Government+Research

= Population = toc

Many of the countries that have the highest population in the world also suffer from a high percentage of poverty, a lack of resources and also a poor education and health care systems. Countries such as India, Pakistan and Bangladesh all fall under this category. We do not want our Island to have the same fate as these countries. How many people can the island sustain that allows our country to thrive as a nation? However, most importantly how many people can our island sustain without having a harmful effect to the country? Deciding what our population will be is a fine line.Population of other countries in the South Pacific: Most of islands in the Pacific have a low population however they have a high population density compared to Australia and New Zealand. Countries that have a high population density such as Kiribati have a low life expectancy (60yrs) and rely a lot on foreign financial aid. Australia and New Zealand however have a much lower population density and a much higher life expectancy (81.5yrs). This evidence suggests that the Island needs to have a low population density to be sustainable. ** Our population Suggestion ** 6000km/2500 =6 population density. A population such as this will make sure that each person has enough food and water to thrive without destroying the environment.
 * **Population** || **Population Density** ||
 * Australia-22 000 0a 00 || 2.7 ||
 * New Zealand- 4 000 000 || 14.5 ||
 * Fiji-815 000 || 46.9 ||
 * Cook Islands-20 000 || 86.7 ||
 * Tonga-104 000 || 141 ||
 * Solomon Islands-400 000 || 17.4 ||
 * Kiribati-85 000 || 188 ||
 * Naru-12 000 || 587 ||
 * Vanuatu -240 000 || 19.7 ||

** Settlements **

Each settlement will have betwe en 300-600 settlers. The actual amount of settlers will depend upon the demand of each settlement and the amount of food and water that each settlement can have immediate access to.

from [|www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/populations/ctypopls.htm]

=** Migration and immigration **= Nowadays, Australian, which is a popular destination of migrants all over the world, has become one of the most multicultural and diverse countries with more than 200 languages and about 25 percent of the population from overseas countries of birth. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics in mid-2006 4,956,863 of the Australian resident population were born outside Australia, representing 24% of the total Australian resident population. Country of birth of Australian residents： There are a wide range of views in the Australian community on the composition and level of immigration, and on the possible effects of varying the level of immigration and population growth, some of which are based on empirical data, others more speculative in nature. (Wikipedia, //Immigration to Australia// Retrieved Augest 14, 2010, from [])
 * Research:**

**Suggestion**

The best way to protect each settlement to be equality and synchronization is set up a master government which the members are voted from each settlement. The master government members decide the law to be in charge of the whole island. As each settlement has different environment, economic and society, so each settlement has their own government to protect their residents under the law. But each settlement’s own government has no right to make their own law.
 * Laws**


 * Migration**

The island residents could move between different settlements. Depend on the reason and time, the master government give different regulations. But the people must to contact with the settlement’s own government to make sure each settlement could control their population. And each settlement’s own government has the right to accept and refuse migration with unsure reason and time.


 * Immigration**

The island also welcome immigration with reasons of economic, political, family re-unification, natural disaster, poverty or the wish to change one's surroundings voluntarily. The master government gives different types of visa for the immigration. And depend on the population and other reasons the master government could change the regulations of immigration in a period of time. People are approved the master government’s verify also must contact with the settlement’s own government for register.

= Public services required =

Health care:
It is estimated that about seventy percent of Australia’s health expenditure is funded by the government. The commonwealth shoulders 67% of this cost covering three national subsidy schemes, a) Medicare, b) the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and c) 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate while the remaining 23% is covered by the States and Territories. Having a subsidy scheme such as medicare is important when considering availability for health care for all, In Australia medicare is financed through progressive income tax and a Medicare levy derived from incomes of Australian residents. The amount of contributions depends on their ability to pay Private health insurance offers people a wider range of doctors hospitals and extras but comes at a cost, it covers optical, physiotherapy, podiatry, and dental services that are not covered by medicare.

What is covered Out-of-hospital services Medicare provides benefits for: You can choose the doctor who treats you for out-of-hospital services.
 * consultation fees for doctors, including specialists
 * tests and examinations by doctors needed to treat illnesses, including X-rays and pathology tests
 * eye tests performed by optometrists
 * most surgical and other therapeutic procedures performed by doctors
 * some surgical procedures performed by approved dentists
 * specified items under the Cleft Lip and Palate Scheme
 * specified items for allied health services as part of the Chronic Disease Management program.

In-hospital services Public Patient If you choose to be admitted as a public (Medicare) patient in a public hospital, you will receive treatment by doctors and specialists nominated by the hospital. You will not be charged for care and treatment, or after-care by the treating doctor. Private Patient If you are a private patient in a public or private hospital, you will have a choice of doctor to treat you. Medicare will pay 75 per cent of the Medicare Schedule fee for services and procedures provided by the treating doctor. If you have private health insurance some or all of the outstanding balance can be covered. You will be charged for hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and medicines. These costs can also be covered by private health insurance.

