Dear SteeleRedux,

I saw the Four Corners program on the Murray Darling
and I was totally shocked by what was happening
out there. Hopefully the program will result in an
investigation but I won't hold my breath seeing as
the investigators were stopped in their tracks
and not allowed to continue the work that they had
started. There are vested interests involved who are
making a fortune.

Regarding 4 year terms?

I read an opinion piece by former Premier of Victoria
Jeff Kennett in The Age, Wednesday 26th July 2017.
in it Kennett clearly stated (much to my surprise):

"The case for four-year terms for the House of Representative
is so blindingly obvious that any referendum should not
only be supported by all political parties but would, I am
sure, also be backed by the public."

"Why? Four-year fixed terms allows a government to govern for
the long rather than the short term. Britain has five-year
terms, although they're not fixed, and in the United States the
President can serve a maximum of two four year terms."

"You only have to look at the quality of our federal
governments over the past decade to realise we need a more
stable base to maximise opportunities. A big part of their
stability will come from longer terms."

"To those people who have said "We don't want Malcolm Turnbull
for another four years," or "Anything but Bill Shorten for
four years", I say , "Think more broadly."

"This is not about you, it is about the country. The change
might also cause people to reflect more seriously when they
vote."

"What upsets me is that politicians having raised this issue,
are again just talking but not acting. Why would you want to
defer a referendum until after the next federal election?"

"The need to give the newly elected government a four-year term
from the next election exists right now. The referendum should
be held before December 31 or at least before June 30 next year
if the government will guarantee it will not hold a general
election before then."

cont'd...

cont'd ...

Dear SteeleRedux,

Continuing Jeff Kennett's opinion piece:

"If it will not give that guarantee the referendum
should be in the next five months."

"I would also reduce the terms of Senators to four years,
with their election to be held at the same time as the
Lower House."

"I know how valuable four-year terms can be. Without them
we may not have been able to rebuild Victoria's economic
base in the 1950s."

"Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull must stop talking and act.
Hold the referendum for four-year terms this year so it can
be implemented from the next general election. Otherwise
we might not see any change for a minimum of six years and
short-termism would continue to dominate our politics."

"Shorten raised the issue. Turnbull said he would consider it -
let's see if they're prepared to be genuine leaders."

Shorten's first priority SHOULD be to introduce some intra-democracy in the Labor Party.

How often has that failing been criticised?

Because ordinary members are disenfranchised. Powerful factions give career politicians like Shorten the inside running and then catapult them into senior positions. Not only in parties either but in roles controlled and influenced by government.

Parliament has a PEOPLE problem. People like Shorten. Career politicians.

Tacking on another year is what Shorten would want, because Shorten is always out for Number One.

Shorten would bitterly resist the fairness, commonsense and widening of the field of talent that intra-democracy in Labor might foster. Shorten has zero credibility in Labor too.

Foxy you have to stop falling for green left propaganda.

It is that failed state South Australia that is trying to steal eastern states water, to fill their water-ski damn.

Dear Hassie,

If you would have watched the Four Corners program
and I assume you did not because if you had you
would not be making the statements that you are,
where the ordinary people actually involved in the
investigations, plus the farmers who live in the region
related their experiences so matter-of-factly
you would I'm sure realise that this is not
an attempt at so called "propaganda". Greens or
anyone elses. And you're
thinking makes me question -
what and whose propaganda are you falling
for?

Foxy the ABC, & fellow traveling media can always find a few malcontents to support the propaganda they are pushing.

Then by immoral editing of others they can have the compliant viewer believing their rubbish.

It is also not unheard of for some money to change hands, & for the staging of stunts for the camera.

Have you forgotten the live export program, which was proven to be a stunt?

I have not watched any of this ABC, SBS produced garbage, as I don't like being lied to. 4 corners & a couple of others are equally loose with anything resembling the truth.