The federal government could build the Snowy Hydro, why can't it build national highways? - 12.9.24

As usual, politicians aren’t interested in fixing up our dysfunctional federation or highways.
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“I give notice that on the next day of sitting, I shall move that the following matter be referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References committee for inquiry and report by 10 December 2024:
The proposal for the Australian Government to assume complete responsibility for federal highways with particular regard to:
(1) the funding, construction, and maintenance of federal highways;
(2) the training and utilisation of military engineers to construct and maintain federal highways;
and
any other related matters.”
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Australia needs to fix up its inefficient and ineffective bureaucracy.
The manner in which Federal Highways are managed is dysfunctional.
The Federal Government funds 80% of Federal Highways but the State Government is responsible for building and maintaining them. The State Government therefore has no incentive to control costs.
Katy Gallagher needs a history lesson when she says there are constitutional impediments to the Federal Government building Federal Highways.
The Federal Government built the Snowy Hydro using the Defence powers under S51(6) of the Constitution and I quote:
“However, limitations in the Australian Constitution meant that the Commonwealth Government was limited in the powers it could exercise, without the agreement of the States.
Subsequently, the Commonwealth Government introduced legislation into the Federal Parliament under its defence power; and enacted the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Act 1949.
Ten years later, the relevant States and Territories introduced their own corresponding legislation and in January 1959 the Snowy Mountains Agreement was reached between the Commonwealth and the States.”
Like Dams, our Federal Highways should be seen as vital to the defence of the Nation.
Instead of immigrants going to University they should be made do 5 years National Service in the Military Engineers, getting a trade while building infrastructure such as Federal Highways. That would be a lot more useful than driving Ubers in the city.
Quote from:
en.m.wikipedia...
#auspol #australia #highways #federation #snowyhydro

[@sherazuki]

Our highways are shameful and might as well be dirt roads in some parts.

[@AsttoScott]

Fairly certain there's still more dirt roads than pavement in Australia.

[@richardseton7014]

Some of them are

[@merrelthorson2224]

Shh.. don't say that too loud, when the Bracks Govt was in they said tbat they were returning some roads, that they believed should never have been bitumized, back to dirt roads, l'm not sure if they did bulldoze any back to dirt, none were done in my area

[@elenawalker3746]

Japan's high speed rail was talked about the same time Australia floated one they started building it in 1959, and it was completed it in FIVE years in 1964, Australia is a nation that talks the talk but never walks the walk.

[@axeman2638]

the international bankers don't want that, they want to keep us as a mine and farm and stop any industry here.

[@tjmarx]

The whole of Japan would fit into Queensland, just Queensland, 4.5 times over. You're talking apples and oranges.

[@axeman2638]

Because the private road contractors and traffic management wouldn't make billions in profits.

[@michaelsizer-r7w]

Trillions

[@oznews1]

Yer 😏 might make enough money to lobby more pollies

[@thatotherbloke9790]

Skeletor is a scumbag

[@lovewinz]

Exactly

[@tjmarx]

You mean the.. wait for it... unions? They're all union jobs mate, which means funnelling money through organised crime, and kickbacks for labor politicians.

[@DrakeBuilders]

The only #ROAD Albo's building, is the one #with heavy generational #debt attached to it...

[@LadyMist-lm]

The federal government is far too interested in interfering in the private lives of the Australian people. They might like to direct their attention to the lane they're supposed to travel in.. The incompetence is shameful and derelict. Not one single level of government is paying attention to the issues they're supposed to attend to that affect the actual people they're supposedly representing. The side stepping and gaslighting and finger pointing is very waring and a disgraceful waste of taxpayers money and resources.If they can't tax it, toll it or brag about it, they let it fall into disrepair with neglect. Local councils too might like to get their noses out of party politics and fix the massive potholes in vital roads plaguing local communities.

[@IcedZer0]

Since when have constitutional or practical barriers stopped the government? See Covid-19 lockdowns and vaccine mandates for example.

[@michaelsizer-r7w]

It's simple they contract them out we get ripped off with shit roads SA spend billion on Adelaide to mount Gambier, road ruined 9 months later nothing gets done ,government should sue the road builders but nothing done

[@turnyourbacktoit]

They are ALP mates.

[@reg8090]

Thank you Senator Rennick for being a strong advocate for Australia's benefit....what appears to be happening with the major parties+greens today is that they are fierce in their opposite to anything for ozs benefit nowadays...it's strange watching the total opposition they have to listening to ozs people

[@saltydog3099]

WEF muppets....

[@cheeks7050]

You can't just throw money at problems, you need competent people to solve them.

[@peterk2455]

Simple. The construction industry is one giant money fountain. At every step there's siphoning of $$ by developers, construction corporations, unions, sub-contractors, political parties and local government leeches.

[@jmp814]

Getting the authority to approve & undertake roadworks under defense powers, need not involve ADF personnell. That's an excuse one party has for objecting. It seems that almost every politician's statement is either blatant lies, halve truths or the omission of facts & truth. Only the hardest Patriots of this nation, can fix this nation.

[@saltydog3099]

Pretty hard with most of Canberra waving the elite globalists flag....

[@Zen-kr3te]

We need to focus on our so called highway from Gympie all the way up to North Queensland.

[@greghunter5703]

Fancy dealing with these sort of people it’s almost impossible for talking to a piece of wood. I just have no value to us whatsoever. I don’t know how they’ve even got a job.

[@onlytimewilltell204]

The current corporation could not find its way out of a circus tent that is run by the animals

[@sunrisesunset8843]

Senator, please start a "split the bruce" campaign. We need to stop head on collisions and total closure of the highway. This can only happen if the highway is split. 40% of road deaths are caused from head ons. That alone justifies the extra expense to do this. What we spend today will be dirt cheap in 50 or 100 years time.

[@sugarcan1110]

When will there be a inquiry and the premiers in the doc with the ex PM Mr baffoon

[@vivrowe2763]

The no people got it again

[@tlb2970]

That’s the way the cookie crumbles every time, shameless ministers especially mean ones

[@briananderson7285]

The government always gets in.

[@vernonwhite4660]

Look at the cost blow outs on Snowy It would not be worth building a dirt track with them😊

[@saltydog3099]

Complete incompetence..... deemed a cash cow for the government they were warned of many challenges but still went ahead bcoz its our money they are losing....

[@natashaszorkovszky1817]

Our politicians should be the best of us like Rennick not the worst. Smartest politician we have we really need to educate the others. Apreciate you senator and all that you do. Dont let them dishearten you, its what they do, there are too many really high on the NPD spectrum in politics. These guys cant run a business let alone a country. We still have advantages in Australia. Coin bureau just did a post on the latest Davos. Lets make sure people like Rennick can still become politicians here. We are already so far towards an oligarchy its rediculous.

[@SethEvans-r2j]

Redacted got more questions than answers for a life time. Be a good sport and start fielding your bosses laundries.

[@jonathoncalabrese2035]

Anyone know when rennick is starting up his own party?

[@stevebrown4475]

Qld couldn't build a road in a sand pit. Road building isn't a 9 to 5 5 day week job better off getting the Chinese to come buil our roads

[@paulreid2223]

How many billions of taxpayer dollars has the federal grubberment pissed against the wall this week ??? 🥺😡🤬

[@antonyschwarz8749]

bless this man always in Lord Jesus name xxx Sydney Australia Halleluyah protect guide him and his family at all times !!!

[@glitter_and_doom9218]

You can hear the audible groan when Rennick gets up to speak 😂