State Government | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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State Government

Rosy

Tiger Legend
Mar 27, 2003
54,348
31
Ombudsman probe on payouts
December 2, 2012
Cameron Houston

VICTORIA'S Ombudsman has launched an investigation of secret compensation payouts of $13 million made by the Baillieu government to several top police and justice officials who were forced to resign under controversial circumstances last year.

The Sunday Age revealed in October that former director of public prosecutions Jeremy Rapke, QC, was believed to have received a settlement of as much as $8 million, while former Victoria Police chief commissioner Simon Overland was understood to have pocketed $2 million.

The Baillieu government refused to detail the size of the termination payments to Mr Overland and Mr Rapke, or if the payments had been made to avoid litigation or the release of politically damaging information.

Mr Rapke's lawyer, Mark Leibler, has denied his client had received $8 million, but refuses to confirm the size of the payout.

The Ombudsman's office confirmed on November 8 that it would be ''making inquiries'' with the Department of Justice, which disclosed $12.9 million in ex-gratia payments in a one-paragraph statement on page 151 of its annual report for 2011-12.

The Ombudsman was responding to a written request by shadow attorney-general Martin Pakula who said the Ombudsman's office had previously examined the appropriateness of taxpayer-funded payouts to public servants.

Last month, the Ombudsman found that former police chief Simon Overland had approved an ''unnecessary and unethical'' termination payment to a senior executive.

The Ombudsman determined the payout of $72,449 to former media director Nicole McKechnie, less than three weeks before her contract expired, would have been grounds for Mr Overland's dismissal had he not already resigned.

Mr Pakula said the big payments approved by the Baillieu government should face the same scrutiny.

''Something stinks when a department can spend $13 million in secret payouts in one year, and Mr Baillieu won't say who got the money …'' Mr Pakula said.

The investigation is expected to inflame tensions between Ombudsman George Brouwer and the state government.

[email protected]

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It will be very interesting to see what comes of this probe. A lot could be done with $13million of our money. Not sure how that kind of payment can be kept secret.
 

tigergollywog

Non-Hierarchical Boss Cocky
Feb 4, 2006
5,018
1
Re: State Government-Victoria

Thats loose change rosy, up here in nsw, the planning minister gives his bro-in-law the heads up on a few things in the pipeline, they buy a couple of farms in the hunter and make a cool 100mill profit after they find a humungous coal deposit just after settlement. They wont be able to recall anything and might get a slap over the wrist. I reckon except the rare blokes like Bob Brown, who wouldnt have used a govt postage stamp to post a christmas card to his mum, they all get a bit deluded and crooked (power corrupts is a truism IMO). I get really shitty when folks whinge about some black fella reared in intergenerational dysfunction drawing $500 a fortnight, while some crooked police chief who wears the right old boys tie at the Alumni gets a few million. sorry if this diverts the thread a bit, but I think its relevant. Government and corporate corruption really gets me going, I reckon they should leave them in the armani suit and throw 'em in H-block with all the looney violent offenders.
 

KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
Ireland
Re: State Government-Victoria

There two huge issues here in Victoria that are entirely the result of this government. The first is the "law and order" policies which bear directly on the story above. The incoming government, aided by The Australian, were determined to remove Simon Overland, then Chief Commissioner of Police. I imagine he was not seen as someone who would support the OTT policies they wanted to get going, namely ridiculous PSO's and the introduction of farcical offences that will increase the number of Victorians incarcerated.

The second is the wind farm laws. These have virtually ended the development of wind farms in Victoria, combined with a 180 on Hazelwood this put Victoria back in the stone age. I can't for the life of me understand why this isn't a front page issue. We have a carbon pricing scheme and a world looking to renewables and we live in a state that is doing it's damndest hamstring clean our clean energy future. I also don't understand why the federal government is picking a fight with Ted on this.
 

Rosy

Tiger Legend
Mar 27, 2003
54,348
31
Re: State Government-Victoria

tigergollywog said:
sorry if this diverts the thread a bit, but I think its relevant.

