Promises, promises
With the election soon, pamphlets in the mailbox are frequent.
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I have kept many of these over the years including one of Andrew Constance before he won the seat, standing with a shadow minister on the north side of the bridge at Brogo Hall on the Princes Hwy.
The pamphlet explains how the then Labor government is neglecting the highway, using the photo of the bridge as proof of neglect.
Andrew’s life has changed a lot in the last 13 years - not so the bridge.
Politicians will say anything to get into power and absolutely anything to stay there.
Should you find one that won’t be bent in the hot winds of politics, vote for them.
Good luck with that.
Michael Bertram
Bega
Little attention
The way the Australian political system and media operate means it is almost impossible for smaller parties to publicise their policies.
Whenever Tony Abbot says something it is front page news, albeit more and more often because he has said something laughable or disgusting in the manner of a man with a Rhodes Scholarship for boxing.
However, when Christine Milne says something it is lucky to be reported, let alone be front page news.
NSW Greens have released economic, jobs, agriculture, education, domestic violence, environment, indigenous affairs, transport, infrastructure and other policies during the state election campaign, but they have received little or no media attention.
Looking at mainstream media, including the ABC, you would not even know The Greens are contesting this election.
But they are, and if you are unhappy with ALP and LNP (and why wouldn’t you be - ICAC and all), you can send that message.
Because ours is a preferential voting system, putting the Greens first and the major party of your preference second, will give that party your primary vote.
Your wish for honest politics together perhaps with policies for the humane treatment of asylum seekers, jobs based in tourism and the renewable energy industry, healthy ecosystems which support all life on Earth, or a more equitable tax system, will have been heard.
In the last federal election, Malcolm Fraser vigorously urged people to vote Green in the Upper House at least, so disheartened was he by LNP policies.
Likely he would be doing the same for this NSW election if he were here.
Kerrin Sheard
Bega Valley Greens member
Wallagoot
Good for investors, bad for public
Behind Mike Baird's Mr Nice Guy marketing there is the destruction of TAFE with job losses, TAFE closures, price increases leaving students unable to complete courses while private colleges make big profits and deliver poor services; the closure of 17 women’s refuges; cuts to Workers Compensation leaving injured workers no longer being able to afford treatment; Mike Baird’s statement "Do we want CSG NSW? Absolutely we do", while claiming to be listening to communities’ who’s health, land and livelihood are being destroyed by CSG.
Last year’s ICAC findings of corruption in the NSW Liberal Party with MPs accepting illegal donations from developers is unprecedented.
Twelve MPs were either forced to resign or sit on the cross benches under Mike Baird.
Now with only 29 per cent public approval, Mike Baird and Andrew Constance plan to lease 49 per cent of the public’s poles and wires infrastructure to foreign corporations, possibly State Grid Corp of China.
A 2014 introductory meeting between Mr Constance and State Grid, and a refusal to confirm by Mr Constance, to discuss “investment in NSW” was reported by the China Daily on March 6.
Tony Abbott’s recent trade deal with China, containing investor state dispute settlement (ISDS) clause, raises important questions about the Premier and Treasurer’s claim that electricity prices will not rise under foreign ownership.
The ISDS clause gives the Chinese government, or any foreign corporation, the legal right to sue our governments if regulations threaten corporate/shareholder future profits.
According to UOW Professor Sharon Beder, “the buyers of government assets and services have mainly been large transnational corporations that... have...squeezed out their competition with little interest in the welfare of local citizens.”
Privatisation is marketed to the public as being good for business therefore good for the public.
This is a myth.
Corporate/shareholder profits always trump the public interest.
Maureen Searson
Batemans Bay