I have just finished reading an article on the ABC news page and was appalled to read that all political parties have been banned from having a stall at the show. This after they had been approved to do so.

Ms Woodward, one of the show organisers, stated that this has nothing to do with the comments by our federal member, who has suggested the unions were going to use the show to protest against her government.

This announcement by Ms Woodward is feasible until you read who the patrons of the Show Society are: Mrs Sudmalis, Mrs Hancock, Gareth Ward, Mayor Gash, to name a few.

Funny this should be done in an election year. Who made the decision to put a stop to political stalls? Ms Woodward might have her name in the article but I wonder who pulled the strings? I attended the show last year and found it good being able to speak with each of the parties in one central place. Not this year though. Interesting to see if the patrons attend and what their role will be.

I was somewhat bemused to hear the Member for Gilmore assert on ABC Radio this morning that the Nowra Show Society was worried about bullying from stallholders at the Nowra Show this year.

The Member for Gilmore has moved into Fantasyland.

A different reason was given by the Nowra Show President for refusing and withdrawing approval for stalls. The President said that the Show was "set in a non-political environment" and did not accept "any group of any particular political character."

The stall in question would have been operated by volunteers - mostly retired teachers and nurses. Hardly a threatening group of bullies. These are normal members of the Shoalhaven community who would field questions on issues of concern to the community. Issues such as education funding/Gonski, health funding/medicare, penalty rates and GST changes.

How this could be construed as bullying is beyond my imagination. It would seem that this is an attempt to stifle free speech.

Democracy relies on voters being informed on issues. Any attempt to prevent information being freely available is an attack on democracy.

Other Nowra Show stallholders are able to provide information on their products, whether they are commercial operators or service providers.

It is also interesting to note that the 2016 Nowra Show will be opened by a politician.

I am writing to correct two errors in Mr Sadler's letter about the motor sport complex from January 15. The first error was that the DA in question was in fact lodged in 2014, not 2013.

Second and more important as it relates to the number of residents likely to be adversely affected by the noise polution which accompanies high revving race tuned engines and the screeching of tyres some 363 days a year. Mr Sadler stated that some 300 residents could be affected. A later survey has shown that that it would be far in ecxess of that, in fact closer to 1000 residents will be affected.

That so many people would have to suffer this coupled with the environmental risk – an endangered orchid is threatened – demonstrates that proceeding with thecomplex cannot be justified.