Finger pointing on funds

NO WONDER people get fed up with politicians.

Seriously, for once could they just put their party politics to one side?

Yesterday a barney broke out between local, State and Federal governments as Prime Minister Scott Morrison came to town for a party fundraiser followed by a flood recovery media opportunity.

Townsville City Council Mayor Jenny Hill complained that the Commonwealth’s promised $242 million of disaster funding still hadn’t filtered down to the local authority.

Mr Morrison blamed the State Government for hoarding it and the State Government in turn blamed the Federal Government.

What a disservice all three tiers do to the electorate with this petty political pointscoring.

If in the wake of a disaster of the magnitude Townsville and northwest Queensland has just experienced, these politicians can’t put their differences aside to get on with the job of getting communities back on track, what hope do we have for them running our towns, state or country?

People in this city are still homeless, others have lost their business and too many are still suffering from the mental anguish caused by the February floods.

Prison in turmoil, again

ANOTHER week goes by, another scandal at Townsville Correctional Centre.

This time a prison officer has been stood down accused of deliberately obstructing CCTV footage of an incident.

In recent weeks the Bulletin has reported on an explosive series of allegations of misconduct at the prison.

We reported on a sex scandal, tensions between prison guards and management, safety fears and concerns about overcrowding.

Politicians have called for an external review into the facility but thus far the State Government has failed to act. This latest allegation adds to the concerns over the jail and how it’s being run.