The thread header is the AFR editorial today, a telling editorial.
Here are some selected opinions:
Victorians literally cannot afford to give Labor premier Daniel Andrews another four years in charge of Australia’s second most-populous state when they finish voting on Saturday.
Victoria’s $116 billion net public debt has blown out to be the largest among states and territories amid the hangover of the world’s most punishing and prolonged pandemic lockdowns, and is forecast to grow by $50 billion more to reach a quarter of the state’s gross product by 2026.
Rising interest rates will now push up the cost of servicing a rapidly expanding debt which could put pressure on Victoria’s already downgraded AA credit rating. Mr Andrews’ signature Melbourne Suburban Rail Loop project – the cost of which the Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office warns could blow out to a staggering $125 billion – seeks to fill an infrastructure pipeline that maintains the construction jobs of CFMEU members.
In return, the boss of the union’s law-breaking Victorian construction division, John Setka, organises fundraising lunches for Labor attended by Treasurer Tim Pallas. The Andrews government’s consorting with the CFMEU and tolerance of the thuggish Mr Setka’s continuing political and industrial power is a disgrace.
But sometimes a bad government, especially one headed in an even worse direction, just needs to be thrown out of office.
