DEAR News Of The Area,

I’M still scratching my head and trying to make sense of Richie Tassicker’s letter (‘Beware the Independents’, p16, News Of The Area, 1 April 2022 Edition).

There is, of course, an argument to be made about the ‘Big Australia’ policy to which the major parties are so attached.

A policy which, through annual growth in GDP, driven by population increase, creates the illusion that we are all becoming wealthier and happier.

We can also argue that, as a nation, we are hugely and expensively over governed.

However, to then make the leap, as Richie does, to assert that the ‘so-called’ Independents are somehow party-aligned if they don’t concur with his views, is a big stretch.

I would recommend to him that he have a look at the website and the policy statement of our local, truly independent candidate, Caz Heise.

He will discover a candidate who has genuinely committed herself to serving the needs and the aspirations of the people of Cowper.

I have no idea what her views are about ‘Big Australia’ or the future of state governments.

But I do know that she is utterly committed to taking serious action on climate change, to the establishment of a federal anti-corruption body, to advocating for fairness and equity in the allocation of taxpayers’ money, and an end to the funding rorts, with which we are all so painfully familiar.

It seems to me that these are pretty good starting points for creating a better, fairer Australia.

It’s surely time to end the stranglehold of politics as usual, which serves the interests of the major political parties and their powerful backers, rather than the interests of the people.

Regards,
Mike GRIFFIN,
Valla Beach.