Their spokesperson Ms Arena expressed it very well when she said “we feel that by taking a position as a corporate entity we are presuming the opinion of people we work with and serve … These are very personal matters that we should and will leave to individuals to express their own views”. 

I personally suffered vilification out of a simple attempt to protest against “corporate advocacy” on such issues, so I am gratified to see that our own bank has stood tall among its peers.

The reservation I have relates to whether the Bendigo Bank will hold fast to its declaration, or grant marriage change advocate Rodney Croome a meeting to present his sales pitch to change their mind. If they do, I will seek the equal opportunity to present the opposing case. I hope neither of us are granted that opportunity.

In reply to Peter Lesuey (“Labor and public transport do not mix”, Bendigo Advertiser, February 4), I would like to remind Mr Lesuey of the start to the decline in public transport came under the reign of the Coalition governments.

The closing of many regional lines and stations brought about loss of passenger services and job losses. Then, if that wasn't enough, they dismantled the freight system where we are now witnessing all freight being transported on our roads.

The final nail in the coffin was under Jeff Kennett and the sale of all public transport and workshop and maintenance facilities. Now, what we are seeing today is a great fiasco in the maintenance, or lack of, with the Vlocity trains.

Not made here –  only assembling them – we haven't got the facilities or the well-trained staff to build or find  these problems and rectify them before the system shuts down, causing widespread chaos.

So to blame one side of the political arena is wrong because, in actual fact, all sides and levels of governments – federal, state and even local government – are all guilty of failing in the delivery of public transport.

If you are a landowner you should be concerned about the state government’s “Have your say on animal industries” review. The review announced only days before Christmas is a Trojan horse.

Its sole purpose has little to do with animal industries, lacks transparency and is only about making significant changes to Victoria’s planning scheme that will further erode rural landowner’s rights to build a home in any rural zone regardless if it is over 40 hectares.  

Landowners should be concerned as the committee’s discussion paper clearly states that the farming zone needs to be strengthened and any reference in the planning scheme to encourage dwellings in the farming zone needs to be removed.

It is clear that the aim of the government is to severely curtail anyone being able to build a home in the farming zone without very tough restrictions. Options for landowners to build a house on a site over 40 hectares will effectively be abolished if the Animal Industries Advisory Committee has its way.

The committees “possible ways forward” detailed in the discussion paper will be disastrous for landowners and only provides more uncertainty and potential significant financial lost to anyone owning rural land in Victoria.

The proposed changes will also be disastrous for many small businesses in as economic development in rural communities will be affected as demand for new homes is taken away.