Perth Voice Interactive

Put it back
I AM disgusted that Vincent council has decided to take five years’ worth of accumulated interest earnings from the Aged Persons and Senior Citizens Reserve (Voice, September 20, 2014) to try to plug up all the holes in its current budget.
That equals cash of $745,352, which is just over 20.5 per cent of the reserve gone, in order to help offset the council’s unfunded spending spree over the past year.
That money should only be used for existing or new aged care facilities to help our elderly citizens. This wasteful council needs to learn to live within its means and start representing all ratepayers, including its aged and vulnerable.
Mark Rossi
Buxton St, Mount Hawthorn

Piazza choices
THANK you for your recent article about the new Mary Street piazza (Voice, September 13, 2014).
I was interested to learn through my enquiries with the council it was considering Grosvenor and Barlee Streets as possible sites as well, which was not made clear during the Mary Street trial.
However, it chose Mary Street because of 240 positive statements. Were these respondents aware they had a choice between Mary, Barlee and Grosvenor Streets for a piazza? Why didn’t these streets have a trial too? Barlee Street is by far the better option of the three, as it is more accessible, has greater opportunity to grow bigger, has existing facilities like a drinking fountain and CCTV, and minimises disruption to traffic flow.
Perhaps the council should contact the original respondents to determine if they are still in support of a Mary St piazza in light of the better alternatives.
Anita Pavic
Plunkett St, Highgate

Barnes storming
SUDDENLY, I’ve become addicted to the writing of Simon Barnes.
This quote from How to be Wild should arrest Voicelanders:
“Is Australia really on the cutting edge of climate change? If so, then human life, in the way we understand the term in the 21st century, may be no longer possible here. It is a frightening thought. Because if that is indeed the case, who will be next?”
For the sake of immediacy, I have tweaked one word. Mr Barnes might never spot it. His treasured common sense remains intact.
Bill Proude
First Ave, Mt Lawley

Come together
I AM saddened by the sudden rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in Australia. I am not a Muslim but have many Muslim friends and neighbours and know them to be hard-working, friendly and caring people.
Muslims have lived peacefully in Australia for hundreds of years and have contributed to the building of the Australia we know and love today. We must come together as Australians and not allow racist people and the racist rhetoric coming from our government to divide our communities.
Hayley Bent
Fulham St, Cloverdale

No hype!!!!!
TO describe Tony Abbott as a “Terror” is a disgrace. This was what Alannah MacTiernan called him on Twitter (swiftly deleted).
The Labor party has just proved it is soft on terrorism.
We have more: WA Labor Senator Sue Lines accuses the PM of scaremongering over terrorism, saying he’s hyping it up. How could I possibly stand side by side with any of you in a trench defending when the real threat is beside me.
If I can go further on the softness of Labor—more than 55,000 unauthorised people arrived in Australia by boat during its term of government, not to mention the 1100 who perished at sea. That’s not invented—it was a disgrace.
SM Livingston
David St, Yokine

Park pests
HYDE PARK has been invaded by rainbow lorikeets over the past few months.
These serial pests have driven out all the native 28 parrots, and make a visit to the park almost unbearable, with their excessive noise and excreta. What is the City of Vincent proposing to do about this declared pest?
Tony Simpkins,
Forrest St, Mt Lawley