The Nationals have always been very clear: we will never support any mining activity that risks harm to our prime agricultural land, water supplies or the environment.

As well keeping the moratorium until at least 2020, The Nationals also believe that farmers deserve the right to say no to unconventional gas extraction on their land.

Victoria has a reputation for producing clean and green food and fibre products and we must not place that in jeopardy.

South-West Coast has some of the best dairy farmland in the world and we need to make sure it is not negatively impacted by gas mining activity.

Michael Neoh, The Nationals candidate for South-West Coast

In what’s been a confusing by-election so far, we have our first certainty. The south-west will get its extra daily train service.

Last Wednesday, Opposition Leader Matthew Guy stood at Warrnambool station, flanked by a bank of dark suits, to announce that ‘a Coalition government’ would introduce a fourth daily service from Warrnambool; that is, if the coalition is elected back into government in 2018 or some election beyond. That’s not much of a guarantee. There are too many ifs and too much waiting.

I can go one better. If I’m elected as your independent member for South West Coast on 31 October, I  guarantee that we will have an additional daily train service out of Warrnambool by this time next year.

I will also work with the community and the government to reform our train service to improve comfort, reliability, frequency and guaranteed, no excuses and inclusion of people with mobility issues. I will make the train service safer and more convenient for older people and young families. I will work on the government and the opposition to achieve a long term infrastructure investment plan for track upgrades and duplications so that our future rail services are faster, more comfortable and modern. This is what’s required; not just a promise of an additional train here and there. How will I do this? On Wednesday next week I will announce my comprehensive rail policy at Warrnambool station just prior to the lunchtime train.

Then, you need to vote on October 31 to make South West Coast marginal. If I’m elected, I’ll take it from there and deliver what we need. I welcome the Coalition’s commitment to an extra train service. I don’t think it goes far enough or will happen soon enough, but I welcome it. And I say this to Mr Guy and Mr Walsh: if I’m elected, I expect your full support on the floor of the Parliament on this issue.

Roy Reekie, independent candidate for South West Coast, Warrnambool​

The businesses and people of Warrnambool spend a lot of time, effort and money on attracting tourists, making them feel welcome and accommodating their needs and do a marvelous job – but I am afraid that I found your local council doing exactly the opposite and I for one will not come back to Warrnambool over it.

I don’t know whether all the parking meters in the main street are the same, but certainly the one that we used across the road from our café at the top end of the street allowed us to put two hours worth of parking fees in it while we went in to eat our breakfast. Little did we know that it only registers one hour, even though it cheerfully took the money for two.  Ripped off twice – once for the parking fee (no big deal) and then again for the parking fine (a very big deal in our financial circumstances) and infuriating when we had done the right thing, putting two hours worth of money in it.

I appealed to the council explaining the circumstances and have just received a proforma rejection notice – not even a letter referring to the individual issues – just a proforma rubber stamp “rejected – pay up” .

I suggest that the residents of Warrnambool ask their council to fix their parking meters and make it clear that they are only for one hour on the meter itself – either action would have avoided us being financially penalised for attempting to do the right thing. Or are unearned parking fines such a revenue raiser that the council don’t want to fix this?

Well this little black duck feels so passionately about this that I am prepared to go to court over this one. So I hope their $89.80 was worth the loss of a tourist forever and whatever it costs to see me in court.

Shame on you Warrnambool Council.

Jennifer Pearce, Rokeby

Our school buildings and facilities should be among the best in the world, but the politicised nature of school funding has flaws which need to be addressed. New schools and upgrades should be based on need, not politicians campaigning in marginal seats. There is no transparency around this process, and in 2013 the Victorian Auditor General found “critical issues with the school building portfolio and the Department’s management of it”. The Auditor also found that bringing school buildings up to the Department’s own standards, would require an investment of $420 million.

