YOUR Parliament, the people’s Parliament, began this week the way it has begun too many weeks – with the Andrews Labor Government again refusing to reveal the truth about its mismanagement of billions and billions of your taxpaying dollars.
The Premier and his gang refused point blank to confirm if cost blowouts on its major project portfolio have gone beyond their staggering $28.1 billion.
Victoria’s budget papers reveal the truth – but only in hindsight. And that truth is right there, in black and white. The government has blown at least $28.1 billion on projects still not finished.
In September 2021, the Victorian Auditor-General reviewed 110 of the government’s projects – 63 per cent changed total cost and 48 per cent changed completion date.
If you were wondering what could be done with that money, apart from hospitals and schools, or fixing our crumbling transport network; well the Victorian Government could give every man, woman and child in the state a cheque for $4169.
Put simply, Labor’s big build is just a big bill Victoria can’t afford. Below are some of the worst failures – and I have more than 50 others but there isn’t enough space in this column to itemise the financial blackhole Daniel Andrews is creating for you and me.North East Link
Promised: $5 billion
22/23 Budget: $15.4 billion (budget details potential future increases)
CURRENT BUDGET BLOWOUT: $10.4 billion West Gate Tunnel
Promised: $500 million
Revised project cost: $5.5 billion
22/23 Budget: $10.2 billion
CURRENT BUDGET BLOWOUT: $4.7 billion
Note: Legal disputes pending Metro Tunnel
Promised: $9 billion
22/23 Budget: $12.36 billion
CURRENT BUDGET BLOWOUT: $3.36 billion
Note: Legal disputes pending Level Crossing Removals (initial commitment)
Promised: $5 billion
Victorian Auditor-General: $8.3 billion
CURRENT BUDGET BLOWOUT: $3.3 billion East West Link
Promised: $0 to cancel
Cost: $1.3 billion to cancel
LAST REPORTED BLOWOUT: $1.3 billion
