Play Nice Random Chat Thread IV

[Val Keating]

Ummmm, did you see the results of the last state election?

People mumble and groan about roadworks but when it comes to actually voting the thing that is important is whether the infrastructure stuff is being delivered in a competent fashion. The Westgate Tunnel looks like it may heading into incompetent territory though.

People in Victoria know the joint needs a big infrastructure build due the massive population growth.

That was against one of the most unlike able people in Australia though. I’m just so sick of these governments changing and destroying anything the other government has done. The east west link being a perfect example.

 

[DesertRoo]

Can someone explain to me why the Liberal party changed Labour’s roll out of what would’ve provided Australia with top world standard internet, with something that’s obsolete before it’s even finished and given us worse internet then some third world countries?

That one can lay squarely at the feet of Murdoch, and losing his Foxtel monopoly to Netflix, Disney$ etc..

 

[Del191229]

That was against one of the most unlike able people in Australia though. I’m just so sick of these governments changing and destroying anything the other government has done. The east west link being a perfect example.

East-West Link wasn't torn down or anything though. It just wasn't built.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

I’ll give the Andrews government a pass on that. He’s become increasingly unpopular because of all the roadworks slowing down Melbourne. IMO he’s doing what he believes needs to be done for Melbourne infrastructure because of our growing population and road congestion. He’s basically committed political suicide in doing it, but future generations will be great full.

Not sure about that. Indeed, he basically did the opposite to win power. Campaigned on the populist platform of promising to tear up the East-West Link contract. Kept his promise and the Victorian taxpayers ended up paying over $1 billion. In penalties. Instead of a road that would have filled a critical infrastructure need.

Personally, I've always been upset by this. Seems he was willing for the people to pay the high price for him to win power.

I acknowledge that the Victorian Libs were also at fault in this saga and they've only got worse since, but I don't think Dan should be seen as an honourable servant of the people.

EDIT: I missed the last few posts which essentially cover this.

 

[Del191229]

That one can lay squarely at the feet of Murdoch, and losing his Foxtel monopoly to Netflix, Disney$ etc..

Which he's lost anyway lol.

 

[Val Keating]

Not sure about that. Indeed, he basically did the opposite to win power. Campaigned on the populist platform of promising to tear up the East-West Link contract. Kept his promise and the Victorian taxpayers ended up paying over $1 billion. In penalties. Instead of a road that would have filled a critical infrastructure need.

Personally, I've always been upset by this. Seems he was willing for the people to pay the high price for him to win power.

I acknowledge that the Victorian Libs were also at fault in this saga and they've only got worse since, but I don't think Dan should be seen as an honourable servant of the people.

EDIT: I missed the last few posts which essentially cover this.

The only counter I would make is the Libs signed the deal just before the election when Andrews was saying if they get in they won’t build the East/West link. It was almost out of spite, bloody politicians throwing our money away over pissing contests.

I curse Andrews every time I’m stuck on Alexander parade or Elliot st.

 

[DesertRoo]

Which he's lost anyway lol.

It was inevitable, funny thing is those services have slowed pirated downloading in oz.. something Murdoch and Stokes said would be impossible.
give something at good value people will respond, rip them off and they’ll head to other means.

 

[Val Keating]

East-West Link wasn't torn down or anything though. It just wasn't built.

Still paid for the bloody thing

 

[Val Keating]

Finally I have something in common with a smart person. I’m a terrible speller. I used to think it was because I went to 6 different primary schools but now I know that I just don’t get it

 

[Del191229]

The only counter I would make is the Libs signed the deal just before the election when Andrews was saying if they get in they won’t build the East/West link. It was almost out of spite, bloody politicians throwing our money away over pissing contests.

I curse Andrews every time I’m stuck on Alexander parade or Elliot st.

Yep, the Libs side-letter was the issue.

As for being stuck in traffic, you;d just be stuck in traffic on the East-West Link a year or two after they'd built it.

 

[Del191229]

Still paid for the bloody thing

Nah, not the full cost, nowhere near it.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Yep, the Libs side-letter was the issue.

As for being stuck in traffic, you;d just be stuck in traffic on the East-West Link a year or two after they'd built it.