No worries and indeed. Not sure why I even put Victoria in the heading. I'll alter it to just say State Government.
 

tigergollywog

Non-Hierarchical Boss Cocky
Feb 4, 2006
5,018
1
Re: State Government-Victoria

rosy23 said:
Yep I don't get it at all. The could power the entire world if they were set up on our hills at the moment.

The wind farms is a no brainer too me. Up where I am (NNSW), Coal Seam Gas is a HUGE issue. All the farmers are up in arms. The funny thing is, they dont want CSG, cause their springs will run with flammable black goo, but they'lle ark up and say that wind turbines cause everything from carbunkles to brain aneurisms AND theylle turn the air conditioner on if it over 25 deg C. ??? What hope have we got FFS?
 

KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
Ireland
Re: State Government-Victoria

tigergollywog said:
The wind farms is a no brainer too me. Up where I am (NNSW), Coal Seam Gas is a HUGE issue. All the farmers are up in arms. The funny thing is, they dont want CSG, cause their springs will run with flammable black goo, but they'lle ark up and say that wind turbines cause everything from carbunkles to brain aneurisms AND theylle turn the air conditioner on if it over 25 deg C. ??? What hope have we got FFS?

Yup. What I don't understand is that it isn't a bigger issue down here. A brainless law enacted because a numpty in government can't tell the difference between hysterical nonsense and medical science. Except that it is exempted if it used as a power source on the property instead of being sold back to the grid...huh? So it is a health hazard based on the path of the flow of the electricity into the grid? Or does that mean there is different reason for the law? Boosting coal maybe?
 

Liverpool

How did that Julia and Kevin thing work out? :)
Jan 24, 2005
9,054
1
Melbourne
Re: State Government-Victoria

KnightersRevenge said:
The second is the wind farm laws. These have virtually ended the development of wind farms in Victoria, combined with a 180 on Hazelwood this put Victoria back in the stone age. I can't for the life of me understand why this isn't a front page issue. We have a carbon pricing scheme and a world looking to renewables and we live in a state that is doing it's damndest hamstring clean our clean energy future. I also don't understand why the federal government is picking a fight with Ted on this.

It was Gillard's decision, not the State Government's, to extend Hazlewood's life-cycle....so therefore there was no need to spend money on a lot of wind-farms that were more or less, not required.

Secondly, the decision to have a carbon tax linked to the European ETS where carbon is a lot cheaper there would have had a bearing in the viability of windfarms as well.

I think some posters are starting and using this thread as another "Lib bashing thread" ::) when the topic here is a lot more complex than that and decisions at all levels of Government have had a bearing what path we are going down.
 

KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
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Re: State Government-Victoria

Liverpool said:
It was Gillard's decision, not the State Government's, to extend Hazlewood's life-cycle....so therefore there was no need to spend money on a lot of wind-farms that were more or less, not required.

Secondly, the decision to have a carbon tax linked to the European ETS where carbon is a lot cheaper there would have had a bearing in the viability of windfarms as well.

I think some posters are starting and using this thread as another "Lib bashing thread" ::) when the topic here is a lot more complex than that and decisions at all levels of Government have had a bearing what path we are going down.
I have a political bent than runs counter to yours Livers. That doesn't make me a "basher". I disagree with you. Funny that you see this as some kind of attack. Why are you so sensitive about people who have a different opinion to yours? The Liberal Government in opposition in Victoria said they would reduce Hazelwood's output by half in government, a watering down of Labor's commitment to close it. They backed down after they won, the federal government's later decision just made it easier. The trading environment is secondary to finding ways to produce electricity that are sustainable and reduce the need to burn fossil fuels. This is simply what we must do to maintain our lifestyles into the future. The ETS is simply a way to nudge the energy sector to go the way it would anyway, but sooner. Hazelwood is a case in point. Industry will not clean up of it's own accord.
 

Liverpool

How did that Julia and Kevin thing work out? :)
Jan 24, 2005
9,054
1
Melbourne
Re: State Government-Victoria

KnightersRevenge said:
The Liberal Government in opposition in Victoria said they would reduce Hazelwood's output by half in government, a watering down of Labor's commitment to close it. They backed down after they won, the federal government's later decision just made it easier. The trading environment is secondary to finding ways to produce electricity that are sustainable and reduce the need to burn fossil fuels. This is simply what we must do to maintain our lifestyles into the future. The ETS is simply a way to nudge the energy sector to go the way it would anyway, but sooner. Hazelwood is a case in point. Industry will not clean up of it's own accord.

