The latest Resolve Strategic poll from the Age/Herald records no changes of consequence since the last such poll five weeks ago. Maintaining the pollster’s recent form as the strongest for Labor, it finds Labor down one on the primary vote to 39%, the Coalition steady on 30%, the Greens down one to 11% and One Nation steady on 6%. Based on preferences flows at the 2022 federal election, this would produce a two-party preferred of around 59-41 to Labor, compared with around 60-40 last time. Breakdowns for the three biggest states suggest Labor leads of around 58-42 in New South Wales, 63.5-36.5 in Victoria and 53.5-46.5 in Queensland.
Personal ratings find Anthony Albanese down slightly on both approval and disapproval, by two to 51% and one to 34%, while Peter Dutton is up three on approval to 31% and down one on disapproval to 47%. Preferred prime minister is little changed, with Albanese’s lead nudging from 53-22 to 51-21. The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1610. If the pollster and its publisher maintain their recent pattern, it should followed over the next day or two by a Victorian state poll.
UPDATE: Further questions on the poll encompass attitudes to immigration, with the headline finding that 59% think the current rate too high, 25% about right and 3% too low.
Andrews would have to be one of the best politicians I have ever seen, to remain so popular it is quite amazing, yet has been as useless as tits on a bull when it comes to the governance and the administration of a State. Talk about gift of the gab he had me thinking about schools and hospitals and how money needs spent in these areas…it was if he never made the decision to have the games or the years spruiking the wonderful benefits of the games. What a piece of work…
‘PwC-backed mental health platform was scrapped after $33m government trial launched without open tender’
‘In June 2017, the federal Department of Health and Aged Care entered a funding agreement with Innowell Pty Ltd for a series of collaborative research trials … with one of the largest shareholders being PwC.’
‘… a total of $33m in funding was allocated to Innowell between 2017 and 2019 “via a closed non-competitive process” …’
‘“The decision to directly fund Innowell, and not go to open tender, was a decision of the government at the time”.’
‘… with the Project Synergy trial concluding in June 2021 … there has been no further use of or investment in the Innowell platform by the governments.’
Yet another sheet of corrugated iron lifted from ‘the government at the time’ to reveal a rattlesnake.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/20/pwc-tax-scandal-project-synergy-scrapped-government-trial-innowell
Another boondoggle nipped in the bud:
‘Senior New South Wales Liberals sought support from the Albanese government to generate carbon credits from ceasing logging in state forests only for their approach to be snubbed by their federal counterparts.’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/20/nsw-liberal-plan-to-generate-carbon-credits-by-ending-logging-in-state-forests-snubbed-by-federal-labor
In the spirit of Catch-22;
“Major Major’s father was … a long-limbed farmer, a God-fearing, freedom-loving, law-abiding rugged individualist who held that federal aid to anyone but farmers was creeping socialism. He advocated thrift and hard work and disapproved of loose women who turned him down.
“His specialty was alfalfa, and he made a good thing out of not growing any. The government paid him well for every bushel of alfalfa he did not grow. The more alfalfa he did not grow, the more money the government gave him, and he spent every penny he didn’t earn on new land to increase the amount of alfalfa he did not produce.
“Major Major’s father worked without rest at not growing alfalfa. On long winter evenings he remained indoors and did not mend harness, and he sprang out of bed at the crack of noon every day just to make certain that the chores would not be done. He invested in land wisely and soon was not growing more alfalfa than any other man in the county. Neighbors sought him out for advice on all subjects, for he had made much money and was therefore wise.”
Leading the seabed has contributed to a billion dollar profit for Charlie’s crown estates … and a $3 million salary for its CEO.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jul/19/crown-estate-triples-pay-of-ceo-in-three-years-to-nearly-16m
*Leasing* the seabed …
“I am so glad the internet (and comment forums/social media) wasn’t around in WWII”
Nicholas, Lord Haw-Haw – same, same.
Quote Investigator (asterisks mark the boldface section):
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/01/12/history-rhymes/
Good news from South Africa:
“Vladimir Putin will not attend a Brics summit in South Africa next month amid speculation that he could be detained under an international criminal court warrant for his arrest for war crimes in Ukraine.
South Africa’s presidential office announced that the Russian president would not be attending the summit after holding a “number of consultations” with the Kremlin.
