Investigate vote concerns
It seems the Victorian Electoral Commission has some explaining to do. Recent media attention surrounding residents in our district who have been issued with “failure to vote” notices is quite alarming (2147 in Warrnambool alone). From the public outcry on this issue it appears that many issued with notices, have in-fact cast their vote either via the mail service or by direct drop-off or attendance at a designated election office. The VEC is contracted and paid by municipal councils across the state to count votes in an election. It appears they may have failed to fulfil their obligation. In a society based upon democratic principles where we are under a legal obligation to vote, we have every right to expect that our vote will be counted and correctly processed. Media reports seem to be focussing on voters aggrieved by being fined. I believe the issue is far more serious and that the issue is more about the possibility that votes may have not been correctly recorded, may have been lost, stolen or otherwise tampered with. In an election where only 15 first preference votes separated seventh and eighth positions, it is highly likely that there may have been a different election result if all valid votes that had been made were correctly recorded and counted. The question therefore needs to be asked (and answers need to be obtained) as to what has happened to the votes of those persons who have received “failure to vote” notices and who have clearly stated they did cast their votes? In order to restore public confidence in our democratic system I believe a further independent investigation is essential to determine what has happened to the now allegedly lost ballot papers that were placed in the care of VEC officials.
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Peter Sycopoulis, Warrnambool
VCAL good option
The Standard’s article about the need for community
perceptions about VCAL to change is spot on. I fully support Brauer College teacher Iain Jackson when
he states that more needs to be done to reduce the stigma that VCAL (or
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) is a lesser learning option. Everyone learns differently - there are applied learners,
academic, visual and many other types. These ways of learning are not related
to intelligence or socio-economic status. If we were being serious about bringing forth the talent
and potential of all young people, we would be honouring the learning styles of
each individual. That would mean that possibly 50 per cent of each cohort would
take at least some applied learning studies (such as VCAL/ VET in schools). It should be noted that university courses use a mix of
applied and academic learning. Statistically the students who take an academic pathway
in school (and get high Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank scores) do less well that those who have had a
full, rounded secondary school experience including vocational studies. Applied learning prepares young people for the rigours of
university. Even if their ATAR is too low, a student can always take an
alternative pathway to university as a mature entry student - the ATAR only matters
for a very short moment in a young person’s life. There are many young people who have completed both VCAL
and VCE successfully. It is a tragedy that within our community there is a
stigma around VCAL as it adds so much value to a good education. Employers say
they prefer students who are practice and hands on. A community needs every type of learner in order to adapt
to the changing global workforce, so let’s promote and support these learning
opportunities in any way possible and give all students every chance to succeed.
Toni Jenkins, South West LLEN chief executive officer, Warrnambool
Rail progress
It’s no surprise David Hodgett is still desperately holding on to an election commitment the Liberals and the Nationals made two years ago – they’ve got nothing else to cheer about. When the Liberals and Nationals were in power the Warrnambool line ran through the Premier and Public Transport Minister’s electorates. Yet they didn’t deliver a single extra service for the people they represent. Instead, they took $120 million out of V/Line and left the Warrnambool line to decay, then on the eve of the election they made a desperate promise in an attempt to distract from their record of failure and neglect. We’re not making that mistake – we’re delivering the services and upgrades the Warrnambool line needs. In our first two years in office we’ve restored and increased funding to V/Line, and delivered the long-awaited fourth weekday return service to Warrnambool that the Liberals and Nationals failed to. And last week we announced a $10 million package of works to upgrade 20 level crossings on the Warrnambool line and return services to timetable. This is the sort of investment the Liberals and Nationals ignored in Government – and passengers in Victoria’s south-west have suffered. We’re fixing the mess we were left, adding services and improving public transport for passengers on the Warrnambool line and across regional Victoria.
Jactina Allan, Minister for Public Transport
Unite for rail upgrades
David Pearson (The Standard, February 17) is right when he says we need to stick together as a community and keep applying pressure for those in power on Spring Street to take notice regarding train upgrades. We have proven time and time again that when we are vocal and have a solid case we will get results. We saw it with the Cancer Centre and with the recent announcements of funding to repair our roads. The money announced last week for our rail line is a good start; it will address the issues that have slowed down our trains for the past six months. Minister Allan has also tried to pass her funding announcement off as the only significant investment in the line since it opened – that is false. The Baillieu/Napthine Government spent $10 million rebuilding a passing loop at Warncoort – replacing the one ripped out by the Bracks/Brumby Government. It’s this passing loop that has allowed the very welcome fourth daily service on our line. Rather than looking to get the service to where it was, we as a community need to stand together and push to make the service better. We need to push for reduced travel times to Melbourne – skipping stations beyond Geelong would be a good start. We need to demand significant upgrades to the rail infrastructure, to allow trains to travel at faster speeds and we need to call for newer, more comfortable rolling stock.
Roma Britnell, Member for South West Coast
Fracking ban support
We applaud the State Andrews Government supported by the State Opposition for legislating a ban on Coal Seam Gas fracking and extending the moratorium on Conventional Gas mining until 2020. However it appears the media have reported the legislation as a "fait au complit" although it has yet to pass the Upper House. Amendments to the moratorium are a real concern and the horse trading has already begun. Again the Turnball government is attempting to overrule on state issues (remember the CFA debacle). Although conventional gas mining may not be such a danger, can we afford to take the risk of opening up the back door to unscrupulous miners. Our water is far too precious. Yes, gas prices will go up if the Federal Government continue to donate our gas to overseas countries and disregard our own people. America does not sell their gas. Why do we?
Beverley Martin, Heywood