VICTORIA HAS A CORRUPTION PROBLEM

Hughsey Says What Small Business Is Thinking Victoria is spending big, borrowing bigger and asking small business to carry the weight. In this explosive episode of the Hear Me ROAR Podcast, Kate Save and Tobi Skovron sit down with Australian comedy icon Dave Hughes - Hughsey - for an unfiltered conversation about Victoria’s alleged corruption, government waste, rising taxes and the mounting pressure on small-business owners. Hughsey has become increasingly vocal about alleged overpayments and misconduct connected to Victoria’s Big Build. He has questioned how taxpayers can keep absorbing project blowouts while the state’s debt climbs, household costs rise and business owners fight to remain viable. He has also criticised political pay rises, the illicit tobacco trade, organised crime and what he sees as a dangerous lack of government accountability. These concerns sit within a much larger public debate. A 2026 report commissioned by the CFMEU administrator alleged corruption and criminal influence may have added as much as $15 billion to Victorian infrastructure costs. That estimate remains disputed by the Victorian Government, which attributes much of the escalation to inflation, wages, materials and pandemic-era disruption. But the cost of failure does not disappear. It flows through the economy as higher debt, heavier taxes, weaker confidence and less room to support the people creating jobs. Australia had more than 2.7 million actively trading businesses at 30 June 2025. These businesses are not a side story - they are the heartbeat of the economy. This conversation goes beyond politics. It is about trust, accountability and whether Victoria is still giving entrepreneurs a fair court to play on. Watch the full episode and decide for yourself: Does Victoria have a corruption problem, and who is ultimately paying the price? . . Connect With Hughsey: https://www.instagram.com/dhughesy Connect With Kate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katesavebefitfood/ Connect With Tobi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiskovron/ Show Links: https://befitfood.com.au/ https://cubes.co/