TROUBLE AHEAD
I'm wondering how much longer do we have to wait before funding is sought to erect guard rails along Remembrance Drive (Avenue of Honour) from Burrumbeet to Ballarat? How many more lives must be lost from car accidents on this stretch of road?
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The young soldiers whose loss we commemorate by the trees, l'm sure, would never wish that their memorials should be the cause of more deaths. This section of road is very dangerous and l'm shocked nothing has been done to make it safer. Swift and definite action is surely needed before it's too late for another life.
Susan Goode, Beaufort.
Iniquitous positives from the Negative
Labor's negative gearing policy has been blasted by the Liberals as a sledgehammer smashing every Australian house price; about 2% totalling billions of dollars. When negative gearing came in, it must be logically concluded all houses went up artificially by the same comparative percent. This made it harder to get started. Now, this is just a market correction from a windfall, thus only resetting prices back to the formula they once were, thus giving home buyers more of a chance.
Your first house should be negatively geared; not the added on last. To the people upgrading, yes sorry, your old house is worth less, but luckily the one you are moving up to has dropped by the same percent The dearer the house, the more the drop; you win. Those staying in their homes are not affected. Houses have risen 7 to 15% yearly, so everyone is still way in front. A definite plus will be cheaper council rates on our newly devalued properties thanks to Labor. Also, we pay less stamp duty. If rental fees will go up dramatically now, then did landlords suddenly drop rents dramatically when negative gearing came in? Probably not. A double windfall looms. Reported is that 93% of negative gearing is on established homes and 70% goes to the highest earners.
Colin Holmes, Ballarat
A mental health crisis awaiting
The claim by veterans that the RSL is not doing enough for their wellbeing with particular respect to mental and emotional issues presents to the RSL a most serious and urgent challenge. In fact, the extent to which the RSL can rise to this challenge, and to that same extent does it simultaneously define its relevance, usefulness and reputation today.
Now is the opportune time to remove focus from clubs, alcohol and gambling and get to something much more important. More support for unwell veterans must also come from the Defence Forces and other government agencies. Veterans have been "hung out to dry" and that is a national disgrace.
Jim Timmermans, Auchenflower
Locals should have the say
City of Oppression, Ballarat. It is unforgivable that our council continues to undermine democracy in our great city. A totally botched up job handling the Community Participatory Design Process, which turns out to be the state government's attempt to get the community to re-imagine and redefine what the Civic Hall means to Ballarat. Council needs to stand up to the state government and tell them our message, "hands off our Civic Hall". Victoria Wardlaw, Ballarat East
Too little
The Dawn Service at this year’s Anzac Day was indeed very short. The service was finished before the sun came up! Did the person doing the oration fail to turn up? The National Anthem was not sung.
Joyce Currie, Wendouree