Letters To The Editor

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Elections loom

Only when a council election is looming, do we hear Cr Irwin moaning about the Ring Road through North Lismore (Echo, Dec 4).

For someone "appalled" by a route through North Lismore, and states "...there has been no justification provided for the road... as... it will do nothing to address the major bottle-necks" one might well ask, "Why then has she voted to build every section of the Ring road excluding the Skyline Rd part?"

This includes the leg built several years ago connecting the old airport road to South Lismore allowing vehicles to avoid the Ballina bridge bottleneck. This section is why there are now many more trucks coming though the heart of North Lismore.

Why has she supported this $30 million folly when Council engineer Bill Moorhouse states it will result in worse traffic congestion within 30 years?"

Why has Cr Irwin been absolutely silent on the ring road through North Lismore? Surely she read the same 1995(?) report as me which states all seven proposed routes through North Lismore will generate an extra 7000 - 10,000 vehicle movements per day?

You cannot have a ring road without North Lismore. Once multi-millions have been spent, no council is going to 'waste' these monies by not approving a route through North Lismore.

Mr Moorhouse said we needed it and all councillors fell into line. At least, the other councillors have not pretended to be something other than their voting record.

If you are against the ring road, then not one of the current crop of councillors is your friend.

Have you ever heard one of them denounce the ring road?

Paul Recher
Dorroughby

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Tom's answers

I would like to thank Tom Murdoch for his letter (Echo, Dec 4) in which he asks some specific questions.

1. How many refugees should we accept? We want specific answers.

Answer: Australia takes relatively few refugees by world standards. The 12,000 refugees accepted per annum under Australia's humanitarian programme has remained static for the last three years despite the ever-increasing numbers of refugees worldwide, I think we could double that, say 25,000.

2. What criteria would you people use to accept them - ie. feign sob stories and have unverifiable tale of woe and you are in?

Answer: UN Convention on refugees definition of a refugee - fleeing persecution and cannot return to their own country because of that fear. Humanitarian visas are also given to people whose homeland is unsafe and who cannot return for that reason. Statistics now show that in 97% of applicants from Iraq and 93% from Afghanistan seeking asylum without valid visas in Australia in 1999 were recognised as genuine refugees. Generally 84% - 95% of all asylum seekers are found to be legitimate.

3. Who decides who comes to this country? ie. people smugglers or immigration officials.

Answer: In Iraq and Afghanistan, there are no diplomatic representations, no queues etc. Therefore there are no standard refugee processes where people wait in line to have their application considered. In reality, many families and communities pool their resources in an attempt to send their relatives to safety. People smuggling is a crime that the international community needs to combat. Few countries between the Middle East and Australia are signatories to the 1951 Refugee Convention, and as such asylum seekers are forced to continue to travel to another country to find protection. However, this does not negate the legitimacy of asylum seekers' claims, nor their need to seek refuge.

4. Where is all the money coming from to resettle these people?

Answer: Firstly ask yourself, what about the billions of dollars being wasted on an unworkable mandatory detention system, the profits going overseas. I agree that asylum seekers' claims need to be assessed for legitimacy but Australia is the only western country that mandatory detains asylum seekers indefinitely while their claims are being heard. Asylum seekers are not criminals and detention should be minimal. At a cost of approx $104 per head per day, the policy of detention is very expensive. Community-based alternatives can be found internationally and within the current Australian parole system. eg. parole $5.39 per day; probation $3.94 per day; home detention $58.83 per day.

Refugees, like migrants create demands for goods and services, thus stimulating the economy, generating growth and employment, eg. the economic report done on Young, which found that 90 Afghan refugees had contributed $2.5 million to the local economy over an 18-month period.

No one is suggesting an open-door policy. Simply a more generous and humanitarian one that fulfils our international obligations. Most people, including most refugees, would prefer to stay at home if they could.

As far as responsibilities... under both Australian and International law a person is entitled to make an application for asylum in another country, article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "everyone has the right to seek and enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution".

Lynda Smith
Member of Rural Australians for Refugees

• Edited for length

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Real distaste?

The letter re real estate agents (Echo, Nov 28) once again promotes the misguided view that some members of the public have of the real estate industry.

As an experienced Real Estate Agent I strongly refute the claims made in this letter. I'll tell you that most agents - yes most agents, act honestly, professionally and ethically. Of course there are always a few people in all industries and professions who act dishonestly. As well, I know, as an experienced Agent, that there are some buyers and sellers who don't tell us the truth or the full story.

