23rd March 2023 Edition

Misunderstanding! Really?

Councillor Chapman (Advertiser 23/2/2023), thinks we misunderstand council’s $100 million proposed chambers!  On what does he base this assumption? The good councillor goes on to tell us our current library is too small by “international standards”. Surely the real issue, is, does it meet local needs? Based on what I’ve seen it does. If this new proposed building is going bring "hundreds of staff together in one location", why are we going to spend thousands more on a new complex in Maryborough? Surely a shop front presence could be found in the existing Town Hall? As for creating “jobs and driving business investment”, surely this would occur at any other of the proposed locations, while saving the ratepayers many thousands of dollars. Sorry councillor, but if any one misunderstands, it’s you. 

John A Neve - Torquay

The Voice

I believe there is not a country in the world that still has exclusively the original inhabitants, who have a controlling vote/say/voice within their land.  One example is the UK. Anglo Saxons, Vikings, Normans, Celts to mention but a few of those who currently dwell in the United Kingdom, all share equal status and have the same “rights” as each other. Who were the “ORIGINAL” inhabitants? If we can even answer this, should they have rights over others who share the same land? Of course not. Many countries have similarly diverse inhabitants. Humans inhabit this planet, and where they dwell, buy land under the laws of that land is where they belong and rightly call home. Why should Australia, with its wonderful mix of people from so many nations, be any different? Would it be reasonable to single out, by race, the first inhabitants of any land to enjoy certain privileges? That would be a recipe for division, discontent and unrest - permanent racial disharmony. Would it also mean that we should adopt a hierarchical division of our people, so that those whose ancestors arrived in the 18th century should have greater privileges (or voice), than those who arrived in the 21st century? What a can of worms that would be! We should be aiming for equality of rights & opportunity for all of our citizens, particularly those in remote communities.

Val Spencer - Eli Waters

Just saying ......

Teachers are supposed to teach their students reading, ‘writing and ‘arithmetic back in the day so perhaps parents/carers should teach their children respect, resilience and responsibility for their own actions, then eliminate ‘stress’ and ‘depressed’ from our vocabulary. Then thank God we won the lotto in life and were born in Australia or chose to live here. Just saying ......

Catherine Dunstan (Mrs) Point Vernon

What happened to the outdoor staff?

I moved to Hervey Bay six (6) years ago from coastal NSW where I was an elected Councillor. When we moved here I marvelled at the care taken to beautify our roundabouts and parkways. 
The Esplanade was always immaculate with plenty of council workers going about their daily maintenance and chores early in the day. Now our roundabouts look like they have been chewed by rats. The areas once cared for by Council staff are now attacked by contractors on ride-on mowers with no grass catchers. The mowing cycles in summer are at six (6) week intervals and some areas particularly around Yarrilee State School have grass chest high on the footpaths. Our elected Councillors must drive to work with blinkers on, either that or they simply don’t care what visitors to our area think. Or maybe they have been rendered powerless by overbearing bureaucrats who are paid way too much money to mismanage our beautiful area. Remember Chris Loft? He was the Mayor that tried to improve things only to be throw into prison for six (6) long months for his efforts under the guise of ‘ Code of Conduct’, a sword held over the heads of elected members of Councils in the state of Queensland, particularly if you don’t agree with the government of the day.

Mr Dennis Seage

Buying new submarines

Well, I’m going to have to agree with Paul Keating’s assessment of buying submarines. Because it’s an indulgence and I agree that the Australian public are being sold a lie. The media have sucked us into a vortex mind set. China has never threatened Australia in any form, and as for Dutton agreeing with Labor, why am l not surprised. This is the war monger at election time trying to sell us about boat people, to which has been proven a lie. (Reactionary politics). The mathematics don’t addup, any way you look at it. Dutton is happy to purge NDIS of monies, so why not just take anybody on NDIS and shoot them like Hitler did? Protect your own citizens first, don’t sell them down the river over ego driven politics. As for the four Labor mines that thought it a valid reason for this expenditure, think again, all within a 24 hour window. (no consultation with parliament) a captain’s call. Doesn’t make it correct, look at Morrison’s captain’s calls; complete failures. 
Security is justified to a point, fear mongering something completely different. We as Australians are not the world police as Americans seem to think they are. Look at the track record of the Americans, even Afghanistan excuse entry of bombs of mass destruction then an overnight exist (a complete failure). Australia is being led by the nose (idiotic thinking). Recalibrate this thought pattern. (Not wise on any level).

David Short - Hervey Bay