The trading environment may be secondary but it would play a part in the decisions made to monitor the number of wind-farms

Of course the Libs backed down...as did Gillard.

Like I said...you can't blame one party or the other for the decisions as its a lot more complex than just blaming a State Government when there have been bigger decisions made federally that have played a big role as well in which way we are heading too.
 

KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
Ireland
Re: State Government-Victoria

Liverpool said:
The trading environment may be secondary but it would play a part in the decisions made to monitor the number of wind-farms

Of course the Libs backed down...as did Gillard.

Like I said...you can't blame one party or the other for the decisions as its a lot more complex than just blaming a State Government when there have been bigger decisions made federally that have played a big role as well in which way we are heading too.

That is very even-handed of you Livers but you're not screaming the house down about how the libs are liars and deceivers now are you? Where did all that balance go? And no I don't accept the argument about the trading environment. Fossil fuels have had their day it simply doesn't make sense to create a difficult environment for the new technology to develop considering it uses a free resource, especially when we buy electricity from South Australia and they generate a lot of power from wind. We have greater potential to harness this tech in Victoria, according to experts, why resist this? I can't figure it out.
 

Liverpool

How did that Julia and Kevin thing work out? :)
Jan 24, 2005
9,054
1
Melbourne
Re: State Government-Victoria

KnightersRevenge said:
That is very even-handed of you Livers but you're not screaming the house down about how the libs are liars and deceivers now are you? Where did all that balance go?

Of course not, as the role of the carbon tax (that wasn't going to be introduced under a Gillard government) is supposed to shut down places like Hazelwood...not Baillieu and co.
Isn't that the idea of this ridiculous tax...to coerce the emitters to change their ways?

As for balance...I've always been open with who I vote for and my dislike of the ALP government, especially under the Rudd/Gillard regimes.
Unlike others, I don't hide my prejudices under the banner of 'balance'.

Gillard 'breaking promise' by not shutting power stations
http://www.industrysearch.com.au/Gillard-breaking-promise-by-not-shutting-power-stations/n/62059


KnightersRevenge said:
And no I don't accept the argument about the trading environment. Fossil fuels have had their day it simply doesn't make sense to create a difficult environment for the new technology to develop considering it uses a free resource, especially when we buy electricity from South Australia and they generate a lot of power from wind. We have greater potential to harness this tech in Victoria, according to experts, why resist this? I can't figure it out.

Why did Gillard break her promise then (see above) then if the future is all renewable energy?
Probably the unions and their constituents were a bit upset at the plan to ruin the Latrobe Valley.
So why should Baillieu hang himself then?

Then you have to look at the size of the project....like, I read somewhere that we would have to have more wind turbines than the whole of the number in the UK just to equal what power Hazelwood produces.
You're talking about billions of $$$...retraining a complete generation of workers which will also cost billions of $$$...

Anyways, we are set to have power stations like Hazelwood until 2050, and being relatively cheap, I don't think they have had their day just yet.

As I've said a couple of times already...the situation is a little more complex than just blaming Baillieu for the ills of wind turbines in the state.
 

tigergollywog

Non-Hierarchical Boss Cocky
Feb 4, 2006
5,018
1
Re: State Government-Victoria

Liverpool said:
Gillard 'breaking promise' by not shutting power stations
http://www.industrysearch.com.au/Gillard-breaking-promise-by-not-shutting-power-stations/n/62059


Why did Gillard break her promise then (see above) then if the future is all renewable energy?

:hijack
 

KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
Ireland
Re: State Government-Victoria

Liverpool said:
Of course not, as the role of the carbon tax (that wasn't going to be introduced under a Gillard government) is supposed to shut down places like Hazelwood...not Baillieu and co.
Isn't that the idea of this ridiculous tax...to coerce the emitters to change their ways?

