Entitlements and ransoms

Reports about the end of the age of entitlement are greatly exaggerated.

Hobart’s Mercury newspaper reported Deal close on $38 million Hobart International Airport bonanza

Describing the handout as government assistance to upgrade vital public infrastructure masks the reality that it’s a bailout of a private company brought to its knees by the rapacious behaviour of the airport manager Macquarie Bank.

SPC Ardmona asked for $25 million from the Australian government for factory upgrading in addition to $25 million from the Victorian government and $90 million from its own coffers. The financial strength of SPC’s parent Coca Cola Amatil was a factor in the Australian government’s refusal to accede to SPC’s request.

The assistance offered the Hobart Airport will comprise the bulk of the funds required for the airport upgrade and overlooks the ability of managers to raise funds elsewhere, not to mention turning a blind eye to events which necessitated the bail out.

Winning was easy

Winning was easy.

Henceforth it gets a whole lot harder, addressing the issues conveniently overlooked by all parties during the election campaign, not just looming problems with Hydro Tasmania, Forestry Tasmania and TT Line but the overwhelmingly crucial matter of government budgetary sustainability without a fallback position on the horizon.

Tripartite consensus at last?

The most compelling thing about the Liberals’ fiscal strategy just released is that it may signify the dawn of a new era of consensus.