letters to the editor

TAGED Aboriginal people?

Dear Editor,

The sign at the start of the Bribie Island bridge says, “Welcome to Bribie – a Fauna and Flora Sanctuary.” Oh no, it’s NOT – these are the “Killing Fields”. We have just phoned in our ninth Kangaroo roadkill, 2 of which were mothers and Joey’s. All these road kills were on either Sunderland Drive or Avon Avenue, and we know there is far more carnage elsewhere on the island.

Let’s stop all the BS and face up to reality.... it’s time to fence the National Parks.

Annette & Chris Schnack

What does the Federal Government do? It collects our tax money and distributes it to State and Territory governments who then distribute it to the Local Councils. The Local Councils’ work affects the community more directly than the Federal or State Government’s work.

Does the Voice intend to influence this funding distribution? In what way could the Voice influence these distributions to aid the DISADVANTAGED Aboriginal people?

The Federal Government also makes laws. What laws can the Federal Government make that would help the DISADVAN-

Dear Editor

The DISADVANTAGED Aboriginal people, as I understand it, are those suffering frequent incarceration, domestic violence, homelessness, and lack of employment. I don’t have the answers to all of these problems but I believe we should look to the future. I’m sure there are actions that we should be undertaking that will require cooperation with Aboriginal people and some highly specialized qualified people. Especially for the Adult Aboriginal people who have a long history of poor living standards. I wonder whether the Voice intends to have the Federal Government set up highly elite groups of academics from the various University groups undertaking indigenous studies. But I feel it requires Local Government involvement

Here's a helpful tip for undecided voters in the upcoming Referendum who are puzzled by all the claims being made about The Voice.

The Australian Associated Press (AAP) has a fact-checking service. It's committed to truth and accuracy and its conclusions about the veracity of news and social media content are formed through rigorous questioning, careful consideration of evidence and verification using multiple sources.

The work of AAP Factcheck’s experienced journalists is subjected to a strenuous review process. They do not editorialise or impose value judgements on the subject matter and do not focus on a single issue, one side of an argument or one source.

What an extremely useful service to provide for free. They can be located on the web and Facebook at:

• https://www.facebook.com/ AAPFactCheck

• https://www.facebook.com/ AAPFactCheck rather than Federal Government to be effective.

Here are examples of their recent investigations.

• FALSE: Every piece of legislation going through federal parliament would have to be approved by the voice to parliament (claim spread on social media).

TRUE: The voice would only be able to make representations on issues relating to Indigenous Australians.

• FALSE: The claim that five questions will be asked in the upcoming Indigenous Voice to Parliament (claim spread on social media).

TRUE: There will be one question.

It may be quite different for Aboriginal children who might benefit greatly from the teachings of the Dreamtime Stories by their parents and their Nations Elders, which I believe teach respect for their families and their Nations laws.

Another consideration is financing the Voice. Do the advocates of the Voice expect the cost of maintaining the Voice to come from Government funds, i.e., taxpayer’s money? As I see it the Voice will be like another Government Department and that, I would expect, will be quite expensive and not particularly successful.

Bruce Barnhill, Banksia Beach

• FALSE: The claim that the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will convert all private land in Australia into native title land (claim spread on social media).

TRUE: The proposed voice will have no impact on native title laws or existing private property rights.

• FALSE: The claim that a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed the voice will propose Indigenous people only pay 50 per cent of the rate of income tax (claim spread through social media).

TRUE: There is no such proposal in any FoI response related to the voice.

• FALSE: The claim that the voice to Parliament will become a fourth constitutional power (claim spread on social media)

TRUE: The voice is proposed to be an advisory body with no actual public power.

• FALSE: The claim that Labor has used $360 million of taxpayers' money to fund the 'yes' campaign (claim spread on social media).

TRUE: The money has been set aside for running the referendum and providing a neutral education campaign.

AAP FactCheck is yet to deal with the claims of First Nations people receiving an early pension; all new liquor licences will be vetted by The Voice; all the coastline will be transferred to First Nations people and they'll be able to tax people using beaches; and all rivers and streams will be transferred to First Nations people allowing them to tax people for using water.

I can't wait.

Lyn Rushby

Please call 3408 7221.

a

Dear Editor, I would like to sincerely thank the finder of my hearing aid, and for taking the trouble to hand it into Specsavers at Bribie Island recently. I was surprised and delighted to get the phone call from Specsavers to say they had been handed in. This has saved me considerable expense at replacing it or going without it until next year. Once again, thank you so much for your trouble.

Dear Editor and Community, I have just found out that the Queensland parliament passed a new law that allows people to change their gender on their birth certificate WITHOUT having reassignment surgery. I rang Ali King's office to ask which way Ali voted and was informed that she voted Yes! I don't know about you, but I didn't hear any word, consultation, written article, or Facebook post that informed the community that Ali was going to vote yes to this.

I was told by Ali's secretary that I was allowed my 'opinion' that there are two genders, and that Ali didn't need to tell her community about how she will vote on this law.

