Governments love issuing statements which tell everybody about something that’s just been finished.
It’s them puffing their chest out, telling everyone that they’ve finally delivered us a brand new shiny toy. Might be a road, a set of lights, a building.
Doesn’t matter what the project is, what matters to them is that it’s finished.
“See? We said we’d spend your money. And we did. In spades.”
And quite often a bit more money than they initially intended. Oops. Sorry.
You see, there’s a thing called “variations” in the building industry – additional costs above and beyond the contract which have occurred because we had to change our minds about something, and therefore had to change the plans.
Unforeseen circumstances. Price hikes we didn’t see coming. Wage hikes we didn’t see coming. Darn inflationary pressures we didn’t see coming. Rising interest rates we didn’t see coming.
Better add another floor to that building then, shall we?
Anyway, so the project is finished and they’ve issued a statement. They’ve taken the photo beside said project, and they’re looking mighty proud.
The state government has been in power since 2015, so there’s a fair chance some of these projects actually might have been their own idea.
The federal government was elected yesterday.
They’ve been busy, dealing with reserve bank monsters.
“I know Mr Phillip Lowe, almighty overlord of interest rates and home ownership disaster,” say the federal politicians behind closed doors.
“I know we’ve been telling you that we support you and all you do for our great country. And I know, Mr Lowe, that if we don’t raise interest rates our economy will go somewhere in the direction of Greece in 2008 when all the Yiros shops had to start paying taxes again.
“I know, Mr Lowe, that the wine over lunch was from a good year. But this is about votes, and we’re going to have to ask you some difficult questions on national television.
“Why? Well, because Mr Lowe, we can’t have people thinking it’s our fault. This little problem we’ve got during the process of avoiding a blowout in inflation has to be yours, Mr Lowe. Yes, a “you” problem, Mr Lowe.
“And when we ask you why you should keep your job, Mr Lowe, please don’t take offence. Just say it wasn’t your fault. Because that’s how things work. We deflect blame until everyone’s so confused about whose fault it might be that they don’t care anymore.”
Not dissimilar to these projects. We’ll all take ownership until everybody’s so confused they start to believe us.
Politics thrives on confusion.
So our publicity photo includes the federal and state politician of the day, along with some poor council hanger-on who’s taking claim for the two-bob they contributed from their divisional fund which actually isn’t theirs in the first place.
As for the state and the feds, they probably objected to the project while they were in opposition.
Don’t know. Don’t remember, they’ll say. “But isn’t this wonderful?”
Don’t worry, I have no favourites. When it comes to politics, I’m colour blind. Red, blue, green – all a different shade of grey to me.
But I do expect my politicians to act with integrity.
I expect them to stand up and tell me who really was responsible for that new highway that’s cut 20 minutes out of my travel time to the city.
I expect them to take ownership of little things like the cost of living, state of employment, housing and everything else in between.
Because when that person knocked on my door asking for my vote – and who now represents me in a chamber at whatever tier of politics they’re in – says something, it’s because they’re representing me.
And when they issue a statement based on the premise of a lie, I feel like the moron they’re taking me for.
Hey Wanda, I’m changing channels. The news can’t be trusted.