The drip feed applied by successive governments has not addressed the issue. It is not acceptable to expect students and staff to learn and work in sub-standard facilities. This must include the removal of asbestos from schools as a priority, which can be and should be systematically achieved by the government.

Thomas Campbell, Greens candidate for South West Candidate, Warrnambool

I am writing as I wonder if anyone else is confused?

In the last two weeks Michael Neoh has been our mayor, a Liberal party member and seeking pre-selection and now a National Party candidate and I assume member. Smells desperate doesn’t it?

He clearly does not think we will notice that whilst performing city council duties he gives political speeches and is campaigning for office with his face on cars and posters.

He has been serving two masters inappropriately in my view.

Let’s not vote for a mayor who couldn't control council, to represent us as a member of a minor party as part of a coalition in opposition.

We have a chance to make this seat marginal even if you are always a Liberal or National voter, I challenge you to vote independent at this election and see if it makes a difference for the remainder of this term.

Let’s make this seat marginal.  What have you got to lose?

Xavier Farrelly, Warrnambool

Denis Napthine departs South West Coast with a healthy retirement cheque and entitlements.

He's left all Victorian taxpayers a bill for $1.3 billion-plus for the unwanted and obsolete East West Link, and a costly early by-election.

He was an enthusiastc member of the Kennett Government that shut schools, railways, SEC, Gas and Fuel, and other public utilities, costing thousands of jobs in the south-west.

Kennett described rural Victoria as the "toe-nails of the state and Melbourne the heart".

 The Liberal and/or National Parties have held the seat for decades and delivered little for constituents.

Governments and Oppositions direct the majority of electoral funding promises to marginal seats.

Labor Premier Steve Bracks ran his first government with the support of three rural independents.

He described it as his most productive period because the independents scrutinised and suggested changes to make policy more relevant to wider electorates.

South West Coast has an impressive list of independents, all of whom would be answerable to the voters, not the parties.

We have nothing to lose and the gains in election promises from major parties should be assured.

Gary Lucas, Warrnambool

Is Mayor Michael Neoh really committed to representing his local government electorate as councillor and mayor given recent political events?

First Neoh joins the Liberal Party, 18 months ago, approximately March 2014.

That tells me a little about his most recent political persuasion.  

Only a few months later, in May 2014, he publicly promotes the Labor Party’s budget by Twitter.  

That tells me that he is politically fickle.

Then Neoh announces his interest in pre-selection for the Liberal Party.

That tells me about his political ambition.

Then Neoh resigns from the Liberal Party, just this last month, leaving many questions unanswered.  

That tells me a lot about his lack of loyalty.

Then Neoh defects to another political party, the Nationals, only a few days later.

That tells me a lot about his integrity.

Then Neoh decides not to take leave from council as mayor during the commencement of his political campaign.

That tells me a lot about his ethics and character.

How can the electorate trust him with matters of the state after all this?

Warrnambool and South West Coast deserves better.

Remember in 2010 Neoh put forward a motion to close the Warrnambool saleyards.

Jennifer Lowe, Warrnambool

I want to stress to all The Standard readers and electors the importance of the current Electoral Representation Review that is in progress for the Warrnambool City Council.

Whilst it is democratic for the members of the Warrnambool City Council to be making submissions to the current review, all present councillors have a personal vested interest in retaining the existing electoral structure with the proportional representation voting system because they have been elected under this system.

Why would they want to change a system when they have been successfully voted in as councillors?

The people of Warrnambool now have one chance in eight or more years to make their views known to the Victorian Electoral Commission.

If sufficient people respond to the VEC invitation to express their opinions on what is needed to achieve sound future representation on Warrnambool City Council, possibly by having an additional two councillors and creating an electoral structure for nine councillors to be elected, with three councillors in each of three wards, the VEC will be prepared to listen and hopefully act on the submissions received.

However, if very few submissions are made to the VEC, it is obvious from the preliminary report that the status quo of seven councillors to be elected in an unsubdivided municipality (which is the VEC's preferred option), wiil prevail.

