Jersey’s politicians are being accused of “stacking up financial, societal, and economic problems for future generations” as a backbencher calls for a new law forcing ministers to think beyond the next election cycle.
Deputy Karen Wilson has lodged a proposition that would impose a statutory “duty to future generations” on the Council of Ministers, requiring them to formally consider – and publicly account for – the long-term impact of every major policy and law they bring forward.
The St Clement representative warned that mounting evidence suggests decisions being taken today could leave “an unfair burden on the island’s future generations”.
“The future is coming faster than we think,” she said, cautioning that the choices made now “will determine the conditions under which future generations in this island will live”.
Under her proposal, ministers would be legally obliged to avoid creating “unsustainable debt burdens”, protect the natural environment from “irreversible damage”, reinvigorate the economy, safeguard Jersey’s identity and strengthen community resilience.
They would also have to ensure that policies actively improve the island’s ability to adapt to rapid economic, technological and social change.
Deputy Wilson claimed that current decision-making is too focused on the short- to medium-term, driven largely by existing Public Finance rules and the Bridging Island Plan.
She argued that while some politicians claim to take a longer view, it is “difficult to find” reliable evidence that systematic assessments of policies on future generations are being carried out.
Ministers have faced criticism for “short term” policies with long-term consequences, she added – pointing to warnings from the Fiscal Policy Panel about the risks posed by an ageing population and pressures on public finances, concerns raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General about health funding, and wider unease about contradictions between strategic ambitions and actual decisions on housing, infrastructure, education and the economy.
“The message seems to be loud and clear: we are not looking ahead and planning sufficiently well enough to enable future generations on the island to thrive and flourish – something needs to change,” she added.
Currently, the only formal impact assessment routinely used by the Assembly focuses on children’s rights.
Deputy Wilson’s proposal would go further by requiring ministers to “plan, measure, record and account” for the generational consequences of their decisions – and make that information public.
If approved, the Chief Minister would be tasked with bringing forward legislation to enshrine this duty in law.