Now if I said I identify as a senior citizen (at the age of 47) I am sure the government would disagree with me and not pay me a pension. Would they even allow me to change my birthdate? I don't think so. So why can you change your biological gender whilst still maintaining/having those very factual real gender attributes?

If you are born biologically male (or female) and you have not removed your male (or female) attributes, then surely you are still a male/female and changing your gender on your birth certificate would be a fraud?

Please feel free to contact Ali King's office and ask why she voted Yes to pass this new law without discussing or informing her constituents (that voted er in btw) first. Regards,

Identifying as a senior citizen

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor, Recently ABC radio asked listeners to nominate the song that best described the feelings of homesick Australians while overseas. Two suggestions were: London Still by the great West Australian band The Waifs; and I still call Australia Home by the iconic Peter Allen. Both songs evoke strong feelings about our home country.

After listening, I pondered on how our Indigenous Australians reflect on the current issue being tossed around by the two sides vying for our vote on granting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens a say in improving their life chances by giving constitutional recognition of their voice to advise parliament on issues of direct effect to their

Dear Editor,

There has been a lot of publicity about homelessness and public housing. I do not think the two should be put in the same basket. Some choose to not be confined by bills and society's restrictions, but of course, many do need some form of assistance, especially those women with children from violent situations.

One of my concerns has always been the state of the homes that are given out to those, supposedly in need of a roof over their heads at the expense of the taxpayers. In Bongaree there are such houses and one near me should be evicted even though they have children. Three times that home has had to be renovated, and the family placed in a hotel while this happens, again at the taxpayer’s expense. Where is their show of obligation and appreciation to those that provide this home, you, the taxpayer?

Children are feral and do not attend school nor are disciplined in a normal way, so improved futures. The Uluru Statement from the Heart is the culmination of a very long struggle dating back to the early 1900s, not counting the earlier frontier wars and ravages of imported diseases during which many Indigenous people were eliminated.

Denying the rights of groups of people to obtain what is theirs to obtain is nothing new in democratic societies, especially in Australia. One has only to reflect on the struggle by women to get the right to vote; the strikes to achieve an eight-hour day, fair pay, sick leave and annual leave; the divisive campaigning that led to parliament changing laws to grant marriage equality; and now the very destructive, polarising direction being followed by those no example set but to become like their parent/s yet they continually are housed with obviously no follow-up or rules for them like other renters have. What gratitude and care do these people give back to those that have provided it? Many are good tenants but as we continually see in public housing areas the houses are trashed, inside and out, and many now lay vacant because of this happening. If they are to be given a roof over their heads then make them responsible and have caveats on their occupancy, they must pay for the damage, even if it is taken out of their pensions or wages, and they sign a contract that states if they do not maintain it then they will be evicted. Not rewarded with a holiday in a hotel. Public housing is necessary, but I think it is time to change the how and who, and get the public servants out there and see what is happening in reality and who really deserves these homes.

R Cooper

opposed to the indigenous voice to parliament. But why do such struggles have to be that way? Is it perhaps because the changes threaten the Establishment, the power base?

One has to ask, “What sort of a country are we, that Indigenous people have to be further shamed, ostracised and abused just for being Indigenous? Why does the use of misinformation and disinformation have to be the modus operandi by those advocating against the voice?" With around three months until we vote to support or deny the voice to parliament, one has to hope that the tenor of the campaigns is much more respectful and factual.

Paul from Bribie

Dear Editor,

My solar inverter is 14 years old and the panel which tells me what I’m collecting energy has gone blank. When I discovered this, along with an ant nest in the connection switch, I looked up the BI service directory and found an ad for Powered Electricians and Solar.

That was Friday, and by Monday, Charlie had visited to inspect the system, and when I couldn’t find anything wrong with the connections, he said there would be no charge! Now that’s what I call service. Now that I have received my power bill which confirms the diagnosis, I would like to recommend Charlie to all readers.

H.Beneke

The fuel farce continues, and no one seems concerned – not, even, the RACQ – supposedly the motorist’s friend. The cost of fuel feeds into every product and is, therefore, a significant component in the cost of living. The government says they are concerned but whilst we see the lips move it’s apparently just to check that they are working.

Recently it was noted that from about Beerwah, north, around the highway, west, even as far as Kingaroy, fuel was some 40c cheaper than around Caboolture/Bribie. Two days later, the discrepancy. had reduced to around 25c and about the same, 4 days later.

If the outer areas can trade at around $1.75 with, presumably, lower volumes, then motorists around here are, apparently, being ripped off. Looking at Brisbane I even see prices as low as $1.57 and the Gold Coast as low as $160.7. So, hound your local member and the RACQ to do something about, what seems to me, something very wrong. Ruggles

BRIBIE ONE NHW - NEWSLETTER JULY 2023

The Bongaree NHW newsletter will no longer be delivered to our neighbourhood We will be trialling the NHW information through the Bribie Islander Magazine thus broadening our circulationonce a month- up to Christmas 2023.

