"Anzac Day marches across the Mountains have been cancelled this year because of the additional costs of anti-terrorism measures imposed by local police.

Off: Last year's march down Katoomba Street. This year's Anzac Day march has been cancelled, as have marches usually held at Blackheath, Springwood and Glenbrook.
Off: Last year's march down Katoomba Street. This year's Anzac Day march has been cancelled, as have marches usually held at Blackheath, Springwood and Glenbrook.
These include the use of water-filled barriers to close roads, initiated in the wake of the Nice attack last July.

David White, spokesman for the Mountains ex-services organisations, said the decision to cancel marches in Katoomba, Blackheath, Springwood and Glenbrook was taken with a heavy heart....."

http://www.bluemountainsgazette.com.au/story/4392510/no-anzac-march/

As my tutors used to say: "Discuss".

In other words the terrorists have won again.

There should be a public outcry regarding this matter.

The government has put in safety measures regarding
terrorists and is now refusing to fund these measures.
This means that the events cannot take place. Events
that have occurred for almost 100 years will now
cease. Our veterans cannot be honoured. It's a disgrace.
Surely someone could come up with a plan to see that the money
was raised in the communities affected?

Sadly Is Mise this is a sign of the times. The police would be remiss if they did not issue a warning, even if the possibility of such an attack eventuating is relatively low. I read there have been submissions to both State and Federal governments to financially support these events, and the local council has previously supported the marches at no little cost to the rate payers. Unfortunately government has to consider the implications across the wider community and in this case has come down against funding. With a bit of adverse publicity the government may change its mind, but that could result in similar claims from all over Australia at a prohibitive cost. Sad but true.

Mr White: “The terrorists are winning. I say that because the reaction to events overseas continues to provoke over-reactions here, in our view, which require mitigation actions that are beyond our means.”

That is a bit of a fool hearty assertion by Mr White, as the protection of people is the priority. It would seem Mr White is upset, and wants to march and be damned!

Is it like paying kidnappers a ransom which leads to more kidnaps?
If a threat is made to bomb Sydney shoppers during Friday prayers what happens then?

Good News Folks,

The marches may go ahead after all due to the
government sharing the costs with the council.
Here's a link from 11 hours ago:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-11/cancelled-blue-mountains-anzac-day-marches-get-council-lifeline/8176792

I'm as patriotic as the next bloke but, hey, does it really matter? Most things that the real Anzacs fought and died for have been thoroughly trashed by the last two generations. Australia is no longer anything special. Just another ho-hum, multicultural mess of bludgers and whiners. The biggest threat is not terrorism: it is the gutless descendants of the real men and women who thought that what we had was worth fighting for. Well, we no longer have 'that', and it doesn't matter whether or not we celebrate Anzac Day or not. It's not coming back. In fact, I think Anzac Day is now a bloody insult to the Anzacs themselves.

Just press on regardless. I was living in London in the seventies and saw one of the first bombs go off. I was on holiday in the 1980's when several bombs were set off in London too. We should be a lot less afraid of bombs and a lot more afraid of cowardice.
If people do this make them suffer too. One bomb equals a mosque closure and the prohibition of any new ones. Then when the squealing starts suggest that there is plenty of room in the islamic world so move there. Start a policy of deportation of the whole family of the terrorist and see how that pans out? Dare I suggest Centrelink is given a role in looking harder at religeonist benefits? Now that really would put the fear of god up them.

Yes, the public objections has seen a reversal and Anzac day goes ahead.
However that is not the point.
The point is the left wing council folded.
Make no mistake Australia is under attack, but not with armies.
As a number of immans have been quoted, we do not need to invade under
arms to conquer Europe, we can do it through the power of our women's wombs.
Should you think that this is some mad mullah raving on, well he is
acknowledging the instructions of Mohommad pbuh.
See even I have to add that bit on lest I be accused of blasphemy.

So the Koran affirms immigration to the "West" and out pacing the
birth rate of the west as tactic to impose Islam on the "West".
As far as we are concerned as a matter of self preservation we must
vote for the only two parties that oppose this invasion by the cradle.
The Australian Liberty Alliance is one and One Nation is the other.

Our major parties seem to be populated with the "Useful Idiots" of
Islamic fame.
If Senator Benardi could get a group together and then join with the
two parties I mentioned above then we night have a chance.
However the Senator and the others have to accept that they should
examine the threats to Geert Wilders, the Netherlands MP and to
Marine La Penn of France and get AFP protection.
Just noted the Alt fur Deutschland now has similar threats.

No doubt a useful idiot will come on here and say I am stupid and
writing nonsense, but then is the risk of an Anzac Day truck attack nonsense also ?

Blue Mt's Council is Greens who can spend money of fighting Badgery's Airport but cannot support our living culture and heritage.

The favoured colour of Islam is green.

I am sure that the term "Useful idiots" was termed by Lenin during the Bolshevik revolution but I agree with all of the writer's sentiments.
The most important thing is that the present pollies either do as we say or retire.
I agree with the writer on who to vote for too. I think if we had a Pauline Hanson come in understanding from the get go how upset we are when they over-pay themselves and are then so greedy on expenses it would mean changes.
I would also remind everyone here that our benefits were stripped from our paid for pensions by Paul Keating. He showed what can be done and the overnight abolition of the benefits pollies think are set in stone can be removed as quickly. Pauline should be campaigning on taking away these overblown benefits forthwith!

Josephus, why do you choose to lie "Blue Mt's Council is Greens" I understand only 3 of the 12 councilors are Greens the rest are a mix of ALP Liberal and Independents. I believe the penalty for a religious ratty lying (fist offence) is to burn in hell for eternity! Can you confirm that for me.

Is Mise the favored color of Shooters is WHITE, you would all look really ridiculous with green bed sheets over your heads, watching that cross burn!

As someone who takes an interest in local government this thread opens up the broader question, what should councils be responsible for in the local community? At one time this was clear cut, council was responsible for the three R's, road, rates and rubbish, and involved itself in little else. The council was made up of mostly well meaning, but amateurish citizens, with only the need to make basic decisions for the community, with guidance from the professional staff, eg does that 'outhouse' application meet the requirements of the building code, yes or no, rather simple to determine. Today local government has a far greater, and complex roll to play, involving itself in a wide range of complex community matters, and consequently having demands put on it to provide, from ratepayers funds, a whole host of community and individual social needs.
Here in NSW, Mike Baird's Coalition governments believed the 'fix' for the ills of local government lies in amalgamation of councils into larger entities, and therefore increasing their capacity to efficiently provide for the community. Some feel that this mass amalgamation takes the word "local" out of local communities.

Its not about the community, if it goes against the local community.
It's about leaders wanting greater top down control over elections, finances and citizens.