John Brumby has been caught out hiding a State Services Authority report into Victoria’s alpine resorts for more than 12 months to cover up Labor’s mismanagement of the resorts, many of which lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in the midst of one of Victoria’s best snow seasons on record.
Shadow Minister Responsible for Scrutiny of Government David Davis said the secret report into the viability of alpine resorts, their management and governance has been hidden from Victorians for more than twelve months as part of the Brumby Government’s cover-up.“It was only on the eve of adverse media coverage that this report was sneakily put onto a government website, once again showing that Labor is more interested in snowing Victorians than being open and accountable,” Mr Davis said.
“It’s no wonder that Labor has tried to hide this report for so long, given its sorry saga of mismanagement and the declining financial performance of most resorts in recent years.
“Resorts have recorded disastrous deficits, despite the 2008 snow season being one of the best on record, described by industry experts as ‘epic’, ‘exceptional’ and ‘one of the best winters in years’,” Mr Davis said.
Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, Mt Buller and Mt Stirling turned a $1.489 million profit into a $130,000 loss, Mt Hotham turned a $1.246 million profit into a $162,000 loss and Mt Baw Baw also performed badly, transforming a small profit of $126,611 into a loss of $235,584.
“Labor already has form on alpine resorts, with former Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites renowned for his string of free holidays at these resorts,” Mr Davis said.
“I am also greatly concerned at the recommendation in this report that the current Alpine Resort Management Boards and the Alpine Resorts Coordinating Council be abolished and replaced with a single board appointed by the government.
“This is a recipe for further financial disaster, allowing John Brumby to stack the board with Labor mates who are more concerned about political patronage than restoring the financial health of these important public assets.
“The report reveals Labor’s plan to create a single authority, clearing the way to privatise Victoria’s alpine resorts through a sole head lease.
“Victorians will be very concerned to learn of Labor’s plan, kept secret until now, to hand control of their snowfields to a single private operator.
“John Brumby has just done a secret deal with the casino to hand over more power and revenue without community consultation or debate.
“Now, after denying Victorians crucial information about the future of their snowfields for more than a year, John Brumby plans to hand over these public assets to Labor cronies.
“John Brumby must now explain why he has kept this damaging report secret. If he had nothing to hide, he should have nothing to fear,” Mr Davis said.
