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The principal of a disadvantaged state school in outer suburban Melbourne pocketed almost $23,000 in school funds and spent the money on gambling and an overseas family holiday, in a case that has exposed poor oversight by the Education Department.
Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass revealed the theft in a report she tabled on Monday, which she said highlighted “systemic weakness in the financial governance of our schools”, rather than a systemic problem of senior staff stealing school funds.
Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass says there are systemic governance problems in Victoria’s state schools.
Credit:Simon Schluter
“I do not think many principals help themselves to school funds to support a gambling addiction and overseas holidays, having failed to disclose in their selection process they are a discharged bankrupt,” Ms Glass said.
An independent expert panel today rejected a proposal to expand the operations of the Dendrobium coal mine under Sydney’s drinking water catchment. This is a significant and welcome decision. However, flawed environmental laws that enabled the proposal to get so far must be overhauled.
The mine’s proponents had been seeking to extract 78 million additional tonnes of coal out to 2048. The New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) had recommended the mine be approved. The backing came despite grave concerns over the mine’s impact on drinking water supplies.
We are experts in environmental regulation and one of us, Pete Dupen, is a former mining manager for the state government agency WaterNSW. Our research shows the damage mining causes to Sydney’s water supplies is unsustainable, and regulation in Australia has largely failed to set firm limits on cumulative damage to the environment.
In 1994 while shadow finance spokesman, I wrote a paper titled “Economic and Financial Management of Victoria under Labor”.
It was an attempt to look honestly at what happened under the Cain/Kirner governments that led to Labor’s loss to Jeff Kennett in 1992.
The paper noted important reforms under Labor including modernisation of accounting standards, new program budgeting practices, development of models for private public partnerships and significant investment in community infrastructure schools, hospitals, parks and transport.
Yet there were many issues. The State Bank had to be sold as it was in a parlous financial situation. The Tricontinental Building Society collapsed, affecting the savings of Victorians and the government’s investment arm VEDC posted large losses. WorkCover was $3b in debt.
Where were the controls? Crownâs performance needed closer scrutiny
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By Charles Livingstone
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After a year in which the fortunes of Crown casino have been turned on their head, Victorian Gambling Minister Melissa Horne has announced that an unidentified âsessionalâ Commissioner will be appointed to conduct a new inquiry, effectively bringing forward the seventh review of Crownâs suitability.
The impetus for this has come from spectacular revelations unearthed by an inquiry initiated by the NSW regulator, the Independent Liquor and Gambling Authority.