I must also ask how can someone who has never sold a property through an Agent complain about agent's service and supposed carry on. Yet I note she wants agents to respond immediately when she wants to purchase. And regarding prices and their growth let me tell you these are mainly dictated by market forces. Yes agents might suggest an asking price but in recent market conditions most owners wanted more than recommended.

Yes in the recent market conditions some people heard that there were other offers on the property they wanted to purchase. This would have mostly been true. The owners of these properties would have always made the decisions as to who the successful buyer would be. I will acknowledge that gazumping ( i.e. acceptance of a higher offer by the owner after a previous offer was accepted) does occasionally occur and it is always disappointing for the losing buyer. It always leaves a bad taste in my mouth too but people should realise that it is the owner who makes these decisions not the Agent. If the N.S.W. Government would simplify the Conveyancing system here, like other states such as Queensland have done, we wouldn't have gazumping.

There are already lots of codes/rules/laws/ethics for Agents and I again strongly refute the spurious claim made against all agents.

Leon Horan
Lismore

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Respect message

It wouldn't have been too big a surprise to Ballina Council watchers to read that, with the exception of Warringah Shire which the Minister has already been sacked and replaced, Ballina has topped the NSW council complaints list.

We should really be listening most carefully to the message behind their complaints. If we start complaining about the messenger I think we might as well be sticking our heads in the sand. Many in the community tell me how concerned they are with the cosy, inappropriate relationships they perceive between some councillors and some developers.

In the Chambers and out, I have been repeatedly referring to the NSW Ombudsman's recently released Conflict of Interests fact sheet. The ethical guidelines there have been well set out for all councillors to see.

A lot of people don't like what they see in some quarters of this shire though. I believe that the level of complaints is a clear reflection of the level of community concern. Good people are speaking out. For that I applaud them.

Respect for the office of Councillor and the Shire we represent should be paramount. Respect for the people from whom we derive our leadership rights should go without saying.

Everyone has a right to expect that all Councillors will conduct themselves absolutely beyond reproach, not just the majority of them. Not only in Chamber decisions but in declarations of pecuniary interests, gifts, holidays, electoral returns and even down to their choice of who buys them a free lunch (or dinners). The public should and do expect nothing less.

This is the message I'm getting. It's loud and it's clear.

Cr Alan Rich
Lennox Head

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Farmers first

Last week, Natural Resource Management legislation was passed through State Parliament which will affect every farmer across the state.

As President of the country's strongest farm lobby group, I want all farmers to be aware of what this legislation means to them, and understand what the NSW Farmers' Association did on their behalf.

While I'll be the first to admit that the new legislation isn't perfect, it is a major step forward.

The Greens are already complaining that farmers have had too much their way.

Since the introduction of SEPP 46 eight years ago, farmers have been increasingly concerned about increasing restrictions of the management of private property, and the Association has fought long and hard to get a better deal.

When negotiating with the Carr Government on this issue, the Association always put the needs of farmers first.

We now have new laws that allow:

• More flexibility for farmers to manage native vegetation

• The decisions to be made locally through NEW Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs)

• $406 million to be spent on-farm through environmental incentive programs.

Nominations are being called for board positions on the state's 13 CMAs, which will play a crucial role in the implementation of this new Act.

I ask all farmers to make sure their interests are represented on these boards.

I believe these new reforms will bring common sense back into the legislation, and take into account economic and social factors.

These are two important aspects that have been sadly missing over the past few years.

As a farmer I am confident that the new reforms will now enable me to manage my place in a way that will benefit my family, the community and the environment.

After all, farmers are the best managers of the land.

Mal Peter
President
NSW Farmers' Association

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Aint stupid

The centralist Carr Laboral (sic) Government wants to bully through: Forced Council amalgamations and further down grade our Northern Rail System over the protests or present council and most residents.

Country Labor announces a team to take over Council at the coming March election. We do not need an acquiescent block on Council beholden to The Laboral Party for funding and for future personal aspirations. What we need is a Council of Independent thinkers, unfettered by sectional interests and representing the whole of the community. The position of Mayor is both symbolic & powerful; not a role for a Johnny-come-lately. We need a Mayor with a proven track record as a Councillor who listens & cares; someone who has experience, a record of success & who has been fire tested.

