Re: Disability rent hike anger grows (Weekly, July 31)
Tarneit MP Tim Pallas is showing political opportunism in pushing a petition against changes to fees for people in supported care (Weekly, July 31).
When he was a senior minister in the previous Labor government he supported changing legislation to allow 75 per cent of a disability pension to be charged for accommodation.
By contrast, the Coalition is making this change to deliver better services to those in supported care.
This means those in care will be treated fairly across the supported care sector and know what services they are entitled to.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury
Re: Wyndham stands firm on slow-growth commitment (Weekly, July 31):
Any growth of new housing developments will exacerbate the lack of infrastructure and services. Why not a no-growth policy? Until there are roads, public transport, local amenities, affordable housing and jobs, adding more people will simply blow out the budget further and add to the deprivation and debt already being experienced in Melbourne’s forgotten fringe areas.
Nimby (via web)
Re: West’s volunteer agency needs a lifeline (Weekly, July 31):
Before inviting skilled migrants to Australia, there should be a need for them. If they end up adding to our unemployment numbers and are deprived of basic amenities through excessive growth, then our government’s federal policies are imbalanced, overly ambitious and not appropriate to our economy’s slow-down. There needs to be a reality-check on what “growth” is. Unless there are ample jobs, housing, amenities and natural resources, population growth is not “growth” at all but a dilution of a community’s commonwealth between more people. Volunteers should not be expected to fix our government’s lack of planning and foresight. They should only be for vulnerable people falling on hard times, not a permanent fixture of communities.
Tony B (via web)
Re: ‘No plans’ for Point Cook Road duplication (Weekly, July 31):
And what about those of us with a business? We’ll carry tools with us on a bus? Catch those crammed sardine cans called trains to clients’ houses? I have to start my day after 9am since I’m stuck in the middle of Truganina, with kilometres of traffic around me.
Ross (via web)
Re: Why can’t we marry? (Inside story, Weekly, July 10):
Two men can’t “marry” because marriage is a union between a husband and wife. Creating a genderless marriage is a contradiction in terms and contrary to what the inherent meaning of the marriage institution is. The simple solution – and one that keeps traditional marriage intact and gives flexibility for “diversity” – is for gay couples to have their own distinctive unions. It doesn’t have to be religious, but a civil union. Problem solved.
VivKay (via web)
Re: Expansion boost for ferry bid (Weekly, July 24):
It would take Werribee and Point Cook residents a minimum of 15 minutes (30 or more in peak hour) plus the time and cost of finding a car park and the ferry ride, then the time to travel to Melbourne. Then there would be more cost for connecting transport to Melbourne itself. Imagine people coming from suburbs further afield! Yes, it will be a great tourist ferry – but that is all.
Linda Moloney, Werribee
