Ask first, shoot later
In response to Julian McLaren’s letter to the editor I wish to advise everyone of Mr McLaren’s lack of information about the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) project referred to in his letter to the editor.
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His assertion that the allocation to the ACTA is a knee-jerk reaction to some sort of political issue is simply wrong.
The grant has a long history being the culmination of forward planning by the ACTA commencing in 2010 and more recently really getting a move along after meetings commenced in 2013 with the member for Wagga Daryl Maguire.
A submission to the Mr Stuart Ayres (NSW minister for Sport and Major events) in November 2015 resulted in meetings between the minister’s chief of staff, treasury staff, Mr Maguire and the ACTA in early 2016.
A meeting was subsequently arranged with the minister in Wagga at our National Shooting Ground off Tasman Road. The discussions between the minister and the ACTA will remain confidential, however, it is fair to say we shared a vision for the Wagga Community and the ACTA. The motivation behind the development is to grow and develop the sport and cater for a world championship event in 2018.
The business case study was compiled after a meeting with the minister in May, 2016. It was completed and delivered to the minister in September, 2016. Numerous telephone and email communications between treasury and the Office of Sport resulted in the ACTA being allocated the funding. I am advised that the Fishers and Shooters Party was not involved in the decision.
ACTA is thankful and grateful for the support of the NSW State Government, the ministers involved in bringing the grant to fruition and to the persistence and support of local member Daryl Maguire. Without Mr Maguire’s support and doggedness this project would not have been possible.
The Wagga City Council has thrown its support behind the project by advising the ACTA it would work with the association to ensure a positive outcome to the development.
With respect to the other projects being proposed in Wagga they do not service the same demographic the ACTA does. While our focus is the sport of Clay Target shooting, our secondary focus is the availability of the building for conferences and functions, where they fit in with the ACTA program.
I hope this clarifies the ACTA position and gives a clear picture of the events leading up to the grant.
It is a pity that Mr McLaren did not bother to check with the ACTA before compiling his comments as he would have found that his fears were unfounded. We in the ACTA are proud of our involvement in Wagga and the business we have brought to the city since 2000, proud of our continued involvement in the growth of the city and if we can enhance that involvement further with this development, we will do so.
Tony Turner
ACTA National Executive Officer
Think before you publish
MP Abbott's recent dog whistles and wedge politics about Israel and Palestine do not deserve the media coverage they get. An apparently quick learner of dirty tricks, Abbott demonstrates his willingness to adopt Trumpian tactics to disrupt and disturb, to malign and mislead.
Why does the media waste our time and their resources to publish unfounded rumours and innuendos?
If such comments from Abbott "must" be published, they belong on page-last, in four-point font, and heavily caveated.
Responsible media would not repeat unsupported statements; if published, responsible media would identify such sound bites as exactly what they are - entirely unsubstantiated attempts to refocus attention.
Australian media must increase responsible reporting, or we'll have an Australian equivalent of America's TwitterInChief!
