Re: Security staff at hospital
Monash medical health bosses should be ashamed with themselves. Where is their duty of care to staff and other patients? What happens if a staff member is killed while trying to do his or her job, and all because security guards can’t do their jobs? It’s a disgrace.
Karen (via web)
Re: Pet sheep Baa’s court bill
Mr Ho was guided on the wrong legal path for his remedy. He should have gone for an appeal, which challenges the validity of his argument instead of the much tougher path of a judicial review, challenging the validity of the law.
Even if the laws did conflict, the one of the lesser value would be modified so as the council can carry out the duties entrusted to it, which in no way would benefit Mr Ho unless his argument was on a cat or a dog being livestock. If both parties adhered to overarching obligations, this fight would not have gone so far; ratepayers’ money would have been better spent elsewhere and Mr Ho would not have to risk his home to keep his pet.
In an appeal, Mr Ho is backed by so many animal lovers and experts that it would be challenging for the council to prove that Baa is not a pet. Furthermore, the council and the complaining neighbours did allow Baa to have this lifestyle for 11 years or so. It would be difficult to change the accustomed lifestyle of Baa suddenly and there would be a risk of it being detrimental to Baa.
Even under planning guidelines, this could be considered an ‘existing use of rights’. The remedy of judicial review that Mr Ho sought is not really obliged to look into those matters. So, all animal lovers and fighters, instead of sending emails for Mr Ho, better start sending him money instead for a different remedy, as he is financing a very tough argument to win.
Baa, I hope this helps to ensure your final days are spent with the ones you truly love and not the opinions of what others perceive. My prayers go to you especially.
Alex Hoe (via web)
Ease the gridlock
In terms of commuter need, it is gratifying to learn that more train services are to be introduced on to the Dandenong line. But the railway gates in the City of Greater Dandenong already gridlock this city for about 35 minutes each hour. More train movements will exacerbate this problem. While we appreciate the fact that the Springvale railway crossing is to be separated from the road, we now have other rail crossings reaching the same stage (eg Heatherton Road, Noble Park), with traffic backed up past Lightwood, Heatherton and Kelvinside roads. These matters need urgent consideration.
Roz Blades, Paperbark Ward councillor
Political commercials not helpful
I recently saw a ‘cartoon commercial’ for the Liberal Party. All it does is mock the Labor Party. It does nothing else. No policies, no alternative vision — just base ridicule. It is a barnhouse scene with headless chickens and the floating heads are Ms Gillard and Mr Swan. They have half sentences coming from them showing their backflips and change of direction. Is this going to be the rubbish we are subjected to until the election? Both sides need to get a grip here. Politicians will change their stand on issues: we the voters should judge them NOT on the fact that they might backflip, but rather on IF the backflip is a good idea or not!
Jim Reiher, Eumemmerring
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