Original subtitles

SONG: ♪ Volare... ♪

MAN: ..nation-building project...

KEVIN RUDD: ..new infrastructure of the 21st century.

WOMAN: If there is a buzzword in this Budget, it's 'nation-building'.

ANTHONY ALBANESE: Major infrastructure projects right around the country.

MAN 2: Real projects, real money.

MAN 3: A transformational vision for the infrastructure of the 21st century.

TONY ABBOTT: I want to be known as the infrastructure prime minister.

-Nation-building... -Nation-building for recovery.

-..nation-building program... -..nation-building...

-Nation-building. -Nation-building.

SONG: ♪ We can sing in the glow of a star that I know of... ♪

I mean, it's gotta be here.

-Why would you move it? -I don't know.

-Katie. -Mmm?

-I can't find the coffee. -We got rid of it.

-Why? -Healthy Choices Month.

Ugh. Anything with 'month' in it worries me.

We're making the workplace free of caffeine, sugar,

salt and saturated fats.

Aren't those the four basic food groups?

No.

Mmm. I'll have a tea.

There's chamomile and ginger.

Um, who's that with Tony?

That's Lauren. She's a journalist.

-Are we under investigation? -No, it's a feature.

25 Australians who are shaping our future.

-She's interviewing him. -And he agreed to that?

Rhonda did, on his behalf.

To stop the quick political fix.

You know, take a long-term vision and stick with it.

-Vision. -Yeah. -Great. -Sorry about the tea.

-I'm not even sure what that is. -It's rosehip. -Is it?

Ouch. It's either that or hibiscus.

So all of these projects have been completed?

-Announced. -Not finished?

No, they're... Well, they're...various stages.

It's a bit technical. Again, long-term vision.

-Step by step by step by step... -That's great. That's great.

-OK. Sorry if I've waffled on. -(LAUGHS) That's alright.

I get passionate when we're talking about long-term visions.

I hope we've given you something.

TONY: Katie? Where's the vending machine?

-We got rid of it. -Why? -Healthy Choices Month.

But all there is is rice crackers.

-Yeah. -How's that a choice?

Well, you can have plain or sesame seed.

-That's not a choice. -Ah! Here you are!

-Hey, Jim. -What are you up to at the moment?

-Looking for chocolate. -No, I mean project-wise.

Oh, just working through the NHP.

-The...? -National Highways Program.

Connecting Australia. $27 billion.

Kate Ceberano sang at the launch.

Oh, that. Yeaaahhh...

What do you mean, "Yeaaahhh"?

I maybe put that one on the backburner.

The scheme you declared priority number one?

Yeah, the states are fighting.

We might have to just let a bit of air out of the tyres.

I just spent half an hour telling a journo

that we're about sticking to long-term projects.

-Well, that sounds great! -I meant it!

Look, don't get down on yourself.

I'm not down on myself. I'm down on you!

He's not allowed to have coffee.

Oh, Tony!

-(WHISPERS) Did Damien speak to you? -Who's Damien?

He used to work downstairs, but he moved up here last month.

-Where does he sit? -Over there. Next to Remi.

-Is it safe to look? -Sure.

-There's no-one there. -He's off sick.

-Then why are we whispering? -I don't know.

What does he want?

Oh, he was asking about his performance review.

-What about it? -When is it? -I don't know.

Apparently, he missed out before he was transferred,

so he was hoping that you could...

How am I supposed to conduct a performance review

on someone I've barely seen perform?

-HUGH: I think we have to. -Why?

It's part of the agreement. Annual reviews.

Alright. Can you get me a summary of what he does?

-I don't know what he does. -Can you find out?

-(WHISPERS) I'll ask him. -Don't. Why are we whispering?

-Just get his job description. It'll be on file. -Sure.

-When should we do it? -Any day you'd like.

-Wednesday? -It's his rostered day off.

-Thursday. -Next Thursday...

-Yes. -Professional development.

Think he's doing a course.

All we seem to do is announce really big projects

and then put 'em on the backburner...

-You're shutting the door. -JIM: So?

Last time you did that, I ended up having to drain a dam.

Hey, relax. There's nothing to worry about.

Here, sit down.

Have you seen this?

Eastbank. No.

Big redevelopment project on the Brisbane River.

Where's this headed?

It's a PPP, mostly state government,

using a big local developer - have you heard of Nathan West?

Only what I read in the police reports.

Hey, hey! He's a good bloke. Got a real vision for Australia.

-He's a fellow nation-builder. -Is he?

Anyway, I was out to dinner with him a few nights ago

and he's run into a bit of a fix.

He can't quite make the numbers work.

And, um, we'd hate for him to walk away.

What's this got to do with us?

The Queensland government have asked if we can lend a hand.

