Both groups respect each other, and neither one has ever sought to undermine the other. Unfortunately, what began as a negotiation between workers and their employer has been blown up, mostly by the Liberal party, and for what purpose? These men and women - paid and volunteer - deserve our admiration and thanks. What they don't deserve is to be used as political pawns.

Lyn Hughes, Ararat

Cardinal George Pell and Catholicism represent a sad story to me.  I will never step foot in a Catholic church ever again but I do feel sorry for the victims of the sexual abuse that happened around Ballarat. They deserve compensation. Maybe the Catholic church can give it to them?

Someone has to be held accountable for what happened. The past was real. It did happen, and anyone who thinks otherwise can swim to the bottom of the ocean. 

David Scholes, Wendouree

The current council has had 4 years to deal with the myriad of issues impacting our city; some for 10 years and more. All of a sudden it seems there is an unholy push to get the money spent and stuff done.

The simple fact is, the term of this council is over (all but the shouting), and no amount of postulating or urgent action will cover up the holes left behind. Certainly, officers are correctly being guided at this time by the "Council Plan" which is a document required by the Local Government Act especially for the purpose of maintaining a pathway in such situations, but even here, officers need to use caution because each new council is required by the Act to revise that plan to its own liking.

Undoubtedly, there will be some changes, no matter who is elected. Regardless of the makeup of a new council, and before it can even settle down to think about what might be required for the future - better budgets and control - the first order of business must be to deal with outstanding issues, all of which should have been 'put to bed' long ago. Unfortunately, dealing with the 'sins of the fathers' is a big job in itself without the impost of additional expenditure and borrowings 'at the eleventh hour'.

My own view is the expiring councillors, or at least some of them, need to be very circumspect about what they do over the next few weeks. Approving things, introducing new initiatives, generally seeking headlines seemingly for the sole purpose of providing a campaign boost for the individual might be seen as being a misuse of position and probably council resources.

Ballarat needs a clean, clear-cut election, where the best interests of the city (our city) are in the forefront of the minds of the candidates and electors. Declarations of intent from the existing 'coterie' of councillors might be a good start.

Grant Tillett, Candidate North Ward in the Ballarat Council election.

I disagree with Colin Holmes. Catherine King is not the victim of her own success. Ballarat is the victim of having Catherine King as our local member. How many days during the election campaign has she been in Ballarat? I think very few!

Joyce Currie, Wendouree