Mordusia

[Aristotle]

Speculation is rife within Mordusia as to whether rumours of a new political party being formed in time for the next election are unfounded.

Meanwhile, the Alliance Party continues to hold power, and appear happy to run the country the way in which the citizens have previously shown themselves happy to be run.

We wait to see what might happen when the next election arrives.

[Aristotle]

The Alliance Party is today celebrating its eleventh consecutive majority election result.

Edward George Godfrey Head, the re-elected President, has expressed his thanks once again to the citizens who put their faith in the Alliance to govern the nation.
He and Norman Walpole, the Prime Minister vow to continue to honour that faith and to uphold the rights, beliefs and traditions of our great country.

[Aristotle]

On its return to the political stage, the Social Liberal Party won all but 2 of the parliamentary seats.
This remarkable result was trumped in the latest election in which the SLP won every single seat in an unprecedented triumph.

The Alliance Party must clearly restore its standing with its own voters and with the electorate at large if this landslide is ever to be overturned in the foreseeable future.

What makes this even more significant is that the SLP triumphed without proposing a single bill during its first term of office.
This means that the policies which the Alliance had firmly protected for many years remained unchanged, though the electorate clearly voted for change.
It remains to be seen what the SLP will attempt to do during its second term in power.

[Aristotle]

After two terms out of power, the Alliance Party was elected back into office in the 4878 election.

President Head and the Prime Minister joined in reaffirming their determination to listen to the electorate and renew the Alliance efforts to govern according to the will of the people to avoid being stripped of their support as happened in the previous two elections.

[imperialpearl]

Having campaigned aggressively on a progressive socioeconomic reform agenda, the Mordusian Labour Party has snatched victory, securing all seats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in what has been dubbed as a landslide victory for the newly formed political movement. Millions of Mordusian citizens went to the polls earlier yesterday morning following the collapse of the previous Mordusian Alternative Party (MAP). Although earlier polling suggested that the Mordusian Labour Party would trail poorly behind independent parties due to its infancy, the results as they were broadcasted by the Federal Elections and Boundaries Commissions revealed a much more different result. The Mordusian Labour Party exited the elections with all 750 seats in the House of Representatives and all 105 seats in the Senate, making it the largest electoral win since the Mordusian Alternative Party entered the political landscape decades prior. The victory, according to party supporters, is a clear indication that Mordusia is ready and willing to spark a social revolution. The Mordusian Labour Party was formed out of the amalgamation of numerous minor socialist political parties and trade unions throughout Mordusia. It entered the political landscape championing the sparking of a transformative "revolution" aimed at tipping the balance of power in favour of the poor and the working class. General Secretary of the All Mordusian Workers Trade Union, Peter Mcknelly lamented that for too long, previous governments had served in the interests of the upper classes and often marching in step with the tunes/overtures of the business class, trampling on the rights of the poor and the working class. Political Leader and former academic professor, Susan Lee stated that the party's success in the federal election "was but the beginning of the transformation towards making Mordusia space whereby any and everyone can co-exist." She stated that with the Mordusian population having granted her party an extremely powerful mandate, her progressive agenda of enacting numerous socialist/democratic socialist reforms will begin to take place. She hinted that the first order of business for her party would be forming a cabinet and immediately beginning the process of nationalising numerous sections of Mordusian society and industry such as the railway industry, utilities and healthcare.

[imperialpearl]

Spotlight on Recovery
Part 1: Building the future workforce
By Andrew Lowe, Secretary for Labour, Employment and State Enterprises

The workplace of the future is much different from the workplace of the past. What was needed more than 10-15 years ago is no longer adequate to fit the needs of a modern economy. I note that we in the Department of Labour, Employment and State Enterprises are already observing trends whereby a large percent of workers (most of whom do not possess degrees) often find themselves missing out on the opportunities which the modern economies of today are offering. In our society, if you don't have a degree there is little to no chance of you being able to participate in the modern economy alongside someone who does. There appears to be a growing debate as to why this is happening. Some scholars have blamed the concept of globalisation and a freer/more open global community. They argue that low skilled workers are now competing with persons around the world, persons who are more than willing to work in conditions that could only be described as poor and inadequate for the same amount of money. Others simply blame technology and the advances that come with it. They argue that automation is replacing the human soul of the economy with machines. They often decry the woes of a technological society, stating that it would herald in mass unemployment and poverty. It's as if innovation has now become our enemy.

