The+Island+Government

In the three years since your last directive there have been some changes at Task Force Command. Things have progressed significantly based on your excellent recommendations. But it is time to start thinking about handing over responsibility for The Island. Events elsewhere in the world are affecting our time-line and we need to move more quickly.

In considering ideas reagrding parliament for the Island, the following questions must be answered.

1. (Larry) What is the role of government in representing the people?

2. (Larry) What are its functions and what services does it provide( laws, public order, currency, defense, education, health, parks and libraries, protection of national borders, protection and management of natural environments, etc etc)

3. (Audrey) Does the Island need more than one level of government?

4. (Audrey) These questions are based on an assumption that we have a democracy on The Island?

5. (Audrey) Is this a reasonable assumption?

6. (Fern) What other forms of government might be considered?

7. (Fern)What are the values of democracy, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?

8. (Lilliana) What are the key tasks of a member of parliament or councillor?

9. ( Beau) How does parliament make laws? What laws does The Island need?


 * Question 1 and 2 - What is the role of government in representing the people? What are its functions and what services does it provide( laws, public order, currency, defense, education, health, parks and libraries, protection of national borders, protection and management of natural environments, etc etc) **

The role of government in representing its people refers to different citizens who have been empowered to make decisions for the masses. In the case of our island we initially had some heavy handed men with guns who wanted to force us into working for them. One of them wanted to rule us as a dictatorship (where we do everything they want us to) another as an authoritarian form of government (Where we would have limited rights). As a group of people we did not think any of these things were fair and we were lucky to have a vote for what we wanted which avoided bloodshed and introduced a more fair government system of democracy. As such the role of government in our island paradise is to provide a way for all citizens regardless of race, wealth/status or disability to have a fair vote in choosing how we run our country. We have decided to do this by having local governments at our settlements which then meet up with a national group of leaders who will on our advice work together to make the best decisions for all people on the island. It is expected that the local leaders will listen to and work with all of their population to understand what their needs are and how they can best represent and help them while always being fair and mindful of everyone else’s needs. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">To start off with the government will need to create a constitution which should clearly state what the people’s rights are. These are to be consulted in great detail with all people before being decided at a national level. The government will also need to decide what services it is going to provide at both local and national levels, along with ways that these services can be paid for.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Economists will be key in this decision making for all groups at both a local and national level advising on budgets and possible ways of maintaining services fairly for all citizens to ensure that some people are not receiving better treatment than others. It is foreseen that a national approach to these areas would be a good place to start: <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- National Security – Due to past uprisings and potential issues with pirates and zombies from abroad we need a way to protect ourselves. This could be done on a voluntary basis where people aged between 18-30 meet for training once a week after work to become national guard active members. It is also seen that older members once trained could also be called up if required. The budget and national strategies along with national training will need to come from the national government. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Laws – These need to passed with our rights and responsibilities within the constitution discussed previously that we need to create. Within this we will also need to create a way of enforcing these laws. Will we need a police force? Can we afford a police force? Can we use our people in National Security if people do not abide by the laws? <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Currency – We need to decide whether or not we need to print money. Printing money for a small island may be a waste of time and resources. A system of trade and barter may be better and the best place to start. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Education – Schools will need to be set up for all children to be educated. All schooling must be free and available to all regardless of age or disability. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Health – Health will need to be available with doctors in each settlement and one hospital at the national centre. Economics will be very important here. We will need to think how we can use what medicinal plants we have. We will also need to think if we are willing to pay to import expensive medicines that may we cannot afford? We must think about what is acceptable in life and death and how much support we are willing to give to each citizen? Such as maybe the right to die should be considered instead of cancer treatment? <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Housing – All people should have the right to housing, food and essential services. It will be up to the settlements to provide housing for all their people. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Parks – These will be not needed as we live on an island paradise. Plus the cost of maintenance may be something we do not need to consider. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Protection of national resources – The government working with Agricultural Scientists will be responsible to ensure that farming and other destructive forms of human and animal behaviour do not destroy the lands healthy balance. All farming is to be monitored and lands used rotated. The old used areas are to be revegetated back to its natural form. Agricultural Scientists will need to be employed to monitor levels of destruction and feed these back to the government along with suggestions of how to implement positive changes to fix the potential issues to ensure ongoing sustainability.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">In order for the island to run smoothly two levels of government would be appropriate. These would comprise of a Settlement (state) level and a National level government <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">The Settlement level government would pay attention to issues relating primarily to the individual states. These issues would have great focus on the ‘specialty’ of each settlement i.e. livestock or imports/exports. Within each Settlement an elected representative will target issues facing their settlement and where necessary, bring the issues to the National Government level. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">The National level of government, which would be elected by the citizens of the island, would address lager issues that affect The Island as a whole. On top of this, it will take into account recommendations made by the Settlement governments. Issues the National government would oversee include tax, health, transport, law enforcement and education throughout The Island, although both levels of government would work closely together in these matters. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">As the economist of Team Vortex I strongly believe for this new island community to run effectively a democracy is the right way to go. Seeing as though The Island is starting from scratch and the population is not of a grand scale, it is important that each member of the community has a say. A democracy will allow for members of each settlement to vote for who they believe will voice and resolve their concerns and for a government to run The Island in a effective and safe manner. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">There are many different types of government that serve many purposes. During the discussion in class a few different types were looked at briefly- dictatorship and communism, as well as democracy. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Dictatorship would mean that the island has only one leader who holds all the power and makes decisions on his or her own. There has already been members of the community who have attempted to take control in this way. Dictatorship could be effective if the dictator is a fair and reasonable leader, but history has shown that this rarely is the case. Dictators are usually unrestricted by laws and have been responsible for taking away much of the peoples’ freedom. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Communisim aims for a classless society where there is common ownership of the means of production. On paper, this can seem like a fair approach, but once again history has shown that man is corrupt and has used communism as a guise whilst gaining power and wealth. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">The island might benefit from a Tribalist approach. This is defined as the possession of a strong cultural or ethnic identity that separates one member of a group from the members of another group. Societal rules are generally passed down through generations by previous generations an some tribes are governed by a group of elders. Their life experience and expertise in a particular area are respected by the members of the tribe, therefore they are trusted with decision making. In some ways, the island is already functioning under a tribalist approach, as S.M.I.T.E has enlisted experts in different areas to make decisions about the future of the island. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Democracy seems to be the most valued approach by the members of the island. Democracy enables everyone to have a say in the future of the island. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">It is important to remember that every system of government has its flaws. In building our community, tough decisions need to be made, but they must be made with the intention of a fair outcome for all.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">3. Does the Island need more than one level of government? **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">4/5. Is it reasonable to assume that we have a democracy on The Island? **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">6. What other forms of government might be considered? **

