Making 70th carnival memorable

“TOOWOOMBA to the world” – that’s the catch phrase to put our city on the big stage.

2019 is the 70th Carnival of Flowers celebrations – and it will be a one to remember.

Toowoomba gardeners over these years have provided the reputation for the Garden City in bringing thousands of people from all corners of the world to view our unique home gardens.

These gardeners have tirelessly developed their gardens, with great enthusiasm and energy and at considerable expense. For some it has been up to 40 years of commitment to the city, their garden and to the Carnival of Flowers.

The 70th year may be a chance to give the gardeners an opportunity of a lifetime…an acknowledgement of their value to the city. And here’s the idea. It’s a big one ...

Return airfares/accommodation for two to visit any of the significant garden events in the world…i.e. the Chelsea Flower Show in UK, Keukenhof Gardens in Holland, Butchart Gardens in Canada or the Melbourne International Flower Show (one of their choice).

Tourism stakeholders now with strong connections to “the world” are in a perfect position to negotiate such a wonderful prize. Maybe there could be two – one overseas and one Australian.

Let’s think about making the 70th Carnival of Flowers one to remember for our visitors, but a significant opportunity to thank the wonderful gardeners who for so long have been responsible for showcasing The Chronicle Garden Competition and kept our reputation in the eyes of the world as the Garden City.

The seed is planted! May it grow and bloom.

BARBARA McGOVERN, Toowoomba

‘‘ THESE GARDENERS HAVE TIRELESSLY DEVELOPED THEIR GARDENS, WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM AND ENERGY AND AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE.

GLOBAL WARMING

THERE are more and more smarter people in the world who now believe that global warming is a hoax.

Because CO2 is a building block for all life on earth and has been for one million years, many scientists who previously agreed with the IPCC hypothesis on global warming, now more fully understand that there is less CO2 in the atmosphere than there was 150,000 years ago. Put simply, CO2 is not a pollutant that politicians and others claim it to be, but a much-needed clear gas that sustains life to all living things, especially trees and plants.

Global warming and more to the point climate change, has been going on around this planet since time began a nd will continue to do so without the interference of mankind well into the future. Too many “scientists” who once got paid for their rubbish opinions are now realising that in fact fossil fuels are not the cause of the cyclical warming and cooling of our planet and that CO2 could not possibly be anything other than the molecule that brings life to a greening environment.

When you understand the facts on what causes the changes in temperature, the fact that CO2 levels change up or down following after 800 years of any temperature rise, then you soon realize that anything a politician says about a carbon footprint or CO2 pollution is utter rubbish.

RICK HIGHMAN, Cranley

SHOW US HARD FACTS

I WAS intrigued by the Prime Minister’s take on growth and if the ALP gets into power then our growth rate will suffer because the ALP will raise $250 billion in new taxes.

How will our growth rate suffer? History has shown us that this is not the case. What was the government’s tax revenue in the year 2000 and 2010 compared to today and what was our tax rates then compared to now?

When you look at our growth rates during this time it was 3.1% in 2000, 2.4% in 2010 and currently 3%. Now this is with the tax cuts that both sides of politics have given us, and our growth rates haven’t changed that much.

I thought that by now our growth rate should be through the roof with all our tax cuts and the envy of the developing world. Surely the government was reaping in more taxes in 2000 than today and our growth rate was not adversely affected in the way that our Prime Minister is suggesting will happen if taxes are increased by the ALP.

It is all speculation. Show us the hard facts that what you say will actually happen, because I can’t see it. Stop scare mongering just to get yourself re-elected. On that not note, I won’t be voting for either of the major parties either. Your economic records both are appalling.

JOHN DUFF, Toowoomba

BANKING COMMISSION

JOHN Friend (TC, 25/01) states that I have given an incorrect history of the banking and superannuation industries. At no time did I give a history of these subjects, I merely referred to the Banking Royal Commission.

I am amazed that you consider the commission a “waste of money,” considering the evidence that has come to light regarding the practices of the major financial Institutions. Do you think the thousands of victims of dodgy practices by these institutions consider it a “waste of money”? Yet the Federal Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming into it, with the current PM most vehemently opposed.

You did neglect to mention that the Howard Costello government deregulated the financial industry seemingly using the Gordon Gecko mantra of “greed is good”. Many ordinary people lost their super and life savings due to shonky operators who were allowed to call themselves “financial advisors”.

John, regarding your distrust/dislike of public servants. It may surprise you that doctors, nurses, police officers, firemen, even librarians are all public servants. Some of them may even belong to a union.

ELLEN SMITH, Roma