29 Jul Finalist!
I'm pleased to announce that Unravelling Red Tape has passed the second round of judging as a Small Business Champion finalist. ...
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03 Jul Head Banging?
I use this picture in every presentation I give about dealing with government. The picture never fails – heads nod, eyes roll and I even hear the occasional laugh. I’m never sure whether the laughs are saying “that’s funny”, “if I don’t laugh, I’ll cry”,...
11 Jun Flooded!
Dear Here to Help, Every time it rains, my house is flooded. The water overflows from the street and pours down into my front door. Yet, when I look at Council’s flood management strategy, my street is not marked as flooding. I have complained to Council over the...
05 Jun Small Business Champion Awards 2024
It was a pleasant surprise to run into my client Chiang Lim at April's Small Business Champion Awards. It is always a challenge to judge the Small Business Champion Awards. This year was harder than ever....
05 May Some Governments are Predicted to be in Minority in the Near Future – How does that Effect your Association’s Advocacy Efforts and Tactics?
Thank you Associations Forum for another great conference, filled with learning and networking. It was my privilege to deliver a Learning Lab on predicted upcoming minority governments and how that impacts Associations' advocacy efforts. See here for my Learning Lab outline https://lnkd.in/gmuk-Muc...
01 May Is Government Policy Boring?
Being asked what I do for a living is complex and, sometimes, anxiety-producing. If I say “public policy” or “government relations”, most people’s eyes glaze over and they start rocking on their feet, not even bothering to stifle a yawn. I pre-emptively put an arm out,...
03 Apr Anti-Innovation Government?
Dear Here to Help, Government awarded me a substantial grant to pursue my innovative idea. I poured my heart and soul into my project and developed it to a stage where it was ready to launch. Then, I came in for a nasty surprise. Government was...
01 Mar Recycling Issues
Dear Here to Help, Government has done a great thing with the bottle recycling scheme. It’s fun to take the bottles with the kids for some spending money. The machines have become faster and easier to use. However, some problems make it annoying and time-wasting to return...
01 Feb Going Around in Cycles
Dear Here to Help, Government talks about what it is doing to help active transport. I have a new job in the centre of Newcastle, but I can’t find anywhere secure to lock my bike. There used to be secure bike lockers around the Newcastle train...
04 Jan Breaking Up is Hard
Dear Here to Help, There was a classified ad in the Local recently by a man saying he “is not a voluntary transactor in commerce” and seeking to “sever Usufruct Subjugation ties with the Australia Corporation in its entirety.” and instructing it to “cease and desist...