State of the future
ON 19 MARCH Queenslanders will be asked to make an important decision about our state’s future.
On the same day as the local government elections, voters will be asked to decide whether the term of our State Parliament should be changed from an unfixed three-year term to a fixed, four-year term.
I am supporting fixed terms because they will provide far greater certainty for Queenslanders and take away any political opportunism that can play a part in government decisions on election timing.
This reform will put a ‘leg-rope’ on politicians who are used to calling elections at a time that suits them, and often well ahead of when an election is due.
There are solid practical reasons to introduce fixed four-year terms.
Over the years I’ve had many people approach me asking for greater clarity on the issue given the significant impact an election can have on the day-to-day running of businesses and people’s personal lives, whether it be planning holidays around an election or simply deciding how to place their vote.
Fixed terms will also remove the constant election date speculation from our political process and provide the certainty and confidence to business that we know drives investment and job creation in our region.
Voting yes will mean the voters of Southern Downs the right across Queensland will know exactly when an election will be held and can plan accordingly.
Finally, I am certain fixed terms will deliver better government and policy making for all Queenslanders as decisions will be made in the interest of better outcomes and improved services for the community rather than for short-term political gain.
I encourage you to give strong consideration to this important question and, in the interests of all Queenslanders, vote yes on 19 March to four-year fixed terms.
Lawrence Springborg,
Opposition Leader,
Member for Southern Downs.
People power
REGARDING upcoming council elections, I believe that in the past I have been guilty of being a lazy voter when it comes to the local council elections by not checking the credentials and talents of the people nominating before voting.
I also think that a lot of other people in this shire have been the same and that this has resulted in the poor outcomes we have had over the past 10 years.
Amalgamation has not helped and, again, this has taken place because we, as state voters, have not exercised our rights and asked enough questions of the State Government which is driving a lot of legislation that we do not understand.
If we expect to have our shire run fairly and efficiently we must know who the people are, what they stand for and what plans and expertise they have to achieve a fair and balanced outcome for the peoples of the shire before we give them our vote.
The problem I see is that we do not ask enough questions before we vote.
We also don’t realise how much power we, as voters, have.
Dorothy Lennox,
Thulimbah.
Merits and morals
TO OUR council knockers:
“There is so much bad in the best of us,
And so much good in the worst of us,
That it hardly behoves any of us,
To talk about the rest of us.”
I would like to congratulate our present councillors on the manner by which they are conducting their own election campaigns by not criticising other candidates but just listing their visions for the council’s future and their own past achievements.
Perhaps the devils we know may be better than the devils yet to be tried. No one is perfect. Let us select our council representatives on their merits and morals.
Marg Wilkie,
Warwick.
Council clean-out
I HAVE had a lot of people saying it is no good voting for a few new councillors.
We need a complete new council as there are some councillors on the council for 12 and 16 years and people are saying they are on the council only for the money and it is time for a complete change.
John Salata,
Glen Aplin.
Key performance criteria
WITH all the candidates running for council office, they sound much like politicians telling us what they promise to do.
Let us reverse the situation where the ratepayers lay down the rules of hiring, as is done in other businesses.
Such as the following to begin with:
Will you give a written guarantee to freeze councillor remuneration for the duration of the next council term? At the end of the term you may call a public meeting for the public to decide if councillors should have a raise, much like a shareholders’ meeting.
Will you guarantee there will be no reintroduction of water fluoridation? Will you guarantee there will be no other form of mass medication such as vaccinations?
Will you install a PA system in council meetings so that members in the public gallery can clearly hear proceedings?
Will you instruct the Local Government Association (LGA) that ratepayers are the ultimate authority, not the LGA? We can then apply this grass roots movement to state and federal governments!
Will you await further instructions?
C. Gaitskell,
Stanthorpe.
