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Victorian politics and the East West Link: there has to be another way Victorian election brings a contest of ideas and a battle to make voters listen
(3 days later)
State election campaigns can be pedestrian affairs, but with fewer than 50 days until the Victorian poll, the contest is real and it’s as much a contest of ideas as a political horse race.State election campaigns can be pedestrian affairs, but with fewer than 50 days until the Victorian poll, the contest is real and it’s as much a contest of ideas as a political horse race.
The transformative moment was Labor’s announcement – crazy brave, irresponsible or both depending on your point of view – that it would not build the $6.8bn first stage of the East West Link even if contracts were signed before the election.The transformative moment was Labor’s announcement – crazy brave, irresponsible or both depending on your point of view – that it would not build the $6.8bn first stage of the East West Link even if contracts were signed before the election.
Labor’s justification for that position – after saying for months that it would honour signed contracts – was head-spinning indeed, but its impact has been a debate about a very big infrastructure project and much more besides.Labor’s justification for that position – after saying for months that it would honour signed contracts – was head-spinning indeed, but its impact has been a debate about a very big infrastructure project and much more besides.
It is hard to explain to outsiders how passionate this discussion is in Melbourne. People do argue over the dinner table about whether the 18km toll road from the east to the west of the city is too expensive, too disruptive, or long overdue.It is hard to explain to outsiders how passionate this discussion is in Melbourne. People do argue over the dinner table about whether the 18km toll road from the east to the west of the city is too expensive, too disruptive, or long overdue.
It’s because this is not just about a road. It’s about how politics operates in Australia and people’s disillusionment with it. Both major parties are addicted to the familiar way of politics at a time when people are tired of it.It’s because this is not just about a road. It’s about how politics operates in Australia and people’s disillusionment with it. Both major parties are addicted to the familiar way of politics at a time when people are tired of it.
For instance, what is an electoral mandate? What do promises mean, if anything? When is it legitimate for governments to keep things from the public and when is secrecy designed to hide information to which they are legitimately entitled?For instance, what is an electoral mandate? What do promises mean, if anything? When is it legitimate for governments to keep things from the public and when is secrecy designed to hide information to which they are legitimately entitled?
The Coalition did not go to the 2010 election promising the biggest infrastructure project in the state’s history. It promised the opposite – that it would fix the public transport system after 11 years of Labor neglect. There’d be a $9bn Melbourne Metro rail tunnel and numerous suburban rail lines.The Coalition did not go to the 2010 election promising the biggest infrastructure project in the state’s history. It promised the opposite – that it would fix the public transport system after 11 years of Labor neglect. There’d be a $9bn Melbourne Metro rail tunnel and numerous suburban rail lines.
It won the election partly on those promises, but in 2012 announced that the East West Link was the state’s priority. It has hurtled along in unseemly haste to put together a business case it won’t release, an assessment panel to review the project which it largely ignored, a bidding process, and a contract signing ceremony, all in two years. The Melbourne Metro rail tunnel has been substantially changed and delayed, and new rail lines abandoned.It won the election partly on those promises, but in 2012 announced that the East West Link was the state’s priority. It has hurtled along in unseemly haste to put together a business case it won’t release, an assessment panel to review the project which it largely ignored, a bidding process, and a contract signing ceremony, all in two years. The Melbourne Metro rail tunnel has been substantially changed and delayed, and new rail lines abandoned.
The same issue of mandate dogs federal politics. I don’t believe voters expect that a political party won’t announce anything new between elections, but they do expect central promises to be kept unless there is a strong, clearly explained reason to break them.The same issue of mandate dogs federal politics. I don’t believe voters expect that a political party won’t announce anything new between elections, but they do expect central promises to be kept unless there is a strong, clearly explained reason to break them.
For the Napthine government to sign the contracts for such an expensive, controversial project so close to the election without giving the public a say was arrogant, in my view.For the Napthine government to sign the contracts for such an expensive, controversial project so close to the election without giving the public a say was arrogant, in my view.
There is much written about voter mistrust of politicians, but this raises the issue of politicians’ mistrust of voters. Did the Coalition have an idea that the East West Link was its priority before the election, but failed to raise it for fear of a backlash? And does it believe that voters would reject the East West Link if it was put to an election now, and so had to hurry up and sign before the poll? Do politicians these days have any faith in their ability to convince the public of a complex policy position?There is much written about voter mistrust of politicians, but this raises the issue of politicians’ mistrust of voters. Did the Coalition have an idea that the East West Link was its priority before the election, but failed to raise it for fear of a backlash? And does it believe that voters would reject the East West Link if it was put to an election now, and so had to hurry up and sign before the poll? Do politicians these days have any faith in their ability to convince the public of a complex policy position?
