Letters To The Editor

Taxing days

If 200 clubs in NSW may have to close within two years, because of government poker tax taking the profits needed to repay borrowings used for modernisation, how much in other taxes (GST, excise, PAYE wages, stamp duty, payroll tax etc.) will be lost to state and federal governments? This was not mentioned at the Ballina RSL info meeting. Has it been pointed out to govt? This is a lose/lose situation where we lose our clubs, sports and amenities, and govt loses all taxes - and the next election?

Clubs have provided facilities for members and the public, paid large taxes and employed people for many years. If they are taxed out of existence we all lose all that. Some odd clubs may have been extravagant, wasteful, corrupt or lax, sometimes, but so have many govt departments. Club poker machine profits do provide these community goodies better than any govt could. With membership requirements, clubs are much more capable of controlling excess gambling than public hotels etc.

Julius Caesar was once warned to 'Beware the Ides of March' (15th).

Should all club members who wish our Emperor Carr to change his pokey tax join a march to demonstrate our feelings? Maybe once around the block from and back to RSL clubs (in many towns on the same day?)

Could we make it a 'Tides of march' - a warning he may heed, for we do not forget.

If enough bowlers, workers, entertainers and members turned out to march in each electorate, even the intransigent Mr Carr might change the tax. Should this be organised for the next info meeting? How many ex-service men would march once again to keep their freedom and lifestyle?

Ken Macdonald
Lennox Head

A fair analogy

Re P Dawson's letter (Echo, March 3).

I tend to agree with K Andersen.

Using a different analogy:

P Dawson owns a Rolls Royce car valued at say $250,000.

K Andersen owns a Holden car valued at say $10,000.

P Dawson's comprehensive insurance premium is say $5000.

K Andersen's comprehensive insurance premium is say $350.

Should K Andersen pay an additional premium (spread the burden) so that P Dawson's premium is lower and therefore 'fairer' in the eyes of P Dawson?

Who else agrees with P Dawson?

B Thompson
Ballina

The rich get richer...

In response to the letter (Echo, March 3) from P Dawson, vice president, Lennox Head Residents Association.

I do in part agree with your response to my letter 'Fair's Fair' (Echo, Feb 3).

I do not have the experience that perhaps you have in this matter, but do have the ability to research this matter. The 19 of 30 councils that you refer to, and the 50 per cent of all councils that have a base rating system, are all located outside major metropolitan areas. All councils in metropolitan areas Australia wide use the 'ad valorem' method. I strongly believe that this is the fairest method. The old adage, 'user pays'.

I quote from http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/documents/Information/Rating_Manual_050304a.pdf, to which you directed me to. Section 9.1 refers to base rating.

It reads:

9.1 Base Rating

A rate whether ordinary or special, may at council's discretion, consist of, an ad valorem amount, which may, in accordance with section 548, be subject to a minimum amount of the rate; or a base amount to which an ad valorem amount is added (section 497). It is entirely in the discretion of council as to whether there ought to be a base amount. Although is not an essential or inevitable consequence of a rating system that a ratepayer receive services commensurate with the rates he or she pays, it is still the case that there is a quantifiable cost per property that represents the basic administrative costs of council and from which all properties benefit, regardless of their rateable value. In addition there are other services and facilities provided by council which benefit all properties, regardless of their rateable value.

While the act makes provision for 'base rating', the overriding characteristic of local government rating is that the assessments that are produced will be primarily and predominantly determined by the ad valorem method whereby the incident of any rate burden is split differentially according to the value of the rateable property. (see Sutton vs Blue Mountains CC 40 (1977) LGRA 51.

If you research the above case you will find that the Court determined that rates should be primarily and predominantly determined by the ad valorem method.

However, the base rating systems, if applied, must not exceed 50 per cent of the total rate applied to any particular property. The balance of the rate revenue must be based on an ad valorem system. This is written into the Act.

The letter from Brian Smith gave the overall impression that your Association was pushing for 'base rating' to be the only source of rating structure. This, however, cannot take place, as the Act is clearly explicit in the split applicable for both rating structures.

Nonetheless, in the long run, it will still boil down to the fact that those less fortunate, holding lower valued parcels of property, will be called upon to prop up those that are fortunate enough to have higher valued parcels of property.

It's the same merry go round, (the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer) albeit under a different guise. One section of the community is trying to shift a greater share of the burden to another section of the community, under the guise of calling it a 'fairer' system. Which section is getting the 'fairer' end? Certainly not the poorer section of the community!

