There’s a eerie similarity between
UTAS’s current predicament and that of the State government.
In the case of the latter, it has
been made blindingly obvious by Saul Eslake and others that the State is on an
unsustainable path. The Government’s Strong Plan for 2030 is not simply a smokescreen.
It’s a blatant untruth. There is no possible way the State will be able to run
cash deficits at any stage in the foreseeable future without radical changes. Debt
servicing and paying other past liabilities is taking an increased share of the
stagnant pool of State government revenue leaving less to fund current
services.
The government knows it. So does the
opposition. Although they don’t readily admit it. Both are united by omerta,
the code of silence adopted because neither have a clue what to do.
Fortunately brush fires keep flaring which
distract mug punters. The TTLine debacle for instance diverted attention and
whilst symptomatic of our woes helped everyone avoid discussion of the terminal
diagnosis of the body politic. For a time at least.
Likewise, the Mac Point Stadium debate acts as
a distraction. Although important as a sub-issue it lulls people into thinking
it’s part of the main game. It’s just a side show. There are much more serious
problems which our current head in the sand approach to future sustainability
is helping us avoid.
Likewise, in the case of UTAS the
elephant in the room is the lack of sustainability of its current model. Current attention is focussed on funding a $500
million STEM building as if that is the only thing needed to secure UTAS’s
future.
But just like the $775 million Mac
Point Stadium the cost of STEM hasn’t changed for 8 years. Are we supposed to
take these guys seriously? UTAS has been talking about new STEM facilities for
at least 12 years. Buildings at 62-82
Argyle St Hobart first valued by UTAS in 2013, purchased for STEM purposes for $9.8m
in 2015 are still unused for their intended purpose.
Minister Ferguson lost his job over his failure to deliver Berth 3 on the Mersey River Devonport in time for the new Spirit ferries. STEM is UTAS’ Berth 3.
