| Abstract: | Andrew Parkin has recently advanced the thesis that A ustralian cities generally do not feature large systematic variations in public servicing. The reason, he argues, is because of the centralised nature of the servicing administration. This paper critically evaluates the Parkin thesis based on empirical evidence across a number of urban services. The conclusion reached is that most urban services are provided not only unequally but also inequitably. As such Parkin's thesis perpetuates the Australian myth of egalitarianism, justice and fairness. It is time that such myths were buried and more time given to explaining and rectifying the maldistribution of resources in Australian cities. |