South Africa is an ICC signatory and would be expected to aid in his arrest if the Russian leader came to the summit.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/19/vladimir-putin-to-miss-south-africa-summit-amid-row-over-possible-arrest
Time to stand up and be counted, President Ramaphosa. It now looks like you’re finally choosing not to stand alongside Putin.
#StandWithUkraine
RUSSIA TARGETS GRAIN IN ODESA
“Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa has endured a second “hellish night” of attacks, with loud explosions audible throughout the city in the early hours of Wednesday and at least one missile landing within the city limits, as Russia targeted grain facilities and port infrastructure.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/19/odesa-suffers-hellish-night-as-russia-attacks-ukraines-grain-facilities
Moscow shows the world what it really thinks about grain shipments to starving Africans and Asians: if Russia can’t be the one to profit from it, then nobody gets their food supplies. 😡
RUSSIA TARGETS ALL SHIPS IN BLAC SEA WHEREVER THEY ARE FROM
“Russia will consider all ships, regardless of flag, heading to Ukrainian ports from midnight on 20 July as involved in a military conflict.
Source: Russian Defence Ministry report, quoted by the Russian media
Details: The Russian Defence Ministry reported that informational warnings were issued about the withdrawal of safety guarantees to seafarers in connection with the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.”
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/19/7412054/
These Russians are pirates, pure and simple. They are willing to sink unarmed merchant vessels from any country and drown their sailors, all to try to gorge themselves on profits from stealing Ukrainian grain for themselves. 😡
UKRAINIAN COUNTEROFFENSIVE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN RUSSIA’S OFFENSIVE
“Over the course of a month, Kyiv has retaken more territory than the Russians were able to capture in a year, said Richard Moore, the Chief of the UK Foreign Intelligence Service MI6.
Source: Moore during a speech at the British Embassy in Prague on 19 July, as European Pravda reports, referring to the Politico news agency”
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/07/19/7412065/
The corrupt lib/nats media propaganda units and commonwealth games story continues to change every day, they keep digging themselves into a hole and not intelligent enough to realise it
“If anyone in the UK is watching, listening, particularly you prime minister, … I very much want to stay put as foreign secretary. It’s a job that I love, I think it’s an important job.”
At the Aspen Security Forum, James Cleverly (!) pleads to keep his job, as the UK Conservatives brace for three by-elections.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jul/19/even-hanging-on-to-one-would-be-a-win-tories-brace-for-byelection-results
Edit: “Rishi, if you’re listening …”
From The Guardian:
Kerry O’Brien: “I see lies being told and not properly challenged”
It’s Their ABC, Kerry (sigh!).
Socrates,
Can you explain why taxpayers are forking out what will be billions$$$ for NOT hosting the Commonwealth Games?
It’s easy to NOT host events.
Andrews may as well have piled bank notes in Bourke Street and set it ablaze. His $7 billion cost figure remains enexplained. Obviously, he just made that figure up.
Victorians are paying through the roof for everything yet Andrews is happy to pointlessly make our money vanish.
JCB: “Obviously, he just made that figure up.”
Obviously … 😉
“ Nine of Victoria’s 11 registered Traditional Owner groups are yet to publicly outline their positions on the Voice to Parliament”
So why should Australians vote Yes for the Voice if Indigenous groups aren’t interested enough to support it themselves? It’s no wonder the No vote is having such success.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-20/aboriginal-communities-positions-voice-to-parliament-referendum/102611420
Kerry O’Brien quoted by Pueo @7:08.
”I ask myself if there is a strength to the ‘no’ campaign against this referendum, why do the people substantially behind that campaign feel the need to lie?”
Exactly. Do they actually believe their own bullshit? Maybe a lot of the punters do, but not those driving and funding the campaign. Maybe someone should ask them “What are your real reasons for opposing the Voice?” In response to the predictable non-answer, the rejoinder should be “why won’t you say?”.
It’s a bit brisk around Sydney this morning, down to 2.1° at Olympic Park, as low as -2.8° at Richmond (outer West).
