The relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) from Canberra to Barnaby Joyce’s electorate will cost Australian taxpayers $26 million and the agriculture sectors many millions more.

That’s not only my view; it’s backed by Minister Joyce’s own economic study of the relocation.  A report he tried to hide from the Parliament and the community.

The Senate Committee will further canvass the very real concerns the agriculture, crop protection and veterinarian medicines sectors have about the relocation. Barnaby Joyce is trying to turn the inquiry into one about decentralisation. 

Moving an important agency out of Canberra and away from the Parliament and its customers (the chemical medicines companies) is not a regional job creation plan. 

Rather, it’s a plan to destroy farm productivity and a threat to human and animal health.

Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP

Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Australia

It was heartening to read Jan Morris’s response (Feb. 17) to my letter on some of the same-sex marriage issues.(Feb. 16). We need to discuss the issues freely in public, and consider all our concerns openly.

It is a pity Ms Morris did not address the particular issues I mentioned, confining herself merely to a few assertions of belief and a cry for emotional identification.

She actually demonstrated the ways I foresee the debate being conducted. 

My initial letter was a great deal longer, containing substantive evidence for various conclusions. 

A great deal of the evidence was gained from reading the “Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill” opened to discussion by a Select Committee in the Senate. I also read all the contributions from all the people and groups making submissions to this committee. It took some time.

I recommend that everybody with any interest in this debate to go and do likewise.

They will then start with a stronger understanding of what is actually going on.

There are major impediments to change in our own Constitution and the United Nations statements about various “rights” and consequent behaviours - The Universal Declaration and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These need to be understood by us all.

All of these are available on the internet.

Ms Morris’s insistence “It is simply about love, love of our fellow man” cuts no ice, helps no one understand, and persuades no one.

Fundamental values are foundations for human love and its expression throughout society.

Bruce Watson,

Kentucky, NSW

I have to congratulate The Nationals State Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson for pushing the issue of a Rehabilitation centre in Tamworth "Push for Crisis Care Funding" NDL, Feb 20, for those who need help the most from Alcoholism and Drug dependency.

Kevin Anderson has acknowledged that the Rural city of Tamworth needs such a vital service and it is great to see.

I would urge the Federal government to come on board with some funding options so that Tamworth can get such a centre into the near future. This centre will I believe make a difference for those seeking the help they need.

Shane Moran, 

Tamworth