In Need of More than an Apology

At a meeting to discuss our labour requirements for the run into Christmas, one of my team chimed in with a surprising pearl, “people were returning to Victoria from other states.”

The suggestion being, the grass was not greener and, somehow, there were many who preferred a drab Melbourne winter over the warmth of more northern climes. Due to my unhealthy fascination with this subject, I interrupted proceedings to gather more information. Under the heat of my stare the news breaker quickly crumbled, suggesting he, “ … thought (he) had heard such an announcement.” Not the definitive position I desired and no sources for me to investigate.

According to the ABS, Melbourne’s population growth was hit harder than any other major city during the pandemic, declining from +1.8 per cent in 2018-19 to -1.6 per cent in 2020-21. At the same time, current trends suggest we are growing again, despite the state continuing to leak residents to Queensland, in particular.

“According to the ABS, Melbourne’s population growth was hit harder than any other major city during the pandemic, declining from +1.8 per cent in 2018-19 to -1.6 per cent in 2020-21.”

I am a proud Victorian and my business and I are wedded to the state. This is my home and, for most of my life, I have walked tall under the blanket of the Big V. In recent times, however, my faith has wavered. Shameful, I know.

Since 2016 we have had a truss & frame business in southeast Queensland. I am a relatively infrequent visitor, yet have been there enough to have detected a change in attitude to we southerners (not just from our team). Previously, there was a strong level of respect. The perception of Melbourne’s sophisticated CBD, the arts scene, the Spring Carnival, the shopping, the Grand Prix, the Aussie Tennis Open, the MCG, the great restaurants, gardens and cafes. It was all there, eliciting envy: “I need to visit”, “I can’t wait to see another show at The Princess Theatre”, “I love your late-night bars”. At best, it feels to me as though the historically positive reflections of our mainland’s southern capital have diminished to the point of us being a weakened power. At worst, we are a laughingstock.

When I land in Brisbane I brace myself for some liberal commentary. It emanates from Uber drivers, the staff at hotel reception, business associates, old acquaintances and random strangers. Evidently, Victoria ruined lives through its Covid-19 experience, we are a socialist republic, the weather is only cold and miserable, we’re bankrupt, we are a green autocracy led by a compromised tyrant. The opinions and advice are never ending.

Let me put a question to you. How many state Premiers can you name? Maybe Annastacia Palaszczuk? If this was the one, I bet you couldn’t spell her name.

Conversely, it feels like everyone I meet from interstate knows who is in charge of Victoria. They are familiar with the decision to ban the use of gas in new homes. Many know about the cancellation of hardwood logging licenses. They can discuss the IBAC enquiry. They are aware we are overspending on infrastructure and they know we will soon be lumbered with a debt of $226b. New taxes have attracted their attention. The Commonwealth Games fiasco is the cherry on top; this stuff-up gives our neighbours an extra pep to their step.

“Conversely, it feels like everyone I meet from interstate knows who is in charge of Victoria.”

The conversations about Victoria and the frivolous, irrelevant manner in which I believe we are being regarded leaves me feeling let down. These have not been my decisions. Why am I having to defend my state to these smug northerners?

No matter which side of the political debate you reside, it should be agreed; our man Dan needs to demonstrate greater deference to his subjects. Where there has been a mistake, big or small, how hard is it to say, “I am sorry; I/we got it wrong”?

“No matter which side of the political debate you reside, it should be agreed; our man Dan needs to demonstrate greater deference to his subjects.”

In my world, if a person feels hurt due to a regretful outcome I have caused then it is appropriate for me to express regret. Likewise, if my business is wrong or has misbehaved, I consider it to be our responsibility to admit to the failings we have affected. Quite often this obligation falls to me as our nominated leader. We also need to ensure our apologies are followed with corrective action. To express regret and attempt to do all we can to avoid a repeat scenario is critical.

While the above is my understanding of appropriate behaviour, I’m not sure our Premier is of the same view. Let’s start with the Victorians effected by the cancellation of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The athletes, the people employed as organisers and tax paying voters who have been duped, surely an apology was necessary? Sadly, we were met with stubborn defiance. Premier Andrews was immediately on the front foot, aggressively declaring, “I’m not going to apologise for not taking money out of hospitals and schools”. I have been unable to find any evidence of personal remorse for the poor job in accurately costing what has always looked like a very difficult and expensive undertaking to execute.

“The athletes, the people employed as organisers and tax paying voters who have been duped, surely an apology was necessary? Sadly, we were met with stubborn defiance.”

And what of the dozens of underestimated infrastructure projects? Let’s look at one, the West Gate Tunnel. According to ‘Project 10,000: Victorian Labor’s Transport Alternative’, published in November 2013, the ‘West Gate Distributor’ was going to cost $500 million to build. In September 2014, they said it would be completed by 2018. In January 2015 there was an announcement declaring it had blown out by $180m and then in April of the same year the project was rebadged as the “Western Distributor” and would cost $5.5 billion. In August 2023, consensus forecasts suggest the final cost will exceed $10.4 billion, with a delivery date unclear and another name change.

Nearly every other major project is substantially exceeding their original budget and the state is lumbered with a debt seven times greater than what Jeff Kennett ‘saved’ us from 30 years ago. And let’s not think it is over. With a cost estimation team as poor as the one our government is using, how many more blowouts are there to come? The Suburban Rail Loop was initially expected to cost $50 billion; in recent weeks the Parliamentary Budget Office has indicated the price will be closer to $200 billion. What’s the chance of Premier Andrews admitting to this being a white elephant?

To acknowledge a transgression, seek forgiveness, and make things right is a complex act. Dan may be afraid an admission of a mistake or wrongdoing will damage his government and personal legacy — particularly if there is the threat of litigation. Whatever the issue, something needs to change. Victoria’s reputation is in the toilet and the medium to long term effects are real; for the building industry and our state.

“Victoria’s reputation is in the toilet and the medium to long term effects are real; for the building industry and our state.”