The government continues to operate with no strategy for the Ballarat rail precinct, no plan for the long term future for commuters in Ballarat.

And importantly no plan for increased parking for rail commuters and definitely no improved access for people with disabilities.

To add insult to the community the Minister refers to a multi-level carpark it is only two levels and can’t be added to. Multi means many not two.

Why can’t the government understand that rather than giving the Pelicano Group (the developer) $25 million, this should be spent on what is needed - a fully integrated transport hub that will service the needs of the community for the long term future. Dare I say jobs and growth!

It is obvious that our local Labor members aren’t listening to the community nor do they use public transport, if they did they would change their ill-conceived proposal.

Ballarat deserves better.

For and on behalf of Save Our Station SOS Ballarat Group

Ron Egeberg, Soldiers Hill

Daniel Andrews’ announcement of funding for regional train services is nothing more than a political stunt.

His Government has ignored regional Victoria for over two years and now he's making huge promises and sending the bill entirely to Malcolm Turnbull.

Labor are happy to spend Federal Government money on regional rail but don’t intend on investing any State Government money on our V/Line services that are in disarray.

Labor and Daniel Andrews have neglected regional rail and allowed services to deteriorate under their watch. Now they have the audacity to attempt to take credit for the Federal Government's funding and plans to improve our regional rail network.

Joshua Morris, Member for Western Victoria

Many years ago, every chemist shop in Australia had a penny-in-the-slot weighing machine with the message "your doctor says weigh yourself daily".

What happened to them all? If the medical profession is still of that opinion then surely the machines should all be resurrected as dollar machines .

Everyone aged over, say, 15, would weigh themselves each day and the budget deficit would disappear in a comparatively short time without any need to increase taxes or reduce government spending.

Come on, everyone! Balance yourself and balance the budget. Pull your weight for the good of the country.

Ken Maher, Ainslie

Not again. The council in their wisdom have decided to withdraw funding for the Ballarat Ironman Event  just like they did with the Lawns Bowls Strategy of 2015 which promised so much to Ballarat’s bowling fraternity. Yet they can afford to outlay $5.5 million for the purchase of the North ballarat Football complex. Somehow along the line they also managed to give themselves a pay rise. 

Daryl Traynor, Invermay Park

It is a good time to recall that wars are not inevitable but are the result of deliberate policies.  Here's is just one of many deliberate policies made that conditions us to accept wars as inevitable. The Australian War Memorial in Canberra  accepts sponsorship from weapons makers, the very people who thrive on armed conflict and its preparation, whose profits depend on it.