LETTERS Unsafe advice Unfortunately, the legal advice relied on by Crs Ann Shaw and Antonella Celi has been compromised by the manner in which it was obtained (“Expenses allowed” and “Concerning News”, Letters 7/6/16). Mornington Peninsula Shire Council did not authorise obtaining the advice. Shire management did so at the request of Cr Celi. Council was unaware that legal advice had been obtained until it was produced by management for discussion by councillors at a briefing at Mornington on 21 March at which Cr Celi was present. Council has dealt with eight councillors’ claims for professional development conferences and seminars expenses on at least five occasions since 2012, including the claims of Cr Celi and Cr Shaw. The inescapable fact not considered by the lawyers is that on all but the first occasion, shire management reported in writing to each of these council meetings that “Each councillor is allocated $4000 per annum for attendance at conferences and seminars, or the equivalent of $16,000 per councillor term”. An additional $3500 is allocated if a councillor holds the office of mayor. Neither shire management nor councillors could be in any doubt as to this. No council meeting has authorised claims in excess of the prescribed amounts. Why these facts were not provided by shire management to the lawyers has not been explained. Legal advice is only as good as the instructions and facts provided for the lawyers’ consideration. The legal advice relied on by Crs Shaw and Celi fails that basic test. Councillors and ratepayers are entitled to a full explanation as to all these matters. Hugh Fraser, councillor, Nepean Ward
Pay their way What a kerfuffle there is about councillor's exceeding their $16,000 allowance for seminars and conferences; with some saying "I'm innocent", some "You're guilty", and some "I know nothing". The fact is that the "allowances" are being abused and, in my opinion, rorted. These "allowances" should be scrapped immediately. If councillors want a trip to Paris, or a diploma, or a director’s course, let them pay for it themselves. If they want to improve themselves during their four year tenure they should go to school and pay for it themselves. We elect them for what they are. It seems to me that not many councillors are altruistically dedicated to serving the shire and their constituents; some are in it because it is a lovely little well paid part time job that beats working in a factory. Others are in it for other reasons. There is no use in voting the bad ones out if all we get is more of the same, voting in perks and benefits for themselves. Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Guilty parties The policies of both the Labor and Liberal parties towards the asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru should be criticised. Isolating these people and keeping them out of sight is an abuse of human rights, especially as Australia is a party to the Refugee Convention. To keep families indefinitely is cruel and unnecessary. The incidence of self-harm and mental illness is high. Border Force is towing boats back to Indonesia constantly but we don’t hear about it. Silence succeeds. Why is Australia so precious that we cannot absorb a mere 3000 but off load them to poor countries? An exodus is taking place world wide and we treat them badly. My country is better than this. Patricia Rayner, Somers
End detention I read with concern that there has been another report about the dangers women face both inside and out of the Nauru detention centre. This group of people – men, women and children who fled their homes to seek asylum continue to live in very challenging and unacceptable surroundings. It is clear from every report about our offshore detention centres, Nauru and Manus Island financed by the Australian Government, that the environment in and outside these centres
is toxic and dangerous and extremely detrimental to the physical and mental health of these people. No one, especially little children should spent time in these centres. The refugees and asylum seekers currently in these offshore detention centres are caught in a web spun by political decisions with no reasonable and appropriate outcomes for them. After years they still live in fear with no idea or hope for their futures because of this political impasse. This group should be considered unique, never to be replaced by other people seeking asylum and safety. These people should be brought to Australia where they can get appropriate treatment, be quickly processed for refugee or other status and have a chance to settle here and contribute to whichever community they settle in, as many before them have done. Let’s be big enough to see this outrage for what it is, and bring them here Ann Renkin, Shoreham
