Letters to the editor

To argue it is better to complete a project than to start an underfunded one is an argument of convenience that suited the mover of the recommendation. I wonder what the outcome would have been if the allocated money was being removed from Ward 2 projects to be spent in Ward 3. Delivering projects in stages is the tried and true method of councils as the State Government rarely allocates the full amount.

Local governments function on limited resources and when a grant application is successful it is comparable to winning the lottery. To have the money whisked away after being allotted to Lake Conjola is an injustice partially concealed behind a thin veil of democratic process. Consequently, ramifications will also impact on residents of Lake Burrill who are patiently waiting the upgrade of the Maria Avenue boat ramp.

When building a house, residents often have to budget and wait for additional resources to finish the landscaping and gardens. Similarly, local governments have to complete projects when more resources become available. Robbing Peter to pay Paul means councillors with the biggest power base will win and residents living in villages like Lake Conjola, who are dependent on grant money to improve the infrastructure in their town, will continue to go without.

It would appear that Malcolm Turnbull with his late afternoon press conference on Thursday, the last day of parliament, decided his deputy Barnaby Joyce, had to go.

Under the bus went Barnaby and off to the US went Malcolm. After a stinging rebuke and much severe criticism, Barnaby was a shot duck.

It’s reported that the PM had conversations with a couple of past National Party stalwarts to garner support in hope that Barnaby would fall on his sword and resign, and he did.

Barnaby projected a sad figure as he made his much awaited announcement while providing a pretty limp wristed version of events that in some way may have justified his behaviour. 

Barnaby may still have some supporters but at best you could say he is damaged goods. Caught up in the Canberra hype he appeared to lose all sense of reality as his world started to unravel around him. 

Going to the backbench will provide him with some breathing room and the opportunity to reflect on what was and what is now. You can take the boy out of the bush but you can’t take the bush out of the boy.

I am a Gilmore constituent and a GetUp supporter with only a Liberal Party cipher MP to represent  me hence I write to ask that you urge, push or shove yourself and colleagues, to recommend rejection of this Bill completely.  

My concern is that this anti-democratic piece of legislation will have a huge impact on civil society –  forcing charities and grassroots organisations to join a government register and follow complex new rules or face 10 years in prison. 

It will trash our movement's proud independence by forcing GetUp to affiliate with one or more political parties. 

It will choke off half of GetUp's funding by forcing anyone who donates more than $4.80 a week to get a formal document signed and witnessed by a justice of the peace. 

This Bill only applies to civil society. For massive corporations and the fossil fuel lobby it's business as usual.