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Monday March 22, 2010

What we're talking about

When will Brumby address real issues?

Posted by: Neil Mitchell / Derryn Hinch | 27 January, 2010 - 4:53 PM


ABOVE: Premier John Brumby speaks to Neil Mitchell about a poll which shows Ted Baillieu's Liberal Party is making ground on the state government in this, an election year.

RELATED AUDIO:


HINCH BLOG: You can tell it is an election year.

It's all about circuses. Forget about the big issues like rising crime rates and increasingly unsafe streets. Forget about hospital waiting lists and a Third World public transport system. Let em eat cake. Bring on the circuses. Cue the elephants.

In the past few days we've had the grandiose $360 million plan to jazz up the tennis centre. $360 million! Now we've had a plan for fairy lights on the Westgate Bridge. That's about $20 million. Roads Minister Tim Pallas says it will have 'Melburnians glowing with pride'.

In the past three weeks Lord knows how much has gone up in smoke in expensive fireworks display. And now there's a plan to turn the entrance of Parliament House, supposedly Heritage protected into a shop.

Yep. These are the burning issues being discussed and fearlessly acted on by the Government after more than a decade in power.

Your thoughts?

Blog comments Your Say

  • The Brumby government has known for months that the growth area tax legislation would be defeated. Now Brumby says that there is no Plan B. It is deceitful for Brumby to now say that the opposition are to blame for rising house costs as a result this legislation's defeat. The Brumby government are either grossly incompetent or negligent in their duties for not having a Plan B.

    Peter Thursday 25 February, 2010 - 9:52 AM

  • Wish everyone would remember that the clown we call "Mr Premier", was NEVER voted by the public, to be Premier. The Clown was pounded by Jeff Kennett @ the only State election, he ever contested. He left with his over-sized braces,dragging between his legs & Bracks took over. But guess what!?! The Clown wanted to stay, in the Circus, but only on his terms." I want to be the Treasuer. And I'll only stay, if i'm the Treasurer". So Ringmaster Bracks gave him the job. But the Clown had a something hidden in his back pocket. He knew that if the Ringmaster ever stood down, he would become the Premier. And It worked!!! The clown was so happy, that he went around, throwing money at everything he could, except the things that really mattered. Hospitals, education, roads, etc.But then he came up with the best, of all. "I want to waste money on having the best public transport ticketing system,EVER!!!. I don't care how much it costs, cos i'll just tax,tax,tax people until they have no money left.I'll call it Brumbyki. No, that sounds too self-indulgent. I know...MYKI. That's it. I'll call it that cos, in future when i'm asked what legacy I left Victoria, I can reply...MYKI. Becuse it was My Key, to public transport!!. Now...what about the Tennis Centre?? Hmmmnnn.....needs a make-over. Only used once a year,for a tennis show.So i'll waste a couple of hundred mill,there. This went on & on, until eventually, the Clown tripped up on his overblown ego & was thrown out of the Circus, by the spectators. Let's hope, for Victoria's sake, the last bit, happens later this year.

    Byron Wednesday 10 February, 2010 - 8:50 AM

  • Neil,
    Why did you let Mr Brumby off the hook when he was quite clearly talking garbage, or didn't you realise?

    Mr Brumby states that his wife, Rosemary, observed another motorist driving and texting at a speed of 140 kph. Really?

    Just because someone overtook her, she claims that he must be travelling at some excessive speed. 140 rolls of the tongue pretty easily, so we'll go with that. Rosemary's talents are certainly being wasted if this is the case. Surely someone with her talent of judging other people's speed so accurately should be in the Traffic Management Unit?

    Let's just get to the facts.

    At 100 kph you cover a distance of 27.78 metres a second. If another vehicle overtook her travelling at 140, they would be travelling at 38.89 metres a second. So the difference of 40 kph would be 11.11 metres a second. Assuming that her vehicle would be around 4.0 metres in length, it would of taken less than 300ths of a second to pass her. Then when you take into account that she would only have seen the other driver when he was at her window, the time is even less.

    So, how can the premier's wife actually tell what another driver is doing inside his vehicle with a speed difference of 40 kph?

    This would be hard enough for anyone to do while standing still, let alone driving along a freeway with the concentration required to maintain a vehicle at 100 kph.

    This is absolute garbage, yet because she's the premiers wife, you believe it.

    Dan Tuesday 2 February, 2010 - 9:39 PM

  • Yet another day wasted trying to get myki working and Mr Brumby thinks he has a chance at the next election.I dont think so!

    Leanne Di Tondo Tuesday 2 February, 2010 - 7:48 PM

  • I wonder if Victorian's are better off now than they were when Bracks and Brumby were elected? So many promises; so many ideals. These ideals were characterised by better public services in the form of police, health, education, public transport and emergency services. Instead ten years after Labor were elected we get spin. Melbourne is not safe! It was not long ago we felt safe. Public transport ran more or less effectively, again not long ago. Emergency recovery from disaster's was never an issue; again not long ago. A new transport ticketing system that fails daily is in vogue. Emergency services despise this government. The MFB and the CFA abhore the Brumby government. Hospital waiting lists overflowing and Brumby and his "Hollywood" Chief Commissioner of Police, Simon Overland telling Victorians they need to make Victoria safe. Not police or the government!!! God help Victorians; what next will emerge??? Is it our fault or is it the Brumby Government's responsibility that we're in this position? Finally, not long ago Brumby said Christine Nixon could have the job of Chief Commissioner of Police for as long as she wanted it. Then emerged millions lost in police IT, forensic science disasters and her misleading comments over her junkets which she wanted her husband to take the rap for and a general credibiltiy issue over bushfire recovery. Move this ramshackle mob along; NOW. Steph.

    Stephanie Fenton Tuesday 2 February, 2010 - 7:22 PM

  • Luke, back in about 2006, I was probably the most outspoken person (in the biggest live chat room) regarding the war in Iraq. I said then that the Iraq Invasion was a totally unjustified & illegal war, and that Bush should be charged with War Crimes. I can assure you there were a few senior people in the US military who felt extremely uneasy by that comment. It's 2010 & Tony Blair is facing the very REAL prospect of having to appear before the Hague for War Crimes. If Blair is charged, then obviously Bush, Cheney & Howard would also be subject to the same indictment. Unlike sceptics like yourself, Abbott is an astute politician. He is well aware of the impending dangers resulting from ignoring climate change/global warming. In the event of the Liberal Party/Abbott contributing to multiple deaths resulting from the party's failure or neglect to address climate change (in government), he would leave himself open to charges of 'Environmental Genocide', along with senior executives from petroleum and coal energy companies. I can ASSURE you Abbott is not stupid~! He may be driven to get elected, but he's not about to throw this country's future down the toilet, just to appease a select few in the Liberal Party. JUSTICE eventually prevails, something Brumby, the Police hierarchy (including Nixon), The Ombudsman, OPI & bureaucrats need to keep in mind~! YOU can't forever bury corruption~!

    Lenny Tuesday 2 February, 2010 - 3:57 PM

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