PM was welcome
We note the publication of a letter from Emily Lightfoot ('Scomo hijacks CWA event', The Border Mail, May 20) referencing an appearance by Prime Minister Scott Morrison at the recent Country Women's Association event in Albury.
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CWA of Australia and indeed all CWA state and territory bodies are non-party political. This does not mean that we are not political at all, but that we work with who we need to work with to advance the interests of our members. CWA of Australia strongly believes in, and endorses, the ACOSS campaign to Raise the Rate of Newstart.
Thanks to ACOSS's work in this area and evidence-based policy research, it is plainly clear to us that there are many reasons why this needs to happen. This is just one of the policy areas we are working on.
That said, we feel that we do need to correct the record on a number of incorrect assertions that were raised in the recent letter.
The Prime Minister was a welcomed guest and speaker at the CWA of NSW State Conference and AGM. To suggest the event was somehow "hijacked" is totally incorrect. It is also incorrect to suggest there was any "emergency board meeting" that followed as a result.
We respect the position of Prime Minister and look forward to working with the current government going forward. We will continue to do this by putting forward well-informed and thoroughly researched policy positions; in a respectful and courteous manner.
Tanya Cameron (national president, CWA of Australia) and Stephanie Stanhope (state president, CWA of NSW)
Halo can be blinding
In the rather wordy letter, the only example that Ms Read produced of the Independent Kevin Mack criticising Ms Ley was that the MP had been "missing in action".
Meanwhile, Ms Read seemed to have forgotten that the holier-than-thou returned member for Farrer described Mr Mack dismissively as one who had "come late to the federal political scene" and was unworthy because he didn't quit his job: "I think the people of Farrer would be well advised to question his commitment to them as their candidate."
Of course, Ms Ley was also completely silent on Barnaby Joyce's description of Mr Mack as a "liar" in the New England MP's famous train-wreck interview on Radio National while her campaign was also happy to preference Clive Palmer's bizarre party above Mr Mack - despite the coal tycoon trying to link the Independent with GetUp and the Greens during his fly-in, fly-out visit to Albury.
I worry the shining halo Ms Read sees around the long-serving member is affecting her observation.
John Conroy, Corowa
Letters to the editor
You can submit a letter to the editor via the comments section of our website at www.bordermail.com.au, or by emailing letters@bordermail.com.au. Your letter must contain your full name (for publication), as well as an address and contact number (not for publication).