Where is this mythical political ‘alliance’?
It is curious that Denis Napthine (ALP-Greens alliance a nightmare for state, Comment, July 28) should be so very concerned about an “ALP-Greens alliance nightmare” spreading an inner city agenda here in Bendigo, considering that the Liberal Party are increasingly vacating the field in those self same inner city electorates. His dire prognostics ring somewhat hollow, too, when our local Liberals have yet to unearth a candidate for Bendigo West.
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One thing Dr Napthine is personally expert on, however, is electoral failure in regional areas when the focus remains capital city-centric. During the 2014 state election, as many Bendigonians will recall, then Premier Napthine built the Liberal Party re-election strategy around the locally maligned and regionally irrelevant East-West Link, instead of providing voters with an overall narrative of why he should be re-elected as Victorian Premier. This primary factor, which reduced Napthine to a less-than-one-term premier, was identified by the Liberals themselves in their own post-election campaign review.
It is the Greens who stand as an alternative for voters who can recognise the regressive slide of the ALP to the political right
- Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk
In reality, any voter who values scientific evidence on climate change, social and economic fairness and inclusiveness, first-class public education and healthcare, environmental and biodiversity conservation – in short, 21st century progressive leadership and vision – will be grateful for the presence of the Greens in our parliament, presenting progressive, evidence-based integrated policy for the ALP to increasingly take its lead from. So, too, it is the Greens who stand as an alternative for voters who can recognise the regressive slide of the ALP to the political right.
Currently, the ALP and the Greens are splitting the centre-left vote, with Labor increasingly flirting with far-right micro-parties, sacrificing long-held principles for pure political gain. Labor is driven right-wards by fearfully conservative swinging voters, whilst the Greens hold firm to vital progressive values, most obviously in regional and rural electorates. It is demonstrably accurate to claim that the Greens, at State and Federal level, are influencing ALP social, economic and environmental policy. This should be welcome news to the genuinely progressive Labor voter. If only there were in existence this mythical “alliance” of progressive-left politics.
Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk
Toilet access needed
I attended an annual poultry show at the weekend at Bendigo show grounds.
I was amazed that the toilet facilities next to the poultry pavillion were locked and competitors had to walk to the other end of the showgrounds.
Added to this, these toilets were also locked prior to the poultry show closing.
The Bendigo poultry club is always welcoming and friendly. It is sad to see that the showgrounds didn’t support them this year. Especially on a health and safety issue such as this
Annette Nelson, Lethbridge
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