeted operation to prevent family violence at one of the most high-risk times of the year. Https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/police-mark-christmas-on-the-doorstep-of-more-than-1000-domestic-violence-offenders-across-sydney-20191218-p53la1.html?btis