Rhonda Ostler (“Letters to the Editor”, July 26) is obviously very concerned that next month’s local government elections are going to give us a PMHC that is made up of members who are aligned with some outside organisation. There are no totally independent members. But does it really matter? Those that get elected under a particular banner don’t vote that way every time. They chop and change depending on the issue that is before the council.
Even Lisa Intemann stood as part of a team the first time she stood for election — remember the “three women in local government”. All three were elected. Over the years Lisa has proved that councillors can act independently and with integrity — remember how, together with Jamie Harrison, she stood up to the “might” of the pro-development group which gave us the glasshouse debt, ten million potholes and the ignominy of all of the Port Macquarie Hastings Council being sacked. Lisa and Jamie did not get invited to the “wake”.
Rhonda suggests that Peter Besseling is not independent because he works for a Federal Member who had to do deals with Labor and the Greens for the benefit of the Electorate of Lyne and Australia, and because he could not even get a “grunt” out of Tony Abbott. Jim Pearson Snr, a Nationals supporter, obviously believes that Peter Besseling is not a Labor or Greens stooge.
Members of all levels of government have to do deals sometimes — even Tony Abbott.. Who would have thought that we would see him doing a deal with the Greens to stop the Oakeshott compromise bill for the offshore ‘sorting” of asylum seekers. I didn’t hear any of his supporters or Ray Hadley or Alan Jones call him a Greens stooge or threaten to withdraw support.
The responsibility for independent thinking, with regard to the upcoming council elections, really rests with us — the voters. We can only base our choices on what we know of the candidates, or can learn about them during the campaign. Port Macquarie’s newspapers are doing an excellent job of keeping us informed and up to date on all matters regarding next month’s elections.
Mike Dibbs
Port Macquarie
