The last time the Prime Minister made a rescue trip to Melbourne, it was to announce, with the then Premier Jacinta Allan, that the federal government would provide another $3bn of borrowed money for the greatest white elephant of all time, the Suburban Rail Link. A sink hole!
It did not save Ms Allan.
I wonder whether the money has actually been handed over to Victoria, and if so, where is it?
Then last week, a second rescue mission, with current Premier Ben Carroll, to announce the Melbourne Airport Rail Link Stage Two, which includes a 7.4-kilometre rail line from Albion to the airport precinct, including a new station at Keilor East.
An empty announcement. By coincidence, right in the middle of Ben Carroll’s electorate. Desperate? Blatant pork barrelling! Of course.
It will not save Mr Carroll or Labor.
What both visits by the Prime Minister show is his total disrespect for the Reserve Bank’s signal for governments to reduce spending, to help reduce inflation and therefore stop the need for further interest rate hikes.
In order to win government at any cost, the Prime Minister is throwing the public under the bus.
We pay the price through cost-of-living pressures and higher interest rates, for his and the Treasurer’s — federal and state — total disregard of the Reserve Bank’s message: reduce government spending.
The old saying “It’s the economy, stupid” does and will decide future elections.
The public is hurting — Labor simply are not listening and do not care.
I make a prediction here, now, 18 months before the next federal election — even with their massive majority, Labor will lose the next federal election.
Melbourne’s Olympic pitch
I have written to the Premier of Queensland, David Crisafulli, a person I have known for years and respect, suggesting the tennis component of the 2032 Olympic Games Brisbane and Queensland will be hosting could be played here at Melbourne Park.
The conduct of the Olympic Games is becoming more expensive each time the competition is conducted.
The awarding of the Games to Brisbane, Queensland and Australia is an honour. Therefore, if possible, we should all be prepared to share the costs if we have world-standard facilities in which to stage a section of the Games.
Melbourne clearly has the most modern tennis facilities in the country, within walking distance of the city, with first-class accommodation, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Given the Olympic Games will be staged between the July 23 and August 8, 2032, I am sure our authorities would deliver, for the Games and Brisbane, a very professional competition.
Melbourne would be honoured to be a junior partner to Brisbane and Queensland — slightly reducing the costs to Queensland taxpayers while delivering a most professional competition in facilities that already exist and are continually upgraded.
Melbourne is here to serve.
Carroll’s desperate pivot
Premier Ben Carroll has just said he will not contemplate forming a government with the Greens.
For the last 14 years, Labor and the Greens have been two fingers in one glove. Together they have brought Victoria to its knees, and now he says he won’t work with them. First he is not Daniel Andrews, then he is not Jacinta Allan, now he is not Green.
Sheer rubbish!
Labor is a massive failure.
Nothing could be worse than what Victoria has endured for the last 14 years.
The best and strongest government would be a strong Coalition government, or anyone who is anti this current government.
Poor Ben — he still hasn’t realised that the vast majority of Victorians just want a change of government, to throw Labor out of office.
Aus is no longer the lucky country
On Monday, I read of another Victorian winery going into administration, a caravan manufacturer in South Australia going into liquidation, and potentially the retailer David Jones reportedly in trouble with their lenders, engaging insolvency firm McGrathNicol.
Every day, a number of businesses — big, medium and small — are closing because of labour costs, taxes and charges, and utility costs, and some because of bad management, with many larger firms transferring a great deal of their backroom jobs overseas because it is cheaper to do so.
Right now, Australia is not the lucky country.
On the other hand, an AI firm, Firmus Technologies, hopes to float on the ASX next week for a mind-blowing $44bn.
But they will employ few of the thousands who are losing their jobs.
It is one thing to embrace change.
It is another to drive existing businesses to the wall through government-imposed taxes, charges and regulations.
A lot of excuses are made because of what is happening overseas, but the truth is there is no excuse for what governments are allowing to occur here in Australia.
I remain an optimist.
Jeff Kennett was Liberal premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999