If our workforce, however, is truly prepared for globalisation and automation, we wouldn't cast suspicions to societal advancements. Those with the skills i.e the degrees have done well for themselves, most of these individuals are lawyers, doctors, politicians, teachers and bankers and I could go on; but what about those who don't? That question is the main reason why I'm working alongside Secretary for Education and Culture Dr Deborah Kinsale in forming a nationwide apprenticeship system. Now I could run a tangent on the relationship between Education and Economic Development but I'll leave that for Dr Kinsale to expand on as she is doing Part 2 of this piece. Successive governments have failed in their recovery efforts mainly because they themselves failed to factor in the workforce. It was often believed that when government policy changed, the workforce would simply get up on its hinds gets and adapt to fit the needs of the new policy. Investing, pouring resources into the workforce is the true measure of our economic growth. We only get back how much we put in. Secretary Kinsale and I have already begun a process that sets to address the lacklustre approach to the quality of skills training we observe in our economy. If we could potentially increase the quality and standard of our skills training, we could allow for those who don't have a university degree to compete directly with persons who do for employment opportunities.

Prime Minister Lee believes that for us to move forward equally as a society we have to establish a levelled playing field. She strongly believes that persons without opportunity should be furnished with the skills and attitude needed to attain them. The apprenticeship programme we intend on rolling out in the coming months and years will not only be confined to the borders of Mordusia but could also be used as a signal to extra-regional employers that an individual (although he/she does not possess a university education) has skills he/she has gained through this apprenticeship programme and as such it should allow for him/her to be placed equally alongside persons with university education. We cannot continue to allow for thousands of our citizens who could not either afford or make it through university to languish and become mere observers in the nation's development. We must enable them to become active participants in our national development and growth. This is why Prime Minister Lee will commission the Vocational Education Board. This institution (underneath the Department of Labour, Employment and State Enterprises) would be primarily charged with developing and guiding the adoption of the national vocational training policy. I believe that this agency would rekindle the idea of upward mobility for many of our citizens who have slipped through the cracks of our education system. A competent workforce, one capable of being extremely flexible and adaptive to changes in the global economy is one which I'd like to be privy to and I strongly believe we can build such a workforce right here in Mordusia.

[imperialpearl]

Spotlight on Recovery
Part 2: Education and the Economy
By Dr Deborah Kinsale, Secretary for Education and Culture

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when I say: there are more children in education than there was 10 years ago. In a similar manner, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone when I also say: the amount of time a child spends in schools (might they be primary, secondary and tertiary) has increased by 100% in the past 50 years. The schooling population went from one year in extreme cases to eight years. The importance of education in a society's development has been underscored by centuries of reform in education. The concept of human capital, coined centuries prior by economists when they birthed human capital theory. I note the very definition of human capital theory: "How education increases the productivity and efficiency of workers by increasing the level of cognitive stock of economically productive human capability." Economists and financial advisers of the like have posited that something as simple as an increase in the age of schooling has a direct impact on wages. This is mainly due to the fact that for an employer, the higher the skills and education of the employee, the more money said employer will pay to maintain and keep said employee underneath his/her organisation.

I borrow a comment from Mr Lowe's previous Op-Ed when I say: The workplace of the future is much different from the workplace of the past. What was needed more than 10-15 years ago is no longer adequate to fit the needs of a modern economy. Technology and education are in a perpetual battle to determine which societal invention would be best suited to carry the future economy on its back. Underperformance in Mordusia's education system is THE defining factor in why technology is rapidly winning that battle in Mordusia. Our modern global economy demands competition and in order for that competition to be visualised, there must be an understanding that skills and education is the only way there can truly be a fair battle for Mordusia to secure its place in the global economy. If we can't mould a workforce, a society capable of mastering the competencies needed to compete in the modern global economy, it is a simple fact that Mordusia will be left behind and thus will reap little to no benefits from future developments.

I recognise the need to expand not the quantity, but the quality of the education. It is my firm intention to reform the education system to reflect the direction we should take this nation. The Prime Minister has a unique vision for this nation and I believe we will be able to achieve that vision through a comprehensive reform of the education system, from systems to infrastructure to content (curriculum).

