Having a good look: There are a few things Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been up to that worries Ernesto. Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch
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LUKAS COCH
As the dust settles after the federal election, Anthony Albanese and his team have been flat out trying to repair all the damage left behind by the previous government, especially in regard to our overseas reputation.
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Meanwhile the Liberal party, in changing leaders from Scott Morrison to Peter Dutton has merely changed their shirt when they have actually soiled their pants.
Since his appointment as leader of the Liberals Mr Dutton has been thrashing about, trying to blame Labor for all sorts of problems like the (Coalition-engineered) energy crisis.
I’m still waiting for him to blame the NSW floods on the Labor Government’s 2030 carbon emissions target.
But enough of federal politics, here in Victoria we face a state election in November and there are a few things Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been up to that worries Ernesto.
Firstly the part privatisation of VicRoads.
Yes I know the government is arguing it will retain ownership and the lease agreement is for “only” for 40 years but Ernesto thinks this is privatisation by stealth.
Having a say: Since his appointment as leader of the Liberals Peter Dutton has been thrashing about trying to blame Labor for all sorts of problems. Photo: AAP/Lukas Coch
Photo by
LUKAS COCH
The only reason private companies take over the running of government services is to make money for shareholders at the expense of the public.
Sure we all know VicRoads needs a rocket up them, one just has to go to the local office and wait for ages to do something simple to see this, but surely this inefficiency could be fixed by employing a CEO who knows how to run an enterprise properly.
If any reader can show me a privatisation that has benefited the consumer and taxpayer please do so.
The folly of selling the SEC has well and truly come home to roost and don’t start me on aged care homes or QANTAS.
Disasters all of them.
• Secondly we can see the disastrous consequences of Donald Trump’s stacking of the United States Supreme Court with his right wing religious nut job mates.
So in Victoria, Mr Andrews has apparently been busy purging executives at the Victorian Department of Justice and hiring 37 new staff.
The Victorian Ombudsman is investigating this purge and mass hiring as part of its probe into the politicisation of the public service.
These organisations are meant to operate at “arm’s length” from the government and provide fearless and impartial advice.
The replacement of independent public servants with partisan staff undermines the impartiality of the advice given to governments, which of course is why governments of both colours do their best to weaken the public service.
• Thirdly another over-reach of the Andrews government is the anti-protest laws currently before parliament.
These laws impose harsh penalties for protesters who try to prevent or disrupt logging activities.
These laws have the potential to stop scientists from doing research in logging areas to investigate the presence of endangered species like the Leadbeaters possum.
They also aim to prevent protesters trying to stop this species habitat being logged.
I fail to understand why it is legal to destroy the habitat of an endangered species and our environment, while it is illegal to try to prevent that destruction by peaceful protest.
You may say logging is a legal activity and provides jobs but just because it is legal doesn’t mean it's right and there are no jobs on a dead planet.
The scary thing is other states are considering or have legislated similar laws.
Who will stop this madness?
Unfortunately if your answer to that is a Matthew Guy Liberal government you are very much mistaken.
Ernesto reckons it’s a good reason to vote in for more independent members in November to hold Dan to account.
Ern Meherry’s Ernesto’s Manifesto column appears in the News.
