The Queensland Commission of Audit Final Report: A Critical Review
The establishment of a Commission of Audit has been a routine measure for newly elected conservative governments since the election of the Kennett government in Victoria in 1992. Most notably, Peter Costello, Treasurer in the incoming Howard government, appointed a commission headed by Professor Robert Officer, a leading free-market economist. The primary stated task of these Commissions, as implied by the name, is to review the current and forecast condition of public finances and to make recommendations for improvement. In reality, however, the primary function has been to justify cuts in public expenditure and other policy changes. In most cases, these policy changes have not formed part of the platform on which the newly elected government campaigned and, in many cases, they represent a direct repudiation of election promises.
The Queensland commission of audit interim report - June 2012: A critical review
The interim report of the Queensland Commission of Audit (2012) has been presented as an independent assessment of the finances of the Queensland State Government. In reality, the appointment of an Audit Commission is a routine political manoeuvre undertaken by incoming governments seeking to abandon electoral commitments. The Commission has not discovered any 'black holes' or substantial mis-statements in the budget estimates of the outgoing Labor government. The Commission's focus on gross public sector debt is misplaced. The most relevant measure of the balance sheet as a whole, public sector net worth, remains strong. Queensland faces the problem of meeting growing demands for services such as health and education, while having access to only a limited range of revenue sources. As noted by the Commission Queensland has public expenditure levels similar to those of other states, but has lower tax effort, primarily because of generous concessions on land and payroll tax. The shortfall in tax revenue caused by these unjustified concessions is the primary reason for Queensland's budget difficulties. The Commission recognises the distortions and inefficiency associated with these concessions but proposes no concrete measures to address them.
The Game Planners: Transforming Canada's Sport System.
The Game Planners studies the policy-making process in six Canadian national sports organizations, each of which deals with a different high-profile Olympic event. The authors argue that the creation of a "high-performance" sport system in Canada is due to pressure from three areas: the Canadian government, the physical education profession, and the sports community.