Don’t promote Mirabella
SUZANNE Ryder's letter (The Border Mail, August 18) expressing her astonishment at the recent inappropriate actions of Sophie Mirabella in relation to government protocols, and disappointment at The Border Mail's subsequent positive coverage of Ms Mirabella's actions, was entirely correct and warranted.
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It expressed the concern felt by many at the blatant grandstanding and abuse of democratic process by the future Liberal candidate, with the full support of her party.
What an coincidence that in the same issue, The Border Mail published a half page article – complete with charming photo – explaining that Ms Mirabella had arranged for Paul Squires, chairman of the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, to attend a private meeting with the federal Arts Minister and herself to discuss funding concerns.
Let us be clear here. Ms Mirabella is not an elected representative.
This is doors being opened to government ministers by persons who have no standing to do so.
This level of influence displayed in other countries would be quite accurately deemed serious corruption.
If Mr Squires was so concerned as to his future federal government funding he should have approached his local member, or he should have written directly to the minister.
His involvement in this questionable meeting has not done the the jazz festival any credit.
And I echo Suzanne's disappointment at The Border Mail's reporting of such actions.
These articles should be seen for what they are. That is, poorly disguised promotional pieces for Ms Mirabella.
I suggest some more editorial rigour is required to prevent further pieces, no doubt provided by the Liberal Party publicity machine, by being reported as news.
GRAEME HIND,
Lake Hume Village
Jasper wasn’t our saviour
DAN the man comes to the North East and insults our state member by calling him negative and stating: “Ken Jasper didn’t work like him.”
My experience with Ken Jasper is that he asked for and achieved very little.
When does doing what you are elected to do become a negative?
We all know the North East has a huge battle on its hands just to get our fair share of funding.
It’s not a good look – Ben Kraus from Beechworth’s Bridge Rd Brewers drinking in celebration with Daniel Andrews.
What makes this so offensive to the rest of us is the gloating on how well the Beechworth Brewery would do that weekend.
Good luck Ben Kraus, because any businesses that has to employ staff that weekend will have a very different story to tell.
That’s not to mention the ripple effect this then creates.
That is, the situation for schools, hospitals, nursing homes and every other commodity that can only function with rostering on paid staff.
PAT CHICK,
Wangaratta
Point me in right direction
I stayed in your lovely city recently.
But I had difficulty finding my way around the central business district because there are hardly any street signs.
When you drive along Dean or Smollett streets, especially, there are hardly any signs for the cross streets.
If there is one, it is small or in a place that is hard to see.
Also in the three major underground carparks (Myer, Coles and K/Mart and Volt lane) there are no numbers or letters on the poles to indicate where you are parked.
It is very hard to find your way back to your car.
The signage is poor all over Albury, but I found the CBD was the worst.