[imperialpearl]

Spotlight on Recovery
Part 3: The Digital Revolution
By Lara Parker, Secretary for Ecomomic Affairs and Communications

We are seeing an aggressive advance within this nation to digitise. Within the private sector, numerous businesses are employing the assistance of technological solutions as a means of ensuring their businesses can remain nimble and can thus survive these uncertain economic times. However, an area of society that has been slow to innovate is the public service and the wider government. With businesses moving away from paper-based solutions and adopting more cost-effective technological solutions, the advantages of technology in the workplace is becoming increasingly clear. The private sector has continued to improve the customer service experience, employing technological solutions in many instances to achieve this. Many look at the advances in the private sector and are rightfully expected the government to step up and take lead. The digitisation of the public service has an amazing potential for advancing the continued development of governance, as the operation of governance is an evolving concept.

Government is extremely bureaucratic in nature. I remembered the difficulty I ran into in trying to obtain a replacement for my I.D card after I lost it. Applications that should otherwise take no more than five minutes to complete take days to complete as they often require hard copies to be printed and signed. There is a no once-only policy, no decentralisation, no transparency. It is my firm belief that the government can provide a seamless experience to the user. The issue hindering this process from being realised is the fact that almost all government departments operate in silos with none willing to share information. This forces persons to roam between numerous sites and spaces to access information that should be readily available in a single "one-stop-shop". There are many instances whereby people become confused and are generally disincentivised because of the unnecessary complexity of government bureaucracy. It shouldn't take days to obtain a copy of one's birth certificate; it should take mere minutes. Every time you renew some form of identification you shouldn't have to bring back physical copies of the same documents you brought to the same department months prior.

The Department of Economic Development and Communications, which I lead, has been specifically tasked with transforming the public service to ensure increased efficiency and an improved customer experience. To address that we have opted to introduce two principle mandates: the introduction of an e-identity which allows for you to be easily recognised by any government service and eventually any service provider. It also allows for the government to be more proactive in supplying you with your needs. Thus, the government can become more proactive. For example, the Department of Health and Social Services wouldn't have to wait for a baby born with a birth defect to physically present themselves before a clerk and make an application for social welfare assistance. With interoperability, relevant information could be made available to anyone, so that the child born with a birth defect, the Department of Health and Social Services would be readily informed of the situation through the aforementioned interoperability. This allows the Department to more proactively serve the needs of the customer. Our second mandate is that digitalising the public service would entail a multi-pronged approach. From the digitisation of records to the construction of infrastructure, we intend on expediting the process. "E-Governance", the title of our approach will not only consist of departmental interactions but will also play a role in the economy. The introduction of e-payments and the potential use of digital currency etc all wrap into our unique approach to achieving our goal of a much more efficient government.

All of what I just described entails a large amount of data, and data needs protection, storage and transparency, and we intend to ensure that we achieve all of this as we move along our digitisation process. The introduction of the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act and the General Directives on Data Protection (regulations) will be introduced. E-Governance will require the retraining of public servants. We recognise that not all members of the public service are capable of applying advanced technical skills and the Department of Labour, Employment and State Enterprises is actively working with us in creating a new training programme to help retrain public sector employees to prepare them for this new form of work and governance. The e-governance thrust allows for us to cut administrative costs dramatically thus allowing for funds to be diverted to other departments where they are most needed. I firmly believe that we can achieve what we set out to, but we must recognise that whilst this is a whole-of-government approach it must also be a whole-of-country approach.

[imperialpearl]

Underneath previous administrations (both federal and state), it was believed by policy-makers that the best method for securing economic stability was through free-market capitalism, whereby the actions of businesses and the consumer would dedicate both the pace and structure of the stately and national economies. Although to the benefit of free-market capitalists and those who believe in such a system, such an approach has shown to produce the intended result of economic growth, one must question "but at cost?" Although the nations who have followed this economic belief to the teeth, often blinding placing their faith in this "tried and tested" system, there is the unaddressed problem of the collateral damage which these systems bring with it. A lack of government intervention into the market has allowed inequality to swell to a level not seen in this nation in previous centuries. As jobs become increasingly insecure/uncertain, the question of the quality (rather than the quantity of jobs) a system can manufacture is finally beginning to seep into the psyche of this nation's economic policymakers. Although many may boast of the nation's "growth" under the free market, said persons would not be completely honest with themselves should they choose to omit the fact that productivity, wage growth and general well-being of the working population have been all but forgotten. Earlier this morning, on the backdrop of the nation's deteriorating economic situation, Prime Minister Susan Lee, Secretary for Finance Adrian Swan and MLP Premier of Coliwick, Isaiah Ramsay announced Mordusia's manufacturing/heavy industry plan. The Finance Secretary lamented that the nation had to unlearn the supposed benefits of free-market capitalism and pivot towards a mixed economy. He noted that although he is not a staunch socialist as many within his own party would prefer for him to be he stated that he understands the importance of accommodating the needs of all and ensuring that at least to a certain extent equilibrium can be achieved. "The government must not become an instrument of redistribution but also it also must not become an instrument which stifles innovation." He continued. "Should we grow, all must be privy to its benefits. Our economy must be inclusive instead of exclusive. All-encompassing and not selective."

