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Finally, Jacinta Allan has recognised that she cannot continue to farcically close down press conferences and bat away questions about corruption in the construction industry (“Allan’s IBAC backflip”, 2/6). The extent of corruption becomes more apparent as Nick McKenzie and the team reveal the ever-extending list of corrupt events and the participants.
Allan has conceded that IBAC needs to be empowered to investigate the Big Build money trail, and a broader remit to investigate corruption in state institutions. However, these increased powers won’t be available until the end of 2027 and no commitment to guarantee IBAC independent funding makes a mockery of the announcement.
Given the projected time frame, likely much of the electorate will see this announcement as nothing but a delaying strategy. Perhaps she would be better placed continuing on with her weasel words saying all allegations have been referred and are under investigation.
Bill Pimm, Mentone
Talk about window dressing
The premier and, lest we forget, former Big Build minister, announcing that she is “no longer satisfied that IBAC has the powers to do its job in full” is astoundingly disingenuous. Her road to Damascus moment loses it shine when you recall she voted down previous bipartisan calls for more powers and is still, today, unwilling to put a figure out there that contradicts the $15 billion slated as having gone to criminals as determined by several eminent investigators.
Let us also not overlook that the weasel words “we support in principle” have been used and that despite numerous reports and investigations, it is still not going to be discussed until after the election.
Even Myer at Christmas could not come up with bigger window dressing than this.
Stephen Farrelly, Donvale
Premier can’t have it both ways
Nick McKenzie’s brilliant work in exposing corruption on the Big Build has forced Premier Jacinta Allan into a corner. But she can’t have it both ways. If she had no knowledge of the goings-on, she should resign on the basis of incompetency, as it was her responsibility to know. Or if she did, she is complicit in wasting taxpayer money and should resign.
Tony Jackson, Fitzroy
Let’s see how this pans out
Proposed changes giving IBAC “greater powers and a broader jurisdiction to investigate corruption on Big Build construction sites and throughout the public sector” won’t be introduced until “well after the November state election”. That’s if they happen at all. Premier Jacinta Allan might as well be singing the 1947 Peggy Lee hit song Manana (Is Good Enough for Me).
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Questions over revamp delay
So, finally, Victoria will have an IBAC that can really investigate corruption wherever it occurs. But will it really? Or will its budget be so restrained that it can’t do its job, although it is theoretically allowed to?
And why the delay until some time after the next election? What does the Allan government not want the public to know before they go to the polls next?
Dieter Liebrich, Swanpool
THE FORUM
AUKUS inquiry overdue
What a breath of fresh air. At last, there is to be an independent inquiry into AUKUS led by Peter Garrett. From the moment it was announced in a joint press conference in 2021, there have been problems. We broke a contract with the French to buy their submarines.
It was clear that the US submarine building schedule was never going to be able to complete the contract. Nevertheless, the then opposition immediately agreed to support the project. Many watched with alarm the increasing presence of US military personnel and equipment in Western Australia and the Northern Territory because of this closer alliance.
Since coming to government, the ALP has shown nothing but enthusiasm for AUKUS and has handed over millions of dollars to the US. The question of how and where to dispose of nuclear waste has not been answered. Our defence minister has said it will be solved in 30 years when it is needed, despite the fact no one has been able to resolve it in the past 30 years. I look forward to the results of the AUKUS inquiry which will address these issues.
Pauline Brown, Woodend
The urgent issue on microplastics
Regarding your article on microplastics, I believe the issue is no longer simply about avoiding plastic. In modern society, it is almost impossible to escape plastic packaging in daily food consumption. Meat, vegetables and fruit in supermarkets are commonly wrapped or packed in plastic, which means exposure to microplastics has become part of everyday life.
While raising awareness is important, I believe the more urgent question is practical: how can people reduce or remove these plastic particles from their bodies? Readers would greatly benefit from more reporting on scientific research, medical advice and realistic ways to minimise the health impact of microplastics, rather than only highlighting the risks.
Sophie Wang, Canterbury
Whole lot of polls
We have a poll problem in Australia. Multiple polls on every possible contentious political-economic and social issue in Australia are now being fed to us across all media continually.
Polling has become an intrusive industry focused on telling Australians how they are supposed to think and feel and react to issues. They are always based on a couple of thousand unknown, supposedly cross-sectional members of our society.
Moreover, our governments are then harassed to react to these polls. We need to remember Australians vote for a government that then has a mandate to govern. It is time for this polling industry to be regulated with full transparency and accountability for all aspects of its practice. Perhaps regulation could include polling subjects being tested on the knowledge and understanding of the poll topic before they are polled (if they haven’t got a clue then don’t ask them to comment).
With far fewer polls, we can get on with less distraction in our lives and our governments can govern as they were voted to do. After all, this is the democratic process we are lucky to have.
Denis Young, Sandringham
False sense of security
The term insurance should be banned in any discussion of Australia’s private health industry (‘Patients left stranded by the gap’, 1/6). Use of the term in the Australian health context can give a false sense of security. With an insurance, a service is provided or costs are met when the unexpected emergency arises. In contrast, with our private health schemes, unexpected costs can arise to add to the health emergency.
Gerry O’Reilly, Camberwell
Abbott’s comeback …
Your correspondent (Letters 2/6), referring to Tony Abbott’s recent appointment as president of the Liberal Party, suggests that “the Australian way is to let him have a go then vote him into obscurity”. But didn’t the electorate of Warringah vote him out, if not into obscurity, when he lost his seat to independent Zali Steggall in 2019?
Jo Bond, South Melbourne
… a backward step
I have to disagree with James Massola’s statement that Tony Abbott was Australia’s best opposition leader (‘Abbott nation’s best opposition leader, but return could overshadow Taylor’, 2/6).
