How independent will report be?

The officer report and council resolution from the May 24 meeting on a potential outlay of $100,000 to examine bias allegations, reported in The Gazette (31/5), goes to the very heart of processes within Baw Baw Shire.

Comments by former councillor Joe Gauci at the meeting, in his submission on the agenda item and in response to questions, revealed inaccuracies in the officer report and for the report to suggest it was presented in the interests of transparency is a nonsense. The officer’s delegated authority did not require this consultancy assignment to be presented to council for approval. It was a case of passing the buck.

Council was never going to vote it down and Cr Goss was the only one who got it right, voting against the motion. Cr Goss should have been supported by his fellow councillors. Proceeding with the review would then have been in line with council policy.

If voting the recommendation down was not seen as complete, an amendment to the recommendation could have been to draw attention to council policy on delegated authority and the matter left in the hands of the chief executive officer.

Cr Leaney in moving the recommendation stated it wasn’t appropriate for the officer’s report to go into detail in the manner it did. Hear, hear to that. What our community is entitled to know is the process to be followed to engage a consultant for this assignment. Will the work be advertised, are there preferred consultants, what is the expected timeframe, how will consultants be required to detail their tender price?

If the policy for engaging a consultant for this assignment was detailed in the report our community would have more confidence in transparency, right now sitting at rock bottom. As the consultancy directly impacts on former councillor Gauci and his family will he have any opportunity to be part of the selection process? So far it is very one sided – no brief has been disclosed, critical to understanding what council will be seeking from consultants.

The consulting firm that would have a walk up start to this assignment is the one that completed a review of the Planning Department at a cost of around $50,000 and would have intimate knowledge of the operation and processes. They would have access to legal advice where required.

The acting ceo stated council would engage “a fully independent, expert external provider” – that may rule out all consultants previously engaged by council. How can a consultant be “fully independent” if previously engaged and received fees for work completed?

Don McLean, Warragul

Expensive nosh-up

Sadly it seems Baw Baw Shire councillors and staff have reverted back to the days of free luncheons and pre-council nosh-ups.

What was served to staff and councillors that cost $1000 and $615. And why is hot and cold food served up to councillors just prior to a council meeting at 5.30pm.

Surely councillors could have their lunch at home, (most of them don’t go to work) then maybe they could have afternoon tea before they head to the meeting. So do they need to be fed before the meeting?

Maybe a cup of tea and a biscuit would tide them over until after the meeting. Most meetings finish well before 7pm, then they could go home to have their dinner at their own expense, not ratepayers copping the bill.

I believe they even had lunch prior to an afternoon briefing, again they are taking ratepayers for a ride, a very expensive one at that.

Some years ago some councillors were elected and they very wisely stopped all the free food and alcoholic drinks after meetings, but it seems most of the current councillors accept ratepayers will pay for their wages plus all the extras. It will be very interesting to read the report on all expenses and benefits claimed as requested.

Irene Broadbent, Darnum

Help the struggling

The words “dole-bludger” and “burden on our society” have re-entered into the political and social conversations as the cost of living rises and linked inflation and interest rate rises have hit hard. These are derogatory terms and paint the wrong picture of those struggling.

Last century, Australia introduced a safety net welfare system to assist those most in need. Looking after the welfare of all underpins how our society functions.

Currently support that is offered leaves individuals and families well below the poverty line. To debase them further with insults says more about those insulting them than those who are being insulted.

Taxes are paid, not just for health, defence, infrastructure, education etc., but to help those in need.

Our tax structure is organised in such a way that those who can pay more, do pay more. That may seem unfair, but how else can we pay for all the things we expect a government to provide?

We already have a growing divide between rich and poor, yet those more fortunate complain and question why they are not getting their share of welfare support and why they may not be entitled to, for example an aged pension having worked hard all their lives.

They misunderstand the purpose of what our welfare system was set up for.

Few people choose to live below the poverty line. Circumstances have placed them there. Whether those circumstances have been caused by themselves or by others is irrelevant. They need the help and support of the community around them. The last thing that they need is to be ostracised and targeted.

Food banks and charities are being overwhelmed by people struggling in this cost of living crisis. Governments and charities can only do so much. The community needs to get together to wrap its arms around those doing it tough. Playing politics over issues like this divides, rather than unites us.

Greg Tuck, Warragul

Leave a bright future

I seem to agree with John Duck about following the real experts on climate change.

Regardless of who’s to blame, many of us won’t be here to be judged by history, but I’d love to leave the next generations a bright future rather than a bleak one.

Neil Boal, Warragul

Musical treat

West Gippsland Chorale’s autumn concert performances strayed into the first days of winter, and on Friday night began with a surprise – the absence of music director Nathan Byrne.

His place on the podium was capably filled at short notice by bass chorister Craig Doherty, who was formerly organist and choirmaster at St David’s Cathedral in Hobart and thus well placed to direct the Chorale’s performance.

He’s also performed on the Theatre Organ Society’s Wurlitzer, so this singer, conductor and player is a notable addition to Warragul’s music scene.

“Stories Through Song”, began with Northern Lights, a song in Latin by a Norwegian composer and set to words from the biblical Song of Solomon – two stories in one song. It was followed by perhaps the loveliest song on the program: Ubi Caritas by French composer Maurice Duruflé.

After the interval came what compere Simon

Fraser described as a triad of songs by a young contemporary composer, Daniel Elder. These three nocturnes made an interesting contrast to their classical counterparts by Chopin, say, or Brahms’ Lullaby.

The penultimate song, Only in Sleep by Estonian composer Eriks Ešenvalds and (male) lyricist Sara Teasedale, was another of considerable beauty, much enhanced by Lynne Davine’s thrilling solo singing.

Interspersed among those items were more familiar songs: one from a musical; a spiritual; and the finale, a rousing arrangement of the traditional Botany Bay, a song with a story if there ever was one.

Young guest performers featured too: flautist Sarah Weeks with an attractive and intricate work, Marsh Birds, by Australian composer Miriam Hyde; and pianist Pablo Neofitou with a roof-lifting Toccata by Khachaturian, played with great energy and expression – a musical treat without a story.

John Hart, Warragul

Common sense needed

The government require you to pay for a licence to hunt ducks. That is ridiculous.

From my experience in West Gippsland, I believe that many local dairy farmers welcome the culling of wild ducks. No licence or proof of steel shot required. Only common sense and respect for their property.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty.

Lynton Malley, Cloverlea