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Niki Savva says that, as teal seats harden against the Liberals, Dutton is marketing himself as Prime Minister for Queensland.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/as-teal-seats-harden-against-liberals-dutton-markets-himself-as-prime-minister-for-queensland-20230719-p5dphx.html
The scathing final report of the robo-debt royal commission has claimed its first scalp, with senior public servant Kathryn Campbell suspended without pay, reports The Saturday Paper
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/post/max-opray/2023/07/20/robo-debt-leader-stood-down
Nick McKenzie reports that a former Deloitte partner leaked confidential Australian Defence department documents he obtained while working at the consulting giant to associates at a new business he founded, and which was seeking to win its own military contracts. An the reviled Stuart Robert’s name crops up yet again!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ex-deloitte-partner-used-confidential-defence-documents-to-win-work-for-his-new-business-20230719-p5dpka.html
Accusations of “jobs for the boys” have been directed at the NSW government. Just because the Coalition did it, too, does not make it OK, says Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/real-or-perceived-cronyism-will-shake-confidence-in-minns-government-20230719-p5dpg7.html
In a strident call to arms, Thursday culture warrior Peta Credlin trumpets that the Liberals must hold fast to conservative values in the gathering storm.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/liberals-must-hold-fast-to-conservative-values-in-the-gathering-storm/news-story/956b9401163aa7065865dd19be956285?amp
The ground has been shifting under the feet of the world’s central bankers, including our own Dr Philip Lowe, the outgoing chief of the Reserve Bank. This has weakened the power of higher interest rates to get inflation down, explains Ross Gittins.
https://johnmenadue.com/numbers-fail-to-add-up-for-central-bankers-in-fight-against-inflation/
“Whatever the damage the Victorian premier Dan Andrews has done to himself, his government and his state in belatedly dropping the 2026 Commonwealth Games, his walkaway raised a question nobody dared ask: is the sun setting on the Commonwealth Games?”, says the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/change-of-game-plan-needed-to-save-commonwealth-games-20230719-p5dpg3.html
Elizabeth Knight looks at who might be responsible for the Commonwealth Games debacle.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/government-stuff-up-or-consultant-spin-who-s-responsible-for-the-games-debacle-20230719-p5dpjn.html
Ronald Mizen reports that ASIC is being accused of treating parliament with contempt after it failed to hand over a clutch of investigation files to Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones, despite an order from the Senate.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/asic-accused-of-treating-parliament-with-contempt-20230719-p5dpik
Alan Kohler argues that gambling should be regulated as a drug of addiction, not an industry.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/07/20/gambling-drug-addiction-regulation-kohler/
The recommendation from the review of universities, to help disadvantaged students, just scratches the surface of broader reform of Australia’s higher education sector, writes Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/a-light-tap-on-the-door-of-uni-opportunity-20230719-p5dphf
So incensed was John Lord with the Leader of the Opposition’s response to the Royal Commissions report into the Robodebt Scheme that for a brief moment, he actually felt sorry for him.
https://theaimn.com/a-robodebt-response-from-a-leader-full-of-loathing/
Michael Pascoe writes that there were Robodebt winners, but others are still losing.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/07/19/michael-pascoe-robodebt-winners-others-losing/
The police officer charged with tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland allegedly said “Nah bugger it” before using the stun gun on the nursing home dementia patient. Court documents reveal NSW Constable Kristian White had moments earlier lit up his taser to warn the great grandmother and said “See you are going to get tased”.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/07/20/clare-nowland-taser-court-documents/
Much-maligned multinational consulting firm PwC has copped a bit of a battering of late, but The Age has spotted one piece of quite prescient advice it offered about hosting the Commonwealth Games.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/pwc-report-got-it-right-on-the-risks-of-commonwealth-games-overruns-20230719-p5dpgr.html
A veteran PwC tax partner specialising in providing Research and Development Incentive advice has become the first partner named by the firm over its tax leaks scandal to take legal action to prevent the firm from forcing him out of its partnership.
