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Letter of the Week

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This guy is so out of touch...

Author orised by J Elliot 107 07 Minjungbal Drive Tweed Heads So Sout uth h

He’s pushing to increase the GST to 15% and putting it on everything you buy.

You can’t afford Mr Turnbull’s great big new tax! 72546_p11

WARNING

Liberal / National Party Coalition Leader Malcolm Turnbull has conﬁrmed that he and his government are looking to increase the GST. The GST is a regressive and unfair tax that hits everybody, but hits low and middle income families and pensioners the hardest. Fact: Liberal / National Party Coalition Leader Malcolm Turnbull would rather tax hardworking Australians and pensioners, than tackle multinational tax avoidance. Labor will not support an increase to the GST, because increasing the tax would inﬂict the heaviest punishment on those least able to afford it. Instead, Labor has a fair and better plan to make multinationals pay their fair share of tax.

Justine Elliot MP Federal Member for Richmond

Email: justine.elliot.mp@aph.gov.au Phone: 1300 720 675 Ofﬁce: 107 Minjungbal Drive, Tweed Heads South

www.facebook.com/JustineElliotMP 72813_P9

You can’t afford Mr Turnbull’s unfair GST increase!

WARNING

Authorised by J Elliot 107 Minjungbal Drive Tweed Heads South

LOCAL NEWS

Thursday November 19, 2015

THE LEGAL LIGHT!

“Koala-gate” their future with us THREATENED

SPECIES

Conservation Society president Dave Norris says he’s concerned about Tweed Shire Council’s plan to remove the Black Rock sports field gate and replace it with a grid.

Beware losing your heart, and money, to scammers

t can happen to any of us. Looking for love or friendship through the Internet whether on dating sites or through discussion groups we need to be wary of the scammers, those cruel crooks who seek to rip us off by getting us to hand over money or steal our identity to get access to our accounts.

The scammers are very skilled at fishing for their targets, dangling the prospect of romance or friendship for people who they see as vulnerable. The scammers are patient. They can keep the fishing game going for months, even years, before they strike. Once they think they have your heart, they target your generosity with a plea for a small loan to help with a sick relative, or help pay for the plane ticket so they can fly to meet you. They might even pay back the first small loan to win your trust. But they are just after more of your money. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission reports $45 million has been lost to scams so far in 2015 - $15 million in romance scams – mostly from people aged over 45 looking for companionship. “Scams target people of all backgrounds, ages and income levels across Australia. There’s no one group of people who are more likely to become a victim of a scam and all of us may be vulnerable to a scam at some time,” ACCC acting chair Delia Rickard said. The ACCC reports the latest scams on its scamwatch. gov.au website. Stacks Law Firm lawyer Anneka Frayne warns it can be very difficult to get your money back, especially if you have sent it overseas. “They will drag you in over months of increasingly intimate talk until you feel they are part of your life – but there is always some reason they can’t meet up with you just yet, if only you could help pay a medical bill, a plane fare. “It’s fraud and it is illegal. The scammers lie, manipulate and cheat to extort you. For many it’s not just losing money, but your heart and confidence can be left shattered. “Before you get too involved, check them out. Search the web for facial identity. Type in their vows of love – they might be using the same lines on other people. The best rule is the first time they ask for money cut them off, no matter how convincing they might sound. And if you’re really not sure, seek some professional advice.

His concerns were raised this week as Council prepares to review recently completed koala studies into the Black Rocks sports field next month. The study was expected to indicate the number of koalas remaining around the sports field and processes to assist and monitor the marsupials. Council General Manager Troy Green said Councillors resolved in May to commission a study using the methodology contained in the currently exhibited Comprehensive Koala Plan of Management. “The study was designed to obtain baseline data on koala numbers in the Black Rocks sports field precinct,” Mr Green said. Council has also resolved to replace the gates at the entrance to the Black Rocks sports field with a koala grid, in a bid to prevent koalas entering the nearby urban environment.

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unacceptable levels of disturbance; they are dying from stress-related disease, bushfire, vehicle strike and dog attack. “Their habitat is fragmented by roads. If the decline to extinction is to be reversed, Dr Phillips states: ‘An extraordinarily bold and recoveryoriented management plan is required’. “Instead Council has resolved to impede koala recovery by replacing the existing koala protection gates at the sports field with a grid, allowing easy access night and day. Dogs are able to traverse grids and a grid will not stop hooliganism or dogs which are transported into the site by motor vehicle. “Council has also been inundated with emails calling for the the motion to remove the gate to be withdrawn,” Mr Norris said. YOUR THOUGHTS: Do you think enough is being done to help save koalas across the Tweed? Send your thoughts, suggestions and letters to editor@theweekly.net.au

Talk on Gallipoli for general meeting THE TWEED Heads Historical Society held its General Meeting on Tuesday, 17 November.

About 30 people attended the meeting which took place at the Old Court House, Pioneer Park, Kennedy Drive. Guest speaker was Ivan Mackay who spoke about his visit to Gallipoli on Anzac Day in April this year. Mr Mackay said he was amazed by the respect shown to Australian troops. “The grounds were in immaculate condition,” he said. “And while it was hard to get a sense of how the trenches looked, it was easy to see how difficult the terrain was to negotiate.” Mr Mackay passed around photos and pieces of shrapnel which he said still litter the area today. To contact Tweed Heads Historical Society phone: (07) 5536 8625

Ivan Mackay was the guest speaker for the Tweed Heads Historical Society general meeting.

Ask a local: What do you love about the KIN Dragon Boat Fest? It’s a great day. People travel from as far as Grafton to the Sunshine Coast. I think the community really comes to life here. Bobby Magee, Carool

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“Don’t send intimate photos or personal details – once you refuse money they might try and use it for blackmail,” Ms Frayne said. Responsibility for comment is taken by Stacks Law Firm

Finally, council will bring a report to a future Council meeting with recommended options to address the impacts of “hooning” behaviour at the entrance road to the playing fields. Mr Green said further consideration of the issue was anticipated in conjunction with the report. Meanwhile, Mr Norris continues to campaign for the long-term survival of the Pottsville koala population. Mr Norris said Dr Steve Phillips was commissioned to direct the Tweed Coast Koala Habitat Study 2011 (TCKHS), which made recommendations to prevent localised koala extinction. Mr Norris quoted Dr Phillips as saying the “primary focus of conservation and management efforts must be to maintain residency”. Mr Norris said he applauded the Koala Connections Project and volunteers for their koala tree planting efforts. “However, there is no point in continuing to plant koala trees if there are no koalas left to take up residency,” he said. “Our koalas are exposed to

The KIN Dragon Boat Fest has been going for 30 years now and I think it’s both a good cause and a lot of fun. Kids In Need Vice President Sandy Rogers

stacklaw.com.au

www.tweedvalleyweekly.net.au

The community spirit. It’s an event that brings the whole commuinity together for a good cause, helping Kids in Need. JJ Lawson, Balambil

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Au uthor thoris th ised ed by Ju Just sttin ine e El Elliliot ot 107 Min nju jung ng n gba ball Drriv ive e Tw Twee Twee ed Head ds South

justine.elliot.mp@aph.gov.au

KEEP IN TOUCH

Member for Richmond

Justine Elliot

JustineElliotMP JElliotMP

(07) 55 234 371 @JElliotMP

to make our area an even better place to live.

keep working together

are important to us. We’ve achieved so much, let’s

As your local MP I’m always ﬁghting for you on the issues that

ADVE AD VERT VE RTIS I EM MEN ENT