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21
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by LP -
Quote from: northernblue – on
But, but it was 500 million gazillion !!
🙄
The figures in reality are somewhat arbitrary and generally always reported as totals rather than a differential, they do this to make the general public perceive it as worse than it really is which is good for ratings. That's not to say it isn't bad, but it won't ever be as bad as reported, because even after the fact it will nearly always be reported in totals not differences, even in official reports they list totals and then percentages of possible savings or waste.

If there was no corruption or other nefarious practises, what would be the saving, it's not the same as not having the project at all, and is virtually never reported and never sounds as bad as the spin.

Furthermore, in my experience in the union and corporate administration, the very people complaining about union corruption tend to have fingers in the pie from another angle. Short circuiting tenders to block competition for example is very common, and just another form of corruption, sometimes this happens in the very early stages, before the request for tender is even written and well before anybody gets a job. To find "the fix" you might have to go back a decade and several consecutive governments as the process is usually very long. The fastest ever State / Federal project I was ever invovled in was relartively small, and took 5 years spanning two elections, but the public and media by default would blame the people at the finishing line for the result.

Don't mention the war when discussing war crimes!
23
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: Thryleon – on
this happened on Labor watch, and its an exercise in damage control 6 months out from an election.

Public hearings started in the same month as the election and will erode any support that the ALP may still have.  The report should be handed down well into the first year of the new government who will be able to use it to their advantage.  Damage control would have been calling the commission far earlier and retaining management of the report.

I’d say that it’s more like self-inflicted, terminal damage.



Sorry DJC, I respectfully disagree. 

This was part of the Jacinta Allen knifing and Ben Carroll handover to attempt to save face leading up to the election race.  Just like the pothole fixing that they are doing.

The spectre of it, was hanging over the Labor government.

Strategically they knew she would lose, and offed her to bring in Ben Carroll.  Would the Royal Commission have occurred had that not happened?  Its a way to attempt to distance Ben Carroll from Jacinta Allen, and save face, and blame the outgoing leader for all the woes.

Nothing more, nothing less.

I cannot fault the strategy, but to think this is noble thinking or "falling on ones sword" is naive, and Ben is actively spruiking it on advertisements as him trying to fix things. 

Even if they had a point, the labor government at state level has ruled the roost for a very long time.  You would be better off mounting an argument that Federal government is more culpable as the Libs have dictated that component for longer.
24
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
Quote from: DJC – on


You really need to think before you post nonsense Shawny ... and you need to stop trying to deflect with continual references to Taco in this thread and continual references to Australian governments in the Taco thread.  They're completely separate issues ... and threads. 

It is the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria.  It was called by the State Labor Government "to inquire into and report on matters relating to corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct on or in relation to major construction projects in Victoria."  The allegations that prompted the Royal Commission concerned corruption and criminal conduct by the CFMEU and construction companies and poor oversight by government agencies and, potentially, the Government.  The Commission is in the first week of its first block of public hearings and, to be perfectly honest, it hasn't even begun to warm up.
this happened on Labor watch, and its an exercise in damage control 6 months out from an election.

Public hearings started in the same month as the election and will erode any support that the ALP may still have.  The report should be handed down well into the first year of the new government who will be able to use it to their advantage.  Damage control would have been calling the commission far earlier and retaining management of the report.

I’d say that it’s more like self-inflicted, terminal damage.

26
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by Thryleon -
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: shawny – on


Seeing you dodged my point i will do the same on that long winded spin reply about nothing.

Have you noticed the Big build royal commission going on?

Or do you refuse to acknowledge it because its the labour government being accused of corruption? 

Pretend the same inquiry was with Trump instead....  Would be 50 pages written on it if the names were swapped.

 

Cheques and balances    :-[

You really need to think before you post nonsense Shawny ... and you need to stop trying to deflect with continual references to Taco in this thread and continual references to Australian governments in the Taco thread.  They're completely separate issues ... and threads. 

