THE Murray-Darling Basin is yet to be fixed after more than 20 years, writes MARCUS ELGIN

There are some problems that just can't seem to be fixed.

It seems no matter how much money is thrown at the them, or how many people - they never go away.

Not sure what I mean? Try these: drugs, homeless people, Aboriginal welfare, health and hospitals, education.

Small stuff like that.

For agriculture, try these - Murray-Darling Basin Authority, Meat and Livestock Australia, the World Trade Organisation - for starters.

Plenty of people are employed by government to "fix problems".

In the year Kevin '07 was elected, there were 248,217 full-time equivalent public servants.

Despite Rudd promising to take the "meat axe" to the public service, by 2010-11 numbers had grown to 261,891.

Kevin '07 was always good at the one-liner.

Despite all the doom and belt tightening, despite the range of new taxes (flood, mining, carbon), the public service is expected to grow to 262,999 in 2011-12, according to Budget papers.

So, no shortage of people. Maybe they haven't got any facilities? No, that's not the answer either.

One of the great paradoxes of the information age is that despite computerisation, the internet, e-commerce, video conferencing and mobile telephones, we have more public servants than ever.

Where's the efficiency bonus? Has it become easier to deal with government? Has red tape disappeared? Is it all online dream time now? Fat chance.

So let's go to a case in point - the MDBA.

They have an efficiency bonus - as required in the 2011 Budget, the MDBA will cut $197,000 from its meagre $360 million-plus budget.

Yes, that's right - more than $360 million. Per annum.

But wait - that $197,000 will come from "efficiencies in suppliers costs".

Not from the MDBA - from trimming up the suppliers.

So they have a bit of cash but what about people?

Yes, they have 295 staff at a cost of $36 million (an average wage of more than $122,000 per head).

So they have a budget, they have people, they have a lovely web page, plenty of committees and councils, so here's the big question: why isn't the Murray-Darling Basin FIXED?

Or at the least - well on its way to being fixed?

After all, it's been a problem for 20-plus years.

I have two theories: first, most of "government" just can't make decisions.

No matter how much money, they are scared to make a decision, so they just don't.

They get advice. They go to committee. They get some consultants in. They hire some lawyers.

So the problem won't ever be fixed.

Theory two: if you fix the problem, you lose your job.

Example required: Aboriginal welfare.

Tens of billions have been spent on Aboriginal programs since 1967.

Is the problem better or worse? I'm not sure if it's a conscious or sub-conscious driver - I hope the latter - but that's an awful lot of money spent on making the problem worse.

No point in just being negative: here's a solution.

Establish a set of "deliverables". Real, measureable things that will be done in two years.

Not motherhood statements.

Actual things: we will build this, fix that.

If they don't get done - ALL OF THEM, ON TIME, ON BUDGET - sack the people involved.

Re-hire a fresh set. Decision made.

How could it be worse than what we have now? Yes - what a good idea.

Let's form a committee to discuss who should set those deliverables.