CHAPTER
32
CHAPTER
32
The PM’s press conference blasted the lid off Pandora’s Box. Every television and radio station in the nation ran hourly commentary on the government’s relocation plan . Every adult citizen currently living in low lying coastal regions would be eligible to apply for a resettlement grant. The money would allow them to move to an inland location of their choice. They could purchase a modest dwelling and set about re-establishing their lives. New employment opportunities would be freely available to all relocating families. Resettlement meant massive infrastructure development. The building and construction sector would boom, along with the service industries, education, transport and all the other social facilities that new communities need to function effectively. Australia was about to go through a boom period unequalled in its history. The future looked bright for everyone.
Claudia and her team had expected an avalanche of negative publicity and they braced themselves for a barrage of questions from reporters. To their amazement the press focused entirely on the high-jacking of AtmosFear by a New York company that had maliciously changed the data to support a fantastic insurance scam. EcoLogic came out the hero, while their former United States joint venture company was exposed as a business run by evil predators, who cared nothing for the plight of millions of people who would be tragically effected by rising sea levels. Weather Scope became the most hated name on the planet.
Two weeks later the tender documents were being downloaded via the internet. Major construction companies spent hours calculating their costs and timeframe capability. Soon lodgements began to come in, and expectant CEOs and project managers waited patiently to find out if their bid had been successful.
Another press conference was arranged to announce the tender results. Jason had hired the Hyatt hotel’s auditorium to accommodate the hundreds of people who would attend the event. The front two rows were allocated to tendering companies, the next four were reserved for the press and all remaining seats were made available to the general public.
To avoid system overload, television crews were limited to six, and press passes had been couriered to media bosses, two days earlier.
Security was at a premium. Ten teams of twenty professional security companies had been engaged to manage the crowd, check passes and to prevent disruption. At exactly one forty-five the Minister for Planning and Development took his place on the podium and tapped the microphone. A sudden hush descended on the room. When the only noise was the sound of the air conditioning plant and the whir of the TV cameras, the minister delivered his opening address, and quickly followed it with the real business of the day; announcing the names of the successful tenderers. The minister invited Solomon Bellingham to the microphone to make the results official.
He started with the small tenders, that included an assortment of fencing contracts and other secondary works. The tension in the room rose when he moved to the important jobs of roads, bridges, schools, housing estates, libraries, colleges, hospitals, nursing homes, shopping malls. The jewels in the crown were the contracts for water and electrical services.
A murmur rippled through the room, and the anticipation climaxed as the minister opened a sealed envelops and withdrew a sheet with the names of the successful candidates. A number of medium size companies secured the contracts for hospitals, nursing homes, libraries and smaller schools. The tenders for universities and colleges went to a major construction company. Water, electricity, highways, roads, bridges, housing estates and shopping malls were awarded to the Travioli Group.
The Prime Minister took the stand and called for the successful contractors to come forward. He shook hands with each of them. As the company that had won the largest public works project, he invited Danieli Travioli to say a word to the Australian public. Danieli and his brothers smiled broadly. They shook the prime minister’s hand in turn, and then they stood together and grinned into the lenses that were directed at them.
Nicolo Travioli took the microphone and made an epoch success speech. He thanked the government for its confidence in his company. He waited for the applause to die down, then added, ‘Prime Minister it is my great pleasure the inform you, your ministers, and the Australian people the Travioli Group will be asking our three major competitors to assist us with all the construction projects we have just been awarded. Travioli will oversee all the projects to ensure our rigorous quality standards are maintained, but we will share the project work with our competitors. This will guarantee full employment for all our companies. And it will allow us to equally share the financial gains.
My brothers and I believe no one company should benefit exclusively during times of national crisis. We believe the wealth that results from the massive redevelopment schemes we are about to undertake, should go into the pockets of all Australians; not just into the bank accounts of a few.’
He looked at the PM. ‘Sir with your permission, I would like to invite my joint venture partners to come on to the stage, so all Australians can see the faces of the men and women who will help us rebuild our great society.
The Prime Minister smiled and nodded his agreement. The noise in the auditorium was deafening as ten men and women made their way to the stage. Nicolo held up his hand to quieten the crowd. ‘Please ladies and gentlemen, if you will bear with me for just a few more moments, I have another announcement to make.
The Travioli Group and its joint venture partners will be making forty million dollars available for special payments to community groups and sporting bodies. This money will be used to fund projects for young people. We know there will be a huge need for sporting equipment and other equipment that’s needed to run good youth activities. The money will be distributed by the Bishop Scalabrini centres, and if more money is needed after the first six months, we will make sure it is available.’
The noise in the auditorium was almost deafening as people hugged each other and yelled their thanks to everyone on the stage. TV cameras worked overtime, and the Prime Minister threw convention out off the window and started hugging the contractors and any one standing near him.
Other people immediately took his lead and within seconds the whole room resembled a fantastic welcome home party for long absent loved ones.