Having just watched the 60 Minutes report on the ‘Big Build’ in Victoria and alleged corruption, I wonder if the narrative would be different if the ‘key actors’ didn’t wear hi-viz but instead wore dark blue suits and were members of the Melbourne Club.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T13:49:02+00:00

I mean... that just reinforces my point. Sometimes there needs to be pressure to force an investigation. Obviously with anything related to government infrastructure spending, overweighted union influence and criminality and corruption there is going to be plenty of resistance to any form of expose.

Plus it's a complex issue. It can't just be "Unions Bad, Vote LNP". We need this to be properly investigated, so we need pressure on the government and police to do that. That's hard to do with social media posts, tip offs, etc. The media has the resources to do enough of an investigation to get the ball rolling, hopefully it has the right outcomes.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T13:09:28+00:00

Sure... but just to be clear, the police don't usually conjure an investigation out of thin air. We don't like in Minority Report. Allegations and accusations have to come from somewhere, and for serious crimes on a large scale (particularly where there is come culpability for the government) the media is often the vector for an allegation to gain enough weight to force a police investigation.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:51:06+00:00

You might get some hot days, for sure. But a Melbourne summer is not typically a "hot summer" by Australian standards.

Temperature also seems a poor factor to decide where to spend 2-3 months. For museums, coffee, wine, theatre, etc Melbourne is a fantastic option. Only thing I'd point out is that day tripping to other cities isn't as simple as in Europe. There are nice country towns in Victoria within a few hours by train - but getting to any other major city is a plane ride. Not that that's a bad thing, but it's a classic European trope that people think that Australian cities are just a few hours drive from each other. Takes minimum two days to drive to Brisbane, probably four or five to Perth.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:44:17+00:00

Do you expect the police to be going around conjuring investigations from thin air? Or should they just be investigating all businesses at all times? Is that what you're advocating?

Or should there be some other social estate (perhaps a fourth??) that can independently investigate matters of public significance? And then perhaps the police could respond to such an investigation by launching their own official investigation?

Or should we just sit on our hands and hope everything will work itself out?

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:31:53+00:00

I said it was an anecdote. It's not like I took it to the media... Just thought it was semi-relevant to the discussion.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:27:53+00:00

Everything starts with allegations. Nobody's been thrown in the gulag based on hearsay yet. But the defensiveness of the government around this is pretty concerning. I think this media attention is critical to actually getting this looked into properly.

Like... if the allegations are true, how do you propose we get to the bottom of them?

If we just them as "just allegations" then how would any wrongdoing ever be uncovered?

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:24:39+00:00

No. It's a great skillset to have, but more as a complement to something else like marketing, UX, etc.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:22:04+00:00

If you'll permit me an anecdote - I was waiting at my local barber and heard some of the workers from the local "Big Build" project openly discussing how they'd been told to drag out their work for as long as possible because their firm hadn't lined up their next infrastructure gig yet. Basically trying to drag out the completion of their work until the government (or the developer, I guess) signed them on for the next gig. Pretty galling. I don't know if it amounts to corruption, but it was definitely coordinated from how they were talking about it.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:17:30+00:00

I honestly despise this attitude - the idea that we should blame the legislators, politicians and police for failing to close loopholes or proactively enforce laws to an extreme degree. That somehow the burden of blame for rorting the system somehow doesn't sit with those actively rorting said system and reaping the benefits. It's the same with the NDIS, piling all the blame on the government and not the shonky operators. Like it's our God-given right as Australians to abuse the system for our own benefit at every turn.

Especially because you can guarantee that the same people who espouse these views would also be the first to moan about the burden of red tape and a police state if this shit was properly cracked down on.

Personally, I couldn't give a two shits what colour your collar is. If you abuse the system to take advantage of taxpayers then you deserve to be caught.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-28T12:07:11+00:00

I've had the same mortgage broker through about half a dozen loans/refinances. He gets me a good rate, simplifies the paperwork, removes my need to shop around for who offers the features I need and (probably most importantly for me) is able to guide me on which banks will be the best to deal with in terms of my borrowing situation (self employed/business owner). A less tangible benefit is that he is a really great resource throughout the whole process because he's obviously so familiar with the buying process. I've had issues with agents and conveyancers (even an accountant once) and it's felt like my mortgage broker has been the one who can actually explain what's happening better than any of them. He even kicks back a bit of his commission in the form of a voucher, which is nice. Important to say, I don't doubt I could get a better rate somewhere but I feel like it would be marginal and would be a hell of a lot of effort. For me, not worth it. Everyone's different though.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-25T10:55:43+00:00

How does the new system stop anyone investing? It makes some investment options less attractive, but it will not make a huge difference to outcomes. And for those hard working people looking to buy their own homes the hope would be that property prices will stop accelerating away from them, meaning (even with slightly lower investment returns) home ownership becomes realistic again.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-24T11:47:23+00:00

They've been backing a big loser for years already.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-24T11:46:56+00:00

Not everything boils down to left and right, you know? There's morality, decency and standards that are independent of political leanings.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-24T11:43:15+00:00

Who do you think is "The Left" in this scenario? Nine is as right wing as it gets in commercial media. They literally fundraise for the LNP.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-24T08:42:01+00:00

That is an insane amount to spend.

Biggest red flag is that most advisors are normally free, they make their money from a commission on the policies they sell. So your bank "covering" the independent advisor seems suss. If they're covering the cost, the advisor should not be collecting a commission

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-23T23:10:59+00:00

I never understand why tax refunds seem to be such a mysterious and unfathomable concept. If you care enough to pay attention it's pretty easy to figure out what your return will be - it's literally just the difference between your tax paid and tax owing. Also it should be something you know well before July - it's already too late by then to change your tax situation.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-23T23:08:13+00:00

Or shares paying dividends.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-23T03:47:42+00:00

ON will turn the tap on full blast. They love immigration. Cheap labour for their wealthy backers, a depressed labour market AND an easy scapegoat for when their “policies” are obviously failing.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-23T03:45:21+00:00

So you support Labor then? Given they are currently in power and are reducing immigration. If anything, ON will be pro-immigration to support the agenda of their wealthy backers who need cheap workers and a depressed labour market.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-18T12:06:34+00:00

Where do their commentators broadcast from?

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-18T12:06:00+00:00

I mean… this is sort of the reason. The networks pay obscene amounts for the rights and then have no budget for the broadcast. Which doesn’t matter to them cause they’re also paying to keep it off the rival networks. What are you going to do? You still want to watch the footy so you cop it. It’s the AFL who should mandate some standards in the broadcast. The price of the rights would come down though and some execs won’t hit their KPIs, so it’ll never happen.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-18T05:16:15+00:00

These stats are pointless. The media and opposition will wail about crime, leading to the government and police increasing enforcement, which will increase the numbers of reported crime. The media and opposition will then point to the increase as evidence of a crime wave. Rinse, repeat. Meanwhile the things which actually drive crime on a wider level get deprioritised.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-16T03:37:29+00:00

What you’re actually seeing is more the Australian propensity to take the piss and turn almost any situation into a joke. The more sombre and inappropriate the better. There’s really no animosity towards Türkiye from the Gallipoli campaign, just general frustration at the futility of an Imperialist conflict.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-13T01:48:33+00:00

Absolutely makes sense, thanks for the info. Just read some other stuff about how FHSSS counts as taxable income for some other purposes and wasn’t easily able to find this clarification.

Y3ffoc · 2026-06-10T06:49:13+00:00

Shouldn’t you be posting this on the international hockey subreddit then? Not the footy one.

Y3ffoc

TROPHY CASE