By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT   SHADOW Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, David Davis used the final minute of his speech at the Gippsland New Energy Conference to note the leading example the region is setting for Victoria. After putting forth the concerns the state Coalition has about the energy transition, their intentions with gas, and a dramatic pivot to the alleged corruption on Big Build sites, the Liberal MP finished by saying Gippsland has been “exemplars of how community engagement should be undertaken.” Mr Davis stated that this has not been seen across other renewable projects in Victoria, due to the state government and its relevant bodies such as VicGrid. “I counterpose the approach in Gippsland, where many of the proponents have actually genuinely engaged and developed levels of community support,” he said. “(It) shows you an example of how projects can actually be conducted constructively and how projects can be brought forward.” Mr Davis pointed to the importance of the Gippsland New Energy Conference itself, showcasing the “united nature of Gippsland” with local council, Regional Development Australia and other groups coming together. Bar those few remarks, Mr Davis used the bulk of his time on stage to present the Coalition’s energy plans and hit out at the state government. Perhaps most notably, Mr Davis raised the cost-of-living pressures through the blowouts on energy projects, connecting it to the “frank and outright corruption” on Big Build sites. “Where money has been siphoned off an unknown amount, somewhere north of $15 billion, into bikies, criminal groups, certain union groups, strippers,” he stated. “There’s a broad problem with construction costs in Victoria, and we need to be aware that the electricity sector, both renewables and traditional projects, are not immune from this.” The main point of contention used by Mr Davis in regards to the state’s energy transition was through the Victorian Auditor-General’s report published in December 2025 titled Managing the Transition to Renewable Energy. “He said that the energy transition had proceeded well in many respects to this point, he then pointed to a number of risks ahead,” Mr Davis said. “He looked at the state’s register, and that’s not a public document, but he reached into the risk register and pulled out the facts that the government itself regards the transition as a significant risk for Victoria.” Opposite view: Shadow Victoria Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, David Davis. Photograph supplied While the report did highlight that meeting future targets will be more difficult due to the incoming risks, it was not stated that the Victorian government acknowledge those risks, rather that it needs to be managed to ensure electricity supply meets demands. Yallourn Power Station’s closure in mid-2028 was key throughout the report, indicating the delays to the VNI West transmission project and the Western Renewables Link, as well as concerns over EnergyAustralia’s Woreen Battery Storage not being enough to offset the necessary generation to replace Yallourn. Mr Davis, in pointing out Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron in the audience, who has issued concerns regarding Yallourn’s closure this year, said that the Coalition wishes to see the documentation of the agreements in place for Yallourn. “That makes it very difficult for opposition parties, and indeed the broader community, and indeed the sector, to undertake the planning and steps that they would need,” Mr Davis said. He further stated that Yallourn’s situation “stands in stark contrast to the way Eraring (Power Station, set to close no later than April 2029) was managed in New South Wales.” Mr Davis continued by saying that offshore wind targets “will not be met”, noting challenges of security of supply, cost and reliability, claiming that state government commissioned modelling regarding winter periods is being withheld. “Extraordinarily, the government and the Minister refused to provide (the Auditor General) with those documents,” he said. “It’s the first time … that I can recall that when the auditor has asked for information, he has not been provided with it.” The MP suggested that the findings would indicate a significant risk for offshore wind during the winter period, but the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) stated in its 2026 Integrated System Plan that performance is strong in the shorter winter days. There are risks around the impacts of potential severe weather and freezing conditions, which drives up maintenance costs. Mr Davis questioned the planned offshore wind auction announced last year, which new Energy Minister Jaclyn Symes highlighted in her video recording on the first day of the conference. Mr Davis said he had inquired with simple questions about the date the auction would go out and close, as well as the financial support behind it, for which none were answered. The state government will only say it plans to commence sometime in August – still not opened by the time of writing. Australia’s first of its kind auction seeks financial backing of up to two gigawatts of offshore wind capacity, planned to be instated by 2032. “This will create thousands of jobs, attract billions of dollars in investment and ensure reliable energy,” Ms Symes said in her message. Mr Davis said that the Coalition supports “the idea of offshore wind”, but seeks to understand definitively the cost it will bring to Victoria. If elected, Mr Davis said he will “judge fairly” on renewables, but “demand from the government some information about how the auction is to be conducted and about some of the parameters around it.” Mr Davis also articulated his view on gas power generation, saying that Victoria is uniquely set up due to “a very large gas distribution network.” “That is a challenge on one hand and a strength on the other,” he said. “We’ve said that more gas needs to be found, and I’ll make the point that there has been no new gas exploration permit issued in Victoria since 2013.” The state government announced in December 2025 two gas exploration licenses had been approved in the Gippsland and Otways basins. Mr Davis further urged that more gas exploration onshore must become available, which he is confident about following discussions with key figures in the sector, believing that gas can be “brought on relatively quickly.” Mr Davis also noted, which preceded him naming VicGrid, that the Coalition would pause and review the current transmission plans, and take a look at the REZ (Renewable Energy Zones), which he said the government has not managed well. The Wednesday (August 19) address by Mr Davis came the same day the Coalition pledged to scrap the VNI West transmission project. More on the Gippsland New Energy Conference will feature in coming weeks of the Express.

