There is an undeniable urgency in solving hospital and ambulance delays but tampering with a big-build project midway, to solve an unrelated problem, is tantamount to vandalism, writes Jon Faine. | OPINION springst
There is an undeniable urgency in solving hospital and ambulance delays. Patients are suffering, medical staff are exhausted and frustrated. If it was easy, it would have been done already.Elections can be won and lost on nothing else. In our own recent past, Steve Bracks came to power not just because of the autocratic style of Jeff Kennett but because of an ambulance service scandal.
Building a hospital is straightforward enough but once finished, they need many millions annually for operating budgets. Cancelling capital works of a one-off train line does not create recurrent funding for new hospitals over the decades that follow. Andrews remains exposed on the budget creep for the massive suburban rail project. He is already trying to explain it as inevitable and in line with rising costs across the economy.
Politicians are constantly seeking legacy and wanting to endear themselves to swinging voters in marginal electorates. Is it still necessary to point out that essential infrastructure ought to be based on independently assessed need regardless of swing seat sensitivities? Or is that futile?
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