Peter Dale defends comments about women in council

An eight-month probe of council in 1999 found you controlled a faction that prioritised political relationships ahead of good governance. Are you capable of working in the best interest of residents?

That report was released over 10 years ago and it never came to anything; there were never any actions taken against individual councillors.

Factions are a fact of life in any political environment, the people standing on tickets are factions by very nature of forming a group of like-minded people with a common objective.

In a recent letter to the editor you claimed council is "not a coffee club" and the female candidates lack the requisite experience. Was that a sexist insinuation?

I have worked harmoniously with some of the most intelligent women in the region.

I have a wife, two daughters, many female friendships and it’s never been alleged I have a single sexist bone in my body.

I made a generic comment to all new-comers that the demands of local government sometimes deprives family and friends of the attention they deserve. 

After 25 years as an elected representative between 1983 and 2008, why are you running again?

I'm running because I was stimulated by consistent and continuing reports of high levels of crime in Wagga, particularly crimes against people in their homes and nursing homes.

I’ve never seen anything like the current crime levels in more than 50 years of living Wagga, especially youth crime. There is a greater role council can play. 

Law and order is the responsibility of state government, courts and police, so how do you propose council tackles "a climate of lawlessness" in Wagga?

I had a conference with Wagga’s chief policeman – Superintendent Bob Noble – and he's broadly supportive of my objectives of getting council more involved in stimulating community to be part of crime solution. 

I'm hearing stories of people being turned off coming to city because of reported crime levels, which has potentially disastrous long-term impacts and council must show leadership within the framework of strategic planning.

Council’s crime prevention strategy has been in development for more than two years and it’s just gathering dust when it needs to be completed as a matter of urgency. 

What are the biggest issues Wagga faces?

The city is spending $60,000 in an Evocities campaign to attract people to Wagga offering better lifestyle and opportunities, but that’s a misrepresentation in the current climate of high crime levels.

If current blight on city is not corrected it's going to effect everything; quality of life, business development, business expansion, all the things integral to the city’s growth.

I also acknowledge fundamental issues facing council include fixing potholes, making the development application process quicker and smoother.

What are the biggest issues Wagga faces?

You only have to look at how many empty shops there are in the main street to realise Wagga council’s endless red tape makes it harder to trade than in similar towns.

Until Paul Funnell fixed it, council rangers were on their hands and knees measuring the distance from chairs to cafes and would issue warnings if the distance wasn’t right, even if the customer had pushed their chairs back. 

Also, I’m passionate about our parks and once summer comes every park – other than the Botanical and Memorial Gardens – becomes a disgrace.

We should encourage young families and day care groups to use public parks but the kids are rightfully frightened of snakes and the dry ground.

You're the second candidate on Paul Funnell's ticket campaigning for better parking outside your own business. Are you putting self-interest before the needs of the community?

No I am not; the lack of parking is a burden on the entire community.

We need more parking in Fitzmaurice Street  – not by ripping up the median strips that cost millions to build in the first place – we need a multistorey carpark. 

I never want to see paid parking because I don't think residents should pay for the privilege of parking.

Does there need to be more women on council?

I support gender equality on council.

I’d love to see three or four women on council to get a female point of view, instead of it being an all boys club.

I'm not as passionate as others about gender diversity because I’m a firm believer in whoever can do the best job, male or female, and who people want to elect.

How will you handle the shift from cafe owner to councillor?

A lot of council’s issues would be better solved with common sense than throwing money at the bureaucracy and studies.

Council is disconnected from what the average resident needs from local government.

I’ve got my ear to the ground and I know what’s going on, so I will be the voice of the people.

What are your thoughts on the closure of the main street for sporting and community events?

It must stop, just this Sunday there was a cycling championship that was supposed to run from 9am to 12pm but the street was cordoned off between 7:45am and 2:30pm.

I lost all the breakfast and lunch trade, even though there wasn’t one spectator in Fitzmaurice Street.

They should run those events in Lake Albert or the industrial area where it won’t encroach on business or develop Pomingalarna and attract more big races, which would be a win for everyone.