HERE we are enjoying Easter Monday, celebrating a Christian event that happened nearly 2000 years ago. In Australia we can choose whether to celebrate Easter in a religious way, or not.
The people in Kelantan State in Malaysia are not so lucky. Creeping Islamification has claimed Kelantan. The state has decided to introduce death by stoning for adultery, and amputation of limbs for theft. Anyone who drinks alcohol faces 30 to 40 lashes, which would sort of take the fun out of a long weekend.
Fortunately voters in NSW were much more sensible. We should congratulate Mike Baird and his promises of economic progress for NSW, and Daryl Maguire for being part of that team. Sky News exit polls showed that health and education, followed by jobs and employment, were far and away the most important issues to voters.
Luke Foley proved to be well-mannered in defeat. With last Sunday being Palm Sunday, he was pictured going to church. His scare campaign proved unpopular with voters, and I trust this will be a lesson for future political leaders.
The Greens won far North Coast seats, where there was no CSG mining within cooee. In Gloucester, where drilling for coal seam gas is well advanced, The Greens vote was a dismal 5.4 per cent. During the campaign it was claimed that “90 per cent of residents” were opposed. The Nationals romped home.
I wonder whether the proposed new garbage industry for Ardlethan will have similar support? The Greens have labelled dumping Sydney waste into the old tin mine as “outrageous”. Maybe they should just mind their own business because only 16 people voted for The Greens in Ardlethan, and their overall vote in the Cootamundra seat was 3.9 per cent.
I noted that the DA’s story said that many in Ardlethan have backed the proposal because “it would create jobs”. Jobs and employment, as the exit poll said.
Just as an aside, Labor was surprised by the North Coast results. Before the election Labor’s polling “was not able to accurately gauge young Green voters who don’t have a fixed address or landline”. I wonder if the Electoral Commission will investigate whether these “mobile” voters were recently enrolled in Queensland and Victoria?
- Keith Wheeler
