"For at least my lifetime, the Australian zeitgeist has rewarded an emphasis on managerialism, risk mitigation, public relations, messaging and above all else, maintaining stability. Our instincts have become seismographically attuned to be so conflict adverse that we flinch at faintest of rumblings."
I think you are right about the plethora of manageralism and dearth of leadership, but how do you achieve leadership, when the path of manageralism is paved with gold and the path of leadership is often paved with disappointment and sometimes termination? In my working life I think I could count on one hand the number of good leaders that I experienced (and I don't count myself in that). There are others outside my circle that you can see as demonstrating good vision and leadership, but again they are few and far between and tend to get derided.
My political hero was Whitlam, but I wonder if he came about today, and we didn't have those reforms in place, how would he be received? Probably wouldn't get pass 1st base and we will be closer to America in our social well-being and housing situation than present day Australia.
In Queensland planning terms the best leadership I experienced was Kevin Yearbury (maybe before your time), but he had vision and drive, as well great communication as to letting you know where he wanted to take the Department and legislation and why. Leaders are born not made.
"For at least my lifetime, the Australian zeitgeist has rewarded an emphasis on managerialism, risk mitigation, public relations, messaging and above all else, maintaining stability. Our instincts have become seismographically attuned to be so conflict adverse that we flinch at faintest of rumblings."
Too true, but good luck with finding the solution. There was an article in today's Brisbane Time written by a young person about the future of Brisbane as part of an essay competition (https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-in-2050-the-world-s-most-sustainable-city-20231129-p5ens8.html). All very nice and you would like it to be true (apart from all that vegetarianism), but in your heart of hearts you can't see 25% of these things happening.
I think you are right about the plethora of manageralism and dearth of leadership, but how do you achieve leadership, when the path of manageralism is paved with gold and the path of leadership is often paved with disappointment and sometimes termination? In my working life I think I could count on one hand the number of good leaders that I experienced (and I don't count myself in that). There are others outside my circle that you can see as demonstrating good vision and leadership, but again they are few and far between and tend to get derided.
My political hero was Whitlam, but I wonder if he came about today, and we didn't have those reforms in place, how would he be received? Probably wouldn't get pass 1st base and we will be closer to America in our social well-being and housing situation than present day Australia.
In Queensland planning terms the best leadership I experienced was Kevin Yearbury (maybe before your time), but he had vision and drive, as well great communication as to letting you know where he wanted to take the Department and legislation and why. Leaders are born not made.