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">**7. What are the values of democracy, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?** <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Democracy promotes equality on a more realistic level (in comparison to communism) Citizens are equal before the law- that is, they are judged on their actions, rather than their race/heritage/profession etc. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">In a representative democracy, like Australia, government is elected by the people. Every citizen has the right to vote. In a perfect democracy, every citizen has the right to power. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Perhaps the attraction to democracy is largely based on the idea that every individual has some level of say in the future of the country. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">The rights and responsibilities of citizenship would totally depend on the culture of the island and the societal expectations. n our culture, contribution to society is a priority. Respect for others and equal opportunity are also important. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">We imagine that these values would transfer over to the island, based on the way S.M.I.T.E has set it up. Each individual has been placed on the island due to a respect for their knowledge in a particular field, and they are trusted to contribute this expertise where needed. Individuals who wish to lay back and fail to contribute anything meaningful would be seen as a wasted opportunity to the island.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Question 8 - What are the key tasks of a member of parliament or councillor?**

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Information gained from: <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">Infosheet – The work of a Member of Parliament. [] <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">29 Functions of Parliament - []

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">There are a myriad of tasks expected of a Member of Parliament. They are: - <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Parliament has four main functions – making laws (legislation), representing constituents and electorates within parliament, examining the government (scrutiny) and the formation of government. Members of Parliament must actively participate on behalf of their people in each of these pivotal areas of parliament. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- A spokesperson for the local interests (a representative for the people). They speak on behalf of different communities and individual constituents to ensure that a voice is heard on their behalf, regarding different, yet fundamental matters. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Debater. They contribute to debates regarding both Local and National issues. Members bring issues from their electorates and or their constituents to the forefront, debating on behalf of them in order to prompt change, improvement and development. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Communicator. Members must be able to receive, understand and evaluate information that they have gained from various sources, subsequently taking the information to parliament. Furthermore, they must relay information from parliament to their Local and National electorates / constituents. Members also need to be able to listen to the people that they are representing in parliament. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14px;">- Speaker. Members must be able to speak on behalf of their electorate, reflecting their views and interests. They must also speak in the Chambers of the House and in the Main Committee in support, or in opposition to a piece of legislation. This contributes towards making new laws, changing or improving old ones.

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The two houses of the Parliament, the Senate and the House of Representatives, are partners in the making of laws without the two no law can be made without the agreement of the majority of members in each. The Queen, represented in Australia by the Governor-General, gives formal assent to legislation, and is also part of Parliament. ======