We are a great democracy and if there is a change of government we do so through the right way at the ballot box. I, like The Nationals Member for New England Barnaby Joyce, have concerns.

I am concerned that projects like Roads to Recovery that are so effective in improving the quality of local rural roads and strengthening freight productivity will evaporate in favor of city-centric infrastructure.

I am concerned about the ALP returning the Road Safety Re-numeration Tribunal (RSRT) industrial orders which hurt our owner-operator truck drivers with compliance costs and the people that they employ.

There is no doubt on genuine issues such as safety that the Transport Workers Union (TWU) should be voicing the concerns they have for their members. But at the same time smaller transport companies deserve a chance to compete in the marketplace as they too haul our goods to our ports and to our saleyards through corridors of commerce throughout the New England.

I am also concerned that ALP government re-implementation of a carbon tax will stall investment in our processing industries in many regards and jobs wont be created.

Food manufacturing is vitally important to rural Australia and our export nations.

Taxing investment at higher rates will see less in the bank for those who want to work hard and strive for better opportunities for themselves and their families.

Rural Australia deserves better than this from the ALP.

Shane Moran 

Tamworth

Recent news reports have detailed how scientists have used genetic engineering to improve the process of Photosynthesis in tobacco so that it grows 40% 'better', something that they should be ashamed of.

There is a need for improved food production and previously selective breeding over thousands of years has produced the corn we now have.

Some genetically modified foods have already been created although they are not always welcomed.

The improvement in tobacco production is not one that we need. Even if it is only in a controlled environment there will be a demand for these plants at a time when we should be decreasing production.

There are a number of other plants in the solanaceae family including potatoes and tomatoes that would be far better to consider.

Scientists could work on developing a tomato variety for supermarkets that has the properties they want of firmness and size but doesn't taste like cardboard.

Yes, we should look at developing better varieties naturally but also concentrate on improved production quantities and better transport and storage methods.

Tell the scientists to put the improved tobacco in their pipe and smoke it, except that this is very dangerous to their health.

Dennis Fitzgerald

Box Hill

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