Government support for a civic centre is a dream

Baw Baw Shire Council is in the final throes of locking away the 2022/23 budget.

The inflation rate in the US climbed to 8.5 per cent in March. The Bank of England has forecast inflation will rise to 10 per cent this year.

Australia is faced with the same - what is the revised estimate for a $30M civic centre that we simply cannot afford without a cut in services? And mayor Leaney is disappointed the State Government has not agreed to stump up $10M for a pipe dream. Not a priority for me or the community with council having to extend the closing date to find compliant community members for the project reference group.

The State Government set a rate cap increase of 1.75 per cent for 2022/23 to help ease the cost of living pressures for Victorians. A big gap to the 10 per cent inflation rate we may be facing.

What provision has been made in the budget for increased costs on account of inflation that Baw Baw cannot control? It is time to take stock and stick to the basics. Roads maintenance is underfunded, what will be the increased costs to maintain even the current poor standards? The planning department is also seriously underfunded. These two areas require the critical attention of council.

That the State Government and the Federal Government will each throw in $10M for a civic centre complex is dreaming. The State Government through irresponsible decisions and mismanagement is broke and the Federal Government has had to fund recovery from natural disasters together with two years of COVID expenses to keep the economy going.

Nothing in the state budget for a new hospital well covered in the "local" last week by Keith Anderson. Not a single quote from the mayor. This is where council should be directing its efforts. It is the single most important development this community wants and needs. Set aside a sum in the budget to show council is serious about a new hospital, signing a letter of support does not cut the mustard.

And credit where credit is due. To the councillors who opposed the increase in the councillor allowance thank you for your efforts. As Cr Goss stated "it does not pass the pub test". Pretty sure he has the community on side on that. The increase of 67 per cent for the deputy mayor to $48,235 is just ridiculous.

Off topic. Each week The Gazette sports section contains great reports on sport played in our area. Lots of action images in a wide variety of sports, covering those competing for enjoyment through to the highest level played. Always interesting to check out the sports section. The tight timelines to have these reports and images published the following Tuesday is a credit to all involved.

Don McLean, Warragul

Councillor pay rise

Baw Baw Shire councillor Annemarie McCabe moving an agenda item to give the deputy mayor a 67 per cent pay increase certainly doesn't pass the pub test.

The few times a year a deputy mayor has to stand in for the mayor does not warrant an increase above what other councillors receive, and the increase they received is far more than a reasonable amount.

Cr McCabe saying that councillors now are more like directors, who is she trying to kid. I know in the past we have had councillors costing ratepayers quite a lot of money doing director's courses, it was nothing more than another junket for some councillors.

It seems some councillors think being a councillor takes the place of having a job, so they attend every door opening, ribbon cutting and handshaking so they then claim extra in travel allowances, if they want more money get a job.

I don't think there are too many who genuinely take their role as a councillor do anywhere near the 10 to 20 hours Cr McCabe states they do.

It seems Cr Tricia Jones has forgotten that she was outspoken and in favour of demolishing the Rumble pavilion when the proposal for the new building was discussed, now she is saying the old building should remain. I think this is what's called "having two bob each way."

Irene Broadbent, Darnum

Send a message

With the forthcoming Federal Election it is time we send the major parties a message that we have had a gut full of the Liberal, Labor - Greens alliance. The Greens announce their destructive policies.

The Labor and Liberal Parties dismiss them as extremist, wait a few years, then it becomes Labor policy, then a few more years it becomes Liberal policy.

The only way to stop the rot is to vote for minor parties such as One Nation. United Australia and Liberal Democrats.

Hank Schellekens, Neerim South

No brainer

Figures can't lie, but liars can figure. This is why I prefer to use personal experience to decide who I'm going to vote for. I see so

many numbers being thrown around and they rarely compare the same thing in the same context. But what do I actually see?

I see a coalition divided over climate change, half-hearted about Medicare and loathe to address corruption through a federal ICAC.

On the other hand, I see a party (Labor) which believes in action on climate change, is passionate about preserving Medicare, and has promised a federal ICAC. To me the decision is a no-brainer.

Nicholas Peck, Seaview

Not true

Broadbent doesn't represent us. This guy, Russell Broadbent says he represents the people of Monash but that is absolutely not true. When we had the marriage equality vote, over 60 per cent of the people in Monash voted yes but Broadbent voted no.

During this pandemic, over 95 per cent of us went out and got vaccinated to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community. So, what did Broadbent do? Not get vaccinated and took Ivemectin.

Now he is saying we don't need integrity in government. So I ask the question: if the majority are doing one thing and he is doing the opposite, who is he representing? I can only guess. Remember this when you cast your vote.

Deborah Wearne, Drouin

Payback time

For the past nine years, the Federal Liberal Government has denied, delayed and obstructed meaningful action to limit national Greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are mostly carbon dioxide emitted when fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas are burnt.

This causes increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and consequently climate change.

In 2017, Scott Morrison cradled a lump of coal in parliament and said we did not have to be afraid of it. However, the catastrophic fires in Mallacoota, the floods at Lismore, bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, high prices for fruit and vegetables and increased cost for home insurance have all resulted due to climate change proving Morrison wrong.

Member for Monash Russell Broadbent has been a member of government during the last nine years, and he must take some responsibility for the deliberate Liberal policy to not take effective action on climate change.

It has been all the more galling that the Liberals have endangered the futures of our children and grand-children all for crass political reasons. Remember, a vote for Russell Broadbent is a vote for Scott Morrison.

It is now pay-back time. We must get rid of this Liberal government starting with Russel Broadbent. Vote Russel Broadbent out and wipe the smirk from the face of Scott Morrison.

Peter Moate, Warragul

Disappointed

I am new to the area but very disappointed to have Russell Broadbent represent me in parliament.

He is a Denialosaurus on climate change. Has he ignored the Mallacoota evacuation and the eastern half of Australia burning? Does he not remember the worst air quality ever in Melbourne and Sydney in memory?

Has he ignored Queensland flooding for the third time in three months? Does he know that rainforest at Binna Burra in Queensland that has never burnt in tens of thousands of years was burnt recently?

The Darling River actually dried up 10 years ago. The Great Barrier Reef has had repeated bleaching in the last five years.

Will he denounce the mandate of having to have a driving licence after you turn 18 to drive on a road or just say it should be a matter of choice? Mandates work if all agree but when some are so selfish to think only “Me, me me!”

In the midst of a medical emergency we should ensure that we don't harm the elderly or vulnerable and spread disease. Mr Broadbent was part of the government that couldn't organise vaccines, said it wasn't a race and then trash talked the vaccine that was the mainstay in Britain.

I think Broadbent is part of the problem and not the solution. I don't want someone so naive, obstinate and useless to represent me. Voters please think.

David Baylis, Drouin East