Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Big Tax this; Big Tax that : The Rhetoric is Boring

I am sick of hearing Labour and Liberal hammering each other with their childish slogans on BIG NEW TAX'S and hoping that we are all taking enough notice to not vote for new tax in the upcoming federal election.

Guess what....... I LIKE TAX.......In fact I delviered my annual tax papers to the accountant and told her that I wanted to pay my fair share and not to go looking for any deductions that were a little bit marginal.

I like tax as it delivers to us, free hospital services, free schooling, income support, heavily subsidised public transport, a reasonable road network, foreign aid helping those in need, of course this list could go on and on. In short tax pays for things we need, use or want on a daily basis, without us all paying our share things would certainly be more grim.

Somehow I still manage to be on the sitting state Liberal members mailing list, who today invited me to sign a petition calling on the NSW State government to NOT put up car registration as it would deliver more public transport services to the city. Even though I am a country dwelling girl, I dont have a problem with improving City transport- the city must have more capacity to get people off the roads and less dependent on fossil fuel.

I wont be signing the petition.....maybe I should send her a letter instead.........

Friday, March 12, 2010

Leo Drive Losses Wildlife

The Leo Drive subdivision has commenced with clearing of the site well under way.   'The Greens' Clr Amanda Findley believes that this action should be a catalyst to spark community discussion on how we the community view growth for the area.

" Focusing on Ulladulla through the development control plan review is great but we also need to look at the bigger picture for our area."

'The Federal government is insisting on 1.3% annual growth, giving us the much talked about 36 million people. The knock on effect of that is Councils are left with planning for growth. Or as it is NSW having the will of the State Government put upon us." Amanda said

There is much to talk about locally.
Do we want to see valuable farmland lost to housing.
Is urban sprawl acceptable.
Can we retain character and have medium density housing.

Clr Findley wants the community to have a conversation about how we see ourselves in the future and is calling for all interested residents to meet in Narrawallee this Thursday at 10am at the unnamed street half way along Leo Drive on the western side.

"I think it will be constructive for people to witness first hand what is happening on site and then have a discussion about the future and how we can plan for sustainable growth and think about housing expectations." A report on these discussion will be forwarded to the Times for further comment.

ACTION: 10am Meeting Thursday 18 March 2010
halfway along Leo Drive, unnamed no through road on the west side.

Photo taken on site.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

SAY NO to BRITISH Beef

Thank goodness common sense ruled the day and not the pressing desire for so called "free trade". The following press release from Senator Christine Milne is cause for celebration.



Senator Christine Milne

Wednesday 10 March 2010

Milne congratulates Minister Burke for reversal of mad
cow beef import decision

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine
Milne, has congratulated Agriculture
Minister, Tony Burke, for  listening to the concerns of
the community, the Greens  and Opposition parties by reversing his
decision to lift the ban on importing beef from countries
affected by mad cow disease, or BSE.

Senator Milne had referred the issue to a Senate inquiry
last October, immediately after
learning that the ban would be lifted. The scrutiny of
the decision from the Senate Inquiry has
now led to a moratorium on lifting the ban pending a two
year import risk analysis.

"Public health and food security are vital and must be
protected at all costs. It was disgraceful that the community had been
kept in the dark about the fact that they could be eating beef from a
country affected by mad cow disease.   "

"Consumers have the right to know if meat on supermarket
shelves comes from countries which have been affected by BSE.

"As someone who grew up on a dairy farm in North West
Tasmania, I am always vigilant about
standing up for a healthy environment and the excellent
reputation Australia's food has around the world for being clean and
uncontaminated.

"This reputation is critical for both consumers and
producers, and I am very pleased that the
Senate inquiry I established has helped deliver this
sensible decision.

"Minister Burke was clearly concerned there would be a
public outcry against this decision
when the beef industry was sworn to secrecy over the
decision to lift the ban. He wanted to push
a pure trade agenda based on pleasing overseas trading
partners like the USA and Canada before the livelihoods of Tasmanian
beef farmers and the health of Tasmanian families.

"Our local beef producers have the right to
reassurance, through a full and proper import
risk analysis, that their reputation for clean produce
will not be undermined.

"The next critical step is for Australia to move rapidly
to improve our food labelling laws to make
sure consumers know what is in the food they buy and how
it was produced."

Shelter to Close it doors as letter requesting more rentals goes out.

Salt Care - follow link to see their services  I received the sad news that our local homeless shelter needs to close it's doors on Sund...