Your Views: Council budget debate | Defending democracy | Youth crime response | Independents’ declaration
Responding to Council urged to show ‘budget discipline’ after financial report card
Any suggestion that removing sponsorship from the History Festival and the architecture and design award, the City of Adelaide prize, will somehow save a City Budget is both myopic and without merit. History and timely recognition of contemporary excellence within the City of Adelaide are both effective elements in the role of a capital city looking to the future. – Elbert Brooks
Responding to Guarding our democracy from being corrupted
I found this article interesting, but note that the common theme was being or looking Chinese. It would be very interesting to see the reaction if you published an article providing a few examples of Jewish people engaging in dodgy behaviour, implying that Israel was behind it.
I welcome reporting on foreign influence but feel like we need to apply the same standards to all nations. If there is foreign influence, we need to establish it, rather than relying on the nationality or appearance of people to imply it. – Diane Atkinson
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I am uncomfortable with the xenophobic tone of this piece. I agree that the behaviours reported are outside the pale, but for me that is true regardless of ethnicity. Our democratic processes are not just under attack by Chinese people; they are under attack from all quarters. Such behaviour should be denounced regardless of the source. Dwelling on ethnicity distracts from the main issue. – Sally Sibson
The saddest part of this is that once those who would knowingly subvert and undermine the democratic process get elected in a majority position, they would immediately do away with the democratic process altogether. This subversion of democracy should not be swept under the carpet or allowed to be diminished in any way, those responsible must be dealt with harshly and quickly. Not on. Not in SA. – Grant W Petras
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Responding to Our obligation to get youth crime response right
If the diversionary and other programs were working, the 31 per cent of young repeat offenders wouldn’t be offending, would they? We see this all the time, reports, committees, a lot of words, but no substance. If the programs aren’t working for these offenders, then keeping the public safe from them should be our priority. Longer sentences, sparser lodgings in prison, no visitors for a couple of years could maybe incentivise them to rethink their options. – Ted Jaeger
Responding to What would a minority government look like?
I’m inclined to disagree with Michael Keating, who argues that independent candidates should indicate prior to the election which of the major parties they would support to form government. As we have seen before, the hours and days after the formation of a hung parliament are the window in which independent MPs hold the hammer. They can ask for concessions from each of the major parties – perhaps on policy, perhaps on funding for projects in their electorates – and make the choice that best aligns with the interests of the people they represent.
Yes, most Australians would probably like the election to be over sooner than later. But MPs are elected to get the best possible outcome for their constituents, not to make life simple or predictable for the rest of us. – Peri Strathearn
Responding to City council push for 50 cent bus fares
Leadership is easy when it simply involves spending others’ money. – Paul Venables
It will be good for commuters when you can tap your credit card on the train. There are heaps that tap on the bus, and then find out that they can’t tap on the train and have to have an awkward discussion at Adelaide Railway Station. They’ve made the effort to pay, then get told off because they couldn’t tap on the train. – Samuel Wittwer
