Here we go again. Our elected government representatives—this time at the local level—spruiking stories meant to make us all feel good about them doing the job that they are already handsomely paid to do.

I live in Logan, a local government area south-west of Brisbane. Like many politicians, our local councillor is a master of self-promotion. While I understand the importance of keeping constituents informed about what their representatives are doing, it becomes a problem when communication turns into a personal publicity exercise rather than a genuine effort to achieve results. At that point, it feels like a waste of time and public money—money that would be far better spent on delivering tangible outcomes instead of constantly telling us how good she is & showcasing herself in various sporting outfits to appeal to her soccer-mum circle. That said, it is worth clarifying that this behaviour is not unique to female politicians. There are many male politicians across the political spectrum who engage in the same antics.

And then the response of subtle outrage, indignation, and sarcastic responses toward constituents who dare to disagree. I love the way they somehow manage to slip in various lines such as, “keep your banter respectful or keep scrolling,” when the people you respond to were doing exactly that. Classic gaslighting techniques! As some have said, “spare us your rage and disappointment.”

All of this is coming from one of our elected representatives who, let’s face it, across our councils and state and federal parliaments, often cannot hold a decent debate without resorting to appalling behaviour: sniping at one another, constant interjections, performative moral outrage, and a holier-than-thou attitude toward their constituents. Yet they still dare to lecture the rest of us on how to discuss issues rationally and respectfully—without the infantile behaviour they themselves routinely display in the halls of power. Logan Council’s background of poor and corrupt behaviour is well documented on the public record.

I wouldn’t be nearly as frustrated about local councillors earning $153,000 per year—plus superannuation, vehicle allowances, and other benefits—if we could actually see a return on our rates and taxpayer investment. On top of that, they receive guaranteed annual 3.5% – 4.5 % pay increases, scheduled by the state remuneration tribunal. Meanwhile, the vast majority of workers, including their own council staff, are left holding out the begging bowl, hoping for a pay rise just to keep up with inflation.

So, do what you are extremely well paid to do. Get the roads, rates, and rubbish sorted—without the grandstanding. Just quietly get on with the job. Your actions might finally speak louder than your photo opportunities and self-promotion. And if you, like many of your fellow elected representatives, truly believe your talents would be better rewarded in the private sector, feel free to make the move.

People are sick and tired of seeing rubbish left lying around, potholes and roads left unrepaired, and grass left unmown, eg around traffic roundabouts—creating clear safety hazards. When contractors finally come to mow, they run over the rubbish, shredding it and spreading it even further, which only compounds the problem & no doubt creates a serious environmental issue with plastics etc going into our waterways.

Then we get to see your happy smiling face at the opening of an envelope. #365dayphotochallenge. Perhaps you could pick up the whipper-snipper you brought to Munruben for that photo opportunity some time ago, rather than lecturing residents with excuses for why these issues remain unaddressed.

Just do your job!

Developers have had a free run for far too long under this and other local government councils. It is all well and good to build new estates with thousands of homes—and heaven knows we need them—but the infrastructure required to support these developments is lagging badly. Council, state, and federal governments are light-years behind in keeping pace with road networks, public transport, and essential services. As a result, many of these estates lack the infrastructure necessary for residents to live comfortably and commute safely.

Examples of this failure are everywhere: ridiculously narrow streets in modern estates that offer little to no parking, homes with no backyards, and poor ingress and egress from the estate, due to deplorable road networks with no planning to cater for expansion. Residents are often forced to enter and exit these estates via narrow, two-lane feeder roads, such as Teviot Road, which runs as a single lane in each direction from Greenbank through to Flagstone. Like many others, I have witnessed motorists repeatedly crossing double white lines to dangerously overtake slower vehicles, creating an ongoing and entirely predictable safety risk. By the time that councils get to actually widen these traffic nightmares, increased development – new & expanded estates, shopping centres & the result of the increased population means that the council is forever playing catch-up.

I fully understand that funding is limited and that budgets can only stretch so far; however, council priorities need to be reassessed. Most constituents would far rather see a safe, capable, and well-maintained road network that can handle increased traffic from cars, trucks, and school buses, along with improved public transport, than a collection of largely unused facilities such as pickleball courts. Let’s be honest: while these projects may look good on paper and appeal to a minority, they do little for the thousands of people who spend hours each day stuck on congested roads—commuting to and from work, attending appointments, or trying to get their children to school on time.

I have often thought that if the land used for these feel-good recreational facilities, over & above parkland, which should be part of housing estates anyway, were instead incorporated into estate planning—allowing for better parking, wider streets, and decent-sized backyards—residents overall would be far better off. God knows how service vehicles such as garbage trucks navigate their way through these ultra-narrow streets. Instead, the benefits of a pickleball court are limited to a small minority who may only use these facilities occasionally. But we all know why that never happens, don’t we?

You may well ask what my solution to this problem is. The reality is that it requires a genuine whole-of-government approach, involving local, state, and federal governments working together. New developments should be put on hold until infrastructure has caught up. We are effectively talking about managing a city, but at its core, the principle is surprisingly simple—no different from managing a household budget.

You do not overcommit. You pay your bills, keep your debt under control, and live within your means. You do not need a swimming pool, a brand-new LandCruiser in the driveway, a new lounge every second year, or private school fees if you cannot afford or budget for them. The same logic applies to city planning. Development must be undertaken responsibly. Governments should not overcommit to growth & bow down to development applications when the systems and infrastructure required to support increased population density are neither in place nor ready to be delivered.

As with a household budget, overcommitting to development may look good in the short term and sound impressive when talking about growth, but it inevitably comes back to bite you. For councillors, this usually ends in one of two ways: they either become overwhelmed by their inability to balance development with sensible, sustainable town planning, or they are voted out by frustrated constituents who are tired of being misled.

How does that old saying go? – If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.