The Tamworth Regional Residents and Ratepayers Association wishes the new council well in representing the interests of all residents and ratepayers, and encourages all councillors to carefully consider community concerns when making decisions, and not just rely on staff reports.  

We hope that the three newly elected councillors will bring a fresh perspective for the future.

TRRRA will continue to connect the community with the council and advocate on important issues by encouraging the involvement of the community in the decision making process.

The association will also help affected individuals and groups in their dealings with council and endeavour to ensure that all negotiations are conducted in an open and transparent manner.

Our doors are always open to new members and we invite anyone who feels that they can make a positive contribution to become involved.

We can be contacted at trrra@outlook.com or P.O. Box 1953, Tamworth, and our next meeting is on Thursday 20th October at 63 Denne Street for a 6.00pm start.

Bob Murray, President

Tamworth Regional Residents and Ratepayers Association

The Australian federal government’s Healthy Welfare Card, trialled in Kununurra and Ceduna, transmits 80 percent of welfare payments by means of a cashless debit card, not spendable on alcohol or gambling.

In both centres ambulance call-outs to alcohol-related violence and spending on gambling have significantly fallen.

The Mayor of Ceduna says communities troubled by results of alcohol and gambling excesses “would be silly not to trial the Card”.

I believe my community certainly needs to do it.

Yours, dear reader, probably does, too.

It might be a good move to all tell our federal MP to please set up a trial locally, and soon.

Arnold Jago

Nichols Point, Victoria

In all the arguments about the gay marriage plebiscite, there is one point which the National Party government really needs to make.

The cost of the plebiscite is not a problem. 

It's only $160 million, or perhaps $200 million.  

This is as nothing compared to the cost of war in Syria and Iraq.  

When Tony Abbott took us into it, he admitted that it would cost over $400 million a year just to support a few pilots -- and it's been two years already.  

During that time we have increased our commitment at least twice, so the cost must now be something like $750 million a year.

If we can afford to throw away money like this on a war which doesn't concern us and which will profit us nothing, then we can afford anything at all.  

There's no need to save money by making any cutbacks of any kind, let alone save it by having a parliamentary vote on gay marriage.

It's a mystery why Barnaby Joyce won't tell the public just how good our finances are.   

Are they all waiting for Pauline Hanson to say it for them?

Grant Agnew

Coopers Plains Qld

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