SOCIAL ISSUES NEED ADDRESSING
The Liberal/National Party Government has just announced the purchase of six drones at a cost of $7 billion. This is on top of the billions allocated for the purchase of submarines, jet planes and other naval vessels already announced.
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The Government has stated that the drones will be used to monitor the Chinese in the disputed territories within the China Sea. Again we have a conservative government willing to use race to create fear as they did to justify the Vietnam War.
You don’t see the Chinese driving around Afghanistan flying the Nazi flag or bombing civilians in Syria and Iraq. Nor do they shoot down commercial air planes. They mind their own business and expect others to do the same.
What kind of Government can spend billions of dollars on armaments but is unable to commit to supporting a car industry.
An industry able to ensure the maintenance of our manufacturing skills and take advantage of the by-products and research that can come from this industry.
Where are our priorities? We have homeless people living rough in the bush or in door ways and lanes in our cities. Long waiting times for surgery in Public Hospitals. Schools needing significant repairs and refurbishment.
Resources to develop sustainable energy sources and action to address the housing, health and education needs of our first Nation Peoples.
Just 25 per cent of this defence allocation would go along way to addressing some of these social issues.
K. Bone, Conjola Park.
MONEY BETTER SPENT
In the recent NSW State Budget, the government announced a $160 gift of baby goods to new Mums.
Do they really think that Mums to be are so unintelligent that their vote can be bought for $160? This money could be far better spent funding more midwives, early childhood nurses and hospital beds.
The hundred midwives promised in the budget is only a fraction of the number needed, with some hospitals needing 20 or 30 each and many other hospitals suffering from significant shortages.
And then there's the fact that there are only four publicly funded beds in NSW for Mums with a mental illness.
Parents need affordable childcare, a quality education for their children and the peace of mind in knowing that if their child is sick they can afford to take them to the doctor and won't have to wait in an overcrowded Emergency Department for hours.
This is a blatant attempt at vote buying but guess what Gladys, Mums aren't going to fall for it.
A. Alldrick, Tapitallee.
We need to STOP ICE DEATHS
The number of deaths relating to ice and methamphetamines has doubled in seven years. Family members, friends, police, emergency and health workers bear the brunt of the devastation this cheap and addictive drug causes.
We can’t keep doing what we are doing - because it just isn’t working. That is why I have announced that a future Labor Government will combat the scourge of ice with our plan for the compulsory detoxification and rehabilitation of severe ice addicts.
If Labor is elected to govern NSW next March, we will open six clinics across the state for the mandatory detoxification and rehabilitation of patients. These clinics will treat up to 1,300 ice addicts a year.
Specially trained nurses, health professionals and security guards will take the most dangerous ice addicts off our streets, out of our state’s emergency departments and get them the help they need.
Labor’s plan protects the community and provides individual addicts with the intensive treatment they need to recover from their addiction.
L. Foley, NSW Labor Leader.