Most Warrnambool residents would be quite shocked at the action taken by the acting CEO, Ms Vikki King with the support of her directors, to commit our city to giving all council employees an additional day of annual leave because they could not have an expensive 2020 Christmas party due to coronavirus restrictions.

This unprecedented action, apparently without any apparent consultation with our newly elected councillors, all of whom have clearly stated that they are determined to keep rates within the State Government requirements for rate increases, does not meet the pub test.

Everyone has had to make numerous sacrifices because of the coronavirus restrictions and other employers should not be having to consider granting extra days off for their staff to add to the serious financial losses that the pandemic has caused to all sectors of the community because of the generosity of the acting CEO and her directors at ratepayers' expense.

I am also most concerned at the public reports that the council has secretly appointed McArthurs as the recruiting consultants for a new CEO, at a time when a Supreme Court hearing is soon to take place regarding the former CEO, Mr Peter Schneider. Surely our city does not need to be faced with a possibility that the council selects a new CEO and then a Supreme Court judge finds in favour of Mr. Schneider and directs that he be reinstated to his former position.

It was my hope that our new council would provide transparency and good governance for our city but disappointingly these latest circumstances do not show our new councillors in a favourable light.

Les Hawkins, Former councillor with the city of Warrnambool

I would suggest that all the Warrnambool city councillors get in a mini bus and go to Bacchus Marsh and spend an hour (that's all it will take) driving around their CBD. All CBD streets have a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing in the middle of the block, and at the corners pedestrians give way to cars. It works perfectly and has done so for well over a decade, its not rocket science, but in fairness the previous Warrnambool city councillors were not rocket scientists.

Also on the subject, why and how is it that if you are driving in Liebig Street towards the highway from Lava Street you are in a traffic jam going nowhere because you are stuck in the bloody McDonalds drive-thru queue. How can this be legal - their driveway in Liebig Street should be exit only. Do something about it McDonalds.

Dallas Bridgman Warrnambool

The toilet block near the kiosk does not provide any change rooms. The Stingray Bay amenity block is a perfect example of what could surely enhance our main beach and provide a much needed facility. A petition was forwarded for change rooms to council in 2017. We are still awaiting action and look forward to our new council dealing with this matter. In the future, our summers will be much more enjoyable if the proposed facilities were provided.

Patricia McGennisken, Warrnambool

In her letter (23/1) Bev McArthur, Liberal member for Western Victoria, pretends to be concerned about victims of crime who have had their court cases delayed because of the Covid outbreak but she uses this as an excuse to attack the state government over what she calls "draconian restrictions".

It is actually because of these restrictions that so many people are alive in Victoria today. Victims of crime are alive to pursue justice, offenders are alive to be sentenced and others are alive to sit on juries.

To suggest that a government led by the Liberal party - the party that, when elected, always cuts the health budget, the party that attacks nurses and staffing ratios, the party that closed the Fairfield infectious disease hospital, the party that was responsible for aged care homes where most of the coronavirus deaths occurred - would have handled the epidemic better and suppressed coronavirus while, at the same time, keeping businesses open is fanciful and deceitful.

When the state was in crisis, instead of getting on board and helping to defeat the virus the Liberal party played politics and tried to undermine the suppression of the virus. Bev McArthur states that "People's lives are not for playing with" but that is exactly what her and her colleagues, from PM Morrison down to local member Dan Tehan, did. She should be ashamed of what her party did but instead she is still trying to score political points over a matter of life and death.

Bev McArthur and her Liberal colleagues have shown that they not only don't care about victims of crime, they don't care about the lives of any Victorians. When it comes time to vote at the next election remember that the Andrews state government saved lives while Bev McArthur and the Liberal Party tried to get you killed.

Peter Martina, Warrnambool

In his article 'We all say the wrong thing sometimes' (The Standard, 22 Jan), John Malouff demonstrates sexism and elitism to the extreme. As a guest speaker, he admits to occasionally saying the wrong thing and then he proceeds to share some examples.

The first two are passably interesting and perhaps something many of us might have mistakenly said. But the third was a serious example of sexism and elitism.

Speaking to the parents of year 12 girls he said 'There are many ways to succeed in life that do not require a high HSC score.' and told them the story of Michelle Jenneke, an Australian hurdler who never won an Olympic medal but became famous for her 'sexy warm up routine'! If he had admitted the statement was sexist, it may have been forgiven but instead he said that if he had his time again, he wouldn't change a word. Creepy much?

Elizabeth Owen, Warrnambool

On Jan 30, 2020, THUNDERSTRUCK played at Raffertys, we were set a time frame, 8:30 - 11:00pm due to noise restrictions. Upon arrival, we were shown the insulation recently installed to help with the noise restrictions as well as being informed the stage had been moved from the other end of the marquee.

Our volume was controlled, and probably at the lowest volume we had ever played, it didn't phase us.

We finished our show at 10:59pm, that I made sure of, and also asking the crowd to keep the noise down upon leaving as it is also a residential area.

I can understand that people would be upset by constant loud noise, I feel for them and it is an unfortunate situation.

Publican Mark McIlroy has put in a fantastic effort to help keep music alive, which in turn helps me put food on the table for my family, and pay bills, something that myself and other musicians struggled with through COVID. And as stated in the article, is employing more staff to cope.

I couldn't thank Mark enough for his, and the staffs hospitality, a far cry from some venue operators that I've had to contend with in my 40-plus years in the entertainment industry.

Maybe the locals could go over and have a drink with Mark, and find out what a lovely bloke he is, if they don't know this already?

It becomes an awkward situation. I sincerely hope there is a good outcome for all concerned

Brendan Vernal, Wantirna South

I am angered and dismayed at how we have allowed for the second time a protest to take place amidst pandemic times and the protesters putting themselves above all other Australians doing the right thing and risking another outbreak.

I am a very proud 5th generation Australian and was not involved 233 years ago and have no reason to be still burdened by this shame and guilt being applied to me. History is history, in the past.

We said "sorry" a few years back as a nation. That now seems not good enough. Now our Australia Day is on the agenda, what next .. this will go on and on.

Just be thankful that this beautiful land was colourized by the British. If it was invaded by our Northern neighbours the protest would not have been allowed and the ringleaders might have mysteriously disappeared or jailed. Think about it. It's a great country, so if you want change you're your day to "The day before invasion Day: but leave my Australia Day alone.

Colin Barry, Tarrone