We apologise for the printing error with the last issue- this is the July newsletter. This will circulate through the East Pumicestone area, and we are investigating a hard copy being made available in the Bribie Central Arcade, courtesy of Charter Hall.

The Bribie One / Bongaree NHW meetings will continue on the third Tuesday of each month (except December) -at 9.30 am ANZAC Room Bribie R.S.L. and we will still engage interesting guest speakers from local organisations and further afield.

Congratulations to Sandstone Point

Hotels RODEO Day and Fireworks. A great day with NO major hassles with neighbours

Lets

and that includes the fireworks- it can be done! The Q.F.S – S.E.S. and Park Rangers should also be congratulated on a very successful burn-off of the bush around the bottom end of Bribie. Also -thanks to the Lions and volunteers who provided food to feed the workers over the three days’ burn-off.

Have you noticed that the Bribie Island and District Neighborhood Centre has moved to No 50 Verdoni streetjust up the road from where they were? The move is to allow for a new purpose-built building to be erected on the old site.

Cars parking on the footpaths blocks pedestrians from walking past. A bad habit! I see red- when residents and children are forced to walk out onto the road just to walk down a street because somebody parked their car across the footpath. I know we live in a Holiday resort community, but we still should abide by the rules.

You are not allowed to park on footpaths, divided strips –

Bicycle paths- painted islands or nature strips adjacent to a roadway. You can be fined by MBRC or Qld Police

What can you do to help solve and or prevent crime? For starters- look at installing CCTV cameras on your property. Report suspicious activity or information and a possible crime, to Crime Stoppers -anonymously on 1800333000 and complete the online form.

If criminal activity is happening now! call triple 0 and file a Police Report.

It is up to us – Police cannot be everywhere- still require action or an answer call Police Link on 131444. See you at the next meeting Tuesday 15th August -all welcome. Thanks, Area Coordinator Bribie One NHW -Greg Rollason 0431598560.

BANKSIA BEACH - BELLARA - WOORIM - BONGAREESANDSTONE POINT - NINGI All

DISCLAIMER: the information contained herein has been obtained from sources we deem to be reliable, however we cannot guarantee its accuracy and interested person should rely on their own inquiries. The views in this newsletter are not necessarily these of the Queensland Police Service unless expressly so quoted.

We had a gentleman call and told me about his experience with a pair of con men who defrauded him, and another neighbour last week and we want to warn you that they are hanging around.

This is Duncan's story…

Two UK nationals, with strong Yorkshire accents, came door-knocking saying they were doing another job in the same street and could offer a reduced rate for immediate roof restoration including:

• Repair/replacement of damaged/cracked tiles

• Repointing of ridge tiles

• Cleaning and sealing the entire roof

• Repainting with quality roof paint with a fourteen-year warranty.

• Required cash-only payment for a reduction on the normal price.

Duncan swallowed their story and agreed to the price of over $4000. He paid cash on completion, but they could not give him an immediate receipt or invoice but said they would email it ASAP. Now Duncan is in his mid-70s and cannot get up on the roof to check the job, but he could see that they had missed parts and he asked them to make good that omission. So, they did spray a little more, but from ground level!

Duncan asked for them to leave some paint to touch up which they gave him a partially filled tub, but as they left in a hurry, Duncan did not get to check the paint. To his dismay, the tub they left was almost all water, pretty much just some paint residue and the water that they flushed their paint hoses out with.

Taking the tub of “touch-up” paint to the Brisbane distributor, Duncan’s concerns were realised as they confirmed it was almost all water and quite useless for any purpose. They were most concerned that their brand products were being misrepresented and the likely damage to their brand reputation.

The next day Duncan got a local roof restoration business to inspect the roof, which confirmed his worst fears, no repair work had been done and what had been done was with extremely poor workmanship and very scant/thin coverage, missing many areas. There is no warranty and no paperwork from these shonky operators and now Duncan shall have to pay again for a proper restoration job from a reputable business.

Duncan’s neighbour, who had them paint her driveway, rang them to complain that the colour they used was not what she had requested, and she wanted them to return and remove their plastic sheeting and clean up but has been unable to get any satisfactory response from them.

Likewise, when Duncan tried to call them back the respondent said he didn’t know anything about it and hung up. This has all been reported to Bribie Island Police, but they have advised Duncan that it is a civil matter, not a police matter and that he should follow it up via other channels such as Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Duncan did contact QBCC, but their response was totally inappropriate.

Duncan is at a loss as to whom to contact now to get some action on these fraudsters who seem to be able to operate with impunity. He said, “Of course, I realise that I did not apply common sense and due diligence before engaging these characters and that ‘Buyer Beware’ sense should have alerted me not to deal with them at all but, my common sense failed me this time.”

Duncan contacted me to ask for help advising our local community to be alert to these unscrupulous operators, as doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else.

This is the flyer these guys as using as promotion, and a picture of one of their Utes, registration number is a Qld one. There is no signage and likely a hired vehicle.

Please be aware of these scammers and, USE YOUR LOCALLY KNOWN AND TRUSTED TRADIES!

Professional High