Gillard sets up flood oversight body

Posted 17 minutes ago

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has announced the formation of a reconstruction inspectorate to ensure no money is wasted during disaster rebuilding efforts around the country.

Ms Gillard says Australia is facing a tough road ahead after the summer's unprecedented floods, along with Cyclone Yasi and bushfires in Western Australia.

She says the reconstruction inspectorate, chaired by former New South Wales premier and federal finance minister John Fahey, will oversee arrangements and guard against waste.

"As we rebuild from these large-scale and widespread natural disasters, it's appropriate to have these mechanisms to ensure that every dollar is a dollar that is spent effectively, and that every dollar spent from taxpayers' money goes to do work that is necessary to rebuild the nation," she said.

The inspectorate will scrutinise all contracts before they are signed, carry out audits and make sure assistance goes to the regions most in need.

Ms Gillard says it will work directly with state agencies and report to the Cabinet sub-committee that she chairs.

"I have learned some things rolling out major construction projects [such as the Building the Education Revolution] ... and I would remind you that in many thousands of projects, complaint rates were at 3 per cent," she said.

"But as Prime Minister I will take the approach of holding up every decision to scrutiny.

"I believe this body ... will bring a new degree of oversight and that's the right thing to do.

"It's my determination to get value for money for every taxpayer dollar spent."

A $5 billion package comprised of a flood levy and spending cuts was put forward to help fund flood reconstruction, but the Government is looking to trim the budget further in the wake of Cyclone Yasi.

One option being canvassed is to cut middle-class welfare by tightening eligibility for family tax payments.

But the Opposition has attacked the levy and is drawing up a $1.8 billion hit list of its own to prove its point that a levy is not needed.

In addition to the inspectorate, two Commonwealth representatives will sit on the board of the Queensland Reconstruction Taskforce to ensure the Government's 75 per cent contribution towards rebuilding is spent wisely.

The representatives are former merchant banker Brad Orgill, who oversaw the Building the Education Revolution audit, and the departmental head of Regional Australia, Glenys Beauchamp.


http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/07/3131939.htm

The thinning of Australia's middle class.

And likewise with education, schools for the rich, and schools for the poor.

Does Gillard make any actual decisions for herself?

Quote:


Welcome to the general Board where imcrook doesnt even bump his own threads and would rather just make new ones.

Do you prefer the new title of this thread Vegita?

Admittedly, the original was rather subjective, even if I do say so myself.

sir prince duke alevine wrote on Feb 7^th, 2011 at 1:14pm:


Talk about subtly sneaking it in...I mean, if you googled "Gillard to cut middle class welfare"... this article wouldn't come up.

She's shifty.

A Howard government didn't resort to scrimping on schools and middle class families to clean-up after Cyclone Larry.

The clean-up bill isn't unmanageable, and Abbotts determined to prove how it can be done without hurting ordinary Australians, recall Gillards generous $500 million she pledged to Indonesian schools back in November 2010?

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic-blog/gillards-500-million-pledge-for-ind...

...She found $500 million easily enough for Indonesian schools, why not for our flood and cyclone victims?

I would love to be in charge of approving the tenders for contract works, and be in charge of actually getting the works done.

I'd only take 10% of what I would save them.

The BS public service will ruin this again approving blown out contracts and not holding the trades people to account.  There should never be a budget blowout.  That the contract, thats the price now do it.

I remember when we were starting the building phase of our house and the differrent companies would try lines like "it costs more to fill that alfresco in" when it entailed less windows and bricks than the current design and how they tried to justify cetain expenses.  I remember one such salesman asking if he was on trial or something.

If the government had half a brain they would look to employ some ex-builders or builders nearing retirement on two or three year contracts and put them in charge of it.  They are the ones that know what things cost and wouldnt let others pull the wool over their eyes.  They could also undertake the inspections to ensure the works are up to scratch.

Same could be said for engineering work and earthmoving for example.

There is no real experience in the public service and what we will see is another good meaning project come under fire for cost blow outs and ridicious tenders granted.

Flood watchdog is a waste, says Abbott

Quote:





http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/flood-watchdog-is-a-waste-says-abb...

"Labors factions appoint watchdog to watch over dog"