After listening to the comments from the voters in the Wentworth electorate I am confused.
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Malcolm Turnbull challenged Tony Abbott mid-term because of his poor showing in the polls.
Then when Scott Morrison won the leadership from Malcolm Turnbull because of his poor showing in the polls mid-term it is apparently wrong. I think Malcolm Turnbull’s commitment to the Liberal Party was then highlighted in that he took his bat and ball and left the country and did not support his successor.
My concern is the growing number of independent and minor party representatives in Parliament. At no time during the election campaign do they talk about their “economic plan” for this country and usually focus on popular issues, leaving funding issues to either Labor or Liberal to worry about.
I have to agree that both the Labor and Liberal parties have lost their way in many ways but they are the only parties that are forced to promote a long-term economic plan for this country.
If the trend of increasing the number of independent or minor parties into Parliament continues, who will become the first independent Prime Minister with no economic plan?
The question all independents and minor parties need to answer is how are they going to fund their policies without increasing borrowings or taxes?
John Walker, Wangaratta
Come clean on poison
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning must come clean about the dangers of the use of 1080 poison in agriculture and national parks.
The department cannot continue to ignore the overwhelming amount of evidence from around Australia and overseas that indicates 1080 is an extremely volatile, dangerous and cruel substance for all animals; including Australia’s precious wildlife; its farmed animals, companion animals; and indeed a very real danger to humans.
A transparent independent inquiry must be held as a matter of urgency.
Reports that 1080 will soon be scattered all over national parks, such as the iconic Grampians, is a cause for extreme alarm for naturalists and animal welfare organisations.
Reports in the media from around the world, especially New Zealand, of livestock suffering agonising deaths due to the use of this substance are becoming commonplace.
The department cannot ignore these concerns and must understand they are responsible for protecting the environment, management of natural resources, and managing water resources. As per the DEWLP webpage, they are there to “create liveable, inclusive and sustainable communities” so the question has to be asked – are they actually doing that, or are they causing more harm than good?
Only an independent inquiry can answer that question.
It is time to take stock and have another look at this whole issue, as more countries join those who have already banned its use.
Glynn Jarrett, Animal Justice Party (Lead Upper House candidate for Northern Region)
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