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/pwc-partner-sues-to-stop-firm-forcing-him-out-over-tax-leaks-20230719-p5dplg
A PwC-backed startup received tens of millions of taxpayer dollars through a closed, non-competitive grant to develop a digital mental health platform, which was almost scrapped due to health workers finding it an administrative burden. In June 2017, the federal Department of Health and Aged Care entered a funding agreement with Innowell Pty Ltd for a series of collaborative research trials known as Project Synergy. Innowell Pty Ltd was established in February 2017, ASIC documents show, with one of the largest shareholders being PwC.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/20/pwc-tax-scandal-project-synergy-scrapped-government-trial-innowell
Behind public statements supporting climate action, key companies engaged in extensive lobbying against Labor’s flagship climate policy, the Safeguard Mechanism. Callum Foote reports that many of the country’s blue-chip, carbon-intensive companies stand accused of supporting action on climate change while at the same time successfully undermining a key plank of the Federal government’s push to deal with heavy carbon emissions.
https://michaelwest.com.au/forked-tongues-heavy-emitters-exposed-as-hypocrites-on-climate-action-new-analysis-shows/
A looming El Nino weather system is forecast to add to the Albanese government’s challenge in delivering its promise to slash power bills by 2025, explain Mike Foley and Nick Toscano.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/summer-to-heat-up-power-prices-cost-of-living-pressures-20230719-p5dphm.html
A nurse whose death is at the centre of a criminal case against the NSW Health Department alleged she was the victim of sexual harassment and bullying at Cumberland Hospital, warning that her ward was “toxic and damaging”, writes Michael McGowan
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nurse-said-she-suffered-sustained-bullying-sexual-harassment-at-hospital-before-death-20230718-p5dpce.html
Australia’s referendum debate has been dominated by outrage content farmers – not the voices we need to hear, complains Dameyon Bonson.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/jul/19/referendum-indigenous-voice-to-parliament-debate-outrage-content
Anthony Albanese has rubbished claims the Voice will give Indigenous Australians “special rights” as he clashed with a radio host in a fiery interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham. He also said it was not true that Voice members would be able to force federal government decisions on issues such as changing the date of Australia Day.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/07/19/albanese-the-voice-2gb-interview/
A proposed levy on the almost $10 billion universities make each year from international student fees could be used to pay for student housing or research, Education Minister Jason Clare said as he unveiled ideas to fund 1.8 million more tertiary students by 2050. Of course, the unis are not too happy about it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/state-governments-and-private-companies-could-pay-for-uni-fees-20230717-p5dov2.html
Australians’ living standards are being risked by governments rushing to protect local businesses and post-COVID supply chains while using taxpayers’ money to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Productivity Commission has warned. Shane Wright writes that, in its annual stocktake of federal government assistance to the business sector, the commission found a record $13.8 billion in direct handouts and tax concessions were provided in 2021-22.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/old-fashioned-protectionism-government-warned-on-industry-handouts-20230719-p5dpgk.html
While imprisonment is a barbaric form of punishment, it’s far more cruel to those suffering from mental disorders or intellectual impairment, explains Gerry Georgatos.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/incarceration-even-more-cruel-to-the-neurodivergent,17732
Up to 20,000 homeowners could be affected in what they dubbed one of Australia’s largest property collapses, administrators have warned. Carrie Fellner tells us about a meeting last night where it heard 500 creditors are chasing up to $200 million from Toplace’s building arm, which went into administration this month, and it was unlikely it could be salvaged.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/across-the-water-from-his-palatial-mansion-developer-s-empire-in-1b-implosion-20230719-p5dpp1.html
Shrink union membership and reduce the ability to strike and you provide a double whammy to hopes for better wages, says Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2023/jul/20/actors-writers-strike-union-hollywood-australia-wages-industrial-action-workers
A Chinese criminal group withdrew $137 million in cash to pay exploited foreign construction workers in a long-running tax avoidance scheme in Australia. Perry Duffin tells us about Operation Underpitch, a joint force between the Australian Border Force and the Australian Taxation Office, and which was revealed this week when the tax evasion scheme’s ringleader was convicted in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/buckets-of-cash-how-chinese-group-withdrew-137m-to-avoid-paying-tax-20230719-p5dphd.html
A federal judge on Wednesday rejected Donald Trump’s request for a new trial in a civil case brought by E Jean Carroll, in which a jury found the former US president liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer and awarded her $5m in damages. In a 59-page decision, US district judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said the jury did not reach a “seriously erroneous result,” and the 9 May verdict was not a “miscarriage of justice”.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/19/trump-request-new-trial-e-jean-carroll-case-rejected
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Golding
John Shakespeare
Fiona Katauskas
Glen Le Lievre
Mark David
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Synergy 360’s David Milo gave confidential defence documents he got while working at Deloitte to his new colleagues in 2018, the SMH reports. One of the docs was on the vice chief of the defence force’s letterhead and had ForceNet project draft findings in it — that’s an internal communication platform the military used. And Milo’s not the only one: other Synergy 360 managers appear to have shared confidential Deloitte files, including a tender to defence that Milo prepared in 2016, emails seem to show. If Milo’s name is ringing a bell, it may be because former Coalition MP Stuart Robert was accused of advising Synergy’s clients about how to score lucrative government contracts. He denied it. Robert, who was also in charge of the unlawful robodebt scheme, resigned as member for Fadden in May.