K Andersen
Ballina

Save our Florrie

It is encouraging to know (Echo, March 3) that Slipway Properties, the development company building the new Ramada Hotel, is interested in keeping alive the rich history of the Ballina Slipway. A positive way of doing this would be by contributing to the cost of putting into effect the conservation plan for the Florrie. She is very much part of the history of the Ballina Slipway and if there is no action soon she will be lost. In 1975 Florrie was retired and given into the care of Ballina Council by Ballina Slipway and Engineering Pty Ltd, her owners since the 1960s. However, her association with the slipway is much older than that. The slipway was once Fenwick's Slipway, and it was Captain Thomas Fenwick who, after she was wrecked at Ballina on December 12 1882, bought the Florrie and got her back to work on the river. Since 1987 the MV Florrie, passenger vessel/tug, has been listed among the heritage items on the Ballina Local Environment Plan. A long-term conservation plan for the Florrie was drawn up more than two years ago. Stage one requires a custom-made cradle necessary to move the vessel to a more protected site west of the Naval and Maritime Museum and a cover is essential. The NSW Government acknowledged the Florrie's heritage value last August by contributing a grant of $33,000 and Ballina Shire Council has agreed to match that but far more money is needed to relocate, preserve and display the Florrie as a memorial to Ballina's riverboat history.

Annette Potts
Lennox Head

Get a life

Re Allan O'Neill of Ballina (Echo, March 3).

I and my family have just moved to the Ballina area. Our home is at Angel's Beach, and faces the coast road, and I, like you Al, am amazed at the speeding hoons that use this road. One weekend, whilst down the main street, I came across the Library and decide to join. I then realised I, like you, had far too much time on my hands, and rather than check out speeding clowns, I can now enjoy a good book. If you are not a reader, check out the dog pound - maybe a small pooch could do with a home and you could also get a bit of exercise. What I'm saying is Al, do us all a favour and hang up your biro and get yourself a life.

Steve Smith
Ballina

The drug of the nation

I wish to endorse and support Habib P Habib's letter 'Water works without fluoride' (Echo, March 3).

Fluoridation to water is not like adding chlorine. Although chlorine has toxic side effects, it actually does something beneficial to potable water by way of purification. Fluoride on the other hand does no such thing. Fluoride is a drug, or as some may say a medication that supposedly has beneficial effects for a small percentage of the population. Adding fluoride to water is not to deliver a water supply that's pure and suitable for drinking. Instead it will contaminate drinking water with a toxic drug, for the purpose of administering mass medication to the consumer without regard to age or physical condition.

No one should be administered a drug without consent, as this violates international codes and is a direct violation of the Geneva accords.

What other future proposals are in store to treat non-contagious diseases by adding ingredients to our water supply? When that day arrives, those who treasure their personal liberty will look in vain for a constitutional safeguard.

Fluoride research is a huge area. The fact that most studies have been almost completely suppressed for the past 50 years blemishes many illusions about the social equality process.

If fluoride is so great, why have many European countries never fluoridated or else stopped when they found out how bad it was?

If people want fluoride in their drinking water, let them buy supplements. Fluoridation of municipal water has nothing to do with health. It's politics, big business and control.

Jim Lee
Alstonville

Brave new world

In WA people voted against Sunday trading. This was probably because they realised that the federal govt is going to abolish penalty rates. After all what's the point of giving up your family time on the weekend to work and not receive any shift allowances? Penalty rates, minimum wages, award conditions - it will all go in Kevin Andrews brave new world. Who voted these elite private schoolboys in?

Christine Russell
Dunoon

The idiot's vote

Back in the times of democracy's birth thousands of Athenian citizens would gather every day to debate and decide on the issues of the day. The Greek notion of the 'idiot' meant someone ignorant of public affairs. The philosophers Plato and Socrates expressed warnings about entrusting the wellbeing of the city to such idiots. And yet thousands of years later we are doing just that here in Australia. No matter what kind of a dimwit you are, you can still vote, in fact you must.

On the other hand, if you want to drive a car on public roads you must first take a competency test, because your driving behaviour could affect the lives of others.

The same principle should apply when it comes to the right to vote in an election. After all, your vote will have an effect on the lives of people, both here in Australia and elsewhere. Hence it would only be fair and ethical to demand from you to demonstrate a reasonable level of awareness of the world around you. Including especially some knowledge about any country your government decides to invade with military force.

I could not believe what I saw on TV the other night. A reporter walked amongst the crowd in an Australian city, as he held a map of the Middle East in his hands and asked people to point to Iraq on it. Only two out of ten could do it.

That in itself should disqualify the other eight from voting in a federal election, in my opinion.

Also, realising that they could not count on the idiot's vote anymore, the politicians would be forced to lift their game. It would spell an end to all that baby-talk some call political debate.

But don't expect Howard and Co doing anything to raise the level of the political culture. After all, it is much easier to manipulate unreflective and insecure consumers of politics, than it is to negotiate with a self-consciously activist citizenry.

Tom Koo
Alstonville

Final boarding call

In September of 2004 I appealed through the local press for all with a sense of justice to take a look at the civic morality level of local government.

This was in regard to Richmond Valley Council (RVC) and their advertisements calling for 'Expressions of Interest' in the future of Mid Richmond Retirement Village (MRRV) at Coraki.

RVC at their meeting on 21/12/2004 declared their preferred three options for the future of MRRV: Southern Cross Care ( NSW &ACT) Inc, St Andrew's Village Ballina Ltd and the Mid Richmond Retirement Village Ltd.

A public meeting at Coraki on January 28, 2005, attended by approximately 220 determined people, demanded unanimously that MRRV remain in control of its democratically elected community committee.