If you mean “best” by his inclination to distort the truth and just saying “no”, then I suppose he is correct. However, Abbott was divisive and helped destroy or delay some excellent policy initiatives such as the NBN, a price on carbon, and marriage equality.
His stance on greenhouse gas emissions was neanderthal-like, and his treatment of Julia Gillard in the parliament was shameful.
His appointment to the Liberal Party national presidency is an enormous backward step for the Liberals that will probably hasten their path to irrelevance in the Australian political landscape.
Tony Verberne, Ivanhoe East
Paying a fair wage
Pauline Hanson and One Nation reject an increase in the minimum wage, arguing it would be a disincentive for small business owners to continue. Paying a fair wage to a good employee would appear to me to be a sound financial decision to encourage workers and ensure a healthy working environment.
Sixty per cent of small businesses will fail within the first five years, and it appears paying staff a fair wage is not considered one of the reasons for this to happen. For all of her talk about representing the everyday person, One Nation fails at the first step of supporting those it purports to represent.
Susan Kelly, Highton
Lost in the Wilde
While Barnaby Joyce has a reputation for his own colourful rhetoric, it’s a pity he incorrectly paraphrased Oscar Wilde (“Joyce thanks Labor for One Nation rise”’, 2/6). It was Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) who said “News of my death was greatly exaggerated” after his demise was reported by the New York Journal in 1897.
Perhaps Joyce could take heed of Wilde, who once said: “Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit.”
Sally Davis, Malvern East
Survival against the odds
It is immensely reassuring that international rescue efforts such as that for the Laos miners brings out the best in humanity. Compassion, sacrifice and service above the call of duty rise to the surface like cream. When there is so much heartache, destruction and death in the world, here is a good news story of survival against extraordinary odds.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Food wastage
I read with some concern of the daily reports of tens of thousands of Australians seeking food from donor agencies and the numbers of homeless that we see in the streets (let alone the unseen). The amount of food wasted nightly by our major supermarket chains due to food regulations in Australia is dreadful. If France can make it an offence to throw out edible food (the Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law) and it is instead donated to charities, why do we not follow suit?
David Raymond, Doncaster East
Share Daniher portrait around
It would be wonderful if the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra could lend Play On, the portrait of Neale Daniher (Letters, 2/6), to the National Gallery of Victoria (and maybe some regional Victorian galleries) so we can all see this great portrait of Neale, who we admired for his lengthy battle with motor neurone disease. His, and his family’s, resilience leaves a lasting legacy.
Liz Riordan, Newtown
All scanned out
Your correspondent (Letters, 2/6) complains that most bus travellers don’t scan on. However, he may misinterpret his observation. We are required to scan on every time we step onto a public transport vehicle, but after the second scan-on, the daily fare is maxed out, and further taps are for the travel statistics, not for payment.
When we observe that a public transport traveller is not scanning on, we should remember they may already have done so twice that day, and thus are not freeloading, just being uncooperative.
Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West
Shame on Salvos
Foley House in Footscray was promised as a “forever home” for vulnerable homeless men and men with “high needs”, and it has facilities for 45 residents (“Forever home for needy closing soon”, 2/6).
The reason for its closure is that the “program was running at a loss”. However, it seems the Salvos are in fact a business and not a charity. Closing Foley House will be devastating for the residents. I have spent years volunteering in the Door Knock Appeal, supporting its op shops and donating – believing the Salvos cared for the vulnerable. Now I feel cheated.
Catherine Tate, Glen Waverley
Hird putting himself first
If James Hird genuinely had in mind addressing the seemingly never-ending coaching problems at Essendon, he should not have declared his interest publicly; rather, when asked, he should have simply said that once the published criteria for the new coach was known, he would look at it and consider whether he was qualified to apply.
By pre-empting the process by his public declaration of interest – without knowing the selection criteria – this could be more an indication of an egotistical self-redemption exercise, which has now caused publicly aired divisions within the membership (and the wider supporter base), about whether Hird should be appointed (some say “anointed”).
All of this controversy, focused on a club already at low ebb, could have been avoided if Hird put the selection process first, rather than himself.
Frederick Tirimanne, Northcote
AND ANOTHER THING
Technology
Regarding Shane Wright’s article on the AI apocalypse (“AI jobs rout hasn’t hit yet in Australia”, 2/6), the more that you use AI, the closer you are to becoming replaced by it.
Robert Stephenson, St Kilda East
Considering how little economic value or job opportunities data centres will generate, I trust the state government will impose a significant resource rent tax on the extraordinary amount of power and water they will consume.
Jack Wajntraub, South Melbourne
Politics
Any truth in the rumour Pauline Hanson wants to nationalise fish and chip shops if One Nation wins government?
Robin Southern, Upwey
Pauline Hanson thinks she’ll become PM? Tell her she’s dreaming.
Graeme C. Rose, Wangaratta
I heard Tony Abbott complaining about Anthony Albanese standing in front of three flags. Technically, Albanese stands in front of four flags if you count the Union Jack in the corner of the Australian flag.
Raymond Rodgers, Mount Eliza
Poll results are like Groucho Marx’s principles. If you don’t like those, I have others.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Submarines
I hope we get back the deposit we paid for the new submarines before we place the order for the second-hand ones.
Winston Anderson, Mornington
It’s not too late to negotiate some extras like a tinted periscope window, rubber floor mats and especially seaside assist.
Geoff Allen, Parkdale
It looks as though we’ll now have plenty of time to repent at leisure the fallout of the hasty AUKUS “best deal” marriage. As ever, Cathy Wilcox’s cartoon nails it (Letters, 2/6).
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Furthermore
I wonder if Antone Martinho-Truswell (Comment, 1/6) surveyed those incredible guide dogs in our community before suggesting we allow “left turn on red”.
Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn
