Well spoken AS usual a very readable Speaker’s Corner contribution to the Perth Voice by Michael Sutherland (“Misbehaving Members”, October 7, 2017), pointing out the history of our system of government (Westminster) under a constitutional monarchy and its drawbacks. The system and institutions we have in place, good and bad, are from our being a…

Driven to distraction The solution to the problems of Indian Ocean drive is simple. Place the local engineers of Vincent Council in charge. In no time at all there will be a plethora of roundabouts, street beautifications, no turn this way, no turn that way and various other innovative traffic measures (oops, nearly forgot dedicated…

Get a room THANK you for the disgusting photo of the two “men” kissing on the front page of The Voice. Whatever is happening to this world, is it all turning queer? And these “people” are actually proud of themselves ? It made me shudder and all the more determined now to cast my NO…

Lip service AS the local government election approaches, ‘transparency’ seems to be the word of the moment. But are candidates really becoming more transparent, or is it just lip service? Unfortunately, existing rules don’t require candidates to disclose likely or potential conflicts of interest before being elected. By the time we hear about them, it’s…

Building ageism COMMENTING on “Homeless Gem” (Voice, September 2, 2017). The article was about Jewell House to be considered for short-term housing. A WA health department spokesman said the YMCA’s lease was terminated because “the building was more than 40 years old and had reached the end of its useful life”. Or reading between the…

Verging on a lawsuit THE City of Vincent’s ‘adopt a verge’ program seems like a good idea. Under the program, a resident submits a plan to the council to approve plantings of native plants or whatever on the verge outside their homes. But homeowners might want to do their homework before signing up for the…

In the trough FURTHER to letters from McLennan and Bouzidis re Bayswater Budget blowout, the responsibility for the purchase of Regional Open Space is with the WAPC, not the City of Bayswater. The city’s proposed $2 million or so expenditure to buy the other half of the Carter wetland is the end result of incompetent…

Baysy budget blow out I AM writing to you in reference to the City of Bayswater’s budget and rate increase this year and in support of your correspondent George Bouzidis (“Baysy Beef”, Voice letters, August 12, 2017). The city of Bayswater has increased their rates by a reported 4.9 per cent this year. The actual…

Cultural change needed THE Australian Human Rights Commission report of the findings of a survey of 39,000 university students across the country revealed a disturbingly high rate of sexual assault and harassment (‘ECU bucks assault stats’, Voice, August 5, 2017). While it is important to carry out these surveys to highlight the issue from time…

Not much garden in city THE failure of Bayswater council to adopt even a voluntary significant tree register for trees on private land is pathetic. Bayswater mayor Barry McKenna and deputy mayor Stephanie Coates are acting like the previous mayor and deputy mayor; both of whom came across as tree-haters. At the last election we…