Jeff Kennett: Deeming-Pesutto trial will expose Libs’ internal enemies

The Moira Deeming case against Opposition Leader John Pesutto may cause some short-term pain but it will help the Liberal Party spot those who aren’t working as a team and have lost the desire to govern.

Finally, we are approaching the Moira Deeming legal case against Opposition Leader John Pesutto.

It is sad it has reached this stage.

One of Deeming’s demands is that she be returned to the parliamentary Liberal Party.

This is not a gift of Pesutto, but the members of the party to decide, no matter how much Pesutto may advocate and work for Deeming’s return.

I am now hearing that Deeming is demanding a compensation payout, if she wins. Ridiculous!

Politics is a tough game. I am now ready for the trial that might cause some short-term pain but will help the Victorian Liberal Party identify those who are not working as a team, who have lost the desire to govern.

I say bring on the case, short-term pain for long-term gain. There is a gold medal to be won. But only for a committed team.

One of Moira Deeming’s demands is that she be returned to the parliamentary Liberal Party. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Governments can’t buy love

It is interesting to watch that governments that are literally throwing money at the electorate in order to win political support on the way to election, are not winning the public’s support but losing it.

Both federally and in particular in Queensland where Premier Steven Miles is throwing billions of dollars at the electorate, and while they are taking his offerings, but see the desperation, and the irresponsibility of his management.

In Canberra, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is at loggerheads with his appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank Michele Bullock.

Ms Bullock says federal and state governments are spending too much on infrastructure and on increases in the salaries for which they are responsible. All of this adds to the challenge of bringing inflation under control.

Chalmers says this is not the case, but where has he been for the past two years?

And just look at Victoria, on the way to being an absolute financial basket case. With almost 25 per cent of the nation’s economy, Victoria’s failures are now having an adverse negative impact on federal finances.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers is at loggerheads with his appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank Michele Bullock. Picture: Martin Ollman

Then there is the exponential increasing cost of the NDIS.

The federal government has done little to realign the NDIS. At present they are trying to put additional extra costs on the states to be able to say they have slowed down the Commonwealth’s financial cost of the NDIS.

If the states agree to the legislation before the federal parliament, the blowouts in state budgets will be extreme and happen very quickly.

Fiddling with the model that underpins the NDIS will produce no effective outcome, nor will cost shifting from the federal government to the states deliver fundamental change.

The NDIS needs a root-and-branch review, one which maintains its compassionate elements but makes it sustainably affordable.

If this does not occur, the NDIS might not survive as we know it today.

The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part. Picture: Getty Images

Taking part trumps winning at Games

We can play sport together, dance, sing and write together. Why can’t the world live together?

With the Olympics behind us, the success of the Australian team, athletes, coaches, parents and families, has been a result beyond compare.

For a country with only 26 million people, to come fourth in the medal count to the US and China, and Japan, with populations of 300 million, a billion and 123 million respectively, is remarkable.

From the youngest gold medallist, to the most mature, it is hard to properly appreciate what goes into their training, just to get selected to represent Australia and go to Paris.

Then having been selected and compete, whether they come first or last in their event.

Matters not, they have lived what Baron Pierre de Coubertin said when founding the Games “the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well”.

I do not know how our young athletes are supported once they are recognised as potential Olympians. Some are part of our sport academies, certainly many get financially supported by families, and a few get supported by generous benefactors such as Gina Rinehart.

I would like the AOC to publicly tell us how our athletes are supported. And if required, develop a new model, to ensure all of those identified as potential Olympians are properly supported.

Those who earn a gold, silver, or bronze medal, get a bonus, but should not all who are selected to compete be truly assisted?

Some athletes were competing in their second, third and fourth Olympics. That’s 16 years, to be best in class, to represent their country. Years of training with coaches, families, thousands of hours of effort before the athlete gets recognised as a potential Olympic competitor.

I am proud of those who won a gold, silver, or bronze medal, but I am equally proud of those who were selected, but did not win a medal.

Have a good day.

Jeff Kennett is a former Premier of Victoria