I think the government subsidy schemes work well- having important health needs subsidies from government funding and tax but having the option of a private health insurance for people who chose.

Education:
when looking into education developed countries across the world generally run similar programs having a pre school/ kinder program running or offered before formal education, an elementary/primary school, high school and then a tertiary/college/university all these need to be considered as well as a learning standards/curriculum for each year. In Victoria children must be five years of age by the 30th of april in the year the commence primary school they then go from prep to 6 in primary school 7-12 high school and tertiary education is optional depending on VCE result and preference. VELS have different standards that are aimed to be meet across different curriculum domains the standards develop each year the child moves up a grade. how many schools and how classrooms are run need to be considered taking into account how many people on the island and in each settlement.

In rural towns in Australia there are often small school with multiage classrooms due to low numbers each settlement could have a primary/high school but one settlement have a university.

Job creation:
throughout the island there will be need for different jobs and trades not only across the island but for the individual settlements for a self reliant island/settlement [|Natural resources, construction, and utilities] [|Manufacturing] [|Transportation] [|Trade] [|Financial activities] [|Professional and business services] [|Education, healthcare, and social services] [|Leisure and hospitality] [|Government and advocacy, grantmaking, and civic organizations]

Welfare:
In developed countries welfare is generally provided to individuals who are unemployed, those with illness or disability, the elderly, those with dependable children and veterans within these different reasons for receiving welfare are many more sub categories. Examples of welfare in Australia [|Aged care] [|Alcohol & other drugs] [|Burden of disease] [|Juvenile justice] [|Child protection] [|Homelessness] [|Mental health]

Welfare programs have different requirements, organisation methods and even funding methods. The Australian welfare system is funded by the government. There are also many independent orginisations that offer help to particular groups in need.

Australia has set up a retirement program which is superannuation this is employees are required by law to pay an additional amount based on a proportion of an employee's salaries and wages (currently 9%) into a complying superannuation fund. when a employee meet certain requirements they can begin to access there superannuation.

guidelines and a tax need to be set up for people to receive welfare. superannuation is advisable

=Government= There are many types of democracies, but given our population calculations, a direct democracy could work for each of the settlements on the island. This would involve each settlement discussing issues that arise at town meetings or via internet forums. From these discussion agreements could be made and 3-5 representatives from each settlement could meet with other settlement representatives to pass laws. This second process is similar to a representative democracy like Australia's, however, if the whole community was expected to take turns at being their settlements representatives (similar to jury duty) it would allow greater representation of the people and eliminate the chance of political parties of alliances forming.

Below are some examples of how the Direct democracy works and how it is successful in Switzerland taken from [|www.basiclaw.net/Principles/**Direct**%20**democracy**.htm]

Direct Democracy
Traditional direct legislation comes in three different vari­eties: the initiative, the referendumand the recall. In modern times, the oldest of these is the referendum, which often lead almost directly to the later introduction of the initiative and the recall. 1.The referendum- referred to as the people's veto power, 2.The initiative - gives the people the power to propose and enact legislation 3. The recall - gives the people the right to call a new election
 * The Instruments of Direct Democracy; the Referendum, the Initiative and the Recall**
 * Traditional instruments of direct democracy**

A principal feature of direct democracy is that it limits the influence of numerically small but politically powerful pressure groups. The direct vote of the citizens reduces the influence of special interest groups by automatically weighing the interest of the smaller group against that of the majority. In order for a proposal to gain a majority in a referendum it has to offer advantages to a much larger cross-section of the population.
 * Limiting the influence of pressure groups**

Referendums and initiatives work by dramatically reducing the direct cash costs and the indirect "time and effort" costs of influencing government decisions. Furthermore, with the introduction of electronic automated voting either through the internet or phone based or similar systems, the cost in terms of time and effort can be further dramatically reduced.
 * Cost effective**

The most potent form of direct democracy, voters' initiatives, is today practiced primarily in Switzerland and at the state level in the United States. It is well known that Switzerland has one of the lowest tax rates in Europe. The Swiss position can pretty much be summed up by saying that the Swiss enjoy the highest income and the lowest taxes of Europe.
 * Taxes**

=**Justice System**= The Victorian justice system is based on the Westminster system where power is distributed between legislative, executive and judicial powers. In effect, the parliament makes the laws, the executive put the laws into action and the judicial powers interpret the laws (DOJ, 2010).

The criminal justice system involves three levels:
 * police
 * courts
 * corrections

In Australia one major feature is that all people are treated equally under the laws. We have state and territory laws that govern day to day life and federal laws (DFAT, 2008).

We need to consider a system of maintaining:
 * births, deaths & marriages
 * complaints & disputes
 * courts
 * crime
 * human rights
 * law reform
 * police services

DFAT [Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]. (2008). Legal system. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/legal_system.html DOJ [Department of Justice]. (2010). The justice system. Retrieved August 17, 2011, from http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/justlib/DOJ+Internet/Home/The+Justice+System/