It is the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria.  It was called by the State Labor Government "to inquire into and report on matters relating to corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct on or in relation to major construction projects in Victoria."  The allegations that prompted the Royal Commission concerned corruption and criminal conduct by the CFMEU and construction companies and poor oversight by government agencies and, potentially, the Government.  The Commission is in the first week of its first block of public hearings and, to be perfectly honest, it hasn't even begun to warm up.
this happened on Labor watch, and its an exercise in damage control 6 months out from an election.

27
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2026 Semi Final Carlton vs Hawthorn at Ikon
Last post by crashlander -
Our line-up:

B:   21 Harriet Cordner   49 Madeline Hendrie
HB:   1 Amelia Velardo   36 Ciara Fitzgerald   14 Siofra O'Connell
C:   19 Erone Fitzpatrick   25 Keeley Sherar   17 Dayna Finn
HF:   55 Sophie McKay   7 Poppy Scholz   20 Lily Goss
F:   35 Nell Morris-Dalton   3 Darcy Vescio
R:   12 Jessica Good   10 Mimi Hill   5 Abbie McKay
Int:   4 Claudia Whitfort   8 Lily Baxter   23 Lila Keck   42 Tara Bohanna   2 Lauren Bella
Em:   6 Gabriella Pound   26 Tayla McMillan   11 Yasmin Duursma

Some interesting changes for this week.
[1] Whitfort is a big inclusion. She has been excellent this season.
[2] Duursma missing out I can understand. She has been struggling of late. Not sure what her future may be like if we get someone else who can play wing.
[3] Bohanna: very risky, considering how she has played this season so far. At anything near her best, she offers the marking forward we've been screaming for, which would help us no end. She really straightened us up last year. But her form ... she couldn't hold a mark earlier and her kicking had lost the radar.
[4] Bella: she has rally struggled in recent weeks, not getting her hand on the ball and being a non-entity around the ground. She is lucky to retain her spot. I find that really disappointing, as we were looking for her to fill the whole that Bree Harrington left. And it isn't like she can't take a mark: she can, but she isn't getting to the right spot often enough. Still, if she can nullify Wales then we're headed in the right direction.
[5] Poppy Scholz is having a bit of second year blues . :( She is taking her eye off the ball and fumbling, which she didn't do last year. She is another who needs to lift.
28
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: shawny – on
Quote from: DJC – on


Which party is my party Shawny?

For the record, I have never been a member of any political party and have voted for Labor, Liberal, Australian Democrats, and independent candidates.  Vote Compass says I’m right of centre.

I was talking to an RSL mate at our Remembrance Day commemoration today and he just happens to be our local One Nation candidate.  He’s pretty switched on and I think that he would be a decent local member.  I can’t vote for him because his party is based on racism and bigotry, has no policies, and is owned by Gina Rinehart. 

Another mate is running as an independent candidate and she is far and away the most intelligent and well-educated in the field.  She’d be a great MP but, realistically, has no chance.  I could vote for her, knowing that my vote would go to my second preference.

I didn’t speak to the sitting State MP today - the Commonwealth MP told me that I looked “sharp”! - but she is very popular and will probably retain the seat. 

The Liberal candidate seems to have accepted that outcome and is doing an excellent impression of the invisible man.  The Greens candidate just makes up the numbers.

The thing is that I have worked with every Victorian State Government from Henry Bolte to Denis Napthine, and have briefed and advised Labor, Liberal and Nationals Ministers in the Bracks/Brumby and Baillieu/Napthine governments.  Some were risk averse, some were “courageous” as Sir Humphrey Appleby would say, some acted on advice, others wanted the advice to fit their agenda, all were driven and believed in what they were doing, and there was only ever one hint of corruption; a planning minister ignored departmental advice and approved a development that was later overturned on appeal.  This was all in the days before IBAC but the Auditor-General and Ombudsman still kept a very tight rein.

I’m sure that nobody really gives a fat rat’s clacker about your bizarre political beliefs, or mine for that matter, but don’t presume that you know anything about my politics, or how the State Government is run.  Right wing conspiracy theories aren’t real, and neither are the left wing equivalents.




Seeing you dodged my point i will do the same on that long winded spin reply about nothing.

Have you noticed the Big build royal commission going on?

