Downs affected by LNP’S lies

I HAVE recently looked again at my letter (TC, 10/2) under the heading “What is missing for that election slogan” and I am forced to admit that my predictions about the Can Do rhetoric do not match entirely our experience of the past months of the new Queensland Government.

I got it wrong. With the wisdom of hindsight, I can see now how the voters were duped into believing that services to regions would be maintained, industrial agreements honoured and waste eliminated.

The new government has obliterated environmental programs, attacked welfare services, social housing tenancies and simply withdrawn support for highly successful employment and skilling programs. In my wildest dreams I did not imagine that the new government would be so heartless towards more disadvantaged members of the community.

At the same time it has swept away longstanding parliamentary traditions while offering jobs for the boys and reputedly allowing the Deputy Premier to convert a reception room for visiting dignitaries into his personal office.

Our new mayor was denied access to the appropriate minister when making representations about the flow-on effects of closing the prison at Westbrook.

When he chose to use his government jet to attend a function for Toowoomba at which guests paid big fees purportedly to defray costs, our new Premier expressed his delight about being elected. It is little wonder that Downs residents are becoming concerned. Certainly our representatives, Minister John McVeigh and backbencher Trevor Watts need to tell him how people are being affected by LNP lies, waste and lack of compassion. Far from getting the state “back on track” , it is being “run off the rails”.

JACK LLOYD,

Mount Lofty