YouTube video by TalksWithNerds

Auditor General reports, integrity investigations, and court challenges reveal a recurring pattern across the Greenbelt, Ontario Place, and Billy Bishop Airport.

A recent report by the Australian auditor-general has revealed systemic issues in the country's Freedom of Information (FOI) system. According to the report, the FOI framework consistently fails to provide timely and meaningful access to public information, a problem that has persisted under multiple governments, including the current Albanese administration. The article references previous high-profile auditor-general investigations, such as the 'sports rorts' scandal involving misallocation of grants by Senator Bridget McKenzie and the Leppington Triangle land purchase, which displayed significant government overpayment. Rex Patrick, a former senator and transparency advocate, argues that these repeated shortcomings demonstrate a lack of genuine government commitment to accountability and openness. The report suggests that bureaucratic inefficiencies and deliberate obfuscation hinder citizens' access to crucial information, undermining public trust and limiting scrutiny of governmental decisions. The piece underscores the need for reforms to strengthen transparency and ensure that FOI requests are handled promptly and fairly, giving Australians the tools to hold their government accountable.

TORONTO - Sono tante le cose che non vanno nei servizi che il governo dell'Ontario eroga ai cittadini della provincia, in svariati settori che vanno dall'istruzione (dove emergono le "pecche" più grav...

Auditor General says Ottawa made First Nations funding longer-term and more predictable, but failed to reconcile the fiscal relationship.

RCMP staffing shortage in Canada threatens public safety with 3,400 officers needed by 2025, says auditor general.

PUTRAJAYA — Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education is awaiting a detailed report from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) following issues raised in the Auditor-General’s Report 1/2026 concerning the university’s financial management. Higher Education Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said the ministry has requested a comprehensive explanation from the university before deciding on any further measures. According to …

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 — Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has been found to face serious irregularities and governance breaches in its student fee collection and spending,...

KUALA LUMPUR: The Auditor-General’s Report 1/2026 (LKAN 1/2026) has revealed that RM28.13 million was spent on the MyDigital ID (MyDID) Project under the management of MIMOS Bhd without approval from the designated committee. The report, tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday, identified weaknesses in expenditure management and internal controls during the early implementation phase of the MyDID Project. According to LKAN, the project governance structure was not functioning as intended. Official presentations on expenditure approvals and project implementation status were absent from meetings that were supposed to serve as monitoring platforms. From a financial standpoint, the audit found that […]

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) — The asset position of 143 out of 145 federal agencies increased by 5.5 per cent to RM2.838 trillion in 2024, compared with RM2.690 trillion the previous year, according to the Auditor-General’s Report (LKAN) 1/2026 tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today. According to the report, based on an analysis of the 2024 financial statements of the federal agencies, liabilities for the 143 agencies rose by 0.1 per cent from RM0.870 trillion to RM0.871 trillion over the same period. “The audit analysis of the comparison between total assets and total liabilities of federal agencies for 2024 […]

Nova Scotia auditor general reports $6.7B unbudgeted spending, raising concerns over fiscal health and legislative oversight.

