LETTERS
OPINION
Letters to the Editor
We welcome Letters to the Editor but they are not guaranteed to be included and may be edited for reasons of style or content. Letters will not be eligible for consideration if they contain defamatory material, or information of a personal nature which is not in the public domain.
BLINKERED AUTHORITY NEEDS TO CHANGE Dear Editor, I noted with interest that Dr Tariq Rana, of the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), addressed an international water and food sustainability webinar on August 13, 2020. He spoke about the importance of education, capacity building, sharing knowledge and information, and stakeholder engagement in responding to the current and future challenges posed by COVID-19. If the MDBA is to give advice in any of these areas, it must be planning a totally different approach to what we have seen in the past decade. To me, it seems a bit of a joke that the MDBA is advising others on ‘stakeholder engagement’ and ‘capacity building’. Its failure in these areas has been highlighted often, and has led to calls from the Productivity Commission, echoed by politicians, for the MDBA to be disbanded and ‘split up’. It is indeed a shame that the MDBA is so blinkered inside its Canberra bubble that it cannot see its failings, led by its constant refusal to admit the basin plan has serious shortcomings which need to be addressed. These have been highlighted in over 100 reports and inquiries, yet nothing happens because weak politicians are more worried about the political consequences than the prosperity of our regions, which could get a significant boost if common-sense prevailed and we all worked together to achieve balanced and effective water management. Yours, Chris Blackberry Kyabram, Vic
COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2020 Dear Editor, This year’s local government elections will no doubt be different due to the pandemic that has unfortunately restricted our normal lives. Election campaign activities this year must comply with COVID-19 restrictions that are in place at the time. The Victorian Government has issued COV ID-safe campaign guidelines to help candidates safely campaign during this health crisis. Despite these restrictions and challenges, I am pleased to see the quality line-up of local candidates putting their hands up for a chance at being a councillor. It is particularly encouraging to see new women candidates coming forward and inspiring other women to take the leadership roles in our community, as well as candidates representing minority groups. Personally speaking, being an elected representative at Greater Shepparton City Council since 2016 has been an absolute honour for me and I am excited to stand again this year. I commend all candidates, as well as current Councillors, for showing the confidence and strong interest in civic leadership and taking this important step. You are all surely a credit to our vibrant community. We have banded together and supported each other through this pandemic and I’m sure we’ll continue to do so. Don’t forget to post your vote by the deadline of October 23. Best wishes to everyone. Seema Abdullah Page 6 – The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1525 Wednesday, September 9, 2020
UPCOMING SHEPPARTON COUNCIL ELECTIONS Dear Editor, As voting time approaches, I would like to remind aspiring Councillors that ratepayers are keen for results not just representation and rubber stamping of Council Officials’ recommendations. Unashamedly I am a supporter of newly elected Councillors reviewing and implementing a rate evaluation strategy to address the extremely high rates we in Shepparton are paying. Comparisons with neighbouring and like Councils to Shepparton have recently been published in your paper. Our rates are still exorbitant despite this matter being brought to Council’s attention by local ratepayers some years ago- with Council taking only limited action resulting in no net positive effect on the issue. One Councillor seeking re-election has adopted the slogan ‘The Rates Fixer’. If I recall rightly the same Councillor was elected on a platform of getting rid of parking meters in Greater Shepparton. We still have the parking meters as well as some very officious contracted inspectors. Some recent minor easing of parking arrangements seems to be due to concerted action by the Chamber of Commerce. I would hardly say that the Councillor’s policy has been delivered on. I would urge voters to ensure they get value for their vote and press Councillors seeking re-election to demonstrate how they have delivered for voters on their stated platforms. Councillors seeking re-election on a platform of making our rates more equitable should demonstrate what they have done thus far in this regard. Jim O’Connor Shepparton
THE ULTIMATE INSULT For six weeks regional Victorian businesses had been waiting for the ’new’ Daniel Andrews plan, the ’super computer’ road map out of the devastation caused from his failed COVID-19 quarantine program. In 90 minutes on Sunday, the only mention made for regional Victoria was when he said he lost his notes about what will happen to us. What an insult! Complete distain and dismissal of the hundreds of thousands of regional Victorians who have been doing everything right. There are 27 local government areas in regional Victoria with no Covid cases, zero. The overwhelming majority of northern Victoria has never exceeded the governments now benchmark of 10 daily cases - a massive chance missed to unlock the state, postcode by postcode. Daniel Andrews has ignored every suggestion and proposal put forward by the Liberal Nationals, independent business representatives and a group of over 500 doctors. How can you ignore the economic and personal devastation - businesses, jobs and lives are being lost? This is a roadmap to nowhere not a roadmap to recovery. Tara Jarrett Kyabram Want to have your say? Email your letters to the editor to editorial@sheppartonadviser.com.au
