24 July 2017
3
A Star News Group Publication
A good choice can turn around a life of drugs
SPORT
Covering Endeavour Hills, Doveton & Hallam
Shaun leaves a lasting Legends legacy
■ Casey council wants to force teens into the Army...
Salute to service By Victoria Stone-Meadows The City of Casey is calling on the Federan Government to introduce compulsory national service for all 18-year-old Australians. Councillor Rex Flannery raised the notice of motion at a Casey council meeting on Tuesday 18 July, after returning from a trip to Israel in June. He said speaking to young people in Israel, where citizens are automatically drafted into the military for three years at the age of 18, inspired him. “I thought I would put it up and open the topic for discussion,” he said. “I think we’re losing the war on crime as Melbourne is the number one crime city in Australia and we face things like alcohol abuse, one-punch attacks, stabbings, and murders. “Everyday someone is getting shot, domestic violence, and drug abuse, depression in kids and youth suicide, just so many things. “The government is ploughing so much money into all these areas but we are not getting any results, as far as I am concerned.” He said he doesn’t want to ship young people off overseas, but thinks a stint in the defence forces would help a lot of young people stay away from crime. Cr Flannery also claimed that serving in the military in Afghanistan would be safer for a lot of young people than being in Melbourne. “When you really think about it, the number of soldiers in Afghanistan that have been killed, it is safer to go over and serve in the Australian Army in Afghanistan than it is to walk the streets of Australia,” he said. Cr Flannery admits that he has never served in any branch of the Australian Defence Force but said he wouldn’t hesitate to sign up to prove his point. “I didn’t get to do national service when I was younger and I have been employed all my life but if I have to go to prove a point and to lead by example I would definitely go,” he said. Other councillors speaking in support of the motion at the meeting including conservative councillors Rosalie Crestani and Amanda Stapledon. Cr Crestani spoke about how she had some conflicting feelings regarding the motion, despite helping Cr Flannery compose it. “When I got home my heart sank because I am a mother and if we helped get this off the ground my almost 14-year-old son would soon be eligible for this,” she said. “The conflict between mother and community leader is sometime at odds but it is really reassuring to think we can give this opportunity to young people.
OPEN MORNING
Casey councillors Amanda Stapledon, Rex Flannery and Rosalie Crestani want to see national service introduced for all 18-year-old Australians. 170716 Picture: VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS “I whole-heartedly support this and I think it’s for the best of the nation to strengthen us and our community.” However, River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith was absent from the vote and said is he was there, he would have stood firmly against the idea. “I read it in the agenda before I had to leave the meeting early and had no thought it would get anywhere; I though it surely was not going to get up,” he said. Cr Smith said he was absolutely shocked when he found out after the meeting that the motion had passed. “At the end of the meeting I asked how the motion went and when the other councillors said it passed unanimously I thought they were joking,” he said. Cr Smith said Casey council has no business meddling in policy areas it has no control over. “The average everyday citizen in Casey wants us looking at issues that affect them and their quality of life in Casey,” he said.
“Every person in Casey will have their views on conscription but council doesn’t need to have that opinion on their behalf. “This is not a council issue on the basis that we as elected representatives of our wards, we don’t know what the opinion of our constituents are because there has been no debate about this in recent years.” Cr Smith said if he were in the council chambers when the motion was raised, he would not be able to support it as a matter of conscience. “Personally I don’t agree with it and feel we are not in a situation to warrant it,” he said. “I understand in the past we did with national security issues and when we were in dire need because of the war, but forcing people to go to war is something that doesn’t sit with me; you want people there who want to be there.” The City of Casey will write to Federal Holt MP Anthony Byrne, La Trobe MP Jason Wood, Flinders MP Greg Hunt and Defence Minister Marise Payne.
AUGUST 4TH JUNIOR SCHOOL, DOVETON & JUNIOR SCHOOL, OFFICER 9.30AM- 12.00PM 12357724-JV28-17
30-32 Victor Cres Narre Warren 3805
Call for a Free Mearsure & Quote WWW.IMPACTBLINDSANDCURTAINS.COM.AU
Blinds & Curtains 12357183-KC27-17
PH 97056366
1126426-MB13-14
FACTORY DIRECT BLINDS FOR LESS
Early Learning and Junior School
TO REGISTER CALL CATHIE WATERS: 9709 7310 OR JANET DE JONG: 9709 7217
Holt MP Anthony Byrne said he was open to considering the council’s ideas in attempting to curb youth crime. “I will consider all the available options on how we can reduce youth crime in the area,” he said. “As Deputy Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee, I have been actively working with the security and law enforcement agencies to keep Australia and the community safe.” “I will continue working with my Parliamentary colleagues to discuss all options for keeping the community safe from any potential threats, particularly addressing the rise of youth crime rates in the electorate of Holt.” The council will send letters to call on these members of Federal Parliament to consider introducing compulsory national service to all Australian citizens and permanent residents when they reach 18 years of age.