A leaked DEPI report reveals its system for allocating millions of dollars of contract work is poor value for money
The east Gippsland fires have been estimated to have cost the government (tax payer) up to $140 million to manage. We are hearing that so much of this was reckless waste – machines laying idle at $2000 a day or more, bulldozers left to do their own thing just to keep them employed. Strike teams sent from across the state for a day of ‘look-see’ or waiting around, to drive back the next day.
We need an enquiry into these fires and that MUST include looking at the unaccountable waste of money during an ‘emergency’ – as this then comes from Treasury and not DEPI funds. There is little care or accounting for how much is wasted doing what.
Read the leaked report (PDF) here