Letters To The Editor

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Bypass Latest

Last Friday a delegation from Ballina Shire including the Mayor Phil Silver, General Manager Stewart Mc Pherson, Councillor Sue Dakin and myself, met with the Minister for Transport Hon. Carl Scully in Sydney.

The Minister allowed us plenty of time to make our presentations and acknowledged that the $12 million proposed by his Government to match the federal Government commitment of $12 million still leaves a short fall of $12 million.

He was sympathetic to our concerns about road safety and increasing congestion, particularly in peak traffic times, and is aware that our Shire is the fastest growing region in the State outside Sydney.

While the Minister made no commitment to fully fund the Bypass or commence the project in 2003 he said he will take the matter to the Government and make an announcement after Christmas.

I am optimistic that the Bypass will commence in 2003 and the community has good reason to be optimistic also, given that the Opposition has already promised the full $24 million and will fast track the project if they win Government.

Jane Gardiner
Alstonville

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Better Than the Park

As a mother of small children and a weekly visitor to Lismore's numerous parks and riverbanks, I frequently look for, find and collect discarded needles in these public places. I do not enjoy picking up other peoples rubbish but cannot run the very real risk of my children finding used needles. Lismore comes a close second to Byron Bay in the number of needles found in public places.

However, when my children and I and 15 other young families attended a playgroup in the garden at the McKenzie Street Neighbourhood Centre, right behind the needle exchange, we found no needles in all the years we visited.

It is my opinion that a needle exchange is a valuable social service and such a service reduces the needles that are thrown away in our parks. Not providing a needle exchange service will place my family at greater risk than they already are. It is my experience that discarded needles are not likely to be found near the needle exchange. I regularly find needles in commonly used Lismore parks. On one memorable occasion a broken beer bottle filled with needles placed at the bottom of a slippery slide.

I believe that providing a needle exchange service acts to protect the public from inappropriate needle disposal such as throwing them away in parks and riverbanks. Locating the needle exchange at the South Lismore Health Centre will help keep South Lismore parklands clean of needles.

Vanessa Ekins
South Lismore

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Bypass Pawns

Are you, the people of Alstonville, being used as political pawns? What's really going on with your desperately needed bypass?

Why has the secretary of the Ballina Branch of the NSW Labor Party been collecting signatures to a petition at the doors of Bi-lo supermarket for days? How many of you read what the petition actually said before you signed it? When I asked a few questions, why was I told to p... off back to England?

"We understand residents of Alstonville support Councillor Sue Dakin's in her endeavours for the building of the Alstonville by-pass and endorse the deputation from Council and community representatives to achieve that sole purpose" it said.

Well, we all know you want a bypass and any effort to achieve it is very commendable, but should political parties be lobbying you, the unsuspecting public, for your signature on a Labor Party generated petition? If you petition the Minister, why are you being asked to do it on Cr Dakin's private letterhead showing her private address in Ballina, especially when she does not even represent your local area?

And what about 'the deputation from Council'? At the time most of you were asked to sign, there was no deputation from the Council, and even to this day Cr Dakin is not a member of any Council deputation.

In fact the Council only resolved on December 10 to send a deputation comprising the Mayor, the engineer and a representative from Alstonville's Bypass Committee to see the Minister Scully in Sydney on Black Friday. They are the only person authorised by the council to have their air fares paid and ticketed out of Ballina Airport.

Cr Dakin, the endorsed NSW State Labor Party candidate, on the other hand, who you are all making you petition through, is self-funding her own air fares out of Gold Coast Airport- this, despite being a member of the Ballina Shire Council's Airport Committee, and having removed me from that committee for criticising Ballina airport's lack of security and lack of profitability due to the lack of patronage!

But why has Ten Million Dollar Susanna of River Street fame, suddenly taken an interest in your bypass, when a couple of years ago she got your signs taken down? Could it be political mileage now she's identified that her councillor role is only a stepping stone to higher places?

Margaret Howes
Lennox Head

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Car Tariff

Why is the Howard Government allowing more imported cars into Australia? Lowering tariffs also reduces the number Aussies in employment. The fact is that Japan, Korea and Malaysia do NOT accept the import of Australian made cars, yet we take hundreds of thousands from them! Why?

