Time for us to stand up
Along with others from our community I attended a rally in Queanbeyan last Friday.
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The aim was to protest outside the office of Local Government Minister, and Deputy Premier John Barilaro against forced amalgamations put in place by former Premier Michael Baird .
I now see in the news that Mr Barilaro who we believed would speak with us outside his office on that day claims he had no knowledge of such meeting and was elsewhere at the time.
The organiser of the rally, John Knight of Gundagai's Shire in Exile said publicly that he had sent a number of emails and a phone call to the Minister's office, to which he had no reply.
For a member of Parliament who won his seat in the last election with a tiny majority of less than 1200 votes, this seems very risky.
The amalgamation of Harden with Young and Boorowa is still in place and looks like staying
Harden Shire is one which has been dudded worst of all.
Twice our council submitted a case with Cootamundra for our two shires to be merged, and twice all the boxes were ticked.
We are fit for the future.
Our population is very similar to Gundagai's, and our communities are similar at heart. On the surface there is no clear reason why we should be treated differently, but most locals are aware of why our current situation has come about.
We certainly believe it was not done to benefit our town but for the benefit of some who were very much looking to their own agenda.
The petition initiated by ANTY (Amalgamation No Thank You) needs to be submitted by Wednesday, March 1.
Please take the time to sign it.
Our future may well depend on that petition being put before parliament.
Barb Sargent
Harden
No surprise on comments
Pretty much a surprise to nobody that Chris Manchester came out in last week’s Harden Express echoing the words of both Nationals Member of Parliament Katrina Hodgkinson and Administrator Tuckerman, telling us he believes the merger is irreversible.
He has hopped off the fence and his allegiance is no longer a mystery, if it ever was.
I mean the writing was on the wall when Mike Baird laid out the ground rules early on, if you didn't play for his team, you didn't get a start.
Chris was the first committee member announced.
From a humble ex mayor in the old council to sitting at the right hand of the administrator, head of the Harden LRC, chairperson of Goldenfields and shaping up for a move into the big leagues in September along with all the spoils it brings, why would you want it to end?
Let’s hope, however, this shambles plays out that in the future whoever represents us truly does have our best interests at heart because if we remain in the Hilltops, and I sincerely hope we don't, the road ahead will be long and frustrating for the one, maybe two from Harden that get a role.
The last thing we need is career politicians, yes men/women or people who want to sit quietly in a corner and pick up their pay.
The worst may well be yet to come.
Scott Collins
Harden
ABC’s political balls-up
WELL how far left can the ABC go?
That skit on the Prime Minister on Insiders on Sunday morning was about as low as you can go; debasing in the extreme. Perhaps it’s the new Australian way.
Bill, how about you leave the personal attacks on others out of politics.
How about a more unbiased approach by the ABC to the political agenda.