Local MPS leave Townsville in lurch over precinct cops
SOMETIMES it is not what a politician says, but what he or she doesn’t say that tells the full story.
With the recent decision by the Palaszczuk government to withdraw funding of $2.5m of police funding for the Safe Night Precinct, the six million dollar question is where the bloody hell is Scott Stewart, Aaron Harper and Les Walker?
The silence is deafening from the three men who are our representatives in state parliament in Brisbane.
All three men have been super sensitive to criticism they have received in this newspaper on their past performance in failing to represent us in the midst of juvenile crime chaos.
Aaron Harper in his letter of June 9 to this newspaper stated: “I continue to address the issue of crime, asking the government to do more to tackle crime, while we have delivered police, even more needs to be done, we all deserve to live in a safe community, if that means demanding more from our state government, let me assure you I will do just that.”
Yes the Safe Night Precinct funding of $2.5m was for the protection of people in our nightclub areas such as Flinders Street East, but the 10 officers who will now man these areas on Friday and Saturday nights will be drawn from general duties officers from the police stations in the Townsville area, making all citizens out in the suburbs more vulnerable and less protected in the middle of juvenile crime chaos.
So all the right words spoken by Aaron Harper in his letter of June 9 are just words, words and more meaningless words.
Scott Stewart seems to employ different tactics from Mr Harper, choosing to just stay silent to any criticism in this newspaper, which results in Harper taking all the heat from an angry community courtesy of his ridiculous self praise letters that run contrary to his poor performance on crime.
It amazes me that Harper has not yet woken up to how come he cops
most of the heat. I would suspect Scott Stewart hopes Aaron Harper never wakes up to what is actually going on here.
As for Les Walker, I can only presume he is on a tight leash with Palaszczuk on the other end due to the headline publicity he has rightly or wrongly received in the newspapers in his short time in parliament.
The statement from Police Minister Mark Ryan that it was quote “business-as-usual, transitioned from a temporary arrangement to a permanent arrangement” is an arrogant brush off typical of all press releases coming from ministers in the Palaszczuk government to any criticism of their policy decisions.
When governments reach their third term in office, this arrogant self belief and lack of respect to constituents is far too common.
Perhaps Mark Ryan would care to explain how Townsville will now have 10 less police officers protecting us in the suburbs on Friday and Saturday nights, but it’s all good, it’s just business as usual.
Does Mr Ryan intend to keep the licensing fees introduced by Anna Bligh to pay for the policing of the nightclub areas hidden in general revenue to be used elsewhere in southeast Queensland?
Or perhaps Mr Ryan can do what our three Townsville representatives have mastered over the past five or six years, go to ground, ignore criticism, and when forced to comment, just heap self praise and meaningless words on the community that have no basis in facts or reality.
In closing, I can only add that based on the performance and actions of our Labor representatives in the Palaszczuk government, their loyalty seems to be entirely to the Palaszczuk government and the party they represent, and the Townsville community comes a very poor last. BARRY DAVIES,
Cranbrook.
TRIGGERS FOR REAL ISSUES
The use of trigger warnings have their place, on the news before a car accident report or with cultural
concerns but surely not with food menus.
It is becoming common for food menus to include all ingredients which can be life saving but the calorie count shouldn’t be considered a trigger for anxiety.
Most people know that it if it looks good and tastes nice it’s probably bad for you although there are more precise scientific definitions.
Is the world becoming too soft or too hard but surely, we have to live in it and its complexities?
Mental health issues including food usage must be addressed properly but they shouldn’t stop other people from having access to accurate information so that they can making sensible eating choices.
The concerns of a few shouldn’t outweigh the safety of the majority as demonstrated with the recent Covid deniers and their attempts to disrupt the restrictions and vaccinations that were needed.
DENNIS FITZGERALD,
Box Hill.
THANKS FROM SALVOS
The Salvation Army is again very humbled by the generous support of the Australian public for our Red Shield Appeal this year. As we approach the end of the financial year, the Salvos are still appealing to the community as we aim to raise $36m by 30 June.
For more than 50 years Aussies have continued to support the
Salvation Army, allowing us the privilege to be on the front line, walking alongside individuals doing it tough around the country, all with the mission of bringing hope and support to those who need it most.
For me, the Red Shield Appeal isn’t just about raising much-needed funds for our 2000+ services – it’s about coming together to support one another, to remind our neighbours and local community that no matter how tough times are, we’re here for each other, ready to give a helping hand when needed.
After the past couple of years which have seen devastating social isolation, natural and health disasters, and the current shocking rise in the cost of living, it has filled the Salvation Army with overwhelming gratitude to see so many people generously give their money and time as we work together to provide vital support services for people doing it tough in local communities around the nation.
When there’s work to be done, Aussies roll up their sleeves and get stuck into it. And Australians should know that thanks to their generosity and support, the Salvation Army is once again ready to roll up their sleeves and ensure we continue to serve communities across the country. To your readers, from all of us here at the Salvos: thank you – we couldn’t do it without you.
MAJOR BRUCE HARMER,
The Salvation Army.