Load of rubbish
I recently wrote to the PM regarding the huge inequities between parliamentary pensions and entitlements and the age pension. I received a very long detailed letter which I think was meant to bamboozle me because I am old.
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The bit that really lit my fire was: "Politicians' pensions are contributory pensions paid under the superannuation guarantee scheme. These are not like Social Security payments like the age pension, which is funded from general revenue."
The following is my reply to this load of rubbish:
It's a bit like smoke and mirrors regarding parliamentary entitlements, especially ex-PMs who on average serve their country for about two elections and retire in luxury and are a continuing drain on the workers of Australia. In comparison to pensioners who have to live on birdseed and use a blanket instead of heating. They also have to shop with a pad and pen in case they go over their meagre budget
Is the $7800 pensioners are allowed to earn before losing 50c in the dollar for married couples or singles?
Why do particularly ex-PMs get huge travel allowances and office expenses when they are not serving anyone but themselves?
Why do politicians sook about not getting a two per cent pay rise? Two per cent of a huge salary is a lot of money. A lot more than the pittance in pay rises given to pensioners which the politicians then beat their chests about.
What is the tax rate on all the entitlements they receive after leaving office? Also what tax do they pay in their second lives on boards and the public speaking engagements? I bet it is a lot less than the 50c in the dollar pensioners are penalised if they earn more than $7800.
All politicians and bureaucrats need to get out of their offices, grow a heart and listen to real people rather than statistics.
Frank Pearce, Bega
'Declare emergency'
Bega and Shoalhaven councils are currently considering whether to declare a climate emergency, after many residents proposed this idea.
Eurobodalla Shire Council will be debating this very topic come August 13. Thirty other councils in Australia have declared a climate emergency already, as well as the ACT government.
Overseas, cities including New York and LA and countries including Ireland, Canada and the UK have also done so.
More than 99 per cent of scientists world-wide agree we are in a climate emergency, with the potential for climate tipping points to cause global destruction and food shortages for us all, unless greenhouse emissions are cut drastically within the next 10 years. This sounds like an emergency to us!
The solution to the climate crisis is that absolutely everybody needs to act now - to cut greenhouse emissions and to reforest our towns and lands, both as a carbon sink and to save as many species as we can.
Councils play an important role in these actions, and critically, they can help their residents and businesses take action quickly.
The Eurobodalla Council is progressive on these issues and has already taken significant steps to addressing environmental challenges. We call on the council to declare a climate emergency, to continue to take strong action to cut their emissions and to help their residents and businesses know how to take urgent action too.
Kat McCarthy, Australian Parents for Climate Action Eurobodalla
Safety information
As vice-president of the NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance we would be pleased to offer advice regarding rock fishing safety - we have been actively working on this issue for many years with NSW government.
There is a lot more associated to rock safety than just wearing a like jacket. Our ANSA web site has very specific information available regarding safety procedures.
