Comments on: Firepower: something rotten at the heart of Perth http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/07/21/firepower-something-rotten-at-the-heart-of-perth/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:54:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ian http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/07/21/firepower-something-rotten-at-the-heart-of-perth/#comment-7521 Ian Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7521 I have to agree with Matt.<br /><br />Michael - was this WA-bashing piece warranted when you consider the millions (billions?) lost by the collapse of businesses (MFS, Opes Prime, Lift, Centro, Allco) largely managed by East-coast folk, not to mention the largely East-coast domiciled Wickenby targets?<br /><br />Is it not the case instead that your observation about crooks needing "assistance of the professional classes" and "a culture of acquiescence" is an accurate observation about corporate wrongdoings Australia-wide?<br /><br />I believe that WA-bashing pieces like this arise from a lack of understanding about the nature of the contemporary economic and business conditions in the West.<br /><br />We should all be more disappointed at the performance of ASIC who have spent the last 5 years over-regulating the soft targets (accountants, planners) whilst those who carry out questionable business practices have been allowed to carry on largely ignored by the regulator. Cheers to Tony D’Aloisio for giving ASIC the shakeup it needs.<br /><br />Come on Michael - get some balance!<br /><br />Oh, I am from Perth... I have to agree with Matt.

Michael - was this WA-bashing piece warranted when you consider the millions (billions?) lost by the collapse of businesses (MFS, Opes Prime, Lift, Centro, Allco) largely managed by East-coast folk, not to mention the largely East-coast domiciled Wickenby targets?

Is it not the case instead that your observation about crooks needing “assistance of the professional classes” and “a culture of acquiescence” is an accurate observation about corporate wrongdoings Australia-wide?

I believe that WA-bashing pieces like this arise from a lack of understanding about the nature of the contemporary economic and business conditions in the West.

We should all be more disappointed at the performance of ASIC who have spent the last 5 years over-regulating the soft targets (accountants, planners) whilst those who carry out questionable business practices have been allowed to carry on largely ignored by the regulator. Cheers to Tony D’Aloisio for giving ASIC the shakeup it needs.

Come on Michael - get some balance!

Oh, I am from Perth…

]]> By: Matt http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/07/21/firepower-something-rotten-at-the-heart-of-perth/#comment-7522 Matt Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-7522 Perhaps I am being sensitive, but why tear into Perth over this collapse? Its a corporate con job for sure and those involved in it deserve to be pilloried, but why implicate the broader Perth society? Why the gratuitous shot at WA politics and Burke? The firepower debacle is no better or worse than HIH, OneTel, Opes Prime etc al. Yet there are no comparable stories on how rotten Sydney is (or its people). Its lazy journalism from someone who should know better. Stick with the facts please.<br /><br />PS - Anyone with half a brain (or who researched) would know the West Australian does NOT reflect Perth. Perhaps I am being sensitive, but why tear into Perth over this collapse? Its a corporate con job for sure and those involved in it deserve to be pilloried, but why implicate the broader Perth society? Why the gratuitous shot at WA politics and Burke? The firepower debacle is no better or worse than HIH, OneTel, Opes Prime etc al. Yet there are no comparable stories on how rotten Sydney is (or its people). Its lazy journalism from someone who should know better. Stick with the facts please.

PS - Anyone with half a brain (or who researched) would know the West Australian does NOT reflect Perth.

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