This is a fine example why nothing 'goes' in Australia

[Uncle Fester]

The cost of infrastructure here never stops to amaze me but this one might be more clear for everybody to see.
So it takes two years and AU$25,000,000 for the engineering marvel of erecting a flag pole.

I'll go to Bunnings myself and climb up there and put the pole up.

Ahh... a man with my style of thinking

So lets have a look what a 20m flag pole in the USA costs, If I recall correctly 60ft is roughly 20m:


Mounting a flag pole on a bridge doesn't even require a with excavation, just a base plate and a few bolts.
OK throw in 20k to rent a helicopter to make the installation a bit easier, although we could also get one for 'free' from our defence force currently being a bit under-utilised right now.

Edit: Maybe the Aboriginals want to carve out of Ironbark by hand a 20m long didgeridoo and use that as a flag pole. I would accept 2 years for that and when the wind blows over it, it makes an insanely deep noise.

[VroomVroom]

when it comes to anything Aboriginal , somebody is making some money out of the "complex engineering " , thats for sure. As NSW Premier , he should call for an audit of the job to see exactly where and how the money is being spent , to make sure that taxpayers are getting value for money.

Similar situation here where i live - one of the local aboriginal corporations somehow scored a $500,000 grant to open an indigenous themed coffee shop , right next door to their govt funded health service. It opened with much fanfare only for the person running the place to turn away business from white people . Obviously no racism involved here is there ?? the dump closed a couple on months later ( i wonder why ) and the landlord was never paid any rent. Where did the money go ? another government waste ....

[eaglem]

Sounds like there'll be more kick backs in this job than a River Dance Show!!

[lsemmens]

I'll save 'em a couple of bucks, I'll give them a 10% discount if they pay me up front. As a symbol of "unity" take their NSW flag down as that is dividing all Australians into states with borders and hang the blackfella flag on the spare flagpole. I'm sure That is worth $25,000,000 - less 10% of course. Problem solved. Just wait until the rainbow brigade get a hold of that one!

[porkop]

t opened with much fanfare only for the person running the place to turn away business from white people .

How could they tell they weren't aboriginal?

I see so many white aboriginals I couldn't tell the different to be racist!

[Al Bundy]

How could they tell they weren't aboriginal?

I see so many white aboriginals I couldn't tell the different to be racist!

Did you mean the ones with the Blue eyes and blond hair that’s been permed to make it look frizzy??? they everywhere in Tassie, I find it quite funny that our white Aussie ancestors were accused of genocide in Tassie, now there’s thousands of aboriginals down here, go figure

[Uncle Fester]

Looks like Perrottet has backflipped on this amazing deal and is looking for an alternative.
It might still end up $10,000,000 because for some odd reason they need to move the other flag posts and a light

Instead of work intensive pole moving they could just put add two flag poles left and right of the existing one towards the Opera House side so all three flags are visibly symmetrical from the prime viewing points.
The pole on the other side is a bit hidden unless you are up high or standing far away.
Question then would be what flag to hang there. Probably costs another $10,000,000 for a committee to decide on that.

[enf]

Looks like Perrottet has backflipped on this amazing deal and is looking for an alternative.
It might still end up $10,000,000 because for some odd reason they need to move the other flag posts and a light

Instead of work intensive pole moving they could just put add two flag poles left and right of the existing one towards the Opera House side so all three flags are visibly symmetrical from the prime viewing points.
The pole on the other side is a bit hidden unless you are up high or standing far away.
Question then would be what flag to hang there. Probably costs another $10,000,000 for a committee to decide on that.

Welcome to governent financing. This "project" (being kind) is being used to ditch money from certain budgets prior to tax time. All departments of state and federal governments do this. They operate on the principle that if we don't spend it, they'll think we shouldn't have had it in the first place. They don't give a sh!t, it's not their money.

Happens all the time.....

[macca]

I don't know what we need 3 flags on top of the coathhanger?

