'We're overgoverned'

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

MP Jason O'Brien has backed calls by maverick National Party senator Barnaby Joyce to scrap state governments.

Despite the prospect of losing his job, the state politician said the current system was inefficient and expensive.

"I support scrapping the states," Mr O'Brien said.

In a report in yesterday’s The Cairns Post, Senator Joyce said state governments should be axed and two senators from each local government region should be allocated to Federal Parliament. However, Mr O’Brien said the amalgamations required to allow Queensland and the other states’ demise would make the task difficult.

"Look at the furore we have had about trying to get larger regional councils and resistance from the community we have had," he said.

"We have tried to bring in meaningful change and people resisted it."

Mr O’Brien said studies had shown that scrapping the states would save $30 billion and dramatically reduce red tape.

Speaking out: Jason O'Brien believes in scapping state governments even in the face of losing his job.

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