Auditor General releases scathing report into East-West Link, revealing $1.1 billion in costs

A furious Neil Mitchell has lashed out at both sides of politics for ‘conning’ Victoria about East-West Link.

It follows the release of a scathing report into the botched project by the Auditor General, which revealed it would cost the state a whopping $1.1 billion.

Neil Mitchell hit out at the ‘blind, political arrogance’ of Victoria’s politicians, who he said risked all that money simply in the hope of gaining power.

‘We’ve blown $1.1 billion in an economy where you struggle to put beds into the bloody Royal Melbourne (hospital), you struggle to get enough police, you fight to build schools and look after welfare agencies and we blow $1.1 billion on their political arrogance,’ the 3AW Mornings host said.

‘That’s what it was.

‘It was simple, blind, political arrogance and a degree of dishonesty to try and get into power.

‘They both did it.

‘The more I think about it, the angrier I get.’

Click PLAY below to hear Neil’s editorial.

The Auditor General’s report found key decisions made during the project’s planning were rushed to sign contracts before the 2014 state election.

It also said the business case did not provide a sound basis for the government’s decision to commit to the investment.

It said the project was terminated in June 2015, with more than $1.1 billion dollars paid or expected to be paid by the state.

The report has made six recommendations, including that it improves processes for developing business cases.

All of which have been rejected by the departments.

Click PLAY below to hear the report explained.