Get rid of the Australian Flag, the NSW flag has more importance to the state, so my consultation fee for my work is $250

[lsemmens]

Interestingly enough a good friend whose grandmother was full blood, is blue eyed and blonde. Her kids look more Abbo than she does.

[enf]

Interestingly enough a good friend whose grandmother was full blood, is blue eyed and blonde. Her kids look more Abbo than she does.

Thats the way genetics works....

[enf]

I don't know what we need 3 flags on top of the coathhanger?

Get rid of the Australian Flag, the NSW flag has more importance to the state, so my consultation fee for my work is $250

F*ck the state. The nation SHOULD be our priority. Get rid of everything BUT the national flag.

Welcome to governent financing. This "project" (being kind) is being used to ditch money from certain budgets prior to tax time. All departments of state and federal governments do this. They operate on the principle that if we don't spend it, they'll think we shouldn't have had it in the first place. They don't give a sh!t, it's not their money.

Happens all the time.....

Further to my point. This is the time when you get the stories of lavish BBQ area refurbishment etc...office reconstructions....overseas jaunts....

I remember I screwed a colour photocopier for my staff (back when these were rare) out of an executive officer by this very means..prior they were reluctant.

[Ah-Those-Old-Days!]

Wow! I'm surprised this thread has lasted as long as it has, with some of the comments! hahaha.
However, I do not think it is 'racist' to simply mention actual costs, and where the money really goes! Just statements of fact!

I don't think any of our countrymen/women should be excluded from any plans/desires to 'help' anyone in 'need', but obviously it
does go the other way too at times. The 'Census' here, want's to know if one is Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander origin. (??). And
that makes a difference regarding Centrelink/Pension/Support payments?? Why aren't we all the same???

One of my brothers is a Magistrate in the NT, and another was a Cop in remote areas of the NT for many years. They would receive
numerous formal requests, (Aboriginals using white Lawyers), that the Police would have to process, and act as a go-between the
Government, and these individuals/groups. Things like..."We want a boat, to teach our young ones the traditional ways of fishing"...
The report back... (yes I've seen the paperwork!)... "What size boat... How many engines/horsepower... where can we deliver it?".
The same goes for high-end 4-wheel drives etc etc. And 100% free dental care, Education/TAFE etc etc. Solely dependent on colour?

I could tell stories that would surprise even the hardened ones here... but would definitely get 'blocked'. Very basically though, the
Government has pre-determined budgets each year, and they HAVE to SPEND that, as if they come under budget, they never get that
offer again the NEXT year!! And that's not even a quarter of it... sigh... We should all be equal her in Australia

[lsemmens]

None of your stories would surprise me Old day's I lived in the Top End for many years. It is still home to me.

[enf]

.................................................. ........

I could tell stories that would surprise even the hardened ones here... but would definitely get 'blocked'. Very basically though, the
Government has pre-determined budgets each year, and they HAVE to SPEND that, as if they come under budget, they never get that
offer again the NEXT year!! And that's not even a quarter of it... sigh... We should all be equal her in Australia

This is exactly what I was saying. It isn't confined to the NT and Abos either. All public departments do this everywhere.

Each government department or utility has an executive officer who is responsible for allocating the loot. No EO wants his budget cut, as their status changes. They spend the money so they can ask for more.

[Tiny]

[Uncle Fester]

Ha, ha.
What's with the * ?
Are those two items considered for deletion due to cost saving measures?

This project is sooo rife for new episodes of Utopia (outstanding Aussie satire about our bureaucrats, NOT the Sci-Fi shows).
They could make a whole new Season devoted to this one project.

As for the spending budget mentioned above, I am sure 25million funnelled towards public housing would do a lot better for some Aboriginals.

Yeah, ditch the useless NSW flag, no need for a third pole... ouch and then what? A commission to shut down the flag waving commission.
The freed up bureaucrats can then be transferred to live bearing flag pole wavers, standing on top of the bridge in shifts.