Letters to the editor

Last year, there were eight fatalities on Victorian farms, and hundreds of serious injuries reported across the agricultural industry. 

Common machinery such as tractors and quad bikes are among the leading culprits.

As with any workplace tragedy, farm deaths and injuries have a devastating, ripple effect on not only the worker and the employer, but also colleagues, friends, and family. 

The far-reaching consequences of these incidents can last a lifetime.

The theme for this year’s farm safe week is “Safe farms = better productivity”. 

It’s important to share this message that investing in workplace safety is good for farming business. 

But we also need to remember that making our farms safe can save lives.

JUST when we think that nothing else can go wrong with the North East railway debacle, we now have trains breaking speed restrictions.

We have all witnessed the disgraceful track work that has been carried out, the dreadful condition of rolling stock, mud holes that cannot be repaired, and the list goes on and on. 

Railway control people, along with our various levels of politicians, should hang their heads in shame.

We are told somewhere up towards $2 billion has been spent, and look at the pathetic service we are being served up.

Is the hierarchy waiting for a major tragedy to occur, it certainly appears that way?

SO Bronwyn Bishop gets caught out using taxpayer money to take a helicopter ride from Melbourne to Geelong for a Liberal Party function. 

Repays the money. Justifies this by saying that it was "within the boundaries of her parliamentary entitlements" (and we all thought it was the "end of the age of entitlements").

Joe Hockey and Julie Bishop get caught out claiming airfares for the flight back to Australia from a wedding in India. 

Tony Abbott repays almost $10,000 not  for purposes to do with official duties.

A Liberal member from Western Australia claims the flight from Perth to North Queensland to inspect an investment property.

These stories get swept under the carpet after a couple of days by the conservative press. 

One must feel for Peter Slipper being dragged through the courts for around $1000 which he was willing to repay.

But, oh no, he had betrayed the "born to rule" and they unleashed their attack dogs, i.e. the radio shock jocks and the Murdoch press.

He was hounded for months and portrayed on the front page of a certain right wing paper as a "rat". 

At least Peter Slipper was an impartial Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Just as the Coalition and their media "lackies" have shut down an criticism, so too has Bronwyn Bishop shut down any criticism in the parliament. 

How about a Royal Commission into the misuse of money by all politicians and political donations from all groups - unions, the mafia, mining billionaires etc?