Can I begin by correcting the article on this subject of wages (“Councillor outraged by massive pay rise for top staff”, The Daily Advertiser, May 19).
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Firstly, the description of “outspoken” councillor is actually incorrect.
Paul Funnell is just actually doing his job.
His job and all the other elected councillors are to do just that! Yes, speak up and say what is of concern or importance.
I am like most in the community, I imagine, I am absolutely disgusted with this wage rise. This must stop!
I don’t care who gave these people the wage increase or why. It must be reversed and corrected to be in line what we, the rest of the community, expect of our servants.
If these people are decent (which I am sure they are) they would reject this, or at the very least have not accepted such a bonus. If this happens here in Wagga, god help wherever else this goes on. Enough is enough!
Scott Chambers, Turvey Park
Benefits of a bill of rights
Father Brendan Lee on Wednesday said a bill of rights, being a list of things we “can” do and have, would mean that we are limited to only what is written (“Aussie bill of rights would be a mistake”).
Likewise, he says the 10 commandments are the better alternative for rights, clearly outlawing what we can't do.
Anything not mentioned would be confusing, unsure, and up for debate.
But we already have a list of commandments for what we can't do. The Criminal Code Act 1995 clearly lists what isn't allowed in Australia. So that's a solved problem.
The purpose of a bill of rights isn't to outline the only things protected, it's to guarantee that a very important shortlist is protected. These are important, as it means measures from governments, companies or people that don't directly breach a law can be brought to question. A bill of rights would enshrine the right to shelter and safety.
It would mean we could question policies to reduce welfare, community housing, support networks as potential rights violations instead of just disagreeing with the move.
It gives strength back to the individual, to know that they are fundamentally protected in certain ways, instead of weakening their position, telling them what they can't do.
Phil Boyd, Wagga
One of our darkest hours
I totally agree with Jenny Moxham's letter in The Daily Advertiser (“Has to be a better option”, May 21).
At the weekend, the Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud, was in Qatar and Kuwait kowtowing to countries that show no interest in the lives of the animals they are slaughtering in their millions.
Our powers that be, including Malcolm Turnbull, who has been deathly silent since April 10 when this travesty erupted.
Oh, of course, elections are looming!
The former CEO of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council, Alison Penfold, is now working in Mr Littleproud's office as a policy adviser and has been involved in guiding his response.
Surely a biased conflict of interest?
The burgeoning middle class in participating countries will never be satisfied, and the unsustainable animal industry is destroying our country ecologically and morally.
Future generations will view this historically as our darkest hours of animal cruelty.