40. Grumbling about Grumbling

Hi. I am Greg and I want to grumble about not having time to grumble.

It has been a few weeks since I last grumbled on air, but it is not as if there has been nothing to grumble about.

The vicious story of the federal budget has continued with more details on how it will hit those on low incomes much harder than those on higher incomes.

The cuts to health and education continue to threaten vital services as the federal government simply shifts deficits to state governments without addressing long term revenue and federation issues.

And one of my colleagues looks like losing her job because the federal government prioritises researching medical machines that go "bing" over preventative measures that stop people getting sick in the first place.

And beyond the budget, the federal government continues to push on with its plan to abolish the national charity regulator with a farcical report from its Senate Committee members who simply ignored 80% of the submissions put to them, including those from most of the major charities and their peak bodies.

But I have been away, and then there was a national conference, a SACOSS constitution to write, state bureaucrats to wrestle and a state budget to wade through (which actually didn’t contain too much to grumble about). With that and with a hundred other things to do, there just hasn’t been time to grumble.

You may only hear two minutes worth, but it takes a lot longer to have a really good grumble.

It’s not just gratuitous whinging (well, hopefully not most of the time). A good grumble needs research, topicality, a framework, and most importantly, a challenge about why we do things the way we do and maybe even a hope that we could be better.

And that takes time and energy.

But looking ahead, post-budget and settled back at work, I am Greg and I will be grumbling.

This Grumble can be heard online or by podcast.
First Broadcast: 20 May 2014