Jeff Kennett: Victoria can’t change the past, but we can hopefully positively shape our future

Victorians must ask: Is our state is better or worse off than 10 years ago? Our debt levels will determine the quality of future — and it’s a massive challenge we must tackle now.

Jeff Kennett says Victoria must use the best of its resources and minds to positively shape the future.

Victoria is still, and always will be, home for me.

But we face challenges like we have never faced before.

Our debt levels, and the interest we pay on that debt, will determine the quality of future government-provided services, and the opportunities and rewards that will exist for Victorian individuals, families and businesses.

You, the readers, the citizens of Victoria, will ask yourself are you, are we as a state, better or worse off than 10 years ago?

What I do know is that we all woke up this morning, we are blessed.

We have a massive challenge ahead of us.

I would like to think we can rise up to meet and overcome that challenge. We have to.

The key is to use the best of all our resources, and minds, not just those that are partisan.

I am always optimistic, we can’t change the past, but we can hopefully positively shape our future.

Kennet’s report card on Victoria after 10 years of Labor

Click each header to see Kennett’s full comments

The Economy
Triple F
Because the interest payments on our debt are so large every week, it reduces money available to the government to maintain our services, and taxes and charges are increasing beyond the capacity of many families and businesses to pay.

Law and Order
D
Sadly Victorians are increasingly concerned about their personal safety and that of their property, with the Government being seen to side with the offenders.

Health
C+
Should be a given that Victorians can gain access to the best public health facilities, fully manned and hospitals appropriately funded.

Education
D
If you cannot provide an examination system for those completing their education, what is the point of conducting examinations. It reflects on the whole education system.

Events and Entertainment
B
Important to keep hope alive as the state sinks into the abyss, and to divert Victorians for a moment of time from the issues that are causing them pain.

Infrastructure
F
Important, but should be addressed on a rolling basis as the state can afford such expenditure, and only when such expenditure can be professionally managed. Neither achieved and major reason for debt blow out.

Overall
F

Jeff Kennett is a former Liberal premier of Victoria