Warwick Boyd
North Lismore

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Dems poll

Our polls at our stall at the Lismore car boot market last Sunday were focused on issues close to the heart of many locals and visitors alike.

Results are as follows:

Q1. "Do you want to keep and improve our regional trains?"

98% responded "Yes" and 2% responded "No".

Q2. "Do you want to keep Lismore Lake wholly as a bird sanctuary?"

90% responded "Yes" and 10% responded "No".

It is important that politicians at all levels of government do what we want, so I hope all ours are listening, knowing they will be held accountable next time we vote.

Julia Melland
Australian Democrat
Goonellabah

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More questions

I humbly pose some questions to Tom Murdoch (Echo, Dec 4).

1. Are you related to Rupert?

2. If there was anything comprehensive about the Government's pre-election platforms re. boat people why have they been proved deceptive?

3. Why would any person risk their life and life savings to endure such a treacherous journey to go "forum shopping"?

4. Why are the big fish (people smugglers) thrown back in the water and the little fish (boat people) kept netted in dry docks?

5. If money is the problem why has the Govt. so often chosen the most expensive solutions? I.e. keeping them in maximum-security facilities whilst not permitting them to be of any service or value?

6. Why is the Govt. defying every international charter for human rights to accomplish this?

7. If life is so great in Iraq why do they stay in Nauru?

8. How many levels of hell are there?

9. Why does action taken by women who volunteer their time and energy to a cause of no personal gain threaten you?

10. Where is the love?

Thank you for opening this debate with these great ladies. Debate is the fabric of democracy and democracy is the fabric of our society. I believe that compassion is the fabric of our humanity- and we need more of all of these things.

You might get more than you bargained for.

Cherie, Lynda and Cloud are members of Rural Australians for Refugees, a large and legitimate organisation. They are paying out of their own pockets to help these people.

Maybe you should thank them for shouldering this burden that (seems to) cause you such concern, and duly apologise.

Are their tears less objective and more objectionable than your rancour?

Robin Young
South Lismore

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CASPA thanks

On behalf of the children and young people of CASPA (Child & Adolescent Specialist Services & Accommodation) I would like to publicly express our thanks to the people who have donated their time, goods and money to assist us in 2003.

At times it hard to know where support is going to come from in a time where most people are busy with there own lives, don't have a lot of money or sometimes want to help but don't know how.

The Echo is a great example. In 2003, The Echo raised money for CASPA so that we could finish furnishing our 'chill out' room in our residential unit. They then were our sponsors in the Lantern Parade and finally gave one of our young people the opportunity to do some work experience at The Echo. We did not approach The Echo to do any of these deeds all these actions were initiated by a business that saw the need and acted on it.

This type of action makes such a difference not only from a financial perspective but it lets the young people in our programs know there are people who care.

Other people who have voluntarily contributed skills and time during the year and deserve a big thanks are Jyllie Jackson who provided mentorship for one of our young people, the 10 women who make a group called the 'Friends of CASPA' who have cooked and have made handicrafts for our 'shops' and the individuals and groups who have donated toys, clothes and raised funds for CASPA.

We believe that by putting time and energy into the children and young people in our community that the whole community benefits. So we give thanks to all of you and wish you a peaceful and joyful Christmas.

If you are interested in helping or finding out more about CASPA you can contact us on 6621 5446 or if you would like to buy Xmas gifts, puddings and cakes from the CASPA Xmas Shop it will be at Lismore Square, December 15-19 outside Payless Shoes.

Lisa Gardiner
General Manager
CASPA

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School Centenary

The Ellangowan Public School celebrated 100 years on the 4 October, 2003 and the Centenary Committee would like to thank you for your coverage given for this event and to thank all those involved in making the day such a huge success.

Our official guests Ian Causley MP, Federal Member for Page, Steve Cansdell State Member for Clarence, Charlie Cox, Mayor of Richmond Valley Council, thank you for your presence.

The Lions Club of Casino, Ellangowan P&C, Ellangowan Hall Committee, The Travel Shoppe Casino and the Clysdale Motel and the Rural Fire Service thankyou for your participation.

To all the volunteers special thanks because without your time and efforts we the committee would not have been able to organise such a seemingly overwhelming task. You enable the committee to be on a free reign to deal with what ever turned up. Thank you.

Thanks must also go to all the past and current pupils and parents and friends. Past pupils came for all over: Wellington in the west and as far north as the Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland and a far south as Sydney and from everywhere in between. Many who could not attend sent their best wishes for a successful day.