Much appreciation BK
At least six people are feared injured after a suspected gunman opened fire at a construction site in Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday morning. Armed police stormed the CBD area after reports of a person with a gun at a building under construction on Queen Street.
Gun shots were heard at 8.08am (6.08am AEST), the NZ Herald reports.
Around 100 tradies were told by police to go to the top of the Deloitte building to take cover, one construction worker told Stuff.
Three people have died and at least six others, including a police officer, have been injured after a gunman fired multiple shots in Auckland’s CBD hours before the Women’s World Cup opening match.
The NZ Herald reports the shooter, who entered the Quay Street. building site about 7am local time (5am AEST) is dead.
It is understood a 24-year-old man working at Commercial Bay was the shooter, taking a shotgun into his workplace, Newshub reports.
Oh my god! Some dill in the ABC has made a remake of Mother and Son. Wow, how bad do you think it will be?
Holdenhillbilly
Horrible to say the least.
rusia does not seem to have manys suporters left now that tucker carlson has been sacked
”
Accusations of “jobs for the boys” have been directed at the NSW government. Just because the Coalition did it, too, does not make it OK, says Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/real-or-perceived-cronyism-will-shake-confidence-in-minns-government-20230719-p5dpg7.html
”
True Alex Smith. But you didn’t say anything to condemn LNP government when it happened under their rule.
Thanks BK
From Niki Savva. There’s no end to the amusement. Deves 😆 and the potential loss of Ley.
“ According to senior Liberals, a potential challenger had been lined up against Julian Leeser in Berowra, as punishment for daring to back the Voice. That apparently collapsed after an eligibility issue emerged, however insiders say both deputy leader Sussan Ley in Farrer and Melissa McIntosh in Lindsay, are almost certain to lose to conservative challengers.
Right-wing powerbroker Alex Dore has even discussed running Katherine Deves again in Warringah. Seriously.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/as-teal-seats-harden-against-liberals-dutton-markets-himself-as-prime-minister-for-queensland-20230719-p5dphx.html
Clem Attlee @ 8.01am.
Re: Mother & Son remake.
If the promo clips are anything to go by, it would appear that horrible would be the kindest descriptor for this stupid idea.
How could anyone imagine that replacing Ruth Cracknell & Garry McDonald, comic icons of this brilliant original comedy was a good idea.
I don’t think that we’ll be watching. I know we won’t be watching.
Just replay the original series.
”
Holdenhillbillysays:
Thursday, July 20, 2023 at 7:33 am
Synergy 360’s David Milo gave confidential defence documents he got while working at Deloitte to his new colleagues in 2018, the SMH reports. One of the docs was on the vice chief of the defence force’s letterhead and had ForceNet project draft findings in it — that’s an internal communication platform the military used. And Milo’s not the only one: other Synergy 360 managers appear to have shared confidential Deloitte files, including a tender to defence that Milo prepared in 2016, emails seem to show. If Milo’s name is ringing a bell, it may be because former Coalition MP Stuart Robert was accused of advising Synergy’s clients about how to score lucrative government contracts. He denied it. Robert, who was also in charge of the unlawful robodebt scheme, resigned as member for Fadden in May.
”
And in a disgraceful episode the newly elected member of Fadden actually increased margin of 2PP.
Rishi Sunak gets told off by the Speaker for repeatedly asking Keir Starmer questions, despite it being Prime Minister Questions
Starmer: “I think with his time away he’s slightly forgotten how this works” #PMQs
C@t still not around?
#weatheronPB
Slicky shiny leaves pose,
under a deep too bright sky,
bereft of all clouds.
SMH: “… it is implausible that a project that was costed at $2.6 billion last year can come in at around $7 billion now. One of these two figures was, or is, a fiction. Probably both.”