Similarly, those people who are willing to make submissions should also indicate to the VEC that they wish to speak to their submissions at the public hearing which is scheduled at the council offices for 6pm on October 27.

If only a few people attend this public hearing, the VEC will gain the impression that there are no problems with the current electoral structure and will then prepare their final report recommendation accordingly.

If change is to occur within Warrnambool City Council our community must act now.

Look up the VEC website at vec.vic.gov.au and let the VEC know your thoughts on the need for changes to be made to their VEC preliminary report recommendation.

Unless you make your input, please do not complain if necessary desirable changes cannot be encouraged at the next city council elections to take place in October 2016.

Frank L.J. McCarthy Senior, Warrnambool

I would like to add my support behind the recently announced China Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), conditional on the current parliamentary inquiries finding that there will be no adverse affect on Australian workers accessing job opportunities in our own country.

After attending the Australian Dairy Farmers forum on the ChAFTA in Warrnambool it confirmed in my mind the size of the Chinese market for dairy products represents an enormous opportunity for Australia's dairy industry, including South West Coast to expand the volume of dairy products we export overseas.

The average economic worth and spending power of China's population continues to rise as the Chinese political system shifts further towards greater economic freedom for its citizens.

This wealth effect will likely lead to an increase in the Chinese consumption per capita of dairy products.

If the ChAFTA is ratified our Australian dairy farmers will be in a great position to capitalise on the expected growth in China's demand for these dairy products. 

First and foremost though we must not sacrifice the sanctity of Australian workers being able to access job opportunities associated with any overseas capital investment in projects in our country.

The economic and social problems, including crime, drug addiction and mental health issues associated with unemployment are not to be underestimated and our parliamentarians need to ensure ratifying the ChAFTA will not infringe on Australian workers being given first access to any job opportunities that arise in our own country as a result of the agreement.

Freeing up of fair trade between countries also has other benefits.

The more exposure Australia has in China, the greater the likelihood of other trade opportunities such as tourism.

An increase in the inbound tourist trade from China could translate into millions of dollars of net economic worth to Australia given the size of China's population and the ever increasing personal wealth of its citizens.

Enhanced trade relations can also foster greater cooperative approaches between countries leading to social benefits through joint ventures such as advances in scientific and health research.

Having worked in the dairy industry both as a dairy farm hand and then as a veterinarian I can understand the desire for the dairy industry to want the ChAFTA to come to fruition as it will help create more stability within the industry by both spreading the customer base for our dairy products and also increasing our export volumes.

I urge all sides of politics to clarify the safeguarding of Australian workers’ employment prospects in relation to the ChAFTA as quickly as possible so we can move forward with ratifying the agreement before the year’s end.

Michael McCluskey, independent candidate, South West Coast, Warrnambool

Be safe on roads this weekend

There’s nothing quite like the anticipation and excitement in the lead up to and on the day of the AFL Grand Final.

No matter which team your barrack for, or if you like the AFL at all, the spirit the occasion brings to Melbourne and the state is undeniable. 

Whether it’s travelling to a mate’s place to watch the game or heading to a pub to celebrate with friends, there are a lot of choices to be made. 

 However, few choices are as important as the ones you make when it comes to responsible drinking and keeping yourself and your friends and family safe. 

  We realise that alcohol will be involved in a lot of celebrations across the state, but it’s vitally important to make sure that if you are having a few drinks that you’ve organised a safe way home. 

  Whether you have a designated driver, intend to use public transport or a taxi, no plans are complete without a way home. 

  It’s also important to make sure that if you’ve chosen to walk from venue to venue that you’re looking after yourself and your friends. 

  Unfortunately 27 pedestrians have been killed so far this year.

Drivers also need to take extra care when driving through a high-pedestrian traffic areas. 

 Please stay safe on the roads and be a winner this grand final long weekend. 

Doug Fryer, Assistant Commissioner for Road Policing, Melbourne