A wonderful day was had by all!

Thanks again.

Linda Cowan
Secretary, Centenary Committee

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Evans head concerns

I as an involved and concerned user of land at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome who along with my wife have invested a great deal of time and mostly into the erection of an aircraft hanger at E.H.M Aerodrome wish to protest most strongly to the future development of area 3 (Figure 4, page 212 of draft D.CP No 10) being considered for future housing development. The Richmond Valley Council has already spent much of rate payers money a few years ago on another such draft management plan that came to nothing, what a waste, perhaps it should be renamed a daft management plan. How can you consider putting houses adjacent to an operational main aircraft runway? Regarding the deed of gift of this land form the R.A.A.F. this airfield is supposed to be used for the encouragement and furtherance of aviation related activities, and yet the council has allegedly subdivided and sold off a portion of the airfield land for housing development. It is alleged this was done illegally and was then legalized by back dating permission by some appropriate person or government department. How an act such as this can be made legal by an illegal act is beyond me. People usually go to jail for or involvement in a known illegal activity. Let me remind this council that there are at least five aviation related companies that tried to come and establish such business at E.H.M Aerodrome and if they would have been successful would have provided work for many people from Evans Head including apprenticeships in the aviation industry. Just two spring to mind, Spectrum Aviation of Lismore NSW and Super marine Aviation, ever heard of them? They used to make Spitfires many years ago. Super marine now make Spitfires at Archerfield in Brisbane Q.L.D and are sold all over the world, it could have been Evans Head. It seems that there are a lot of people around only interested in carving up the Evans Head airfield to make lots of money. The people of Evans head don't want there beautiful village destroyed by over population, have they been consulted? I suspect no is the answer to that question. Let the memory of E.H.M Aerodrome live on as it should as a memorial and not be tarnished by the rich and the greedy stealing away our Australian Heritage. Finally "Lest We Forget" let us try and remember the many lives lost in the defence of our country who trained at E.H.M Aerodrome and left never to return we must hold onto our Australian heritage and history as due to the shortness of time we don't have a great deal of it in modern times.

Mr & Mrs D & B A Field

Ballina Quays

Starhawk

It may be of great interest to your readers to note that Starhawk, author, eco-feminist and activist, will be visiting Northern Rivers during her speaking tour of Australia in December.

Beginning as an organiser in her high school during the days of the Vietnam War Starhawk has been active in social change movements for over 30 years. The essays contained in her most recent book have been credited with helping the global justice movement find and define itself. An activist in many of the peace and justice movements of our times, Starhawk continues to be involved as a direct action participant and trainer in the anti-globalisation movement. She also co-teaches intensive seminars that combine permaculture design, political organising and activism, and earth-based spirituality. Drawing on her twenty years experience as activist, eco-feminist and Witch, she is a wise and incisive speaker for these times - times of personal transformation and planetary transformation.

Starhawk will be at the Workers Club on Thursday, December 11 at 7pm speaking on "Envisioning Global Justice."

For further info on Starhawk events, check out www.starhawk.org or phone 6621 3294.

Di Arthur
Mullumbimby

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Immigration Does Work

Australia was founded on immigration and will continue to grow with future immigration. The argument that we should stop immigration is the absolute nonsense and keeps reappearing due to ignorance. If you stop immigration, it's like saying we should not admit anyone to hospital until everyone gets better first. That's where the insanity lies.

People love Australia and want to come to Australia because it is a land of opportunity where if you work hard and persist, you can succeed for yourself and your family. And that's why they are risking their life to come here. Whatever it takes! It may be "wrong" in our western ways, but it is survival that drives them here.

We can label them terrorist, queue jumpers etc, but the truth is they are human beings and just like you and me, they want the thing as we all do - freedom and a chance at happiness.

Australia has given me and my family an amazing opportunity to learn and develop our skills and one that we always appreciate. And today, I feel very grateful and honoured that I can be in a position serve and give back to the community because that's what it's all about.

Chen Tay
Ballina

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Mungo madness

I refer to McCallum's usual boring diatribe (Echo, Oct 23) rubbishing Bush, Howard expecting us to believe whatever he prints.

If jerks like this didn't keep up their relentless unwarranted attacks on our world leaders then there would be no need for me to defend these fine men! Too much to expect with these ratbags polluting our great country I expect. What utter tripe these ilk spit out!

