I write to thank Daniel Gillett for his musings about the pork-barreling by NSW Arts Minister Don Harwin of 13 projects in NSW Coalition held seats, Letters, NDL Saturday 16/03/19. Daniel's assertion that I was ever critical of Tamworth's theatric community is plainly erroneous and he should withdraw. Anyone who reads the fact-checked story I was quoted in will see I was never critical of Tamworth's theatre community and Kevin Anderson's election team knows that.
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I understand completely that Tamworth's proposed Arts and Cultural precinct will cost more than $3 million, so I can assure Daniel that he can un-baffle himself about that point.
The point is, is that if this is the way Mr Harwin and the Liberals and Nationals allocate funding to projects around NSW it will delay Tamworth's plans for a performing arts centre. Projects such as Tamworth's will rely on grant funding and if you have a government willing to mismanage the process as was the case this time it puts at risk or delays the plans of Councils and organisations who do the right thing and plan projects properly. All I did was to complain about the inherent misuse of Mr Harwin's position.
I completely understand that funds for Tamworth's performing arts precinct will be derived from a range of sources. I was also never so dramatic as to say "all hope is lost" for the Tamworth precinct, that is clearly a figment of Daniel's imagination and his Nationals friends. I did say that we should hope that we have a future government that will find another $100 million from which we could derive funds for Tamworth's plans.
Daniel and his committee should feel privileged that they have a Councillor serving our communities willing to speak up against the unfairness of the Liberal/Nationals influencing decisions at all three levels of government when there are inequities that impact or potentially impact the future of our communities. The current local National party paradigm and old boys clique rigidly controlling the future of this region for their own means is an unhealthy blight on our democracy and one that needs to change.
Mark Rodda
Tamworth (Independent Candidate for Tamworth)