Premier Ramsay explained that the state would be reorienting its economy away from its traditional role as a light manufacturing centre towards a combination of light industry and heavy industry. Premier Ramsay notes the decision to transition towards being a manufacturing/heavy industry-based economy comes amidst the numerous opportunities coming out of possessing a developed manufacturing sector. The announcement occurred on the backdrop of numerous factory closures throughout the state, which led to numerous business officials suggesting that the new state government was "insane". Tyson Ryan, CEO of the Tyson Textile Company explained that Coliwick's economy was far too stagnant for a manufacturing revival as he noted that he had to relocate his factory to another state due to the numerous challenges facing businesses. The manufacturing sector in the state was almost decimated at the hands of previous administrations failing to provide amble stimulus and wide-ranging reforms to ensure the state remained a preferred location for business to establish manufacturing plants. Despite the negative outlook of the sector, State Minister of Business, Investment and Innovation, Piper Cameron notes that the manufacturing sector can play an extremely pivot role in the state's economy and could potentially lead to greater economic growth in the national economy. She explained that larger, more developed economies such as Yingdala, Kalistan, Badara, Endralon, Liore and Hutori, owe much of their continued economic growth to their local manufacturing sectors. From weapons manufacturing to the creation of digital technologies, the manufacturing sectors of the aforementioned economic powerhouses can be directly attributed to the relative strength of their manufacturing sectors. Minister Piper Cameron stated that although the local manufacturing sector was not as developed as the aforementioned nations, there remains an extremely slim chance whereby the state government could mount an economic revival on the back of the manufacturing sector by learning from the actions of the much larger nations.

In addressing the inherent problems of the local manufacturing sector, there must be a considerable amount of attention being paid towards foreign direct investment. Van Vollenhoven explained that whilst the state government would provide for stimuli alongside funding from the federal government, much of the investment needed to mounting the manufacturing revolution in Coliwick will have to come from external sources; foreign direct investment (FDI). She stated that the Ministry of Business, Investment and Innovation would be making strong and determined pushed towards expanding the reach of products originating from Coliwick. She explained that her ministry is also seeking to establish numerous trade and investment offices throughout the world, particularly in the larger economies. She stated that the state government intends on working alongside the Department of Labour, Employment and State Enterprises. She also stated that the state government was seeking advice from the Federal Government on improving the ease of doing business in the state. She explained that there is a need to transform the state into a competitive spot for foreign direct investment; to enjoy persons to establish businesses in the state, the state government must make it earlier and more convenient. Apart from courting investment from foreign sources, Cameron stated that the state government would ensure domestic businesses would have an advantage over foreign companies. She explained that the state government would seek to ensure that home-grown companies would be at the forefront of the state's push towards growth. It is being proposed that a state agency should be created to provide much-needed assistance in numerous areas including information, advice and funding.

[imperialpearl]

Amidst decades, if not centuries of stagnation, mismanagement and neglect, the Mordusian Defence Force is about to undergo a major reformation phase aimed at ensuring it is prepared for the future combat environment. In a press conference alongside the newly appointed Chief of Defence, General Anthony Richardson, recently appointed Secretary for Defence Adrian Browne announced that the government had approved a transitional budget for the Department of Defence to see through the structural and operational reforms of the Defence Force. The budget places a strategic emphasis on a relatively small but extremely well-trained and technologically superior defence force. The emphasis comes at the heels of a sweeping audit into both the Department of Defence and the Mordusian Defence Force which found that a considerable amount of its equipment had become useless due to neglect. A new regime has been introduced in the form of the Defence Material Agency, which will be responsible for procuring equipment for the Mordusian Defence Force. Defence Minister Browne's reforms to the Defence Force alongside General Richardson is primarily based on the defence white paper released to the general public days prior to his appointment to office. Coined “The Great Leap”, the document outlines the future objectives of the Mordusian Defence Force: (1) humanitarian support operations (2) peacekeeping operations and (3) the defence of Mordusia. The three aforementioned pillars, according to the white paper are documented underneath the doctrine of “Total Defence". The Total Defence doctrine notes that Mordusia's military should remain within its natural borders and should never seek to embark on expeditionary warfare. In recognition of both its size and range, the Total Defence doctrine notes that the concept of a blue water navy or expeditionary ground forces should be avoided as Mordusia's interests are best defendable at home.