Or do you refuse to acknowledge it because its the labour government being accused of corruption? 

Pretend the same inquiry was with Trump instead....  Would be 50 pages written on it if the names were swapped.

 

Cheques and balances    :-[

You really need to think before you post nonsense Shawny ... and you need to stop trying to deflect with continual references to Taco in this thread and continual references to Australian governments in the Taco thread.  They're completely separate issues ... and threads. 

It is the Royal Commission into the Integrity of Major Public and Civil Infrastructure Construction Projects in Victoria.  It was called by the State Labor Government "to inquire into and report on matters relating to corruption, criminal conduct and serious misconduct on or in relation to major construction projects in Victoria."  The allegations that prompted the Royal Commission concerned corruption and criminal conduct by the CFMEU and construction companies and poor oversight by government agencies and, potentially, the Government.  The Commission is in the first week of its first block of public hearings and, to be perfectly honest, it hasn't even begun to warm up.
29
Ladies Lounge / Re: AFLW 2026 Semi Final Carlton vs Hawthorn at Ikon
Last post by kruddler -
Well....someone found out which rock Bohanna has been hiding under, dusted her off and pushed her into the team.

1 of the 3 ins this week.

INS:
Claudia Whitfort
Tara Bohanna
Lila Keck

OUTS:
Gab Pound
Yasmin Duursma
Tayla McMillan

Gab and Yas a bit stiff IMO
Keck a bit lucky.

Either way, probably the strongest side we could put out there, so lets see how it goes
30
Blah-Blah Bar / Re: Shawny’s concerns about Victorian and Australian Governments
Last post by shawny -
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: shawny – on


If anyone is a laughing stock with that statement....

You are that rusted on that you want us to believe our system prevents corrupt politicians simply as your party is the one with all the allegations of corruption! Funny that.

Yet despite having this rock solid system here we are at the start of a Royal commission costing tax payers money we don't have, representing Mr Andrews and Mrs Allan for all the corruption allegations ...

Give it up mate and just have the balls to admit your views are skewed like most of us are.

Which party is my party Shawny?

For the record, I have never been a member of any political party and have voted for Labor, Liberal, Australian Democrats, and independent candidates.  Vote Compass says I’m right of centre.

I was talking to an RSL mate at our Remembrance Day commemoration today and he just happens to be our local One Nation candidate.  He’s pretty switched on and I think that he would be a decent local member.  I can’t vote for him because his party is based on racism and bigotry, has no policies, and is owned by Gina Rinehart. 

Another mate is running as an independent candidate and she is far and away the most intelligent and well-educated in the field.  She’d be a great MP but, realistically, has no chance.  I could vote for her, knowing that my vote would go to my second preference.

I didn’t speak to the sitting State MP today - the Commonwealth MP told me that I looked “sharp”! - but she is very popular and will probably retain the seat. 

The Liberal candidate seems to have accepted that outcome and is doing an excellent impression of the invisible man.  The Greens candidate just makes up the numbers.

The thing is that I have worked with every Victorian State Government from Henry Bolte to Denis Napthine, and have briefed and advised Labor, Liberal and Nationals Ministers in the Bracks/Brumby and Baillieu/Napthine governments.  Some were risk averse, some were “courageous” as Sir Humphrey Appleby would say, some acted on advice, others wanted the advice to fit their agenda, all were driven and believed in what they were doing, and there was only ever one hint of corruption; a planning minister ignored departmental advice and approved a development that was later overturned on appeal.  This was all in the days before IBAC but the Auditor-General and Ombudsman still kept a very tight rein.

I’m sure that nobody really gives a fat rat’s clacker about your bizarre political beliefs, or mine for that matter, but don’t presume that you know anything about my politics, or how the State Government is run.  Right wing conspiracy theories aren’t real, and neither are the left wing equivalents.




Seeing you dodged my point i will do the same on that long winded spin reply about nothing.

Have you noticed the Big build royal commission going on?

Or do you refuse to acknowledge it because its the labour government being accused of corruption? 

Pretend the same inquiry was with Trump instead....  Would be 50 pages written on it if the names were swapped.

 

Cheques and balances    :-[