THE Labor Party will pay 30 per cent of the cost of an existing home price and 40 per cent of a new home.
Shame on the Prime Minister in saying that the bank and the government will own the home. Doesn't he know that the bank owns your home until you actually pay it off anyway?
And in the future not only will you own a house that is worth much more than you paid for it but in the future you might be in a situation to borrow more money to actually be in a situation to own all the house outright.
Shame on the Liberals using scare tactics on the population of Australia. I'm sure if this initial allocation of 10,000 home buyers works, in the future the existing government might even extend the offer.
One of the best policies I've ever heard of. A real help to those finding it hard to live in a beautiful home instead of renting.
Peter Selmeci, Murrays Beach
Careful you're not deceived, voters
I WRITE in relation to the inconsistencies of Labor's messaging across the Hunter region in recent weeks.
Coming across a "how to vote" card from Labor's candidate for the division of Hunter, I note Labor is supporting the pro-coal and ex-One Nation Stuart Bonds (fourth) firmly before the anti-coal and anti-defence industry Greens (fifth).
Likewise in the Senate, Labor is strongly recommending the right-wing Shooters and Fishers (second) in front of the Greens (fourth) who are just in front of the libertarian and pro-coal Liberal Democrats (fifth).
The situation in Hunter being confirmed, I'm dumbfounded to have sighted a how to vote card from the usually silent MP for Newcastle strongly recommending the Animal Justice Party (second) and the Greens (third) in the House of Representatives and similar in the Senate with the Greens ahead of the Shooters and Fishers and Liberal Democrats.
One must put to Labor and their supporters in the division of Hunter, if the anti-coal and anti-defence industry Greens are good enough for Labor to be in bed with in Mayfield and Merewether, why don't they embrace and recommend them as equal bedfellows a stone's throw away in Muswellbrook and Morisset?
Reading between the lines, it's obvious there is a fair amount of deception and hood-winking going on here by Labor, and it's particularly on the voters in Hunter.
Brendan Tate, Merewether
Let's hope decision is independent
LAKE Macquarie Council have approved the DA for Hillsborough Basketball Stadium. Final determination as to whether it goes ahead lies with the Regional Planning Panel.
On February 21 the panel's report stated "the site is constrained and no evidence has been produced that the issues raised can readily be resolved.
In the event that the application is not withdrawn, the panel will determine the application based on the information lodged in September 2021".
Let's hope this means the panel will not pay attention to council's approval without them taking into account all the issues raised by the 234 objections.
A major issue was the traffic impact on the state road network, Newcastle Inner City Bypass (NCIB) and included a response from TfNSW.
Locals cannot understand how a small suburban street with a five-tonne limit can cope when TfNSW says NCIB cannot.
Council has included 34 pages of conditions of consent to be met before approval can be given. These 34 pages list, but are not exhaustive of, the issues raised in submissions and are evidence the DA does not meet requirements.
One questions if council are trying to bypass the panel by making the decision themselves that conditions have been met. This is $25 million of public money. Council is contributing $5 million so they have a vested interest and should not be allowed by the panel to impose these conditions.
It should remain an independent decision. We will find out at the public meeting on Thursday.
Marcia Spitzkowsky, Charlestown
Rate rise talk misses the mark
I TOTALLY agree with Peter Mullins, ("Justify projects before rate hike", Letters, 30/4), where he mentions "ratepayers require statistical data that warrants this proposed increase", specifying the statistical justification for outlaying more than $16 million for the art gallery extension.
Chief executive Jeremy Bath is obviously not aware that communities throughout the country are heading into "hard times''. I don't need to explain why, it's as obvious as the nose on one's face. Art galleries are important, and the arts have suffered greatly under COVID-19.
The outrageous suggestion to increase rates by 2.5 per cent even though the annual peg was set at 1.2 per cent indicates how out of touch this council is. I have been advocating for an improvement to the footpath where I live in historic Wickham. Safety and maintenance to general amenity within this area seem to be of no consequence to the CoN.