John X Berlin
Maclean

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Round Four

A thought to ponder (courtesy Albert Einstein), while we wait to see whether President Shrub plunges us into nuclear war:

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

A Seer
Green Pigeon

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Needle Program

The Lismore Branch of the Australian Labor Party is deeply concerned over the current plans to relocate the Needle and Syringe Program to South Lismore.

It is our belief that the service has been operating most successfully within the Lismore Neighbourhood Centre and that both parties want the exchange to relocate with the LNC to its new premises in the present Library building in Carrington Street.

The Library site would appear to be most suitable for the LNC and all its services and we urge the Lismore City Council to recognise the long-standing and excellent partnership that exists between the LNC and the Needle and Syringe Program and accede to the wishes of both organisations to maintain their relationship.

Jenny Dowell
Secretary
Lismore Branch ALP

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Bad Serve

Waiting in a shop in Lismore, I was forced to listen to the loud conversation between a male customer and a senior female shop assistant. The man was exhibiting absolute ignorance of how the other half lives by going on and on and on and on about the dreadful things "all those foreigners" are doing to Australia by accepting the Government's invitation to come and live here.

The senior shop assistant showed her ignorance in encouraging him and allowing him to continue, despite the obvious irritation of waiting customers. Is she so secure in her warped belief that she thinks everyone will agree with her? A customer commented that this kind of racism was not appropriate in a shop offering a professional service, but this was ignored.

Wake up Lismore! These insular and superficial opinions do you no credit.

Think what it would take to make you want to desert the country of your birth. Multiply it by 10, and you might get some idea of why people are desperate to find another haven.

Sophie Wise
Lismore Heights

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That's Politics

Isn't it amazing! Now that we have a commitment from the NSW Roads Minister Scully for a further $12 million funding for the Alstonville Bypass, all of a sudden, the Nats have decided it is political!

I am surprised that the Member for Ballina has forgotten that his federal mob declared it a 'Road of National Importance' just two weeks prior to the Federal election. I am also surprised by the lack of effort he and Larry are exhibiting in getting further funds to get the job started and completed.

We are only $12 million short of realising our goal. I have left the Minister with no doubt that we require further funds from the State Government. I'd ask the Nats not to lose sight of the ultimate goal here... building the bypass!

Just because I am standing for the State election as Country Labor candidate, doesn't stop me from putting up a fight for what our communities need within our region. I have been doing this my entire time on Council and nobody has complained until now.

I am surprised that the Member and his federal counterpart continue to gripe instead of getting on with the job! If they think this is the only neglected issue in this region, they can think again! I don't intend to sit pretty on the sideline.

Cr Sue Dakin
East Ballina (ALP candidate for Ballina)

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Poetic Justice

The dam at Rocky Creek is low, fast running out of water. Rous Water who control the flow, have backed into a corner. Promises made when the dam was designed, must have been hot air.

No rain for many years, they said, no worry, we'll still have water to spare. Now they tell us to cut down, to save water is a must. They have issued us instructions, that one word describes - unjust.

And now we have restrictions - we could have them for some years, 'cause steady rain for many days, will hardly fill the weirs.

They seem to have forgotten the population is now double. And that's the simple reason, that Rous Water is in trouble, and they've sold our water wholesale, from right beneath our noses. And then they tell us what is banned, first our garden hoses.

Nowadays the garden, if it receives any water at all, it is via the washing machine from buckets, sore shoulders - and overall one hell of a lot of effort, that makes watering a chore. For some elderly who have the time, it's a job that leaves them sore.

Not many years ago Lismore had a garden competition, with a floral carnival party, and a parade romp. Oh, what a sad state of affairs, in a land where we receive 40 inches of rain on average, in each and every year.

The powers that be must surely hang their heads in shame, Any claim they have to fame, will only add and further inflame the ire of the ratepayers, who think it is a joke that our water storage system is just short of going broke.

