Refugee intake

I WILL stick my neck out and say that I disagree totally with Mayor Paul Antonio’s calls to increase the Toowoomba region Afghanistan refugee intake because of the current international situation.

These international crises will continue to occur into the future quite regularly, and the Mayor must make a policy decision on who or where our best interests lay.

It is no secret that Toowoomba City and the surrounding towns have an endemic shortage of affordable housing for many local Australians.

According to Yellowbridge Queensland, there are at least 130 Toowoomba children living under bridges here because there is no safe and affordable accommodation for them.

Mayor Antonio is turning a blind eye to the situation under his very nose.

I don’t believe he really understands the gravity of the current situation, else he wouldn’t be so keen to fund and house refugees from foreign lands.

I have lived in Toowoomba for 53 years, and I love this community so much.

What is so wrong with wanting to see everyone who lives here with safe and affordable housing?

Look after our own first.

DAVE FREDERICKS, Toowoomba