Transparency refreshing
The transparent declaration of the fundraising and expenditure by Cathy McGowan was refreshing and is another insight to the strong and well supported grassroots campaign across Indi.
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However, this transparent reporting to the community is not required of the major political parties.
This may not mean much in the usual political contests between Liberal and Labor, but the distinction becomes significant when there is a competitive independent candidate and the local media cannot apply equal analysis or scrutiny.
Under the current AEC reporting, we will not see any financial detail of the almost three-year campaign by the Liberal Party candidate in Indi, which would be significant.
However, the more curious declaration was from the National Party candidate in Indi who reported to The Border Mail that he only spent $10,478 on a "shoestring" campaign and that donations received equaled zero.
While not doubting the details of this declaration, it serves as a distraction from the key fact that the National Party does not need to be transparent under the AEC rules.
Also consider the evidence provided by the leader of the National Party, Barnaby Joyce.
Following a very high-profile contest in the electorate of New England he declared to the AEC that expenditure and donations were both zero.
Apparently there is nothing wrong with this under current rules as political donations and expenditure are channeled through far away party headquarters.
If this unequal situation needs closer investigation, I suggest taking a look at the Annual Returns of Political Parties to the AEC. Let us all know if you can find anything transparent at the electorate level, but the likely answer will be zero.
Tony Lane, Wangandary
Make your vote count
When it comes to voting it’s amazing how many sheep there are who blindly follow and look where it has got us.
We are going backwards with education, finance and health and what do our politicians do about it? Nothing useful.
It’s time you woke up to the fact that the politicians are telling the citizens what they will get, it should be us telling the politicians what we want.
Why not nationalise health and get a decent system? It’s worked well in the UK, France and a lot of other countries, just remove the compulsory private health insurance, put all the rebates etc into public health and even increase the Medicare rate by one per cent and we might get a decent health system.
The way we are going with privatising health we will end up like the US, where if you do not have the money you will die.
Think about your vote next election and we might get decent and honest politicians?
Breck Scott-Young, East Albury
Thanks for job well done
Well done to Albury City Council for another great night last week at the Glenmorus Christmas Remembrance Service.
A lot of thought and consideration went into the event and the staff, presenters and organisers did a great job.
Thank you to everyone and keep up the good work.
Lyn Maclean, Lavington
Celebrate time of giving
There but for the grace of God go I.
We need to thank God every day that we live in a wonderful Christian-based democracy.
We need to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves firstly.
We need to give to overseas charities and help the law abiding refugees.
Christmas is a time of giving and there's no better time than now.
Merry Christmas everyone and happy new year.