A flood is what we'll have to have, to over top the wall - a welcome sight for every one, nothing else will work at all. And to Rous Water, one word, before laying down this pen, in future use some foresight - I wish you well, Amen.

Des Faithfull
Lismore

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Friends Like These

The recent visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Armitage underlines the cynicism of the US in its treatment of its "allies". There was that man trying to exploit the myth of Australian "mateship" for his own purposes.

But whenever did the US demonstrate its mateship for Australia? Did they rush to our defence in 1942? Did they use our territory to launch a strike on the Japanese forces that were threatening us? Or did they leave the ill trained and ill-equipped Australian forces to deal with the threat of invasion at Milne Bay and on the Kokoda trail?

It is a supreme irony that the attack on New York on 11 Sep 2001 destroyed the building insidiously called the "World Trade Centre". But what did that building have to do with World Trade? Why was our PM in America at the time of the attack? Was he not there to argue for a fairer deal for our exports?

And had he not already been snubbed on this question by the US President? We should not confuse that symbol of American arrogance with the World Trade Organisation. In fact the WTO has often been called upon to sanction the USA for its repeated violations of the "rules" of world trade.

We are constantly bombarded with reports that the US is demanding full disclosure from Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction. But which is the only nation ever to use an atomic weapon on the innocent civilians in an "enemy" country? And that was not once but twice. What is the US doing to disclose to the world its vast arsenal of weapons of mass destruction? I am not referring just to nuclear weapons but to all the terrible biological weapons with which we are all threatened by Iraq, by the USA and by all the other terrorist states.

Denis Matthews
Dunoon

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Smuggler Released

In 12 days time a man believed to be responsible for the deaths of 353 people will be released from jail. The prisoner, Abu Quassey, a people smuggler, had been imprisoned for minor passport offences. He's never been charged with murder and although theoretically he could be extradited from Indonesia on suspicion of homicide the Australian government won't do so.

The deaths in which Quassey is implicated occurred in October 2001 when the boat known as SIEV-X sank. It was carrying asylum seekers on their way from Indonesia to Australia. Grossly overloaded, it was possibly already unseaworthy as a result of sabotage. The frightened passengers, mostly women and children, were forced onto the boat at gunpoint with the assistance of the police.

When the sinking tragedy hit the headlines, our Prime Minister was in the throes of an election campaign in which border protection had been made the main focus. He stated unequivocally that the boat had sunk in Indonesian waters.

But this appears untrue since the data given by the crew who picked up the survivors, and which is logged in the Jakarta Harbourmaster's records, show that SIEV-X sank in international waters on its way to Christmas Island.

If this is correct then we should be able to bring Quassey to trial in Australia.

Some 10 days prior to the sinking of SIEV-X, John Howard, who was facing an election loss, had been briefed about the pool of asylum seekers in Indonesia who were waiting to make the trip to Australia. He was advised this had to be prevented "at all costs".

Reluctantly, for it is horrible to contemplate, many observers of this story are speculating as to whether these 353 people (including a woman who gave birth at the time of the sinking and who died along with her newborn infant) were the victims of a desperate strategy to send a stark and graphic warning to other potential boatpeople not to attempt the journey.

If so, it was stunningly successful. The boats stopped coming.

Now, a year later, it appears that Abu Quassey will not face murder charges in Australia. Are we adopting double standards? If we want those who killed Australians in the Bali bombing to be brought to justice how can we justify not making every effort to ensure that Quassey, an alleged mass murderer, faces trial here, even if the evidence given in court is potentially embarrassing to some of our politicians?

Signed
Lisa Bartholomew, Lismore
Bruce McNicol, Lismore
Cloud, Kyogle
Phil Reynolds, Horseshoe Creek
Merrian Malouf, Billinudgel
Beverley Crossley, Tatham
Cherie Imlah, Casino
Melita Love, Kyogle

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Cr John

I hear Howard being referred to as Alderman Howard, or as Shire President of Australia. Bit of a Statesman some say.

Merry Christmas and thanks to all who helped with the Hope Springs shop this year.

