Hanson's 'burned at the stake' accusation at Howard govt minister still doesn't add up

The piece argues that Hanson’s 'burned at the stake' accusation against a Howard government minister still doesn't add up, shifting scrutiny to Snowy Hydro 2.0’s costs and governance. It cites an Auditor-General’s assessment that Snowy Hydro was only partly effective in managing contractors and forecasting the final price. The cost trajectory is stark: an initial $2 billion estimate rose to a 2023 reset near $12 billion, with critics warning the final bill could be higher still. The report flagged governance weaknesses, poor risk management, and inadequate project controls that persisted after the reset. The column notes Malcolm Turnbull’s direct involvement in initiating and supporting the renewables project when he was prime minister and urges journalists to press him for answers about what happened on his watch.

The article references a Colin Packham write-up in The Australian dated 19 June 2026 titled 'Auditor blasts Snowy failures,' underscoring that governance issues predated and endured through the project’s setbacks. With completion dates uncertain and costs still disputed, the piece argues there is a high public stake for taxpayers and calls for accountability rather than political theater. It frames Snowy Hydro as a case study in the risks of large-scale renewables projects and suggests that addressing governance gaps could be as important as fixing the physical infrastructure.