DUBBO CITY LIFE
The next chapter begins
IF all goes to plan, Dubbo Regional Council will have a new mayor by the end of today. The new councillors are due to have their first official meeting late this afternoon during which they’ll elect a mayor.
There’s a lot hanging on that decision. A good decision will help Dubbo’s ability to shine and prosper.
This week, Member for Dubbo Troy Grant stressed the importance of the Oath and Affirmation of Office that our new councillors took at a ceremony on Monday. He pointed out that each councillor had made a “clear commitment” to “faithfully and impartially carry out” their functions and roles as councillors.
The Oaths and Affirmations clearly outline the expectations we all have of our councillors to always act in a way that represents the best interests of all ratepayers, Mr Grant said.
As he pointed out, it’s crucial to our region that tonight’s mayoral decision is made with the best interests of us all at heart.
For the average local like you or me, trying to understand how we’re going to be better and worse off with an elected council is just as mind-boggling as trying to understand how we were better and worse off with an administrator running the show, as has been the case since Dubbo and Wellington councils were first amalgamated.
I’m well aware that many Dubbo people objected to the idea that an unelected administrator was running the council show, but not everyone holds that view. One now-retired citizen told me last week he was impressed with how much got done during the Administrator’s tenure. He went on to warn that not only do councillors often not get along with each other, they often have conflict with senior council management, and that invariably slows down progress.
Decisions that an Administrator may give the nod to after a relatively short amount of assessment, may take an elected group of councillors weeks and even months to debate and ultimately vote on.
It can also take some time for a new group of councillors to “settle down”, and for new bonds to be forged between elected councillors and senior staff.
So, the challenge is on. It’s in the best interests of Dubbo Regional ratepayers for our new councillors to elect their mayor wisely, and then to do their best to act cohesively and productively.
Otherwise our potential to continue to progress as a region will be sadly hindered.
You can bank on it
MY first reaction to news on the weekend that the Commonwealth Bank (Commbank) was dropping ATM fees when non-commbank customers use their ATMS was “that’s great news”. The other three of the “big four” banks followed the Commbank’s lead very quickly.
My jubilation about a “win for the average Aussie” dwindled over the next 24 hours, however, thanks to more qualified financial analysts than me who pointed out that the ‘positive’ move was probably an attempt to offset the bad publicity the Commbank has been receiving over alleged breaches of Australia’s money-laundering laws, and other recent controversies.
Then politicians stepped in to warn the banks not to offset the lost fees by slugging customers in other ways.
Then on Tuesday, The Australian reported that the Commbank “fee free” announcement didn’t apply to the 830 Bankwest ATMS spread across Australia, even though Bankwest is owned by Commbank.
On the plus side, according to the national newspapers, Westpac says its decision to ditch the $2 charge for all Australians using any ATM in their network does include the ATMS of the smaller banks it owns – St George, Bank of Melbourne and Banksa.
Arguably, the Commbank has the least to lose by waiving ATM fees, compared to the other big three banks, because the Commbank has more ATMS than any other bank.
So rather than a win for the average Aussie, it’s more of a third place. And I suggest you check with your own bank to make sure the announcements apply to your card.
Own the decision, please
HAS anyone else noticed it’s the done thing these days to shift the blame? To the point where it’s refreshing to hear someone – or a company – say “that was my fault” and “sorry”.
I rolled my eyes when reading about a credit union on the NSW North Coast that has announced via its website that it is closing two branches, according to the local paper in Lismore. To me, a website announcement seems too impersonal; a letter to each client would have been more palatable. The reasons given by the credit union, according to The Northern Star newspaper, included the “changing banking habits of our customers” which had seen a significant decline in usage of those branches as more and more people use ATMS, eftpos and online banking. That sort of spin makes it sound like it’s the customers’ fault the branches are closing.
For anyone who piped up when banks first started introducing electronic options, saying it would cost jobs and cause branch closures, you’re now welcome to say “I told you so”.
The world according to...
OUR readers have been enjoying the weekly series written by local school students called “The World According to...” here in Dubbo Photo News, presented by Mcdonald’s Dubbo and Wellington. The series has been giving a very interesting insight into how today’s school students view the world. The series has now ended, so thanks to all the students who have taken part and to Maccas for their support. We’ll be announcing the winner in our October 12 edition.
Let’s get pink...
TODAY’S Dubbo Photo News is our annual Pink Edition, with stories and information on women’s health. We also highlight some of the many great initiatives happening in our community for women and by women. Enjoy!