Detention martyr While at Frankston Magistrates Court last week to support the church group against the indefinite detention of children and refugees (“Christians show no regret for their trespass”, The News 7/6/16) it became clear to me how frightened the establishment is of the common people. As I have never been to court, I was amazed that the security procedures for getting into court and see justice in action are just as severe as on our borders. The seven people who dared to question the major parties’ asylum seeker policy at [Flinders MP] Greg Hunt’s office were given the chance to make statements to the bench before being judged. All spoke with conviction of the rightness of their actions and came across as caring and loving members of our society. I came to the realisation that it was not the accused who where on trail here, but a government that has been getting more and more distanced from Australians’ notion of a fair go for all. I applaud the magistrate for not recording convictions for all of defendants except one who, in my eyes, is the tragic martyr of this sorry saga of indefinite detention in our concentration camps. Rupert Steiner, Balnarring Beach
Lesson in democracy After reading last week’s letter pages (The News 7/6/16), I’m amazed by how many of your correspondents still have no idea how things work in a democracy. First, we had Mr Steiner up in arms about an [election] promise [by Liberal Party candidates Chris Crewther (Dunkley) and Greg Hunt (Flinders)] to build a $2 million athletic track at Mornington (“Shades of Mirabella”). What would you have him do Mr Steiner? Back the loopy Greens policy of flying 50,000 refugees from United Nations holding camps to Australia every year? Back Labor’s support for militant unions? This was followed by a letter from John Cain (“Hunt’s state of play”) in which he criticises our local [federal] MP for having a say on [state] issues. When we go to the polls in July we send a very clear message to our elected MP, just what the majority of people in his or her electorate expect from them. If, for example, we live in the seat of Melbourne and elect Adam Brandt, then we surely can’t complain when he tries to vote down boat turn-backs. Here on the Mornington Peninsula, for many years, the majority of people have elected a Liberal MP and have every right to expect that member to reflect that majority view in Canberra. Michael G Free, Mt Martha
Reef ‘not so bad’ It is intriguing to note the continued distortions and untruths about the Great Barrier Reef contained in letters published from those with significant antagonism to our sitting member. [Environment] Minister [Greg] Hunt has cancelled five Labor-approved dredging operations in the reef area which would have dumped the spoils in the reef waters much to it`s detriment. The final dredging undertaking is to have all dredged material dumped on land to minimise any potential damage. It also beggars belief how anyone can claim that run-off from a coal mine several hundred kilometres inland in Queensland could affect the reef. Any such water would run to the centre of the nation.
The run-off issue for the reef comes from farming activity. Would the left/green cohort like to see all farming stopped in the area along with the rest of their nation destroying wishes? This run-off is a difficult issue but it is being addressed. The reef management authority report just released confirms the condition of the reef is nowhere near as dire or serious as the alarmists would have us believe. Today the UN’s top marine official has praised the federal government’s management of the reef. I note also that almost every sign promoting Greg Hunt in the Rye/Sorrento area has been defaced, even though on private property. This demonstrates the moral turpitude of those opposed to the government and its sitting member. Peter Grey, Rye
Two heads are better As you drive around Frankston, you could be forgiven if you think you're in a time warp. The smiling cherubic face of a former member of parliament adorns many strategic and obviously very salubrious staging posts. Perhaps it's dynamic duopoly liberally implanted to remind us to vote for the right person. However, to someone fresh from outside the peninsula, they may be forgiven for thinking that more heads are better than one. One can't help but feel that you get a bigger bang for your bucks with two pollies for the price of one retired polly. Ian Morrison, Mt Eliza
Savings from waste For almost a decade Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has had a commitment to alternative waste technology (AWT) which is a move towards zero management of waste on the peninsula. An indicative estimate of the annual savings for a modern AWT plant that diverts 75 per cent of waste from landfill is $4,789,430. This could be put towards building and operating a plant on the peninsula. The savings is made up from: $1,805,387 not having to pay the EPA landfill levy; $1,238,118 conversion of organic waste to fertiliser, not mulch, by the AWT plant; $1,073,925 differential between local charges and carting off the peninsula; $672,000 for the electricity generated by an AWT which is about three to four times the current electricity generated for 80 households from tip biogas. Graeme Morrison, Rosebud West