Following that meeting RVC has shown a rare spurt of activity;

The manager of RVC attended a MRRV committee meeting February 9 2005. He verbally offered MRRV the right to prepare a draft agreement in support of our submission. Other applicants received this offer much earlier.

A decision as to the future of MRRV is to be made at the March meeting of RVC.

The committee of management has sequentially refuted RVC's changing reasons for placing MRRV on the market:

Costing them money.

Council do not have the expertise to run.

Small entities will be uneconomic in the future.

The minister says RVC must look at its options.

So this is it - the last 'Boarding Call' before RVC's unconscionable logic hurtles MRRV into the wide blue yonder. Now is the last chance to have your say before a decision is announced.

Already RVC has succeeded in damaging the morale of the MRRV staff, the confidence of the residents and the spirit of community effort that made MRRV unique and possible.

RVC spent mega dollars upgrading their palatial chambers. Hopefully it will be big enough to withstand those present at the March meeting.

Graham Smith
Casino

Enough is enough

There is enough food. There is enough water. Unfortunately, there can never be enough money for those who have more than they could ever spend. I think we should give the richest thousand people the planet. Say 'here you go your royal elitenesses, you now own one thousandth of the earth'. Most will say it's not enough. Some will say 'who owns the moon?' I conspire with friends to reduce the cost of cab fares.

Marcus Davis
North Lismore

Gundurimba memorabilia

I am looking for photos and other memorabilia related to Gundurimba for the years 1944 to 1954. My foster-sister, Lena Hyde, lived in Gundurimba during those years, but unfortunately she lost all personal effects in the 1954 floods. I have been able to acquire a school photo taken in 1948, which I have passed onto Lena, who now lives in Tasmania. It saddens me that not only did Lena lose everything in the floods, but also that same year she lost her mother. It would be nice is some things could be replaced so she is able to show her children and grandchildren what her young years were like.

I am willing to copy anything that is required and rest assured that I will also take the utmost care while these things are in my possession. I can be contacted on 6622 1494.

Heather Lofts
East Lismore

Animal welfare

Since the devastating Boxing Day tsunamis, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has been on the ground caring for injured and displaced animals. Relief teams are currently working in India, Thailand and Sri Lanka, rescuing, feeding and sheltering abandoned livestock, pets and some wild animals. Working in partnership with local groups, IFAW has already vaccinated thousands of stray dogs against rabies and other infectious diseases.

IFAW works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world, promoting policies that benefit both people and animals. I believe that we need to remember the animal survivors of the tsunamis and also consider the important roles they play as companions to humans. People who are reunited with their beloved pets will receive much-needed emotional support during a time of immense grief and loss. People will also be reassured if they still have their livestock to depend on for the future.

If you wish to support IFAW by making a donation, please visit www.ifaw.org or phone 1800 004 329.

Claire Vickery
Goonengerry

Ride thanks

We wish to thank the people of Lismore, and indeed the North Coast, since workers and supporters also came from Ballina, Mullumbimby, and Kyogle, for the wonderful welcome to the Freedom Bus Ride 40th anniversary tour that occurred on Monday, Feb 21.

There was fantastic support from both local papers with front page and feature reporting, and Lismore Square gave us a generous display space. Local FM radio stations and the ABC also gave great coverage. The Lismore City Council and the Southern Cross Gnibi Indigenous College and Students Union excelled themselves welcoming and hosting the group.

The LCC Community Services team did a virtual 'loaves and fishes' with an endless flow of sausages at the evening barbie, attended by 3-400 people, and the Uniting Church at the Red Dove provided comfortable accommodation the travellers had not experienced since leaving Sydney. Our mayor, Merv King, officially welcomed the bus, repeating the tradition set by mayor Clyde Campbell in 1965 when the original Freedom Ride with the late Charles Perkins made its historic visit to focus on racism in regional areas and when Lismore gave them a civic dinner (receiving food on plates being much more pleasant than having it thrown at them as had been the case in some towns.)

So many people to mention... Lismore ACE; The Baha'is; the Quakers; Mereki and her children's choir; the Voices Together Choir; and reconciliation groups from Lismore, Kyogle, and Mullumbimby Community Connections and the newly opened GunnaWannaBe. Beth Hansen, a local who was with the original ride, and Tess Brill, one of the main activists in the then Aboriginal Advancement League, and host to the first students, gave generously of their time throughout the day and inspired all with their stories and reflections. People who had been visited by the original bus also shared their memories and told of the impact it had on their lives.

Lismore People for Reconciliation especially want to thank the Bundjalung elders and community for their enthusiastic participation and congratulate the general community for attending in apparently fairly equal numbers. Twelve years of reconciliation events have never produced the relaxed and friendly togetherness that we witnessed at Monday evening's barbecue... the Voices Together Choir sang their theme song, the early Warumpi Band hit Black Fella White Fella and it seemed that people were, as the song demands, 'standing up and being counted'... it would be wonderful if some more of you would follow up on that by joining the choir, a happy friendly bunch of 'non-singers' committed to reconciliation, togetherness and 'singing-in' the healing... (Info Judith Light 6624 1926).

Lismore People for Reconciliation
Freedom Ride working party

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