I await your rationale for Peter Mullins' request for justification of the magnitude of cost of the projects he mentioned. Might I remind the public to reconsider whether they are living in a country "where you get a fair go", or is Australia "the lucky country"?
In my opinion, the rates we pay make for very secure, well paid jobs for council staff. That has been a general belief within society forever.
Pat Garnet, Wickham
Candidates, please stick to rules
DRIVING through West Wallsend, Cameron Park and Edgeworth recently I noticed a huge increase in the number of posters urging us to vote for the United Australia Party, the so-called "freedom" party.
A string of these posters suddenly appeared on an LMCC wetland security fence, on street light-poles and on a main road safety dividing fence. And on not one of these ugly, bright yellow signs has the perpetrator had the guts to even identify him or herself as the person urging us to vote for them.
Thankfully, after complaints from people living in the area, the signs have been removed by the relevant authorities. I understand there are quite large fines for placing unlicensed signs on the places mentioned
Now while I commend the efforts of anyone aspiring to represent us in the seat of Hunter, I find it disturbing that a person vying for a place in our parliament, the place where laws are made, would stoop so low as to break the law in the attempt. With this level of integrity demonstrated by the UAP, is it any wonder that other parties are pushing for a Federal Integrity Commission Against Corruption.
Phil Howlette, Holmesville
SHORT TAKES
THESE clowns who want to ban kids' ham sandwiches and things should go and have a few schooners to sort their head out.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
IT'S time for Sir Adam to find a quiet place and fall on his own sword. The only way to describe Sunday's performance is "bloody pathetic and disgraceful".
Dennis Crampton, Swansea
KNIGHTS - wow! Eight weeks from first to worst. Is this another unwanted record? So sad for us supporters.
Greg Lowe, New Lambton
WELL I guess Greg Parrey, (Short Takes, 30/4), isn't a fan of Paul Murray from Sky News, whereas myself and thousands of others watch him and Andrew Bolt every night. Name one untruth about Labor from his outrageous comments that are not facts. If you want fantasy, watch or listen to the ABC, which should be called the LBC (Labor BC), as they tell the most porkies. Time to privatise it and save the poor taxpayers over one billion dollars per year.
Don Fraser, Belmont North
YES, Greg Parrey, (Short Takes, 30/4), Paul Murray on Sky News is right wing, but no more so than the ABC has gone to the left and no longer uphold their charter of impartiality. Perhaps this is why shows like Q&A are losing their audience and Sky News is gaining viewers. "Just Google it mate"!
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
IN reply to Greg Parrey, (Short Takes, 29/4), and others who have been concerned that the leaders debates on Sky News are limited to a subscription audience only, please note that Sky News has been available on free-to-air TV for years. Simply tune into channel 53 locally to see Sky News programs, including political debates, for free. Their free-to-air broadcast is available for 15 hours per day.
Peter Devey, Merewether
IN reply to Greg Parrey, (Short Takes, 30/4), he hasn't realised that Sky After Dark broadcasts opinion shows leaning centre right of politics. On the other hand "our ABC" is fully taxpayer funded and therefore the presenters can't express personal opinions or do they?
Alan Hamilton, Hamilton East
LAST week, the Liberal Party (the supposed "party of free speech") had MPs Peter Dutton, Josh Frydenberg, Gladys Liu, Dave Sharma, and Angus Taylor all refuse to debate opponents. That's five MPs in just a few short days who declined to debate in front of their own constituents. But Albanese is the one who avoids questions, apparently.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
BARRY Swan, ("It never had to go this far", Letters, 30/4), I could not put it better myself. You omitted one Morrison trait, "It is someone else's fault". Solomons after decades against Australia, it happened under Morrison's watch, there's a reason for that.
Gary Hayward, Cardiff
I LIKEN Pope's detractors to some purveyors of fine art, who have a liking for tin pots on stilts.