Missing in detail I am a swinging voter when the occasion arises and have listed some of my concerns which did not appear on brochures I received from candidates in the Dunkley electorate: Chris Crewther (Liberal) and Peta Murphy (Labor). 1 What are their views on how the community should handle the matters of the protection of human life at all levels of development and decline? 2 What are their views on the teaching sex education to primary age children? 3 What are their views view on marriage? 4 The problems affecting dairy farmers in the milk pricing set by big business and corporations. 5 What is their background in school life and previous employment? In a less serious vein: who on earth designed the postal vote application in the name designation and put the status “Mr” just before “Other” when Mr goes first alphabetically? [Liberal] Bruce Billson served Dunkley well and it was a pity that we have lost him as small business minister to [his replacement] Kelly O'Dwyer who is holding, not only a young baby, but other ministries as well. Not good politics there. We need [to be represented by] more than just a pretty face and an interest in finance. Maureen Federico, Frankston South
Kellie Puddy and everyone else who is taking a stand for the voiceless animals. Bethany Travers, Rosebud West
Words and no action I have contacted Flinders MP Greg Hunt about his 2013 and 2016 pre-election letterboxed literature promises to “protect Phillip Island and the Mornington Peninsula from inappropriate development”. Any fair-minded person would surely have included [plans for] a 6000-a-year monster container ships (3000 in 3000 out) and huge container port at Hastings. He states “we live in a wonderful part of the world and I am passionate about protecting it”. On 26 June 2015, he stood next to [state] Opposition Leader Matthew Guy when Guy said “we believe in the Port of Hastings [container port project] totally” with later words about a non-existent ALP policy to blast Port Phillip Heads. Mr Hunt’s contribution was to state that to dredge for the container port in Western Port would “if at all, need a fraction, a scintilla of that required” to accommodate the non-existent ALP Port Phillip version. Official independent figures have stated a devastating 24 million cubic metres as a minimum. In October 2014 Mr Hunt signed an agreement with Mr Guy, then planning minister in the Liberal state government, effectively handing over his powers under federal environment law to the same government which, if it had been reelected, would already be making a huge mess of the Ramsar treaty internationally protected upper two thirds of Western Port. Signing that agreement would possibly be the worst case of “fox in the henhouse” since the 1960s, when [then premier] Henry Bolte wanted to build a nuclear power station on French Island. The current Liberal campaign is very big on creating “jobs and growth”, so I pointed out to Mr Hunt that Western Port’s $2 billion a year economy already supports thousands of jobs in tourism, recreational fishing and vegetable growing. All of these would be at risk from a container port at Hastings. Kevin Chambers, The Gurdies
Arts supporter We thank Bruce Billson for his efforts as federal Liberal MP for Dunkley, but let's not simply transfer our allegiance to the new Liberal candidate, particularly in light of his earlier comments on penalty rates. We now have Sally Baillieu standing for The Arts Party, a breath of fresh air for Frankston voters. If you're locked in to one of the major party candidates you may like to show your appreciation of how the arts can enhance your lifestyle by putting number 1 against the name of Rose Godde on your Senate voting paper - The Arts Party. Cliff Ellen, Rye Editor: Cliff Ellen is a regular guest on RPP FM’s Arts About? program hosted by Sally Baillieu.
Time for change In response to (“Don’t blame Hunt”, Letters 7/6/16) Alan Reid from Sorrento, arguments are unfortunately embedded in that last-century logic with no vision or “innovation” as the prime minister proudly trumpets. We cannot continue along the fossil fuel path, we all know that. To reach current and proposed RET figures will require a significant uplift and investment in solar and wind, now kicking off in north west Victoria. Infrastructure investment in transmission lines and storage technology to meet load demand “when the sun don’t shine”, as he ineloquently phrases it will enable us to switch off Hazelwood, one of the worst polluting machines in the world. It’s time to think of the next generation and not just the next election. Kelvin Stingel, Mornington Peninsula Greens
Horse support I am writing about the situation at Ace-Hi Ranch at Cape Schanck (“Spurs out over horse cruelty claims”, The News 10/5/16). I am sure others will agree with me when I say that "in a reasonable condition" and in a "moderate" condition is not good enough for the animals at Ace-Hi. The fact that the RSPCA already has a file on AceHi and has had a number of welfare concerns brought to its attention over the past decade should worry the public. I am fully behind [former ranch employee]
Letters to the editor can be sent to The News, PO Box 588, Hastings 3915 or emailed to: team@mpnews.com.au Letters should be kept to a maximum 300 words and include name, address and contact phone number for verification purposes. Mornington News 14 June 2016
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