An opinion piece.
In an opinion piece published in the Canberra Times on 26 February 2024, economist Stephen Anthony analyses two projects, one in the Australian Capital Territory and the other in Victoria. He points out that the way these projects were set up leads to a breakdown in accountability for government action, leading to the eventual loss of freedoms and embedded corruption.
The Victorian case.
In the Victorian case, he comments, an area 24 times the size of Melbourne’s Docklands will be put under the control of the SRL Authority, (the Suburban Rail Loop Authority) a public corporation. It represents a huge 45 square kilometre land grab by government.
The Authority has complete control. It is not accountable to state minsters. It bypasses local councils.
The project was Belt and Road (China’s development initiative)’ inspired, driven by property development, and originated within the PWC outside normal public planning processes and accountability. It is worth commenting that PWC engaged in insider information trading to help its clients avoid Australian Tax.
Who profits?
Who profits from these arrangements, he asks. Probably not the taxpayer you would imagine.
Pork Barrelling
In the same edition, reporter Karen Barlow points to legislation to be introduced into Federal Parliament to restrict the practice of pork barrelling, whereby government grants are directed to areas in a way that benefits the electoral prospects of the government of the day. During my time as an auditor for the ANAO, we were able to identify the ease with which pork-barrelling could occur, but, without proper record-keeping, never be proved. Proponents of both political parties have argued in the past that there is nothing illegal about this. The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption thinks that there is. Whether you agree or not probably depends on whether you have been a beneficiary, but the scale of the practice has drawn widespread condemnation.
Corruption
My novel, Corruption, describes a scheme somewhat similar to the Victorian one. It is what sets the proponent, Patrick O’Leary, on a course of corruption and crime, and ultimately leads to the breakdown of society.
Corruption is available through the publisher, Austin Macauley, Amazon, or your favourite book supplier. It is available both as eBook and paperback.
Gerard Hogan
תגובות