Thanks for this and also to The Monthly for commissioning it. I am a Tasmanian of many generations. With Julianne Schultz, when I was director of the Inglis Clark Centre at the University of Tasmania, I coedited Tasmania - The Tipping Point? which became the best selling issue of Griffith Review and generated a national conversation about Tasmania, spurred by contributions by the (sadly, late) Jonathan West and (happily, still here) David Walsh. Since that time I have retained a strong base here for my business and worked into other places. In the past few years I have seen a governance and capacity degradation here (not coming from a wildly high base anyway) that makes my jaw drop. The economy and civil society are visibly collapsing. Happily for me, as that collapse unfolds I just sold my family home in Hobart so soon I will no longer be exposed to many of the dynamics you have outlined in this piece. Ironically, I leave on the Spirit of Tasmania because it's the only way to drive out. Every time I drive to the storage facility in Montrose to land another box, I choose against the highway option so I can see again for myself what underclass really means in a human lived sense in those northern suburbs. It is not a good story.
Without transparency and accountability democracies fail, and their treasuries emptied. Accountability needs to become part of all major projects in the shape of there is personal liability. Pension loss should be a good start.
Whew, that was some maritime pantomime Nick. Well done.
A few more embellishments with naval jargon would have been welcome for mine.
"Distress flares going up" and "running aground" were well placed but maybe I missed any others that you used. "Flotsam" and "in the Brig" were begging to be chosen!
The lack of any political punishment for the folly just underlines Tassie's (and the mainland's) abandonment of what were once accepted principles of good governance.
An extraordinary saga of incompetence, mismanagement and waste, presided over by political buffoons. So very sad that Tasmanians are saddled with political 'leaders' who have no claim to that title, and the enormous debts that will cripple its progress for many years to come
And with all this, the same government can spend a billion dollars on a football stadium. I can only assume Tasmania has all the houses, roads, hospitals and schools that it will ever need.
This is so frustrating Nick. The failures are monumental, the repercussions almost non existent. The politics are woeful. The Labor Party doesn't accept the will of the people for them to work constructively across Parliament, squandering the opportunity to show a way towards good leadership and parliamentary performance. Each year Tasmania's financial performance deteriorates and we struggle on, doing more of the same. Then there is the Stadium. Independent analysis gives little hope for a positive return and shows likely increased financial burden. While money is being spent today on starting the Stadium, the concerns of half the State have been roundly ignored. Such a wonderful state being corroded by very poor politics. I really am trying to be positive ...
Mr Feik does not tell us how the arrangement was supposed to work. The ship operator would normally be expected to have a firm contract with the port authority if they were operating as independent companies. Else maybe both were subject to directions from the Tasmanian government and maybe it was supposed to be coordinated that way. But we are not told how it was supposed to work so we can't draw any conclusions.
Appalling article (in that one has to be appalled by the litany of failures). Mentioned in passing was the reduction in passenger numbers being "possibly" due to the relocation of the Victorian end from Station Pier in (almost) central Melbourne to an unlovely industrial location 80km away in Geelong. Not "possibly" - definitely. Another disastrous decision in that very long list.
Very strong J Clarke and B Dawe areas.
Yes it's unbelievable that the government didn't fall over this monumental stuff up.
Thanks for this and also to The Monthly for commissioning it. I am a Tasmanian of many generations. With Julianne Schultz, when I was director of the Inglis Clark Centre at the University of Tasmania, I coedited Tasmania - The Tipping Point? which became the best selling issue of Griffith Review and generated a national conversation about Tasmania, spurred by contributions by the (sadly, late) Jonathan West and (happily, still here) David Walsh. Since that time I have retained a strong base here for my business and worked into other places. In the past few years I have seen a governance and capacity degradation here (not coming from a wildly high base anyway) that makes my jaw drop. The economy and civil society are visibly collapsing. Happily for me, as that collapse unfolds I just sold my family home in Hobart so soon I will no longer be exposed to many of the dynamics you have outlined in this piece. Ironically, I leave on the Spirit of Tasmania because it's the only way to drive out. Every time I drive to the storage facility in Montrose to land another box, I choose against the highway option so I can see again for myself what underclass really means in a human lived sense in those northern suburbs. It is not a good story.
Griffith Review #39 is my go-to when explaining to people what is wrong with Tasmania. You did a Stirling job with that issue!
Thank you! I loved landing that book.
Without transparency and accountability democracies fail, and their treasuries emptied. Accountability needs to become part of all major projects in the shape of there is personal liability. Pension loss should be a good start.
Isn't it time Tasmania just merged with Victoria?
Why would Victoria want to take on such a basket case?
Whew, that was some maritime pantomime Nick. Well done.
A few more embellishments with naval jargon would have been welcome for mine.
"Distress flares going up" and "running aground" were well placed but maybe I missed any others that you used. "Flotsam" and "in the Brig" were begging to be chosen!
The lack of any political punishment for the folly just underlines Tassie's (and the mainland's) abandonment of what were once accepted principles of good governance.
Thankyou Nick for this excellent article
An extraordinary saga of incompetence, mismanagement and waste, presided over by political buffoons. So very sad that Tasmanians are saddled with political 'leaders' who have no claim to that title, and the enormous debts that will cripple its progress for many years to come
What a bloody shemozzle!
And with all this, the same government can spend a billion dollars on a football stadium. I can only assume Tasmania has all the houses, roads, hospitals and schools that it will ever need.
This is so frustrating Nick. The failures are monumental, the repercussions almost non existent. The politics are woeful. The Labor Party doesn't accept the will of the people for them to work constructively across Parliament, squandering the opportunity to show a way towards good leadership and parliamentary performance. Each year Tasmania's financial performance deteriorates and we struggle on, doing more of the same. Then there is the Stadium. Independent analysis gives little hope for a positive return and shows likely increased financial burden. While money is being spent today on starting the Stadium, the concerns of half the State have been roundly ignored. Such a wonderful state being corroded by very poor politics. I really am trying to be positive ...
Its not over yet☹️ but will it exceed Victoria tunnelling fiasco?
Mr Feik does not tell us how the arrangement was supposed to work. The ship operator would normally be expected to have a firm contract with the port authority if they were operating as independent companies. Else maybe both were subject to directions from the Tasmanian government and maybe it was supposed to be coordinated that way. But we are not told how it was supposed to work so we can't draw any conclusions.
Ludicrous. Like an inept 90s TV comedy skit. Written with mordant aplomb.
Appalling article (in that one has to be appalled by the litany of failures). Mentioned in passing was the reduction in passenger numbers being "possibly" due to the relocation of the Victorian end from Station Pier in (almost) central Melbourne to an unlovely industrial location 80km away in Geelong. Not "possibly" - definitely. Another disastrous decision in that very long list.
Very well written summary. What an appalling tale of incompetence and waste.
Settle down folks. Rest assured Erica will sort this Ship of Fools 😅
🤣