Smoking ban at events makes sense

November 19, 2008

There has been some understandable debate following the successful Mount Gambier Christmas Parade about the suitability of allowing people to smoke in public at events where children are present.

The simple answer is that such behaviour is not acceptable. Read more

Tags: editorial, opinion, smoking | 15 Comments

Rethink needed on web censorship

November 4, 2008

Australia is moving to join China, North Korea and Iran in controlling what citizens are allowed to view on the internet.

Federal Communications Minister Stephen Conroy confirmed recently the government is pushing ahead to introduce a $44.2m internet censorship plan. Read more

Tags: blog, censorship, editorial, internet, opinion | 19 Comments

Celebrate the miracle of the lake

October 10, 2008

I received a letter this week from a former editor of The Border Watch, Stewart Kieselbach, which will be published in the print edition next week.

Stewart reminisces about the time decades ago when he was involved with promoting the annual “turning” of the Blue Lake to its brilliant summer hue. Read more

Tags: blog, blue lake, opinion, tourism | 3 Comments

Empower the people on funding decision

October 9, 2008

Draft legislation has been written for the Mount Gambier Hospital Hydrotherapy Pool Fund Bill 2008.

The bill seeks to allow that donations for a hydrotherapy pool at Mount Gambier Hospital be returned to donors or applied for another purpose. Read more

Tags: blog, editorial, government, hospital, opinion | Leave a Comment

Paid maternity leave misses the mark

October 4, 2008

Where are the voices of reason challenging the union movement’s push for paid maternity leave?

With federal and state Labor Governments entrenched it seems there are few people prepared to challenge the notion that women should be paid to nurture their infants. Read more

Tags: blog, editorial, opinion | 4 Comments

Jumps racing should continue

October 3, 2008

It is disappointing the board of Racing Victoria Limited (RVL) has decided to cease all hurdle racing until the end of the season.

The board says the decision is based on information provided by Judge David Jones relating to safety concerns surrounding modular hurdles. Read more

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Poker machines insidious

September 16, 2008

A Senate inquiry into poker machines has coincided with new data showing how much money is fed into the machines.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, $17.2m was spent on poker machines in the Mount Gambier district in 2007-08. This equates to an average of $520 per head. Read more

Tags: blog, editorial | 1 Comment

The curse of vandalism

September 11, 2008

Vandalism is a curse which plagues many communities. It is mindless destructive behaviour.

Like graffiti, it’s ironically counter productive in some ways to be discussing it because the vandals have no shame and take satisfaction from publicity. Read more

Tags: blog, editorial | 4 Comments

People power needed to push pool

September 5, 2008

Unless people use the ballot box to send a message, it is unlikely Mount Gambier City Council will even consider building an indoor aquatic centre before 2015.

The council this week ruled out revisiting the decision it made last year unless State Government funding becomes available for the estimated $12 million project. Read more

Tags: blog, editorial, opinion | 1 Comment

Education system is not broken

August 29, 2008

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s “education revolution” poses more questions than it answers.

Ask parents what they think about public education and most will be pleased with what the states are providing. Read more

Tags: blog, editorial | Leave a Comment