Then we have chief nut on the 'Macca Tree' Bob Browns spiteful garbage poking his ugly dial into the TV camera and of course the mindless media fall for this crap every time. McCallum's bearded mug isn't much better except my dart score has improved since I made him the bullseye. (The hats gone. Now for the beard) Why on earth this completely hopeless crew just thaw out their frozen brain long enough to realise that most of us and the majority of members of parliament actually like Howard, Bush and Blair are not gutless or wimps and just following party lines. No? Oh well I tried! The McCallum's and B, Browns of this place just consider one opinion and that of course is theirs! We are automatically supposed to follow along and mindlessly accept all the untrue unproven crap they say! So who's mindless now McCallum? You can sling off at those like myself till your rear end turns blue with all your clever perceived intellectual jibe and hoped for point scoring obviously designed to make fools out of any of us who do not go along with your semi-loads of smelly stuff and falsehoods.

If this awful lot had their way, Australia would be some insignificant little backwater. In reality we have a bright, decent PM and government that have earned the respect of the two most powerful countries on earth, plus countless others. Anyone with even a tiny resemblance of a brain knows we desperately need the USA for our very exicistance. We live in a virtual sea of those who would have our guts for breakfast, but I expect the McCallum's and Browns with the black glasses and sandust filled ears to ever wake up to this obvious bloody fact!

It is just sickening to see placards in protest marches depicting our PM as a dog sniffing at the bum of Bush! How low! How cockroach like, how gutter like, trash like, is that! Disgraceful pitiful behaviour by any standards of common decency. How can any decent normal person possibly go along with such pathetic attitudes? This lot are pure low-lifes who should be 'stoned' for their awful foul behaviour and total absence of any respect for our leaders. How can we teach our kids to be respectful for us, for each other god forbid, our leaders and themselves. We have too, yes even in a democracy possess stronger laws governing the sick goings on of these trash individuals if our democracy is just to survive. This is not scare mongering either, it's just facing reality.

On another matter it never fails to amaze and annoy how there are to many that assume one is uneducated because in this case, my views don't tie in with those ding-a-lings who think they know it all.

I refer to a passing comment by Mr McDonald (Echo, Oct 30) yes Ross, I do like to include a little humour and I see bugga all wrong with that but why Oh why do you assume one is uneducated because of my opinions. What intolerant up yours attitude some of these wankers adopt. They just consider theirs is the view that matters, it is absolutely correct and everyone else with an opposing one is just not educated correctly isn't that sickening and they say we live in a democracy!

The most spewy thing of all that gets up my nose is that maybe, (well preferably for sure) ###The Echo editor gets sick of my letters defending our leaders and our way of life, but why is it seen to be just and fair in a free place to just give up to this lying abusive mob who continue to sling off at good men and get away with it. Mr Editor, you always appear to print stuff against Howard and Bush that is unproven and mostly untrue so to be objective and fair why shouldn't another opposing argument be presented, and mainly you do print my reply anyhow, and I am grateful for that at least.

I am I guess intolerant of those who try to make a fool and make filthy comments about heads of state! That sir is wrong, absolutely.

G Wallace
South Lismore

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NRMA vote

Last Friday, my wife and I, drove 12 hours each way to attend this meeting in Sydney.

An NRMA Director, Graham Blight, wrote to rural people telling us what an important decision we had to make and urged our participation.

For the record, Mr Graham Blight did not speak at the AGM. He sat on the stage, dumbstruck. Not one word passed his lips. The Chairman of this farcical four hours, the NRMA appointed, never elected, President, Ross Vincent Turnbull refused rudely and crudely to answer any questions pertaining to financial mismanagement, his own expenses, the annual slush fund payment of $34 million to IAG Insurance nor the $3.4 million in Members Funds wasted on a fraudulent campaign to change the NRMA constitution.

This bodgie constitution change, unless legally challenged by the sleepy fishing gnomes at ASIC, will entrench Mr. Blight and his Turnbull mates in office for a further 2 very expensive years. What a ruthless, greedy, self-centred lot of cretins we have running corporations in Australia these days.

As Henry Kaye, Jodee Rich, Brad Keeling and Rene Rivkin have discovered, ASIC is the Dads Army of Rubber Stamp Corporate Regulators. They only act when the stable door is well ajar and the horse has truly bolted. We wuz robbed!

Bob Scott
Yamba

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