WILLS WORK IS NEEDED
I can concur with Joanne McCarthy in relation to her article in last Saturday's Border Mail, on the importance of having a will.
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I would just add, that there are other legal documents that should be considered, such as medical power of attorney and financial power of attorney. Along with these you should also complete forms available from your superannuation company, which will allow you to clearly show where you wish the funds to be distributed (these forms are renewed every three years). Failure to do this will allow others to decide the appropriate distribution of funds, even if you have made clear written instructions in your will.
I would however offer some words of advice, having recent personal experience of dealing with the death of a partner. You can have all the legal documents you like, but you will still find the process of dealing with "interested" parties torturous. The process is drawn out and you get bogged down in bureaucracy. Whilst this is not ideal, I am sure that it would be better than dying intestate (without a will).
Given that death comes for everyone, I would hope that "simpler" rules and regulations could be instigated by relevant government departments, and that true and fair gravitas be given to the legal documents you tender for consideration. After all, a will should be considered as the last wishes of an individual who cannot now speak for themselves, and we owe them the last word.
Alastair Edmondson, Rutherglen
NO CLIMATE POLICY MANDATE
Our recycled Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor say they now have a mandate for (in)action on climate change. But they have nothing of the sort, and we need to tell them so.
Although climate change was a big issue in the election, the vast majority of those wanting effective action didn't vote for the Coalition as it offered nothing but more of the same token policies that have allowed emissions to keep rising.
IN OTHER NEWS:
The only mandate the government could claim is one based on the fear campaign about Labor's tax policies that won them the election.
So far from reconsidering its proposed actions on emissions reductions, Labor should recognise its mandate to oppose Coalition plans by stymying them in the Senate wherever possible, even persuading sensible Liberals to cross the floor.
David Macilwain, Sandy Creek
TAXPAYERS TAKEN FOR FOOLS
I just look at the Victorian budget and think the Andrews government takes all of us for fools. How can they promote the budget as being in surplus when they are borrowing money to fund infrastructure projects like there is no tomorrow?
It is like us increasing our house loan to fund our lifestyle and leaving it for our children to pay it off. I do not think our children would appreciate it. The $50-billion debt will be left for future governments to pay off, as Mr Andrews will have left parliament patting himself on the back saying what a wonderful job I have done.
Whoever wins the next election will be left with this enormous debt and have very limited ability to do anything as the interest payments will be a long-term burden? Thus, the people in regional areas will again be left to help pay off this debt without having much to show for it.