Premier’s apology over the Big Build doesn’t cut it
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It’s time to go, prime minister
When you read Prime Minister Jacinta Allan’s letter of regret in The Age (3/7) about what happened at the Grand Building and how you will ensure it never happens again, it quickly becomes clear that this is Clayton’s apology, which you have given when you have not actually apologized at all.
Instead it became a eulogy; a chance to list the government’s achievements. In order to avoid direct questions about major construction costs, he attempted to use global events such as inflation to soften the extraordinarily high costs of these projects. Finally came the casual admission that some abuse had taken place on construction sites, complete with the usual “how shocking and unacceptable” it was.
Nowhere is there any mention of the role played by his government, and especially by himself as the minister directly responsible. I’m sorry, prime minister. This sleight of hand, ill-considered prestige is unpopular with the public, and you should resign for your continued failure to exonerate yourself and take full responsibility.
Tony Davidson, Glen Waverley
counting costs
Prime Minister Jacinta Allan says of the Grand Structure: “10 years ago it was thought impossible to deliver infrastructure on this scale and in such a short time.” The Labor government has indeed delivered. So, credit where credit is due.
But all these projects, along with other government spending, have resulted in Victoria’s net government debt rising to $199 billion. Interest payments are around $24 million per day. What seems like the real impossibility of the Big Build is the task of finding money for it without cuts to vital government services like public health, education, transportation, and law enforcement. It’s hard to see these cuts being avoided in the long term.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
working on a theory
Jacinta Allan works on the theory that you can only call for a royal commission if you can predict its findings.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor
Commission defects
Royal commissions come and go in Australia. Although they have broad powers, including the power to call witnesses before them, governments are not obliged to accept the royal commission’s recommendations. After more than 100 royal commissions in Australia, there are countless proposals collecting dust in bottom drawers.
Take, for example, the royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. More than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have died in custody in the 30 years since the royal commission’s final report. Successive governments have failed to fully implement 339 recommendations aimed at preventing Indigenous deaths in the justice system.
Similarly, the recommendations of the banking, pensions and financial services sector royal commission have not been fully implemented. Five years after the royal commission’s final report on aged care quality and safety we are still reading about an “aged care crisis”.
Sarah Russell, Mount Martha
No hi-vis, Labor MPs
I never want to see a Labor politician wearing a hi-vis vest again (“″Big Build rorting adds 30% to costs″, 4/7).
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Boomers’ influence
The article “Falling house prices” focuses on taxes and government intervention. But there are also social changes. Baby Boomers stayed in their homes longer than previous generations, keeping housing prices high. Lucky Boomers also financed the “mom and pop bank,” which helped maintain prices.
Now Baby Boomers are finally entering the selling side of the market, and this will have a long-term impact.
Gerry O’Reilly, Camberwell
empty cupboards
Columnist Niki Savva (Comment, 2/7) has laid out perfectly why Angus Taylor is incapable of taking the Coalition into government and why Pauline Hanson and One Nation should never be considered.
In his final speech to the National Press Club in Canberra, Hanson showcased the divisive agenda that typified his decades of time in politics; At least it’s consistent. He clearly believes that by fueling division and distrust, as Trump has done so successfully in America, he can rally enough support among disenfranchised voters to find a path to electoral success.
Although it has certainly picked up in recent months, Australia and the US are different animals politically.
At some point soon, he will need to produce policies to back up his rhetoric if he is to maintain his poll numbers, and the cupboard is bare in this area, just as the Coalition was in the last federal election.
Taylor, on the other hand, is crippled by his inability to take a stand on a concrete issue.
His refusal to condemn Hanson and his appalling agenda disqualifies him as a serious challenger, and Labor would be delighted if he was still leader of the opposition at the next federal election.
Gary Warren, Eltham
dangerous potholes
Last Thursday, my wife and I set off on the Hume Highway towards Wangaratta. Between Beveridge and just beyond Euroa the potholes were horrific, many of them downright dangerous and potentially lethal. With so little visible margin, avoiding them was like driving bumper cars. And only one repair crew was working. Be careful.
The organizations that have the responsibility of protecting the highway and keeping drivers safe are clearly not doing their job.
Ray Cas, Ashwood
alliance of denial
A large number of Australian intellectuals attended the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London (“Forget climate change, Moira and friends fueled Britain’s heatwave”, 2/7). If the worst heatwave on record in Europe can’t change climate denial, Western civilization has a lot to answer for.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Is this civilization?
The main concerns of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship’s latest conference are allegedly “the defense of what it calls Western civilization and the fight against climate action” (“As Europe swelters under record temperatures, the right rallies mocking climate action″,” 4/7). Scapegoating immigrants, whitewashing history, and ridiculing scientific consensus seems destined to destroy the values of the civilization they claim to defend.
Tim Wright, Point Lonsdale
Wake up, Australia
I coordinated the Adult Immigrant English Program in the Latrobe Valley for over 20 years. I found it a privilege and an enriching experience to have regular contact with students from various countries and different languages, including many Muslims who fled the genocide in Bosnia. I find it appalling that so many Australians have rallied behind a political leader who has such negative, intolerant and simplistic views on the issue of multiculturalism. Wake up, Australia; Be proud of our successful, multicultural nation.
Janine Ochsenbein, Croydon
Headless and forward
The policies of Victoria’s two major parties need to be questioned when One Nation, with no state party leaders, tops the latest opinion poll.
Peter Cooke, Warrnambool
cry from your heart
Ban conflict!
Paul Murchison, Kingsbury
