I read in The Border Mail an article about filling up the public places in Albury with pop-ups. All very interesting and good but do we really need our open spaces filled up?
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Mention was made in the article that Cr Murray King said there must have been over 1000 people at the park over Easter having barbecues and having a great time in the sun. This was without any outside entertainment so why the need to bring in outside activities?
Could it be revenue from the fees that would be charged?
How can a footy be kicked, a frisbee thrown, if there is no space left?
The article reminded me of the song by Joni Mitchell or the Counting Crows, Big Yellow Taxi, where all the parks to be found are replicas in the museums. Where you gotta pay to see 'em.
Not every empty space needs to be filled up or used as a revenue gathering venture.
Vikki Bye, Yarrawonga
Anger at ‘triple-dipping’
Now that the NSW Government have backed away from a more equitable funding of the emergency services, we have back-tracked to "triple-dipping".
And everyone who insures their house and contents, their business or farm property, and even their motor vehicle, pays this triple dipping.
Governments need to stop this disgraceful behaviour. And the state and federal governments are equally to blame for this inequity. For example, when talking about business/farm property insurance, for every $100 of premium you pay 36.5 per cent emergency services levy (ESL).
- Premium: $100.00; ESL: $36.50; Sub-total: $136.50; GST at 10 per cent: $13.65; Sub-total: $150.15; Stamp duty at 9 per cent: $13.51; Total: $163.66
A tax, on a tax, on a tax. Triple dipping.
You pay GST on the ESL, and then you pay stamp duty on the ESL and the GST.
But governments say that the ESL is not a tax and that stamp duty is not a tax. Bah, humbug.
That doesn't pass the old pub test.
House and contents are the same except we have an ESL of 20 per cent.
- Premium: $100.00; ESL: $20.00; Sub-total: $120.00; GST at 10 per cent: $12.00; Sub-total: $132.00; Stamp duty at 9 per cent: $11.88; Total: $143.88
A tax, on a tax, on a tax. Triple dipping.
Motor vehicles are the same but, mercifully, an ESL of “only” 1 per cent, and a stamp duty of “only” 5 per cent. But they still triple dip! Greg (Aplin), I have spoken to you about this before, but nothing has happened. Sussan (Ley), I have spoken to you about this before, but nothing has happened.
Everyone in NSW, let your local state and federal member know that you don't think this is fair.
And worse, we have reverted to a situation where the only people who pay for the emergency services are those who pay insurance.
Go figure!
Henk van de Ven, Bungowannah
Sophie’s ‘exorbitant’ wish
Sophie Mirabella seems quite willing to see exorbitant damages between $300-$400 thousand awarded against a small local newspaper in what was her electorate.
This seems likely to bankrupt the paper to appease her wounded pride.
I assume she doesn’t plan on running again, as I can’t see the people of Benalla taking very kindly to that.