The other contest of ideas is an old one: road projects or public transport. Labor promises the $9bn Melbourne Metro rail project (although where the money will come from is another story), while the government’s flagship is East West Link. To say “we need both road and public transport” is all very well, but it’s about priorities.The other contest of ideas is an old one: road projects or public transport. Labor promises the $9bn Melbourne Metro rail project (although where the money will come from is another story), while the government’s flagship is East West Link. To say “we need both road and public transport” is all very well, but it’s about priorities.
Again, the debate is about more than it appears. It touches on what kind of city Melbourne will become as it grows. The outer suburbs have been neglected for so long we’re turning into a divided city: the well-served privileged in the inner and leafy middle suburbs, and the rest with their transport stress, mortgage stress, and limited opportunities. Inner-city folk mostly loathe the link and all it stands for, but suburban dwellers with sporadic public transport see the link as at least making their lives easier, even in the short term. Politically, that will be a fascinating tussle to watch.Again, the debate is about more than it appears. It touches on what kind of city Melbourne will become as it grows. The outer suburbs have been neglected for so long we’re turning into a divided city: the well-served privileged in the inner and leafy middle suburbs, and the rest with their transport stress, mortgage stress, and limited opportunities. Inner-city folk mostly loathe the link and all it stands for, but suburban dwellers with sporadic public transport see the link as at least making their lives easier, even in the short term. Politically, that will be a fascinating tussle to watch.
Meanwhile, the parties keep making promises as though people are listening. This week was jobs week. Labor announced a plan to create 100,000 new jobs over two years, including measures such payroll tax relief for companies if they employ the long-term jobless and the young. The Coalition was furious, saying Labor had pinched many of its policies (really? who cares?) and coming up with the withering line that it wasn’t a jobs plan, but a “jobs sham”.Meanwhile, the parties keep making promises as though people are listening. This week was jobs week. Labor announced a plan to create 100,000 new jobs over two years, including measures such payroll tax relief for companies if they employ the long-term jobless and the young. The Coalition was furious, saying Labor had pinched many of its policies (really? who cares?) and coming up with the withering line that it wasn’t a jobs plan, but a “jobs sham”.
The most amusing piece of self-absorption was the Liberals fretting that they had a “mole” leaking their policies and schedules to Labor – hence Labor’s jobs plan was launched the day before the government’s. The premier, Denis Napthine, announced a $33bn plan for 200,000 new jobs over five years, including funding apprenticeships and boosting training – “desperate and panicked”, according to Labor leader Daniel Andrews.The most amusing piece of self-absorption was the Liberals fretting that they had a “mole” leaking their policies and schedules to Labor – hence Labor’s jobs plan was launched the day before the government’s. The premier, Denis Napthine, announced a $33bn plan for 200,000 new jobs over five years, including funding apprenticeships and boosting training – “desperate and panicked”, according to Labor leader Daniel Andrews.
It was touted as the most comprehensive jobs plan in the state’s history, but very little of it was new money. The Age’s Josh Gordon said the media conference offered so few details it “seemed to border on the ridiculous”.It was touted as the most comprehensive jobs plan in the state’s history, but very little of it was new money. The Age’s Josh Gordon said the media conference offered so few details it “seemed to border on the ridiculous”.
If major policies such as the East West Link are not announced at elections, what are we to make of policies that are? The Age’s Jason Dowling wrote a brutal column about public transport promises.If major policies such as the East West Link are not announced at elections, what are we to make of policies that are? The Age’s Jason Dowling wrote a brutal column about public transport promises.
During the Brownlow medal count a few weeks ago, a taxpayer-funded advertisement showed a shiny train roaring off to the airport, with the voiceover, “trains will depart every 10 minutes”, as though this was something Victorians could enjoy imminently. It’s a government election promise and it’s nonsense, wrote Dowling, with budget papers indicating the project would be completed “from 2023/24”.During the Brownlow medal count a few weeks ago, a taxpayer-funded advertisement showed a shiny train roaring off to the airport, with the voiceover, “trains will depart every 10 minutes”, as though this was something Victorians could enjoy imminently. It’s a government election promise and it’s nonsense, wrote Dowling, with budget papers indicating the project would be completed “from 2023/24”.
The same goes for Labor and the Coalition’s versions of Metro rail – there’s no serious money committed to them. “You are being fed a myth. Again.” wrote Dowling. “These rail projects are never happening, or at least not for decades.”The same goes for Labor and the Coalition’s versions of Metro rail – there’s no serious money committed to them. “You are being fed a myth. Again.” wrote Dowling. “These rail projects are never happening, or at least not for decades.”
“Victorians are sick of phonies with phoney projects,” he wrote. He’s right, but it’s as though the major parties can’t conceive of any other way of doing politics. If they can hoodwink the voters, or try to, that’s a win. The only difference is that in this election, there’s a deeper discussion going on around them.“Victorians are sick of phonies with phoney projects,” he wrote. He’s right, but it’s as though the major parties can’t conceive of any other way of doing politics. If they can hoodwink the voters, or try to, that’s a win. The only difference is that in this election, there’s a deeper discussion going on around them.