-Jim! -This is what the NBA is for.

Cleaning up after other people's messes?

Facilitating, guiding, encouraging.

This is very exciting. It's a suburb of the future.

If we can get this across the line...

What's his problem?

Well, he mentioned a range of issues.

I mean, there's site access, time frames...

-Height? -What was that one?

Did he mention height limits?

That might have come up in passing, yeah.

-What did you say? -Yeah.

I may have said there's some flexibility.

Well, it's drawn as five storeys. How many does he want?

-He didn't really say. -Jim.

-20 rings a bell. -20?!

25 or 30. 30, actually - that really rings a bell.

He wants to build a 30-storey apartment block on that site?

-No wonder you shut the door. -Just have a chat!

Have a chat. Facilitate, guide...

What was the other thing I said?

-Encourage. -Encourage.

Alright, I'll...I'll... I'll give him a call.

Great. He's expecting you tomorrow.

Can you...can you fly up?

TONY: No, no, keep going.

"The GlobalWest Property Group is dedicated

"to innovative urban design solutions.

"Low-impact people-friendly spaces

"are a key feature of our development ethos."

See, there's nothing about high-rise.

-What floor's he on? -54.

Let me give you a heads-up about this guy.

He's gonna talk about giving back, about contributing

to the architectural legacy of the city.

-His vision. -Wow.

No, it's not wow - it's all bullshit

to disguise the fact that what he really wants is height.

He wants to build as high as he can and then add a penthouse.

And then start giving back?

Tony with Scott. Yep.

(MAN LAUGHS) Yeah. Well, that's never gonna happen.

Tell him to piss off back to Belgium.

Yeah, Holland, whatever. Shit.

Never own an A-League team, guys.

So, what we've got here is the whole Riverfront Walk, yeah?

As you can see, it's all open spaces - al fresco, piazzas.

-Yeah, it looks great. -And these are the apartments?

Villa units. We're going for a kind of a Roman feel.

Right. I don't think the Romans had underground parking.

Yeah, well, what were those catacombs for?

-Burial chambers. -They weren't for chariots?

-No, don't think so. -Oh.

I think someone's having a lend of me.

Anyway, as you can see, it's a very European-style

leisure, retail, residential complex.

Can I just ask - what's European about it?

-The piazza. -Of course, yeah.

-You know what, Scott? -Tony.

-For me, it's all about giving back, you know? -Yeah.

Contributing to the architectural fabric

of this great city of ours.

Wow.

Can I ask, then - what change would make it easier

for you to achieve your vision?

Well...you know, cut the red tape, for a start.

Get this bloody country moving again.

But anything technical that's causing headaches?

-Like traffic flow? -No, we're onto that.

-Construction schedule? -I think that's on track.

-Raising height limits? -That'd do it.

-We could extend the piazza... -No, no, that's the one.

Your mate's onto it. Stay focused.

-Think you've solved it, Scott. -Tony.

-Where is he? -Running late.

For his own performance review?

He thought it was 9:30. Can I get you a tea?

Have we got anything that doesn't involve wildflowers?

-Lemongrass and ginger. -I'll be fine.

-Oh, thanks. Sorry. -Hi. Damien?

-Yes, hi. Sorry I'm late. -Have a seat.

(GROANS) Just cannot get started without one of these.

NAT: Sure.

-Um, let's take a look. -Sure.

So you started with the NBA... gosh, only about five weeks ago.

(PHONE BUZZES)

-Did you wanna check that? -I can do it later.

OK. Well, let's make a start.

As I say, looking at your file, which is quite...small...

Actually, I might just quickly...check...

(LAUGHS) That's good.

-I think we might turn that off. -Yeah, sure.

Is it off?

Oh, you want it off? Not just silent?

-Off. -OK.

-Just...that one. -Great.

VOICEOVER: Nestled on a bend of the Brisbane River,

Eastbank will combine relaxed public spaces

and low-rise living

in a modern people-friendly precinct.

Strict planning controls will ensure

that the area's rich natural heritage is protected,

making Eastbank a place for all.

-It looks alright. -It's an ad!

People were enjoying themselves.

-They're not people. It's CGI! -They were smiling.

-But they're computer... -JIM: How'd you go?

-He's a good bloke, isn't he? -He wants height. -Really?

He wants a dirty great big apartment tower.

Did he mention the piazzas?

-30 storeys. -He was chasing 40.

-Sorry? -That's what I heard.

30 storeys in the middle of an area zoned low-rise.

-Low-rise? -We just watched the DVD.

No building above the height of a palm tree.

-Well, get some taller trees. -TONY: What?

You know there's a Colombian wax palm that's 70 metres...

-TONY: Jim. -Bear Grylls climbed one once.

-I saw that episode! -No, Jim.

