Perth Voice Interactive

Wasted money
WHY did the City of Bayswater spend $1.2 million of ratepayers’ money on the aborted local government reform (Voice, April 11, 2015)?
I understand the council could have picked up a better tree-loving culture from the Town of Bassendean, but the reverse could also have been result. But what really gets me annoyed is the blatant spending of ratepayers’ money on party political advertising without any mandate from the ratepayers.
Was the spending an attempt by the mayor to keep his Liberal Party emperor happy?
Greg Smith
Rose Ave, Bayswater

Real change needed, not more symbols
MAYOR Sylvan Albert is right; the Aboriginal flag should not fly all year round inside and outside Bayswater council chambers. (“Flag-raisers”, Voice, March 28, 2015).
We are one nation with one flag not two flags and unfortunately, the Aboriginal flag is as much divisive as it should be harmonising. Too many times over the years I have seen wavers of the Aboriginal flag burn the Australian flag.
I yearn for the day when we as Australians will move on from the call for repetitive symbolic gestures to real, practical reconciliation and equality.
A more appropriate call on the City of Bayswater would be to ask what is the city doing to “close the gap”. For instance, how many indigenous apprenticeships and traineeships does it offer? How many indigenous employees are on its books? What is the city doing to encourage indigenous youth to join locally funded sporting clubs?
The seventh “Closing the Gap” report released by the prime minister in February showed there were too many targets simply not being met or on track to be met.
I don’t doubt the goodwill of Ms Wheare and Mr Tomlins of the Maylands Ratepayers’ Association and local MPs but flying the Aboriginal flag inside or outside council chambers will not “close the gap”.
Paul J Collins
Meenaar Cres, Coolbinia

Miners have a giggle
“I’M not a dopey premier,” says Colin Barnett. Who is he trying to convince? In being reminded of who owns our resources and ports, the top-brass miners are most likely to have a giggle and call Barnett’s bluff.
Otto Mustard
Queens Cres, Mt Lawley

Commending Harley
I AM writing regarding the article in today’s West Australian newspaper regarding Cr Reece Harley (“Councillor in hot water for letter drop”).
I have been a resident of the city of Perth for 15 years. In that time the only councillor who has made the effort to meet me and ask about my views on the city has been Reece Harley, who was actually door-knocking to meet residents.
I do not think I have met any other members of the council in that time. The idea that it is seen as reasonable councillors can use the city’s money to buy a new tie, but not to correspond with residents —their constituency—seems completely ridiculous.
Cr Harley should be commended for his efforts in communicating with residents, and I would hope that in future there should be no question as to whether this is a reasonable use of the council’s money.
Dr Mike Kent
Thomas St, West Perth