They weren’t writing for personal gain, but for the common good and a clean future. They wanted to know why Ms Ley and her government are bending over backwards to support the Adani Carmichael coal mine. Why is the government stealthily providing concessional loans to support a corrupt overseas billionaire? Why are they allowing free, unlimited water when everyone else must pay? Why are they risking our country, our climate, our reef and our water. And why are they persisting with the 11,000 jobs myth when Adani’s admitted it’s only 1500. 

Yes, these are difficult questions for a government representative. However when constituents put time and effort into writing letters, decent democratic protocols require the courtesy of a considered reply.

Albury area carers are invited to attend a free information and wellbeing Expo at Mirambeena Community Centre on June 28, from 10am till 2pm.

The All About ME Expo, hosted by Intereach and the Border Carers Reference Group, is an opportunity to meet with organisations who provide support and services for local carers together under one roof. 

Carers are everywhere within our communities, and odds are you either are a carer or know a carer. Nobody plans to become a carer, a sudden accident, illness or the increasing frailty of a family member or friend means that any of us could become a carer at any time. 

Caring can be rewarding but it can also be demanding and exhausting. Too often carers can go unrecognised, but if carers decided to stop performing their role, it would cost more than $60 billion each year to replace those supports. Events like this are a wonderful way to show carers that support is available. To RSVP, or to find out more, contact Intereach CRCC on 1800 052 222.

I can forgive the federal Opposition for many things, but not stealing money from infants. Under our tax system, shareholders receive franking credits to account for company tax paid and to avoid double taxation. These credits can be used to offset tax owed by the shareholder. For people who pay no tax, such as children earning $416 or less, excess franking credits are paid out as cash refunds. Labor plans to steal those refunds. 

An example makes this clearer. Fred and Joan, pensioner grandparents withdraw $5000 from savings to buy shares in the name of one-year-old grandson Jack. They figure that 18 years of investment earnings will help costs when he wants to go to uni. Jack’s parents make all the decisions but as Jack is the beneficial owner of the shares his TFN is quoted. All dividend income from the shares is deposited into a bank account in Jack's name and dividends and franking credits are reinvested for Jack. Labor’s proposal would take around $100 in the first year. Compounding over the next 18 years will rob Jack of well over $3000. 

If Labor is such a bad financial manager they need to steal money from infants, they don’t deserve to be in government.