Stu Wales
Lismore

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Peace Gardens

Last spring I struggled to find ways to combat the negativity that was spewing forth from certain politicians via mainstream media. I conceived the idea of planting Peace Gardens.

To my delight, I learned that some children at a Cabramatta school had already created a peace garden. This school has a variety of ethnic pupils, and they co-operated on this project in a loving manner, which is an example to many adults.

The design and choice of plants was symbolic with Aloe Vera (a wound healing plant) and Rosemary C (to remember vitamins).

If water restrictions do not permit garden watering, we can start the project by selecting a site, planning on paper and even arranging rocks and pathways.

I would love to see this idea take off and a central address established to collate reports from all over Australia of individual or community Peace Gardens. This could then be proudly publicised and waved defiantly in the faces of our purveyors of fear.

While others plan for war, let us plan for peace.

Jeanette Gow
Kyogle

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Sanity Need

In the days immediately following the conclusion of WWII the US confronted an international policy decision more than just somewhat analogous to the Iraq/ weapons of mass destruction situation that it currently faces.

It is my fervent hope that the same sane council that prevailed then will prevail now, despite the different inclinations of the two US presidents involved.

The US knew that it had a monopoly on nuclear weapons, and it also was sure that the USSR (the old ally that was causing concern over Eastern Europe occupation) was attempting to develop nuclear weapons (a true weapon of mass destruction). It was in this climate that the US Joint Intelligence Committee sat down to examine the consequences of a "preventative war", a surprise attack on approx. 60 Soviet cities with the idea of "destroying their capacity to make them [atomic bombs] before it has progressed far enough to threaten us". Truman, thought this departure from US military tradition "morally repugnant", and also thought that the war weary population would not respond positively to further conflict. His public condemnation of the doctrine of "preventative war" in 1950 makes interesting and relevant reading - "Such a war is the weapon of dictators, not of free democratic countries like the United States."

Apart from the difference in attitude of the presidents, the willingness of the populace for conflict seem to be the major difference in scenarios. The present US citizenry, still angry after Sept 11 and the unsuccessful hunt for bin Laden, seems to have been convinced by the White House spin merchants that Saddam is a suitable culprit of the WTC tragedy. There is no doubt that Saddam should not be running his country, but I can't believe that he could be worse than Stalin whose despotic behaviour was part of the "preventative war" lobby's strong arguments for pre-emptive strike. Saddam might be crazy, but he obviously isn't stupid, judging by his firm grip on power, and would know that any attack by him on the US which can be linked to him would draw, with complete world approval and co-operation, a devastating retaliation. Various other US administrations have faced despots before - Castro and Gaddafi spring to mind, and the likelihood that they would use terrorism, but were able to respect international conventions and your country's proud military traditions by not overtly trying to topple regimes or launch outright war, but used diplomacy and the leverage that the US can bring to bear by virtue of its pre-eminent position in world affairs.

The present administration seems to have no conception of grey in it's black and white view of the world and the fact that the leader of my country shares this optical shortcoming, has led, in my opinion, to the Bali bombing, and the further loss of life. It is certain you shouldn't reward terrorists, by caving in to their demands, but if some of the arguments they make are valid, is it right to ignore the truth, just because you despise it's source? If valid claims are continuously ignored when will terrorism disappear? Can any western citizen honestly claim that the west's policy towards the Muslim countries of the Middle East isn't far less generous and forgiving than our policies towards Israel? And wouldn't that make you burn if you were Muslim?

Ross Macdonald
Nimbin

Poetry corner

The dangerous year

they shot the man

who sang 'merry Xmas, war is over'

it was wars and warlords ago -

in their armoured business suits

they (the old men) are sending the young

off to war again

cross out civilisation

delete the lie

as we decorate for Xmas

as we trolley down the red aisles

and the big fat red man

with the white foaming beard

ho ho hos into shopping -

and the little Johnnie man

in the big chair in the big house

sells the good war between carols

we suck the dust and smoke of this drought

as we decorate our burnt trees

and we drink to blur the end of a stupid year

and repeat and repeat -

like the fool's-even-years gone

when we waited over a child's Xmas

for another Bush to attack the king of sand.

David Hallet

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