They say the first casualty in any conflict is truth. It seems to me the situation with our federal politics is very much one of conflict and so, not surprisingly, truth is already a casualty.

It never ceases to amaze me how politicians of all colours so easily break all the rules of logical debate, and often argue against a person, rather than the point of the debate.

Play the ball and not the man!

One of the constant statements in the current political campaign that I believe really needs to be questioned regards the so-called benefits of a federal government being debt-free.

The parallel is surely a house owner claiming to be completely free of debt while the roof of the home leaks, the plumbing system doesn't work, the house is full of borer and white ant, and the road leading into the property is full of potholes.

In other words, being debt-free is of little value if the purpose of the house is not being fulfilled because it hasn't been maintained properly.

Let's be very clear: All the money raised by all the governments in Australia comes from taxing the income-producing people and companies in the nation.

All the money raised through taxation belongs to all the people. The artificial boundaries between federal, state and local government are of little consequence in the long run.

The current state of our nation indicates there has been a significant decline in the maintenance of our national household.

Very few universities are able to afford adequate building maintenance.

Our aged-care system is straining at the seams because it is poorly resourced, with facilities often under-staffed and badly maintained.

The hospital and health system across our nation seems to have been under-funded and under-resourced for some years. We are suffering a staff shortage across many areas, including doctors and medical staff, which is the result of under-funding and insufficient planning.

Our income-producing industries are being impaired because of inadequate transport and port facilities. I am told that more than 50 coal-carrying ships are lying off our coast because they cannot load quickly enough. This is surely costing millions.

So what is the point of our nation being debt-free when our income-producing infrastructure and essential human services like education and health are in a state of decline?

And don't bore me with the usual political mudslinging built on a paranoid view of the world that it is “their fault”.

All the money raised through taxation belongs to all the people, and from where I stand it seems it is not being used productively.

To declare that we are debt-free while we approach broad infrastructure bankruptcy seems to me to be highly questionable.