This action although severe can be likened to the act of  saving  a regiment`s colours once a battle appears to be lost. 

The political stocks of Ann Sudmalis are lessening day by day as each gaffe is made. Without intervention it would appear Gilmore will be lost to Labor. The selection of a new candidate would attract the votes of traditional conservative voters who are feeling annoyed with the current member’s performance.

The seat of Gilmore must not  be lost so the big boys need to get involved and ensure that a new representative is chosen.  

While Sports Minister Stuart Ayres obsesses with sports stadiums in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, regional tourism organisations are withering on the vine.

The recent and unedifying Sydney sports stadium debate has an unfortunate side story – the neglect of Mr Ayres’ other areas of responsibility, particularly regional tourism.

Regional tourism has been all but forgotten under the Baird-Grant Government, despite the fact that it brings in $12.9 billion to the NSW economy and supports over 150,000 jobs.

In his capacity as Minister for Tourism, Mr Ayres has delayed and delayed again finalising a substantial review into the funding and organisation of regional tourism organisations.

While the industry continues to wait for the review – now seven months overdue – Mr Ayres has been silent.

Meanwhile, one operator responsible for promoting tourism across most of north and western NSW has gone into voluntary administration, while others are fighting for their survival. Inland NSW Tourism called in the administrators earlier this month after encountering difficulty accessing grants from the Government.

The Baird Government must finalise the review and implement any recommendations immediately to assist tourism operators in regional NSW. 

I am a self funded retiree. I rely on fixed term deposits (now around 3 per cent interest) and shares. I am a conservative investor and own a number of bank shares. Ann Sudmalis and her party now have a policy in place that will hurt my retirement. Can they please explain how taxing banks for a regulator (ASIC) is not a tax on me? The banks' will either pay the tax by taking the funds out of my dividends or by passing the costs on to me when I do business with them. I lose either way.  

Surely the only way forward is to hold a Royal Commission into the culture and business operations of banks. The salaries and bonuses they pay themselves are unbelievable - the CEOs of banks earn more in a a year than I earned in a lifetime. They way they deal with customers is offensive - they try to rip us off every time we interact with them. And the way they seem to control politicians suggests they are very good at snuggling up to power.  This is all outrageous.  A powerful public inquiry is required. 

It is on. A federal election will take place on July 2. A probe into the banking industry is vital. We as voters need to know who is in control of the economy – at this stage I would say it certainly is not the government.As the saying goes “if things don’t change they’ll stay the same as they are”. And staying the same as “they are” is not what’s needed what is needed—is a complete examination of the banking industry by government.