YOUR SAY: Dobbing is as Un-Australian as you can get

Dobbing is about as Un-Australian as you can get; however, you pray that it will go away.

Gary France

Bexley

Liberal Party members accuse Labor of the politics of envy whenever they try to point out how the Liberals actively promote class warfare.

I was once a struggling unemployed person and it sickens me that this dobber hotline the federal government wants to implement will help exploitative employers. The policy allows the employer to hold a legislated weapon to breach them.

When I was 21, I applied for a bartender job and after the interview, I was offered that job. My excitement soon turned to dread when the sleazy employer told me I was required to work topless. I said no thanks. But under the new laws the Liberal Party are bringing in, I would be punished for saying no. Hardly fair, right?

Sarah,

Bexley

What a contrast to read mayor Kevin Greene's comments re the rates harmonisation in The Leader (February 17, page 6), that without a rate increase and a further Special Rate Variation, then the chosen cost saving is staff reduction.

During some community consultations and in the published article from Georges River Council(GRC), there has been no forthcoming information about cost savings and economies of scale. Maybe there have been no savings proposed or achieved by the Council and the Financial Sustainability Working Party.

Next door amalgamated Bayside Council; population 178,000 has four directorship positions for overseeing the plans and direction of the Council. At GRC, with a population of 160,000, there are six directorships. Perhaps that is overkill, for how many directors are needed per head of ratepayers in GRC.

Supposing that 'bushland, road and footpath renewal and tree inspection' workers - as proposed in the report to Council - at GRC earn about $50,000 to $60,000pa and a director earns about $300,000pa, it's not hard to see where the most savings can be achieved with 'significant service cuts'. If Bayside can operate with four directorships for a similar-sized population, imagine how many extra workers could be employed in GRC if there were two fewer directors.

It's a lapse in constructive thinking that the union, speaking at the Public Forum on February 8, 2021, Extra-Ordinary Council meeting, didn't suggest cost savings. It shouldn't just be a plea for keeping the workers employed. All levels of employees and councillors at GRC should contribute to the Financial Sustainability Working Party.

T Kot

Kogarah

Recently a post on Georges River Council Bushcare Facebook page noted a new project to regenerate Turpentine bushland at Beverly Hills. This is a credible project.

In the early 1900s, a bushfire swept through the area from Morts Road, Mortdale, to Lakemba. With this fire, defended by a steam engine pump drawn by horses, vast areas of mature native trees were swept away. As my grandparents noted, it took over fifty years for anything like large trees to grow back. In the early settlement period, much of the St George District was covered in thick forest, which sawyers cut down for construction in Sydney Town. Amongst these were the mighty Turpentine, used for making wharves and other marine structures. The natural chemicals in the timber repelled marine borers, so was very valuable.

This project will generate the last remaining natural bushland on Wolli Creek, within the Georges River Council area. The Bushcare Team deserve our thanks and it is noted they will be undertaking their first big bushcare day at Tallawalla Street, Beverly Hills, in May. Can I suggest any Bushcare people who would like to be involved contact the organisers through Georges River Council on 9330 6400. Training is available.

Brian Shaw

President

St George District Residents Network Inc

Write to the editor at craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au