Write Direction: One of those days by John Blackbourne
I WOKE up this morning feeling cynical. Yes, it was one of those days when the morning news said that the government is to provide cheaper electricity for all its citizens. When I listened a bit longer, it said we would all be getting our electricity with a saving of $64 per year. Wow. Wasn’t […]
‘On The Couch’ With Jasminda: Husband’s responsibility takes flight
Dear Jasminda, When I travel with my partner on a plane, he ignores the safety announcements and instead reads a book. I feel like if something goes wrong, I’m the only one who will be able to assist. Bettina L. Dear Bettina, I’ve come across a range of different travellers over the years. Because I […]
Origin 1
The Write Direction: commodities conundrum
I AM fascinated by the direction of the commodities taxing debate. The PM is saying he won’t increase taxes on the production or export of gas and minerals, while his principal advisers are saying the opposite. Australia’s present economic position centres on the very high borrowing regime of our government’s ever-growing debt structure as high […]
Letter to Editor: complex issue ‘oversimplified’
DEAR News Of The Area, I was concerned to read about the Private Member’s Bill that our Federal MP Ms Alison Penfold has presented to Parliament, intended to make changes to the Sex Discrimination Act. In the article published on 28th May, Ms Penfold was quoted as saying “sex is biological and binary and should […]
The Write Direction: It’s hard to be fair and reasonable
WHEN you live in a small community and basically know or are known by the majority of its population, then you express a strong opinion at your own peril. If you seek to survive in this society, it is imperative that you are fair and reasonable to all sides of the political and social divide. […]
The Write Direction: Confusing Budget logic
THE Treasurer handed down his Budget with the theme of correcting the intergenerational imbalance on housing. He used this excuse to introduce new taxes in order to reduce his government’s borrowing crisis. The theory is that the older generation invests in housing by adopting legal methods of ownership such as negatively gearing their finance, then […]
From the Mayor’s Desk: Cr Claire Pontin
IT is the time of year for us to put our budget and operational plan out for public comment ahead of adoption in June. Please have a look at it and give us some feedback, recognising, of course, that each year we must decide how to spread the money that we receive over a large […]
Letter to the Editor: A vicious cycle of inflation
DEAR News Of The Area, AUSTRALIA is being told inflation is the nation’s biggest economic threat, yet the actions of the Federal Government suggest something very different. Australians are tightening their belts, cutting household spending, struggling with mortgages, rent, groceries and power bills, while Canberra continues to spend at record levels. The question many ordinary […]