Municipal officials say the move will save taxpayers $500,000 a year.

By PHILIP HOPKINS   MORWELL Nationals MP, Martin Cameron, has called on state Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio to resign after a damning report from the Auditor-General found Victoria’s energy system faces massive dislocation due to bad planning when Yallourn W power station closes in 2028. “Minister for Energy, Lily D’Ambrosio should resign. She has shown time and time again that she leads with ideology instead of common sense,” said Mr Cameron, who is Shadow Assistant Minister for Energy Affordability. The Victorian Auditor-General found that the risk of a “disorderly energy transition” is “almost certain”, leading to supply shortages, skyrocketing energy prices and widespread job losses. In the report, the Auditor-General also warned Victorians would face gas shortages as early as next year and confirmed “the current pipeline of generation and battery projects will not be enough to offset Yallourn’s closure from mid-2028”. Mr Cameron said the Allan Labor government had set itself up for certain failure by accelerating the closure of coal-fired power stations without a proper plan to replace their baseload power. “Labor has had 11 years to prepare for the transition away from coal-fired power, but repeated inaction and mismanagement of the grid mean Victoria is in a precarious position,” Mr Cameron said. “The Auditor-General has now confirmed Labor will not meet its legislated 2032 offshore wind targets and has failed to consider the risks associated delaying approvals and auctions. “I support a sensible and considered transition to renewables, but Labor’s plan is neither sensible nor considered.” The new audit report found the state government has not adequately planned for the renewable energy transition, and risked plunging the state into blackouts after the Yallourn coal power station closes. The Victorian Auditor-General said delays to key projects such as offshore wind and poles and wire projects had left little buffer in the state’s electricity generation and storage pipeline in the period immediately after Yallourn shuts in mid-2028. “If forecast gas shortfalls persist or south-eastern Australia experiences prolonged drought conditions, Victoria will face constraints on gas-powered and hydroelectric generation respectively,” the report tabled in Parliament said. Victoria has legislated renewable energy targets of 40 per cent by 2025, 65 per cent by 2030 and 95 per cent by 2035. The report said the state government’s offshore wind program would not deliver its separate legislated two gigawatt target by 2032, citing the delays to the approval of a port – Hastings in Western Port was vetoed on environmental ground by the federal government – to support wind turbine assembly and construction. Also, offshore wind auctions, which were scheduled to begin in September, have since been delayed. The Auditor-General said the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action’s had failed to show it had considered the full extent of project delays, weather variation and contingencies in its advice. “AEMO [the Australian Energy Market Operator] and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission are also concerned that there will not be enough gas to meet Victoria’s gas-powered electricity generation needs,” the report said. “This could mean that the current pipeline of generation and battery projects will not be enough to offset Yallourn’s closure from mid-2028. “The department has limited short-term options to address potential electricity shortfalls and guarantee reliability in Victoria’s power supply. It expects Victoria’s allocation under the CIS [Capacity Investment Scheme] to strengthen supply by 2030.” The report made four recommendations, which included greater monitoring of potential future power shortfalls from coal plant closures and increased co-ordination of transmission planning. All have been accepted by the Allan government.

KUANTAN: UMNO Youth Indera Mahkota has defended the integrity of the Auditor-General’s Report, warning that baseless criticism of the document could undermine public confidence in Malaysia’s system of checks and balances. Its chief, Nik Mohd. Ridzuan Kamarudin, said the report is a cornerstone of transparent governance and should not be politicised or dismissed without factual […]

Through legislative exemptions for projects like Highway 413 and Ontario Place, incomplete consultations, and an 80% decline in public outreach, the government is systematically limiting opportunities