As a Tasmanian, whose state is too often the butt of Mainland sneering, there’s no small amount of schadenfreude in watching Mainland states screw their economies. Especially the arrogant sandgropers, who, despite raking in billions from Communist China, can barely keep their hospitals open and who’ll be back to holding out the begging bowl when Xi doesn’t need their red dirt any more.
And especially Victorians. Watching these overpaid, manbunned wokeists get their comeuppance is almost a joy to behold. Almost, of course: because we all pay when yet another state Labor government botches the job.
As they inevitably do.
Victoria is the worst place in the country to do business, with the state’s dismal budget performance and anti-competitive policies led by Daniel Andrews and Jacinta Allan putting Australia’s second biggest jurisdiction behind the pack.
Anyone who doubts Victoria’s dire state need only drive on its roads. It’s just as well traffic anywhere within an hour’s drive of Melbourne’s CBD spends most of the day gridlocked, because otherwise the potholes would blow everyone’s tyres. If you thought Auckland at peak hour was bad, try driving around Melbourne at any time of day.
Whatever you do, don’t try doing business there.
A report by the Business Council of Australia on Tuesday shows Victoria ranks last across all states and territories in terms of overall settings for doing business in the country.
After 10 years of Labor rule in Victoria, the Allan government now boasts the highest debt and worst credit rating across all Australian states.
Being dyed-in-the-manbun socialists, of course, Victorians no doubt don’t see the point of making life better for business.
As the country grapples with low productivity, high interest rates and soaring costs, [BCA chief executive Bran Black] said “fundamentally, greater business investment results in improved living standards – that’s the goal”.
South Australia won the gong of best state to do business, with, ahem, Tasmania coming second. WA came second last, fighting Victoria for the wooden spoon. Pardon me, but… ha, ha, ha, ha.
Victoria is not just anti-business, but drowning in debt.
Victoria’s gross state debt will soar to $228bn by June 2028. In 2014, when the ruthless and reckless spender Daniel Andrews was elected, the equivalent figure was $33bn. Currently it is $168bn.
And when John Cain and Joan Kirner near bankrupted the state in 1992, it was a mere $39bn.
And this isn’t the worst of it.
But as bad as these numbers are in Auditor General Andrew Greaves annual report card on the state’s finances, they are not the most concerning thing revealed on Friday by the watchdog.
No, to find the even more alarming bit about Victoria’s financial future you have to read Mr Greaves’ associated commentary which represents a devastating verdict on a decade of Labor rule.
“While strategies and objectives are in place, the state has not articulated a clear plan for long-term fiscal management,” he states.
So, nearly a decade in power, record debt, and Labor don’t even have a cunning plan?
Victoria: the eyes are open, the mouth moves, but Mr Brain has long since moved interstate.
