Letters to the Editor

AN INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHT TO A POINT OF VIEW

Dear Editor,

I write in response to columnist, John Gray’s extraordinary hypocrisy in attacking those who have contributed recent letters to the editor of a local paper. In his column on September 27, Mr Gray resorted to school-yard bullying tactics of name-calling and derision, completely disregarding an individual’s right to a point of view.

It seems that Mr Gray welcomes contributions but only if he agrees with the content. Mr Gray also points out that a good independent votes with both sides of parliament based on merit. You would think this also applies to working with both sides of parliament to lobby for your electorate. With a state election looming, the people of Shepparton will start voting in just 40 days’ time with a real prospect of a new Liberal National Coalition Government being formed to govern for the next four years.

Despite this, Ms Sheed has not actively lobbied the Liberal Nationals Coalition Shadow Ministers on issues important to Shepparton. Her appearance with another Labor minister and candidate this week and her voting pattern on issues like the CFA show where Ms Sheed’s allegiances lie.

Mr Gray should also be more transparent about his own political leanings, while he may not be a member of a political party he has been very vocal in his support for Ms Sheed and a couple of state elections ago was seen chauffeuring the Labor upper house candidate around on election day. A good newspaper columnist would not let his own political opinions stand in the way of free speech nor resort to name calling and school-yard bullying tactics to discourage contributions from those who do not agree with him.

Yours sincerely,

Wendy Lovell

Member for Northern Victoria Region

 

BRING ON THE ELECTION

Dear Editor,

It is pleasing that Suzanna Sheed used her last speech in state parliament to push for radiotherapy services to be established in Shepparton (‘Commit to a new cancer centre: MP’ Shepparton in the media on September 26). It is just as pleasing that in her comments Ms Sheed recognises the tireless work of the Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell in fighting on this issue.

A search of Hansard shows that in the last four years Ms Lovell has raised in parliament the issue of radiotherapy in Shepparton 55 times. To her credit, Ms Sheed has raised it an additional four times over that same period. What Ms Sheed’s comments show is what a lot of people in the Shepparton electorate already suspected; as an independent Ms Sheed can do nothing more than lobby the two major parties, the only two parties that will hold government and thus control the state’s finances, for a commitment to establish radiotherapy in Shepparton.

The next member for Shepparton must be someone who sits in a major party room, helping to develop policy and directly negotiating with specific ministers for the betterment of Shepparton. Come November 24, that someone is Cheryl Hammer.

Yours sincerely, 

Gwen Parsons

Shepparton

WELL DONE SUZANNA

Dear Editor,

Who would have thought a few short years ago that Shepparton would be held up as a shining example of what can be achieved when the political winds change?  A recent letter to the editor in the Sunraysia Daily (September 21, 2018) highlighted the benefit of “a good strong independent.” Suzanna Sheed and Shepparton are being looked to by other regional cities for positive inspiration.

Well done Suzanna. Your hard work, selflessness and diplomacy have been of incredible benefit to our entire community. Sure we still have our problems and there is still much to be done to bring our district back from the investment wasteland it once was. However with over $0.5 billion in critical infrastructure and service spending we are on our way. As the parties fight tooth and nail amongst themselves, in the seat that was once forgotten, Suzanna is getting on with the job of representing our community.

In the spirit of transparency I would like to note that I will be again a part of Suzanna’s campaign team and will volunteer much of my time as well as financially contribute to the effort. I encourage anyone who wants to see Shepparton stay independent to do the same.

Here’s hoping our Independent is returned with a clear majority so she can continue to keep the needs of our community on the agendas of any government of the day.

Yours sincerely,

Carrie Donaldson

Shepparton