random_person_942345 wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2011 at 1:21pm:


The idea of political parties being honest in election campaigns died in 1993. The liberals, assured of an easy victory, proposed economic policies that would fix the country (an ironically when finally implemented 3 years later did just that) but were unpalatable to an obviously immature election. keating lied thru his teeth, showed a remarkable hypocrisy in opposing his own preferred policy and was rewarded with a remarkable victory. It was then made patently clear that the electorate is way too immature to be entrusted with truth during campaigns. since then tcampaigning has been a never-ending succession of promises which were not fulfilled because they were unaffordable or impractical. 1998 was the only exception.

we get what we deserve. we reward lying politicians so why should not expect that politicans will therefore lie to us in the future?

John S wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2011 at 3:07pm:


It must be therefore very galling to you to see that repeated polls rate him as australias BEST PM!!  tough luck!

John S wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2011 at 9:08pm:


Is that the best you can do, dimmest-of-the-dim?

January 23, 2011
 
THE Baillieu Government finds itself stuck between a green wedge and a hard place.
On one hand the new government needs to find more vacant land to fulfil its election pledge to tackle housing affordability.

On the other it has to ensure Melbourne's urban expansion does not destroy the character, environment and liveability of our city.

Premier Ted Baillieu (right) will win praise for his latest plan to free up more land in the hope of driving down prices in urban growth areas.

Few people will see anything wrong with giving first-home buyers a helping hand to be able to enter the market.

But they may have a problem with today's revelation that the Government will consider extending the urban growth boundary if its new land affordability plan doesn't work.

The Brumby Government moved the boundary last year to include an extra 46,000ha for development and extended it again in 2005 for an extra 11,000ha.

Former premier John Brumby announced in December his government would consider tens of thousands more hectares of land outside the existing boundary if Labor returned to power.

His demise has put the plan in Mr Baillieu's hands and it seems the Coalition intends to act fast.

Land cleared for release under the new plan will come from within the urban growth boundary - for now.

Though any further extension of the boundary will please developers and land buyers, it will infuriate conservationists who will watch closely, fearing signs of over-development.

Planning Minister Matthew Guy acknowledges land supply is not the only factor driving up prices. But it is a major one.

The Baillieu Government went to the polls promising to make it easier for Victorians to buy their first home. The reality is that Melbourne land prices have become untenable for many, even in outer areas.




http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/green-wedges-face-the-chop/story-e6frfhqf-12...

FIVE YEARS LATE AND $35M OVER BUDGET.
WHAT WAS THAT BUZZ?
ECONOMICALLY SENSIBLE?????????




THE state government is considering abandoning Victoria's trouble-plagued $360 million health technology program, with Health Minister David Davis admitting he faces ''a genuine dilemma with 'the myki of the health system' ''.

The HealthSMART program - five years late and $35 million over budget - is supposed to link computer systems in hospitals and introduce processes such as electronic prescribing.

But clinical applications are only partially running in just four hospitals, and doctors say patient safety is compromised by inadequate procedures that causes them to duplicate paperwork, chase test results and compete for access to computer terminals.

In a state budget submission, the Australian Medical Association has called for a further $328 million to be invested on health technology over the next four years, with a focus on providing ready access to patient records, test results and medication details.

AMA Victoria president Harry Hemley said health technology in Victoria bordered on the embarrassing, and ''patients would be appalled at the lack of IT, computers and connectivity between different areas of the health system''.

Mr Davis said the HealthSMART program, launched by the former Labor government in 2003, had been ''botched in its introduction'' and was tens of millions of dollars over budget without achieving its stated aims.

''The new government faces a genuine dilemma with the myki of the health system,'' he said. ''On the one side we have large sunk costs, and on the other a system that has failed to meet expectations.''

Mr Davis said technology was ''a critical part of improving the performance and quality of our health system'', and the AMA's submission would be considered as part of the budget process.

Dr Hemley said many promises had been made about HealthSMART's ability to revolutionise technology in hospitals, but the project had been bitterly disappointing despite hundreds of millions of dollars in investment.

''HealthSMART still has potential to deliver a vastly superior health IT system but it needs to be seen as an ongoing investment,'' he said.

"Hospitals need to be supported with additional targeted funding to build their basic IT infrastructure and to bring these programs online, rather than divert funds from elsewhere in their budgets.''

Health board minutes have previously revealed that hospitals were being left to meet funding gaps for millions of dollars under the program, and concerns had been raised with the former government that it placed their organisations at risk.

West Gippsland Healthcare Group chief executive Ormond Pearson said instead of introducing critically important clinical applications, the program had simply replaced existing systems used for non-clinical areas such financial management.

''We've really replaced [existing] business systems, and [the HealthSMART versions] haven't proven to be the most efficient systems and have caused us some grief,'' he said.

Victorian Healthcare Association chief executive Trevor Carr called for an honest dialogue about the program and ''transparency around the real cost of implementation''.

Mr Carr said there was ''a sense of secrecy and a sense there's been a bit of a cover-up'' about the program's failings.

''We've got to make sure we have integrated systems within agencies. That hasn't been achieved at this stage and it's a big issue because it creates duplication of process and that is costly,'' he said.

''Other governments have walked away from failed health IT projects and decided to dump them and start from scratch. That's what we need to have a long hard look at - whether it's that diabolical, and if it's not, how we can go about gaining the improvements we really do need to gain.''

A junior hospital physician who did not want to be named told The Age: ''When I need to check a blood test or X-ray, I can spend five minutes searching for a computer and five minutes waiting for it to load. I'd far rather spend that time with patients.

''Ultimately, I'd like to be able to click a button in [the emergency ward] that brings up a patient's medication and their past history from their GP.''

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 4:47pm:


another day, another cry from Buzz. or did you miss the fact that yet another Labor program was a massive over-budget screwup??

But of course, lets blame the liberals who have bene in power 5 minutes for a labor program in process for 7 years.

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 6:09pm:


And yet you NEVER criticise a Labor Govt program. not the myki fiasco or health smart of any one of 27 failed federal labor programs. Your font is large. Your credibility is not.

buzzanddidj wrote on Jan 24^th, 2011 at 6:21pm:


Oh I forgot the main thing... not only is it over budget... IT DOESNT WORK or get even close. So while you seem to think ONLY 10% over budget is ok, you might have a point if it were complete and working but it isnt.

So in summary. it is 10% OVER budget and 100% below expectations. Thats a disaster - just like any labor govt program.  You just have exceptionally low standards for labor govt programs. as long as no one gets killed, then it is a success.... Even by that pathetic standard, labor fails.

Now back to you for a bit more of a tantrum and a few more tears...

the next 4 years are going to be tough on you, buzz.  and the 8 after that even more so.