Considering the industrial action by society's most necessary workers (health, education, police), maybe it's time to change the priorities we have in society. I suggest the following:

• A society must treat all people equally and without bias;
• Education at all levels must be accessible to all and the only way to do that is to make it free and make all tertiary education merit-based;
• Private education is open to all who choose it but the State won’t fund it to any greater extent than if the student was in the public sector;
• The law must be blind to colour, religion, gender, sexual preference and socio-economic status;
• Equality of health access and health quality to all;
• The state and its instrumentalities must be secular – because people in society believe different things. The State must be neutral while allowing anyone to believe “anything” they choose – provided it doesn’t harm or denigrate anyone else;
• Free speech comes with responsibility and obligation (i.e. no harm to others);
• If you are unemployed and you want unemployment benefits, you must work for the state on community projects, to the best of your ability;
• Migrants to Australia must accept Australian law and Australian values – otherwise they can go elsewhere;
• Hate speech (or actions) is illegal;
• The Education system must teach students, civics, ethics and basic commercial principles to enable them to interact effectively in society when they graduate from school;
• Politics must lift its game – it needs to be principled and competent;
• Donations to political parties must be illegal;
• Politicians who make promises before an election must deliver them or suffer a penalty (lose a percentage of their pro-vote) at the next election;
• The helping professions (health, education, etc.) would receive significant tax cuts to enhance their standing and their value – to both society and the individual;
• … and I could go on…..