As for balance...I've always been open with who I vote for and my dislike of the ALP government, especially under the Rudd/Gillard regimes.
Unlike others, I don't hide my prejudices under the banner of 'balance'.

Gillard 'breaking promise' by not shutting power stations
http://www.industrysearch.com.au/Gillard-breaking-promise-by-not-shutting-power-stations/n/62059


Why did Gillard break her promise then (see above) then if the future is all renewable energy?
Probably the unions and their constituents were a bit upsets at the plan to ruin the Latrobe Valley.
So why should Baillieu hang himself then?

Then you have to look at the size of the project....like, I read somewhere that we would have to have more wind turbines than the whole of the number in the UK just to equal what power Hazelwood produces.
You're talking about billions of $$$...retraining a complete generation of workers which will also cost billions of $$$...

Anyways, we are set to have power stations like Hazelwood until 2050, and being relatively cheap, I don't think they have had their day just yet.

As I've said a couple of times already...the situation is a little more complex than just blaming Baillieu for the ills of wind turbines in the state.
Not going to discuss Gillard here. This was a decision of the state liberal government. It makes it.much harder to get planning approval, nearly impossible n fac while at the same time backing away from a commitment to half the output of Hazelwood. These are state issues.
 

Liverpool

How did that Julia and Kevin thing work out? :)
Jan 24, 2005
9,054
1
Melbourne
Re: State Government-Victoria

KnightersRevenge said:
Not going to discuss Gillard here. This was a decision of the state liberal government. It makes it.much harder to get planning approval, nearly impossible n fac while at the same time backing away from a commitment to half the output of Hazelwood. These are state issues.

I only raised Gillard because the topic everyone is talking about is a lot more complex than just blaming a State government when the federal government have put in policies and made decisions on fossil fuels for a lot longer than they first envisaged and promised.
This has a big bearing on the decisions State governments make too you know...but hey...we have an Abbott-bashing thread so about time I guess his fellow Lib colleague got his "own" thread too :spin
 

tigergollywog

Non-Hierarchical Boss Cocky
Feb 4, 2006
5,018
1
Re: State Government-Victoria

Liverpool said:
but hey...we have an Abbott-bashing thread so about time I guess his fellow Lib colleague got his "own" thread too :spin

best idea youve ever had livsy. We sould have a separate campbell newman basher and barrel ofarrely basher thread too. Lets call it "all the crooked libs in power on the east coast bashing thread' You wanna start it or will I?
 

KnightersRevenge

Baby Knighters is 7!! WTF??
Aug 21, 2007
6,782
1,222
Ireland
Re: State Government-Victoria

Liverpool said:
I only raised Gillard because the topic everyone is talking about is a lot more complex than just blaming a State government when the federal government have put in policies and made decisions on fossil fuels for a lot longer than they first envisaged and promised.
This has a big bearing on the decisions State governments make too you know...but hey...we have an Abbott-bashing thread so about time I guess his fellow Lib colleague got his "own" thread too :spin
I don't really care why you raised Gillard. We are talking about state Libs in Victoria. They made several key promises in the lead up to the election. So far we have seen only more enquiries into transport without any action (I happily blame every government over the last thirty years for utter and complete in-action on this) and the implementation of weekend warriors on train platforms and a law against swearing. On teachers and Hazelwood in particular we have seen a refusal to be as good as their word You still persist in labelling those who oppose your political views as "bashers". Inferiority complex much?
 

Liverpool

How did that Julia and Kevin thing work out? :)
Jan 24, 2005
9,054
1
Melbourne
Re: State Government-Victoria

KnightersRevenge said:
You still persist in labelling those who oppose your political views as "bashers". Inferiority complex much?

I wouldn't call them "bashers" if they were open with their political views/leanings.

You have admitted you are more socialist in your political views and therefore I expect you to denounce the Libs at every opportunity while defending Gillard and co.
I know which angle you are coming from and therefore can understand you questioning the integrity of the Baillieu government while ignoring and even defending very similar broken promises or lies conducted by the Gillard government.
You're not a 'basher' because I expect you to be negative towards a conservative government due to your personal beliefs and political leanings and so far you haven't disappointed.