Seeking to integrate newer pieces of equipment and revamping the training regime of the Mordusian Defence Force, “The Great Leap” aims to ensure that Mordusia can achieve victory on the battlefield in the shortest space of time. As mentioned prior, both Defence Minister Browne and General Richardson are envisioning a small and nimble Mordusian Defence Force. It is their belief that a larger Mordusian Defence Force would be more difficult to “maintain” in terms of equipment, personnel and training. General Richardson argues that with a small to moderate-sized defence force, there is a greater possibility of mobilising units at a faster pace should conflict come to Mordusia's doors. “The Great Leap” aims to hold true to this school of thought of a small, easily mobilisable defence force albeit with technological advancements. Due to the fact that Mordusia's Defence Force will not be as numerous as the armed forces of the other nations on the Seleyan continent, there is a need to ensure that should the nation find itself in a situation of conflict that it could deliver a serious blow to invading forces. With conscription off of the table due to the socioeconomic debate developing among Mordusia's younger population, “The Great Leap” would see to ensure that although Mordusia remains relatively small in terms of numbers, it will be a hard-hitter in term of strategy, tactics and equipment. In guiding the implementation of the “The Great Leap” plan, General Richardson has formally appointed the “General Staff”. According to officials from the Department of Defence, General Richardson has appointed Lt. General Hamish Adams as Chief of the Army, Lt. General Logan Bennett as Chief of the Air Force and Vice-Admiral Archer Irwin as Chief of the Navy.

Some of the changes to come to the Mordusian Defence Force immediately are the general organisation of the units. According to General Richardson, as it pertained to the Mordusian Army, there would be a deviation from its traditional pure infantry division orientation towards a blend of mechanised and light infantry units. It is being stated that the Mordusian Paratrooper Corps is set to return with training assistance from regional and extra-regional partners. Lt. General Adams explained that in order for the Mordusian Defence Force and to a much larger extent, the Mordusian Army, to be faster as it pertained to its general mobilisation units had to become significantly lighter and mobile. He noted that paratroopers are generally deployed with only bare necessities and that mechanised units can rely upon the relative speed of their respective vehicles. The Mordusian Army’s uniform is expected to undergo a major transformation programme to reflect Mordusia's environment and those of the nations which surround it. From new firearms to new armoured vehicles, the Mordusian Army is expected to receive the most from “The Great Leap” plan. As it pertains to the Mordusian Air Force, a doctrinal shift would have to be introduced. According to General Richardson, the Mordusian Air Force has been primarily relegated to playing a minor transport role, with there being a serious lack of combat aircraft in the MAF's arsenal, the Defence Material Agency has noted that a request for proposals has been issued on finding Mordusia's future combat aircraft. It is expected that Mordusian pilots will be trained on numerous disciplines including air superiority, air interdiction, close air support and others as a means of ensuring it remains extremely flexible and capable of meeting any task.

As it pertained to the Navy, General Richardson noted that the Navy would remain a green-water navy, as he stated that he had no intentions of contradicting the Total Defence Doctrine. Vice-Admiral Irwin has stated that the reforms coming to the Mordusian Navy are to ensure that it is capable of defending the nation’s economic exclusion zone from numerous threats including submarines, surface vessels and minor littoral vessels. It is expected that the special forces units of the various branches will be brought underneath a singular roof to be known as the Special Services Regiment (SSR), this would include the Mordusian Navy’s Special Boat Group which were primarily deployed on direct action missions to protect Mordusian at-sea platform infrastructure. It is expected that this responsibility would be handed down to the Mordusian Border Police. General Richardson lamented that the reforms to come to the Mordusian Defence Force are sweeping in their nature and scope, but noted that the transformation of the defence force from its current structure to the structure envisioned in the white paper would transcend numerous months and years.