Fake arguments
It appears Harriett Swift is so desperate to attack anyone associated with the native forest industry, she has to make up fake comments, so she can then criticise the author of a letter she doesn't like.
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Ms Swift's letter (Magnet, 6/9) omitted the fact she is a long time campaigner against the harvesting of native forests. Therefore, she should declare that when it suits, she is more than happy to buy timber sawn from those very trees she campaigns to protect.
One might also think that she had binn around long enough to be able to accurately quote me. Nowhere in my letter did I state that logging reduces fire risk. I did note that activists ignore the massive impacts of mega fires on our parks and reserves, as well as the impacts of predation and other feral animals.
Next time Ms Swift writes a letter opposing the harvesting of native forests, she should at least be factual in what she says and declare her interest in using the forest products that come from the trees she does not want to be cut down.
Peter Rutherford, Merimbula
Memorable festival
Those of us lucky enough to attend the inaugural Giiyong Festival will remember the day in years to come when hopefully it is one of the events of the South Coast calendar.
I’d like to congratulate all concerned, the organisers, the performers, everyone. A special mention to the MC, Sean Choolburra.
When all of us keen festival goers are no longer around, I envisage that the festival of the future will achieve truly great things…an annual festival where strong and important messages reach their target, where people arrive not only by car and bus but by boat across the picturesque waters.
It is a magnificent venue and the idea of such a gathering has so much potential. Thank you for a memorable day!
Geoffrey Maher, Merimbula
Innappropriate
It was great to see our newly elected deputy mayor was all smiles and pressing the flesh at the Giiyong Festival last Saturday.
I do wonder though whether the fantastic crew of First Nations musicians and those in the crowd realised our new deputy mayor only a week ago had voted against a motion to increase the employment prospects of the original owner community by opposing an extra weighting for council contract tenderers who employ Indigenous people.
A nice simple way to help our community you would have thought. But not for Deputy Nadin, who described the increased emphasis on Indigenous employment as a “ball and chain on small business”.
Both metaphorically and realistically, that’s a pretty inappropriate way to treat the Indigenous community in our shire, many of whom are actually desperate to find work but are fighting an uphill battle due to entrenched racism and an “out of sight out of mind” attitude in the broader community.
Jamie Shaw, Tathra
Response lacking
Your article on the selective grant to Australian Oyster Coast quotes Andrew Constance as saying “Luke Foley hasn’t even spoken to our local oyster farmers. His lack of experience in government is clearly shining through.” Mr Constance seems to have forgotten that he, not Luke Foley, is the local member.
Now Mr Constance says he will be meeting with industry representatives "to get the answers they need”.
But he would not be searching for answers if he consulted with oyster growers in the first place. He would have known that the government's investment in one single company would disadvantage many in the industry.
It is because I spent the time talking to a number of local oyster growers that I was alerted to the issues and then took the matter up with Luke Foley who has acted quickly in response. Meanwhile, Andrew Constance is still considering his response.