The state government last week maintained its view that a highway should be built through the heart of wetlands at Eagleby.
What we’re seeing is a fine example of farcical community engagement at play.
It is not uncommon for a group of bureaucrats to sit around a table at the start of a project, determining what they feel is best for progress. Once they have made their decision, they map a path towards achieving their favoured outcome.
They are masters writing reports. They will write a report with multiple possible outcomes, carefully inserting points of bias in an effort to persuade those around them that they’re doing the right thing.
The faceless “yes” people will then instigate a public consultation exercise while more research and reports are plotted behind closed doors. The consultation in theory gives people their say.
As we saw last week, they’re clearly not heard – environmental groups, indigenous groups, community groups and others have all lodged their objections to the current route.
But progress would say that the road is important for the state. It’s important for progress. And in 10 years the birds that were once breeding in the wetlands will be forgotten.
It’s what the people wanted, the bureaucrats will say.
They’ll be supported by spin doctors who’ll use phrases like “extensive engagement process” and “public input”. In fact, it’s so effective we’re now entering another round of fruitless propaganda.
True engagement would be transparent. It would allow reports to be public well before the publicity machine adds its spin. It would allow people to see the objections, the alternatives and the plans as they’re drawn, not after they’ve been doctored to appease a majority.
There’s great skill in how to hoodwink people into believing what’s good for them.
And for whose benefit? “Progress.”
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