Jeff Kennett: Time for leaders who put Victoria first

Herald Sun

3 hours ago

For all community-minded individuals, the greatest challenge for Victoria lies ahead of us.
The state is facing headwinds of a magnitude never before faced.
It is a calamitous call I know – but numbers don't lie.
Where the level of debt and the cost of servicing that debt has never been higher, where the quality of services that should be provided by government are rapidly declining, and the taxes and charges being paid by the state's citizens and businesses are at record levels destroying the very concept of aspiration.
Worse, the level of some taxes is forcing families to sell assets that were to be shared with children and grandchildren.
The Labor government that has overseen this massive decline in Victoria's competitiveness and standard of living, should be overwhelmingly thrown out of office at the next election.
Never before has a government so destructively attacked the fabric of the society they were elected to lead.
But who will be the beneficiary of the Labor Party's rejection?
The official Opposition is made up of the Coalition of the Liberal and National Parties.
The National Party's parliamentary representation, that basically represents rural interests has been stable and disciplined throughout the last 11 years of Labor government.
Sadly, the same cannot be said of the Liberal Party which has become increasingly internally divided, at times bitterly so.
Worse, many individuals have lost the desire to win an election as opposed to pursuing personal vendettas. They have forgotten why they were elected to parliament. In fact, many don't care.
The Deeming/Pesutto issue has now been resolved as it should have been months ago.
If the Coalition is to benefit from Labor's demise, the Liberal Party will quickly have to come together and act as one. And provide the leadership the public expects of an Opposition, and outline how they are going to offer solutions to unprecedented challenges.
If not, it will not be the Liberals who inherit the rejection of the Labor Party, but a collection of independents and minor parties.
That would be a disaster for Victoria. In the main those elected would be inexperienced, would not be a cohesive group and simply unqualified to meet the challenges of the new government.
So, it is incumbent on the Liberals at an organisational and parliamentary level to use the next few months to show they are a united opposition and a viable future Victorian government.
As much as I am saddened about what the Andrews and Allan governments have done to our state, it is done. We cannot change what the next government will inherit.
It will in fact be The Great Victorian Challenge.
It will be the greatest challenge facing any incoming government since World War II.
It will be a challenge for those elected to parliament together with a public service that is creative and nimble. Where good governance and transparency of the community's affairs will be paramount.
It will require men and women, of all ages and experiences, to offer, to come forward to be part of that challenge.
The Liberal Party has a few short months to prove they are relevant to Victoria's needs. To provide the leadership to attract experienced people to stand as candidates at the election in November next year. And build and support policies that are relevant in a changing world.
Time will tell.
If not, my fear of a collection of independents being elected, and if the Labor Party win the most seats at the election, they will probably gain the majority of the independents to support them forming government.
So more of the same for four more years.
For me, the future is not so much about partisan politics, Labor or Liberal.
It is the future of Victoria.
I believe the current government has disqualified themselves from being re-elected.
The Opposition has been eating its own.
There is still time for those committed to the state's welfare to show their hand.
While some, even many, will not like what I have written here, it is the truth.
So, I declare The Great Victorian Challenge open to all who want to put the state's interest before their own.
Have a good day.
Jeff Kennett is a former Premier of Victoria
Jeff Kennett was premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999, served two stints as Hawthorn Football Club president and was the founding chairman of Beyond Blue.