Logo
Prev
search
Print
addthis
Rotate
Help
Next
Contents
All Pages
Browse Issues
Home
'
Hervey Bay Independent : 28th January 2016
Contents
YOURSAY a trade in tributes to use councillors and “their” (our) discretional funding – which is a fraction of what’s taken (in rates). 4. I am a mayoral candidate for the Fraser Coast Regional Council election who is in recovery heart attack and ask, plead, for better candidates ASAP. Herb Taylor Burrum Heads A pocket full of hope for change I received my monthly Telstra account, the fi rst since the stamps were increased from 70 cents to a dollar. From my year one schooling that would be an increase of 30 cents. My ‘paper’ bill charge has risen from $2 to $3.20. Even to my aged brain, that doesn’t seem correct, in fact another word comes to mind. The only thing which appears to have increased is the stamp, the calculations etc. would still take the same amount of time, ink and paper. Can’t change servers, there isn’t another one. Tried to fi nd an email contact address and was unsuccessful. So I will whinge, loud and clear to anyone willing to listen. Perhaps if many people become vocal, if they care, Telstra may develop a small conscious. I live in hope. Jenny Jones Point Vernon Unimpressed an understatement In September 2015 I was told by the Bureau of Statistics that I had been selected to be part of a six month survey. Being public spirited I did not object to this. However since then I have contacted our Member of Federal Parliament on three occasions without satisfactory response as to the reasons for such questions and their relevance. The questions are: Have I worked in the past month? Did I sleep at my address last night? Did anyone else sleep at my address last night? On the 11th of January a departmental representative called while I had a number of friends over for morn-ing tea, so I asked her to come back at a more convenient time. She was reluctant to do so. She then asked me had anything changed since last month and I replied “no”. In short I answered her sur-vey question. So please can someone tell me why I get what I consider to be an harassing letter from the bureau for re-fusing to take the survey? Remember this was witnessed, and in future I will be taping on my mobile phone all such calls if no one else is present. Firstly the department tells me the questions are to provide data on employment and unemployment in the area. Fine, but why ask someone who has been on the aged pension since 2002? Some stats are obviously distorted by asking retirees at home during the day the question. What whether or not I slept in my bed or had people sleep over has to do with the vital employment in the area, I have yet to be enlightened as no explanation has been given. So here we have one person on Federal Government pay complete with car, mobile phone and laptop, running around asking useless and pointless questions, and what’s more putting in false reports to the department because they are too lazy to return when people have house guests. To say I am unimpressed would be an understatement. Roz Molyneaux Torquay Leave future to future councils Ulf Malmros asks (Indy January 21) “how can you dismiss or reject the planned Sports Project Precinct?” The answer is simple, it does not have community support, the proposed location is not central to our region, it is not required at this point in time and it is expensive. If and when there is a demonstrable need for such a complex and if there is community support a central location that meets the needs of our community as a whole needs to be found. Ulf’s “four minutes from the region’s major medical precinct” is the stuff of dreams. His “under 30 minutes from Maryborough” suggests he is the best driver in the world! But what about those who live in other areas of our region? How does Ulf address the lack of public transport or the fact that you cannot get a licence until you are 17 years of age? Let’s address the needs of our youth and general public today, leave the future to future councils. John A Neve Torquay Nauseating political opportunism As we know, the GMH plant in Adelaide’s northern suburbs is to close in 2017, the result of a political decision roundly condemned by most Australian’s. Unsurprisingly, the Libs failed to foresee the looming downturn in the global economy and our falling dollar. Australian manufactured cars are now excellent value in the global market. Whoops. Now, out of the blue, the South Australian government has the Federal government involved in discussions with Guido Dumarey, a Belgian entrepreneur, about keeping the Elizabeth factory open. So what’s Christopher Pyne’s response? He’s said “if Mr Dumarey was successful in buying the plant from Holden and produced enough cars, he would be able to access money from the Federal Government’s Automotive Transformation Scheme until 2021” In an act of good faith, he’ll restore the withdrawn funding which forced the closure! The UNSW Solar Racing Team, Sunswift, is the solar car racing team of the University of New South Wales in Sydney which currently holds a number of world records for the fastest solar powered vehicle, eVe, the world’s fastest electric car over 500km. In March, eVe will become the fi rst road legal solar sports car in Australia with passenger seats, greater safety and more effi cient batteries. Design and construction of eVe was completed within 18 months in time for the 2013 World Solar Challenge, costing approximately $500,000. eVe was the fastest vehicle in the Cruise Class achieving line honors, overall third place and attaining the highest top speed of 128 kph. In July 2014 The Sunswift team broke an FIA World Record for the fastest electric vehicle capable of travelling 500 km on a single battery charge. Australian undergraduate students from disciplines including business, engineering and industrial design have made an impact with global signifi cance, signifying the viability of solar technology in the emerging electric vehicle market. Former Sunswift team members have established their own companies, while others have attained highly sought-after positions working for racing teams in Formula 1. Why then, in this new and exciting era, does our government still prefer to fund an overseas business ahead of entrepreneurial Australian students designing world leading clean energy technology, particularly since the infrastructure is in place to develop this vehicle on a commercial scale? The Elizabeth plant closure caused distress to many thousands of families involved in the automotive industry. Reversing this miserly, socially gutting decision is nothing more than shameless, short term, political opportunism which, dare I say, SA voters will remind their Federal coalition MP’s of in due course. James Clarey Toogoom What’s on your mind? Email your letter to edit@theindy.com.au prior to 10am Monday for publication. Letters should be no longer than around 400 words, and contain a name, address and daytime telephone number for verifi cation purposes. Letters may be edited due to space restrictions and may be refused at the editor’s discretion for reasons including handwritten submissions, fake names and defamatory content. Authorised G. Redpath, 7 Kehlet St, Pt Vernon for G.Redpath (candidate) Hervey Bay Independent, January 28, 2016 | 31
Links
Archive
21 January 2016
4th February 2016
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
