Slow to learn across the Strzeleckis

Unlike Don McLean (Gaz 6/6 and 20/6), I don’t read the Herald-Sun, and otherwise have insufficient knowledge to agree or disagree with his generalisation ‘that local government in Victoria is out of control’.

However, the doings of our own council that have raised Mr McLean’s ire are not inconsistent with his contention. Moreover, it seems they’re not unique in Gippsland.

An editorial in the South Gippsland SentinelTimes on June 14, “Councillors must insist on transparency’, opened with a similar claim: ‘There is no doubt that the level of secrecy in Local Government in Victoria is plumbing new depths at the moment...” and subsequently commented:

“At best it’s the risk averse nature of government bureaucracy these days that’s consigning all but the most mundane of decisions to locked vaults. At worst the practice is taken as an opportunity for our bureaucracies and sometimes even our elected council representatives to cover up their own poor performance or potentially embarrassing situations.’

The Sentinel-Times might well have had the Utopia Lodge affair in mind, but it’s not one of six matters cited in the editorial, nor is Baw Baw one of three shires – East Gippsland, Bass Coast and South Gippsland – involved in one or more of those cases.

In all cases the process issue is secrecy versus transparency. The Sentinel-Times is surely right to draw attention to the apparent extent of local government secrecy, notwithstanding resort to ‘it’s believed/understood/reported that’, need for which underlines the cause for concern. The Victorian Ombudsman is quoted thus:

“Why does transparency matter? Simply put, secrecy breeds suspicion .... transparency has long been regarded as one of the best tools for combating corruption and increasing public confidence in government.”

It seems they’re slow learners in councils – on both sides of the Strzleckis.

John Hart, Warragul the phone and giving me a call. I’m always there to answer question and to be as open and frank as I can.

In finishing can I just say to all participants in “letters to the editor” - let’s keep to the facts and be an example to our kids by keeping the derogatory comments and bullying out of it.

Baw Baw Shire mayor Joe Gauci, Warragul

Keep in mind Warragul Cinemas that it is you who is trying to sell the public something, and therefore it seems reasonable for us to expect you to freely provide us with the relevant information as you have been doing for the past 20 years.

That has been logical and sensible business practice, so why change?

You are an integral part of the Baw Baw community and good communications and a healthy respect for locals is an important part our community and the people who may wish to utilise your product and service.

Let's hope you shall change your minds about this very poor decision not to list the films session times in The Gazette in the name of good old fashion common sense.

Richard Pitt, Warragul

This unwarranted critique of someone you have no knowledge of, is hypocritical in the extreme but typical of your kind.

The difference between you and Judith Bush is that she is capable of reasoned informed scientific based belief, whereas you and your narrow minded followers cannot think rationally for yourselves and have to have an unproven crutch to lean on. Keith Salmon Yarragon