Politician’s petition a ‘slap in the face’
I AM absolutely horrified that Anne Webster, The National Party Federal Member for Mallee, has bought into the anti-vaccination debate by writing to a number of constituents in the Mallee electorate, essentially arguing to support a petition promoting the anti-vaccination mandate case.
I quote her from her letter:
“Are you against mandatory vaccinations? If you disagree with vaccine mandates, please sign this petition. Help me fight for the rights of Victorians.”
This position is a slap in the face to professional health workers working on the front line to keep us all safe.
This is a slap in the face to the many businesses who have suffered during lockdowns and to those businesses wanting to re-open with less risk of spreading COVID-19.
It also reminds me of the absolute mediocrity in representation that our seat of Mallee receives as a result of being a safe seat.
I know that many country residents vote the way of their parents and previous generations but this has lead us nowhere.
Since the creation of this seat, 72 years ago, there has only been five members, all from the same party or political persuasion.
And with The National Party enjoying the safest margin of any seat, we continue to suffer the consequences of inactivity.
It is time that the electorate of Mallee started putting pressure on their elected candidates by promoting alternative political parties and members, and not just blindly following The National Party, who more and more look like an unrepresentative outdated crock of a party headed by Barnaby Joyce and his outdated misogynist opinions.
Friends of Mallee will soon be starting up to give the electorate a better go and to give us, the average voter, the man and woman in the street, a better voice to be heard.
But in the meantime, the community needs to support the quest for higher vaccination rates and not fall for the pressure provided by ultra-conservative right wing anti-vaccination radicals.
Mandating for improved vaccination rates keeps us the people in the community safe, something that Anne Webster seems to ignore.
ALAN HOLLOWAY, Swan Hill
Look for this price change when sending cards
THERE was a price change quietly made by Australia Post on September 6 to international airmail letters and cards.
There are now two weight and size categories for letters going overseas.
This change affects the charges for sending greeting cards (Christmas, Birthday, Sympathy, etc.)
If a customer is posting a greeting card that is outside the small letter dimensions (130mm x 240mm) that card is charged at the large letter rate, which can be between $8.50 and $15 depending on the destination.
A lot of greeting cards sold by newsagencies and discount stores are that large letter size.
Some of the Christmas cards sold by charities, newsagencies and discount stores are also that large letter size.
People should look for the post office preferred symbol on cards and envelopes before purchase.
Please inform your readers to check the size of the cards before they buy them if they intend to post them overseas, or they will be in for a shock when they go to send them at the post office.
MORE INFO: Seasonal Greeting Cards – lodged between November 1 and December 31 next of any year, enclosed in a sealed envelope, whose mass is no greater than the dimensions of a small letter and where the envelope in which the card is enclosed is endorsed ‘CARD ONLY’.
All Zones – $2.40Small Letter – must fit small letter gauge (max. weight 250g)
Large Letter – must fit large letter gauge (max. weight 500g)Zone 1 (New Zealand) – Small ($2.50) and Large ($8.50)
Zone 2 (Asia Pacific) – Small ($2.70) and Large ($9.60)
Zone 3 (United States and Canada) – Small ($3.40) and Large ($13.50)
Zone 4 (Britain and Europe) – Small ($3.50) and Large ($14.60)
Zone 5 (Other Destinations) – Small ($3.70) and Large ($15)
NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED.
