You really mean the 2014 election when the Feds refused to produce the $3 bil it was going to provide for the East West Link but which the newly elected Victorian Labour Government walked away from, having promised before the election to honour, and handed the Consortium a cool $1.1 bil of money it didn't have for doing nothing and then wanted the Feds to saddle up again for Railway Crossings, window dressing for political purposes. The Feds were right. Why should the Aus taxpayer pay for absolute stupidity and bloody mindedness? Belt and Road is not just a loan, it's capitulation, Chinese companies contracted, Chinese workers. China pays its own businesses, Victoria pays interest, gives China a foot in the door woe betide us if there's a default. As Victoria gets its money from the Feds and Stamp Duty, that's going to happen unless the Feds stump up, in what will be a recession.
I was hoping you would go here, it isn’t the win you think it is. It is rare for an ABC article to have any fact check issues (they update IF need to and advise at the base of the article), so please read.
Decision to scrap East West Link 'based of flawed advice': auditor-general
The cost to taxpayers of scrapping Melbourne's East West Link project is more than $1.1 billion, the Victorian auditor-general says.
www.abc.net.au
Labour always opposed it. It was signed during caretaker convention and Andrews was never going to construct it, as it has marginal value. Money was better spent elsewhere. Contract carried additional clauses that meant the government had to pay extra money, even though they clearly opposed the project right through negotiations.
Don’t tell people railway crossing removals are cosmetic. It has made a huge difference for many many people.
Not going into the Chinese section. We shouldn’t need the Chinese money.