Dear editor,
If the leaders of the "Friends of Noosa" coalition had learnt anything from recent history, they would understand that their "Dump Labor" campaign ("It's war on Labor", 6 Sep), aimed at the Federal Labor Party, which has opposed
forced amalgamations from the outset and has fully supported John Howard's legislation to allow Queenslanders to express their views on this issue at the ballot box, will have almost the precise opposite effect to that intended.
In 2003, the then Victorian Labor Premier Steve Bracks broke an election promise of 2002 to build the Scoresby Freeway, instead building the Eastlink tollway in partnership with a private consortium.
Mark Latham, leader of the Federal Labor Party at the time, recognised the threat that the justifed backlash by Victorian voters posed to Federal Labor's election prospects and urged Bracks, at a meeting in 2004, to change that decision.
Bracks refused.
It is a matter of record that Federal Labor paid the price at the 2004 polls for Bracks' actions, whilst Bracks, himself, was re-elected in 2006 as a consequence of voter revulsion against "WorkChoices" and other policies of the same Howard Government that he had helped to get re-elected.
Of course, it could be argued that Kevin Rudd should be more outspoken on this issue. Nevertheless, the leaders of the "Save Noosa" coalition are punishing the wrong people.
I urge them to cease forthwith their campaign against Federal Labor and, in particular, to remove their "Save Noosa - Dump Labor" hoarding which is now prominently displayed on the northern Bruce Highway approach to Brisbane. Instead, they should focus their energies on encouraging a high turnout to the planned plebiscite on amalgamations and on demanding that the Premier and his local Government Minister Andrew Fraser respect its outcome.
They should not assume that city-dwelling Labor voters are necessarily their enemies.
James Sinnamon
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War on Labor a bridge too far
Like many others, I am appalled by Peter Beattie's forced amalgamation of our local council.
However, I feel extremely uneasy when I see a front page image representing a fellow human being - no matter what their failings - dumped into a rubbish bin while people stand around applauding (The Noosa Journal, September 6).
Blaming, scapegoating and declaring war on an enemy group may feel like a good way to vent frustrations, but history shows us that politically motivated polarisation rarely resolves problems. More often (especially when carried to extremes) it contributes tohuman suffering.
Personally, I can't see how "declaring war" on Labor - or for that matter declaring war on anyone - is going to fix the amalgamation mess. Aren't there enough wars on the planet already?
Humanity has a proud history of fighting against injustice. Let's not confuse that history with the phoney heroics of those (on all sides) whose self-serving political agendas make them willing to exploit an issue for electioneering purposes.
After all, who is to say a State Liberal government wouldn't have forced amalgamation? They did it in Victoria, despite massive protest.
Beach protest was simply shocking
I am a member of the silent majority and a normal, ratepaying citizen of Noosa, concerned as everyone regarding its future. However, I was disgusted with the behaviour depicted on the front page of your September 6 edition.
The antics of destroying effigies of people is more in line with the frenzied endeavours of a mob on the streets of Mumbai, not the streets of Noosa.
It has become blatantly obvious that the so-called Friends of Noosa - and I use the term with scepticism - are being led around by the nose and manipulated by people with their own agenda.
I recently heard Glen Elmes speak at a function and was impressed by his knowledge and enthusiasm. It would be most disappointing to learn that he condoned this disgrace against his contemporaries, albeit from the opposite
side of the political spectrum.
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