-What are we gonna do to fix it? -Go back to five storeys.

Yeah, that doesn't fix it.

But low-rise is at the core of the whole development.

And it still is. It's just that the core is a little...

-(IMITATES TRUMPET) -No, Jim.

We've gotta sort something out

or this whole project could fall over.

-Nathan could walk. -Fine. The guy's a cowboy.

He is a good bloke.

He's a Queenslander through and through.

He was born in Adelaide. He lives in Singapore.

Well, his lawyers are in Brisbane.

He's done developments down here.

They've been quite successful from all accounts.

-Have you been to one? -Read the brochures.

-Have you seen one? -French style, apparently.

-Oh, wow. -He's done one here?

JIM: So I've been told.

SCOTT: See, if you line it up...

I think that's... We came in there.

-(WIND WHISTLES) -'Cause on the brochure...

-Yeah. -Well, is that...

That building there, is that that building...

-Oh, you're kidding. -..there?

So where's...Le Parisien?

Here. Here it is. All 27 floors, just like Paris.

Well, where's the "elegant tree-lined plaza"?

It must be round here somewhere.

No, no, here. We're standing in it.

-This here? -Yep. Yep.

-(WIND WHISTLES) -Where's the lux...

And where's the luxury boutiques?

Well, there's a convenience store over there,

next to the Thai massage, but...

-So where's the boulangerie? -I don't think there's one.

Actually, where's the al fresco dining?

Not here.

Maybe we'll just take it off the table.

-It is off. -But you keep looking at it.

-OK, I'll just pop it under. -Great.

So, currently, we have your position listed as...

Assistant project facilitator, level 2.

Great. And how do you find the role?

-Oh, rewarding. -Uh-huh.

-And challenging. -Right.

Feel as if I'm being extended,

but not beyond the limits of my capabilities.

Great. And would you say...

In short, the tasks and responsibilities assigned to me

are commensurate with my capacity to deliver

desired performance outcomes on a consistent basis.

What would you list as your strengths?

-Uh, my ability to work within a team. -Good.

To identify, strategise and solve problems.

-OK. -I'm task-oriented.

-What does that mean, exactly? -Task-oriented?

Yeah. You hear it a lot. What does it actually mean to you?

It simply means that I'm, you know, oriented,

uh, to the...

Task. Sure.

Uh, I delegate with clearly defined...

-Have you done this before? -Done what?

This. A performance review.

Uh...yeah, maybe.

OK. Well, let's plough on.

-Did you get 'task-oriented'? -Mm-hm.

-I just didn't see you write it down. -I'll make a note.

Jim, what we saw is not a new direction in urban design.

-But this is. -How?

European-style piazzas!

What is European about a windswept concrete square?

People enjoying 'la dolce vite'.

-Yeah, from 30 floors up. -Could be 35. -What?

They can come down in the lift, walk across the piazza

and enjoy a casual evening passata.

Passeggiata. Passata's a tomato sauce.

Exactly! The bistros, enotecas.

Antipasta at a...tapas bar.

Tapas is Spanish.

You're just throwing European names on top of concrete.

It's not concrete. It's terrazzo.

Results-driven, uh, team-oriented, outcome-focused.

I'm just gonna stop you there, Damien.

Um, no disrespect, but I'm hearing

a lot of employment jargon.

For this to be a meaningful exercise,

I'd really like to hear your own words - is that OK?

-Yeah, sure. -Alright. -OK.

Uh, achievements - an example of something

you've achieved in the last month.

OK. Uh, I have identified, strategised and solved...

Something specific.

I have contributed to the functionality

and efficiency of the workplace.

-And specifically... -Oh, specifically?

Well, by meeting challenges and adapting to...

You're starting to sound jargony again.

No, you said 'specific'.

-Let's move on to weaknesses. -Sure.

What would you say - specifically -

were your weaknesses?

Uh, well, I'm able to adapt to changing deadlines.

That's not a weakness.

No, sorry - I was gonna say I'm able to adapt

but I could learn to do so more quickly.

OK. Sorry.

What else?

Well, when presented with a challenge,

I can at times become a little fixated on

trying to achieve the optimal goal.

Doesn't sound like a weakness.

-Well, it's trying too hard. -Can you give me an example?

-You want me to pinpoint one? -Yes.

-From here? -From anywhere.

From the last five years. Any time since you left school.

School...

It's more of a general tendency

to identify, strategise and solve problems

if, as and/or when they arise, from time to time.

You've got a low-rise riverfront development

and you wanna plonk a big tower right smack in the middle.

-That's not to scale. -No, you're right. It's that.

Oh, put the glass back!

-In fact, what is that? -Oh, it's cardamon and clove.

-That's not bad. -Jim. Jim.