Indeed.
If the commonwealth games are such a good deal and worth doing. Why haven’t other places jumped at the chance?
Morning all. Thanks for the roundup BK and thanks for that further info on the Defence/Deloitte/ Stuart Robert/ Synergy 360 links Holden hillbilly.
Roberts had an army IT background before politics so this whole setup smells a lot. I wonder how many separate referrals NACC has on Roberts now?
“ Former top public servant Kathryn Campbell has been suspended without pay from her $900,000-a-year job with the Defence Department less than a fortnight after the robo-debt royal commission made damning findings against her.
Campbell went on leave shortly before the royal commission made a range of scathing findings, including that she repeatedly failed to act when the scheme’s flaws and illegality became apparent.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/robo-debt-bureaucrat-suspended-from-her-900k-job-20230720-p5dpru.html
We are damned fools …
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/19/climate-crisis-james-hansen-scientist-warning
Many people seem to believe we are on a path to success combating global warming, whereas the reality may be that are on an ever-accelerating path to global catastrophe.
So the same PwC who were consulted on the now apparently under priced Vic CW games also estimated the costs of the Maq Point multipurpose stadium for the Tas gov.
This whole saga shows that governments really arent super accountable for spending our money. When you know something is going to cost $billions, shouldn’t it just be standard practice to get a second or even third opinion on what it’ll cost. So each consultation might cost several $million, once the expected threshold gets above certain dollar amounts that should be mandatory for a simple assessment to be sourced from multiple parties.
I have to get 3 quotes for spends over $100k, and that takes time and effort, and finding firms willing to quote on what they may know they wont get.
900,000 per annum pay? The PM gets no where near that amount
Oliver Sutton
“ SMH: “… it is implausible that a project that was costed at $2.6 billion last year can come in at around $7 billion now. One of these two figures was, or is, a fiction. Probably both.”
Indeed.”
Most likely the first cost estimate was fiction. Cost estimates rarely go down unless scope is revised down. Usually they go up as planning investigations proceed and more issues are uncovered. For that reason though, early cost estimates are supposed to have large contingencies added for risk, typically 30% to 50%. If there was no contingency in the first estimate that is not professional.
The fact that costs have more than doubled suggests there were gross errors in the first estimate. A 50% risk margin and current building inflation running above 10% per annum does not explain a 160% increase in 18 months. Something major was left out.
Once again, the lie that big four accounting firms know how to cost infrastructure projects is exposed.
clem attlee @ #876 Thursday, July 20th, 2023 – 8:00 am
John Cleese is making (remaking) Faulty Towers. He acknowledges it wont be as good. There’s been 4 versions of a Star is Born, Dracula 4 (50) times, the Great Gatsby 4 times, 5 Great Expectations. I’d say that the Marvel Super heroes movie has been made 23 times.
People remake stuff.
The taking of the bag of oranges to the funeral and then dropping them into the grave is the funniest scene in Australian TV history.
Yeah, they remake stuff…badly. Mother and Son and Ruth and Gary were iconic. This is doomed to failure. who was the brainiac that came up with this idea? No wonder the ABC is struggling.
Denise Scott and Matt Okine must really be desperate for roles, to put their hands up for this. I would sack their agents if I were them.
Kathryn Campbell suspended without pay – I’d like to know what the ‘without pay’ means as most public service disciplinary investigations which involve a suspension seem to be ‘with pay’ until an outcome.
Macca RB @ #881 Thursday, July 20th, 2023 – 8:09 am
This show makes humor from a very sad situation. I could not watch the original as my father was going down with early onset dementia. My brother also has since died of it, and my mother in law had more typical aged dementia. How many more people would have better knowledge of this now? Another reason not to remake it.
Further to my 8.45 comment, the large engineering consulting firm I worked for previously used to do significant work on events, including estimating crowds, sizing, designing and costing supporting facilities, accommodation and transport access plans. They did this for both Sydney Olympics and GC C’wealth Games. Both cost estimates were accurate and the events ran smoothly.
So it is possible to realistically plan for major games with accurate costs. However in both cases you are talking about hiring an engineering team with planning, design and analysis skills for six months. Hiring EY or PwC to do a bit of cost benchmarking does none of those things.