The Nanny State

Which Nanny?

Michael Moore• CEO PHAA• Adjunct Professor Health Policy and

Governance University of Canberra• Former Health Minister (ACT)

On behalf of the PHAA I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and pay my respects in particular to their elders, past and present.

The Nanny of the Institute of Public Affairs

“The Nanny State is obsessed with talking down (to) people. It tells them the views they hold and the way they live their lives are wrong” Christian Kerr IPA

"It is the difference between a nanny-state 'government knows best' approach, compared with the personal dignity and control that comes from the freedom to make your own choices while taking responsibility for those choices.”

Hon Andrew Robb AO Trade Minister (when in opposition)

Who dominates choice?

Tobacco (prior to ‘interference’ by Nanny States)

‘Alcopops’

abc.net.au

SMHEpoch times

Gambling and Solariums

Who is the Nanny?

Examples from IPAChristian Kerr

Sun Spa & Sun Spa Clinic

A Confused Agenda – the moral nanny

• Abortion• Victorian Abortion Law Reform Bill • enacted October 2008• Opposition Christine Campbell (MLA Labor) Bernie Finn (MLC Liberal)

• Marriage equality• Moral opposition from majority

• House of Reps• Senate

• Prostitution• Vicki Dunne (MLA Speaker ACT)

• The “Swedish model”• Tour with Christine Campbell (Vic), Peter Abetz (WA), Julia Jones (ACT)

australianmarriageequality.org

Bernie Finn MLC (Vic)

• Unashamed conservative• Anti-choice for women• Quotes Ronald Reagan (Political hero)• “Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives”• Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their

lives• Opposes Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities

Christine Campbell MLA (Vic)• Labor conservative• Anti-choice for women – abortion, prostitution• Enjoys “family, cycling, bushwalking”• Interests: “religious and racial respect and dialogue”

Conservatives are found in both major parties

Freedom, regulation and human rights

• Big corporations• Do not want interference• Accusation often the “nanny state”

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights• “Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith

in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom” (para 5)

• The role of government• “will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be

expressed in periodic and genuine elections”. (Article 21)

• The Charter of Human Rights also protects against the “tyranny of the majority”

Interference or Domination?

• Pettit• “My aim in this book is to try to identify the main features of freedom as non-

domination” Republicanism: A theory of freedom and government

• Domination: Who is the Nanny? • Industry?• Government?

Which Nanny – Kerr’s examples• Nanny big tobacco?

• Who dominated the market place of ideas in the past?• How does government level the playing field in tobacco

• Nanny big alcohol?• Who dominates the market place now?• Alcopops

• “after the tax loophole was closed have consistently shown a 30% drop in consumption of alcopops and an overall drop in alcohol consumption” – Nicola Roxon

• Nanny gambling?• Industry totally dominates• Productivity Commission and Parliamentary Select Committee

• Nanny solarium industry?• Government became the Nanny

• “Although many countries still face opposition to the legislation of artificial tanning beds, all Australian states and territories have announced a total ban on commercial tanning beds” Sinclair et al

Conclusion

• So many nannies

• The Mexican Wave• 2007 Melbourne Cricket ground – Mexican Wave banned• Did nanny Cricket Australia go too far?

• Freedom is an important public health issue