I feel sometimes that we don't recognise the contribution that large companies give to the community without a second thought. Once again thanks Integra and the CFA for getting the fire out and hopefully they will can catch this firebug before they can do any more damage.

Rodney and Louise McKinnon, Weatherboard

With the world's mean climate having already warmed by 1.3 degrees Celsius, we are far from a "safe climate".

In the days leading up to the United Nations Paris Climate Talks it's now time for us all to give the authority to our governments to commit to action to slow and arrest the warming of the planet. If we wait for others to take action, we will no doubt suffer the guilt of being the most selfish generation of Australians which did not take action knowing we would devalue the lifestyle of our children and grandchildren.

A Peoples Climate March is taking place at 2pm on Saturday 28 November in Ballarat.

I urge Victorians to participate in the People's Climate Marches that are being held in coming days as part of a worldwide demonstration to all governments, that citizens of the world want meaningful and achievable actions to phase out use of fossil fuels, invest in bioenergy, wind, solar, tidal and geothermal energy solutions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ian Rossiter - President Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions Inc (BREAZE)

Having been a Councillor in a pre-Kennett council, and one after the model was radically altered, I think now is an appropriate time to review the imbalance between the highly-paid office staff and those who work outdoors, without exception.

Country councils now complain about their cost of operation. This draws attention to the question of of the competence of their administration. The silence of politicians on this problem is puzzling.

Oliver Guthrie - Alfredton

I cannot understand why the price of petrol here in Ballarat is around $1.25 per litre. Currently, the price of a barrel of oil is hovering around $40.05. When the price of a barrel was around $100 US dollars, we were paying around $1.60 per litre. So, using that math, we should be paying around 70-75 cents per litre.

As usual, the A.C.C.C. does nothing to support the motorist, while these greedy oil companies continue to rip off the motorist and fill their coffers. Different story if the price of a barrel goes up -- the oil companies raise the price of petrol almost immediately.

The A.C.C.C. is utterly gutless and will not stand up to these global oil companies. What is the point of the A.C.C.C. if they do nothing to best serve the general public?

Graham Pearce - Invernay Park

With a new Prime Minister comes good, new, fresh ideas for prosperity. Also, not so new, poor ones, i.e. a republic. We should not sever ties with a very wealthy relative who is worth a fortune in crown jewels and assets. You only dump the poor ones.

The Monarchy may be our only, last pitch contingency plan out of our financial mess of failed policies. Charlie and Camilla have just left. We should have requested a golden opportunity handout as after all, we have managed their land for 227 years.

We want cash and now, before Malcolm bungles mother country's compassion for us by dumping them. As a republic, we will stand alone without the sympathetic royal shoulder to lean on, leaving the taxpayer with only the expertise, wits and and cleverness of our pollies.

Colin Holmes - Ballarat