They see these books as funny illustrations and rhymes - and our political circus cave into these people.

Our leaders pander to the greedy and neglect the needy and the way our Prime Minister is performing, or perhaps should say his lack of performance over the behaviour of his ministers, one starts to think he is acting in the same way as Donald Trump.

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Coming out and making statements from his wife that he should think of it as if it was his daughter. Wrong - it doesn't matter whose daughter it is.

As a supposedly Christian Church-goer, he should see it is inappropriate behavior.

When are we going to get some strong and decisive leadership?

The nation deserves better than what we are receiving.

The whole story: How Bendigo history was dumped down some old mine shafts

A horse pulling a cart bolted at the Lockhart Showground last week, injuring four people. This incident provides more evidence that the use of animals for entertainment is out of step with 21^st Century social values.

Two teenage passengers on board were thrown out of the cart, as the horse galloped into bystanders, running over a young woman and injuring another man.

Horses are sensitive and skittish. Humans and horses have been seriously hurt - and even killed - when horses have become spooked and run amok.

Horse-drawn carriages are appallingly cruel to gentle animals who can suffer serious leg ailments, lameness and hoof deterioration. Since many operators may consider it cost-prohibitive to care for an animal not bringing in revenue, the fate of discarded horses is grim. It's time to ban these carriages for good.

Ms Lisa Chesters MP, I am writing to you as a deeply concerned Australian citizen and constituent of the seat of Bendigo.

The ongoing persecution and legal action against Julian Assange is outrageous and a flagrant breach of his human rights. As you are aware, Lisa, journalism is not a crime. An act which the US is seeking Julian's extradition.

Julian and Wikileaks exposed the US indiscriminate, extra judicial murder of Iraqi journalists and civilians in the Collateral Murder video release, drawing the ire of the US and complicity through silence of the successive Australian federal governments and politicians.

Our government's complicity in the persecution of Julian is intolerable and must end. If he is extradited to the US, he will face 175 years or the death penalty! Given Australia outlawed the death penalty in 1973, why is the federal government tolerating the chance an Australian citizen may face this brutal, barbaric use of lethal force against a citizen of our country?

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