Think before you vote, urges council body

Posted to Waverley Leader (8/10/2012) on 9/10/2012 at 10:06 PM
Commenting on "Think before you vote, urges council body"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/think-before-you-vote-urges-council-body/

I have been urging ratepayers to vote with their brain rather their heart. Helping a political mate to get into any government does not and will not benefit your wallet and wellbeing, unless the representative is genuine to get in there for the good of the people rather than his/her own ego and glory.

I don't just vote for the new contestants for the sake of change or their political stance. I vote for them if they can demonstrate to me, at least in their campaign literature or in person, that they have the desire to effect changes in the Council chambers in response to the needs of Monash ratepayers. They must have clear understanding about gambling, and unemployment issues and traders' concern in Monash, and continue to call for a safe solution for Clayton railway crossing.

Monash Ratepayers Association confident of taking seats

Posted to Waverley Leader (20/9/2012) on 4/10/2012 at 12:22 pm (Not yet published)
Commenting on "Monash Ratepayers Association confident of taking seats"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-ratepayers-association-confident-of-taking-seats/

Go for it Des Olin and Chan Cheah. If you get elected, do something about the nonsensical approach in annual revenue budgeting - a blanket percentage increase each year. The increase is well above the annual CPI increase.

I have attended several Council meetings and read the budget reports; I have watched the performance of the Councillors, and I can only conclude that the word budget must as well be written in a foreign language.

Were the Councillors contributory to the debate or discussion on rating system changing from SV to CIV? Sad, but true - their response was sound of silence.

Urged to contest Victorian elections

Posted to City of Waverley Leader (14/5/2012) on 4/7/2012 at 12:58 PM
Commenting on "STAND FOR COUNCIL: More urged to contest Victorian elections"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/stand-for-council-more-urged-to-contest-polls/

In the City of Monash, 9 out of 11 are Labor members or associated with the party. If one is not specific partisan aligned, you have Buckley's chance. Need to say more?

Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election?

Posted to Your News, Waverley Leader on 25/3/2012 at 4:48 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Title: Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election?

The number of Labor Councillors in the City of Monash is 9 out of the total of 11. I am deeply concerned about local council being used as a training ground of future state and federal politicians for candidates backed by political parties with financial and other resources. This deprives other non-politically aligned candidates the opportunity to contribute towards the good of the City and the ratepayers.

This may sound like the voice of a sour grape, but then this is a statement of fact. It is unlikely for quality and genuine independents to sacrifice their time and livelihood (including money) to campaign for a position, only to find out there is Buckley’s chance to even get back their deposit money, unless there is a level playing field. Those who have burning desire to contribute will likely pack up their boxing gloves after a number of attempts.

Better resourced and influential candidates have running mates; some are even dummies who do not supply contact details to the electoral office. The purpose of having these dummies that are unlikely to win is to preference their votes to their mates to boost the count. Unfortunately, the existing preferential voting system and non-contact disclosure cannot be amended.

Some decisions made by the City executives are just being rubber stamped by the Councillors. The Council meetings can be described as more than courteous. There are insufficient scrutiny and accountability. To name a few, these include annual rate increase, council expenses including Councillors', use of technology and most laughably the curtain at Clayton pool.

While many items seem transparent, nonsensical transparency is worth as much as the nonsense itself. It is important for ratepayers to learn more about the candidates before casting their votes this October council election. The City’s future – rate collection, development, open space, traffic management, business mix, social harmony, community health services, etc. must be discussion topics and subject to more vigorous scrutiny.

The battle for Mt Waverley

Posted to Waverley Leader (9/11/2010) pn 9/11/2010 at 10:42pm
Commenting on “The battle for Mt Waverley”
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/the-battle-for-mt-waverley/

The political party leaders and candidates should be canonised for their ability to perform miracles in short space of time - yes, all the promises of buckets of money for schools, road, carparks, hospital, housing, police, etc.

The Government and Opposition have four years each term to debate all these issues. They don't have to come out with all these ridiculous promises during campaign time to lure votes. A Government can do a lot without any prior promises - they just allocate the money for the abovementioned things during budget time and materialise them. That's a Utopian Government!

Why do the Opposition only open their traps during election time about what will do if elected? If any Opposition can demonstrate that they have the ability and ways to fix the problems and mess a Government create, speak out in the Parliament. Who won't change his / her voting preference if the Opposition can prove that they can do a better job?

Round-the-clock transport push for Oakleigh (Post 1 of 2)

Posted to Waverley Leader (1/11/2010) on 3/11/2010 at 5:03pm
Commenting on "Round-the-clock transport push for Oakleigh"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/round-the-clock-transport-push-for-oakleigh/

Greens candidate Eleanor Whyte, are you serious about what you meant that a 24-hour public transport service would decrease residents’ need for cars, reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions? How come with at least 18 hours a day of public transport being in operation, the number of cars on the road has not decreased and traffic congestion still exists?

Are you a public transport user yourself? You just don't make sense at all.

Round-the-clock transport push for Oakleigh (Post 2 of 2)

Posted to Waverley Leader (1/11/2010) on 2/11/2010 at 3:14am
Commenting on “Round-the-clock transport push for Oakleigh”
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/round-the-clock-transport-push-for-oakleigh/

I don't respect people with silly ideas, let alone those with idiotic ones. How many people really use the public transport in the middle of the night, and how can anyone with a grain of grey matter in the brain propose the round-the-clock public transport system for Oakleigh?

The buses or trains from Oakleigh will have to go somewhere, which means the "somewhere" will need 24-hour system, and the destination from that "somewhere" will also need 24-hour operation.

In addition to running of the trains, what about manning of train stations (not that all the stations are manned at the present during opening hours)?

The number of people using public transport at these hours is so small that it is cheaper to have subsidised taxis fares, using Rolls Royce, for them. The proposal is policy on the run, and no cost analysis has ever been done before they open their "gaps".

Have these do-gooders ever observed how many people are using the public transport system during off-peak at present? Please don't let these candidates fool you in the next election. Money has to come from your pocket!

Monash councillor Banerji to contest safe Liberal seat

Posted to Waverley Leader (26/1/2010) on 27/8/2010 at 2:10am
Commenting on "Monash councillor Banerji to contest safe Liberal seat"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-councillor-banerji-to-contest-safe-liberal-seat/

It was a good attempt by Joy in Election 2010, but she needed to work harder! Kevin Andrews was a popular choice, and to win the seat from him, Joy should not just bank her resume for being the past role as Monash Mayor.

There are many arm-chair candidates in every election. Most voters have no idea who are running for the seats. The candidates cannot be bordered or too lazy to door knock to introduce themselves, despite their being preselected by their respective political parties months ago. Unlike Wyatt Roy, the 20 year old, youngest MP of Longman, many candidates do not make any genuine effort to change voter's voting pattern or intention, but to rely on preferences stated on the "how to vote" card.

Monash councillor Banerji to contest safe Liberal seat

Posted to Waverley Leader (26/1/2010) on 31/1/2010 at 11:14am
Commenting on "Monash councillor Banerji to contest safe Liberal seat"
http://waverley-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/monash-councillor-banerji-to-contest-safe-liberal-seat/

Should Liberal win the next election, will Joy Banerji "assist the government in achieving some success" and "further their cause"?

A good politician should represent the people at large, not just to serve the Party. Will she be a good politician from her statement? You'll be the judge!