Hmmm, the Libs did the wrong thing, sure, but Andrews was then in a position to fix it. If he took good advice, we would now have a road on which traffic would flow well. It would need to have been different from the proposed configuration, and would have cost more than the $1 billion, but we still paid $1 billion for f*** all, and that's not all on the Libs.

 

[Del191229]

Hmmm, the Libs did the wrong thing, sure, but Andrews was then in a position to fix it. If he took good advice, we would now have a road on which traffic would flow well. It would need to have been different from the proposed configuration, and would have cost more than the $1 billion, but we still paid $1 billion for f*** all, and that's not all on the Libs.

It would flow well for about two years.

The iron law of urban planning is that as soon as you build a new road, it gets congested.

No amount of freeways is going to fix Melbourne's traffic issues.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

It would flow well for about two years.

The iron law of urban planning is that as soon as you build a new road, it gets congested.

No amount of freeways is going to fix Melbourne's traffic issues.

Not convinced by that but let's just assume you're right, $1 billion towards upgraded public transport networks would seem like a better use of the cash to me.

 

[DesertRoo]

It would flow well for about two years.

The iron law of urban planning is that as soon as you build a new road, it gets congested.

No amount of freeways is going to fix Melbourne's traffic issues.

Automation is our friend here.. the quicker we can move to driverless vehicles the better for traffic.

 

[Del191229]

Automation is our friend here.. the quicker we can move to driverless vehicles the better for traffic.

Exactly.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Automation is our friend here.. the quicker we can move to driverless vehicles the better for traffic.

Exactly.

Won't they still need roads, or similar, to drive on?

 

[Caracas]

I’ll give the Andrews government a pass on that. He’s become increasingly unpopular because of all the roadworks slowing down Melbourne. IMO he’s doing what he believes needs to be done for Melbourne infrastructure because of our growing population and road congestion. He’s basically committed political suicide in doing it, but future generations will be great full.

It’ll only be political suicide if he gets the timing wrong. It’s all down to how much he can get finished before the next poll.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[muttley45]

I saw the opening story on ch 10 news tonight Re. the Coronavirus situation, first, old mate ScoMo is on saying we will evacuate the Aussies trapped in Wuhan to a Quarantine facility on Christmas Island, Qantas are going to help with the air travel required. Next up the Qantas boss comes on and says, nup, no plans for planes to Wuhan, followed by some random stating that once actually making it to Christmas Island, the citizens will be charged for the privilege. wtf ?

 

[Hojuman]

It’ll only be political suicide if he gets the timing wrong. It’s all down to how much he can get finished before the next poll.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

88 seats in Vic. lower house.
Labour - 55
Libs - 27
Others - 6

Libs would need massive swing and to pick up 18 seats.

Dan can book the next one in.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Dan can book the next one in.

He's imported a million votes to place out witches hats and wave stop/go signs. Can't be beaten. Turned Melbourne in to a complete shithole in the process.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

He's imported a million votes to place out witches hats and wave stop/go signs. Can't be beaten. Turned Melbourne in to a complete shithole in the process.

Can't agree more about Melbourne, sadly, and both sides of politics have got us here. It's pretty upsetting for those of us who grew up here in the 70s and 80s when it was a legitimate entrant on the world's most liveable cities list. Not sure why it's still on such lists.

 

[Snake_Baker]

Can't agree more about Melbourne, sadly, and both sides of politics have got us here. It's pretty upsetting for those of us who grew up here in the 70s and 80s when it was a legitimate entrant on the world's most liveable cities list. Not sure why it's still on such lists.

Once hailed as one of the best planned cities in the world

The city planning of the last decade has been disgraceful.

Andrews will be remembered as the Premier for railways crossings, tunnels and prisons.

 

[Hojuman]

He's imported a million votes to place out witches hats and wave stop/go signs. Can't be beaten. Turned Melbourne in to a complete shithole in the process.

Not the Melbourne we used to know Snake.

Progress ?

Thing that really gets me is the centralization. Everything squashed into a area between Spencer, Victoria, Spring & Flinders st.

 

[Asifhe Givashe]

Nah, not the full cost, nowhere near it.

Are you suggesting we didn’t need east west link?

Absolutely ridiculous decision not to build it and the only reason it wasn’t built was because it was signed off without using union labour.

I’ve never voted in an election but seriously what a debacle. Even this North East link is rubbish... the bloody thing should keep going all the way to the Hume via Mernda and west of Whittlesea.