Monday 29 July 2024
Letter to the editor
Dear Editor,
As Victoria’s October council elections approach, it’s time to re-focus and take note of the true purpose of local government.
Voters will choose representatives who for coming years will be responsible for our local essential services: maintaining roads, managing public spaces, enforcing by-laws, handling planning issues, and ensuring timely rubbish collection.
However, many councils have strayed way beyond what we expect of our local government, prioritising social wokeness and international politics over delivering key services for local residents.
We need a return to basics.
Councils aren’t platforms for foreign policy or lifestyle dictation; they’re service-oriented entities that should focus on your community needs.
To prospective councillors who understand this: your communities need you.
Voters must critically evaluate candidates.
Are they committed to roads, rates, and rubbish, or woke social commentary?
In these challenging cost-of-living times, we can’t afford local councillors throwing away valuable ratepayers dollars prioritising woke ideology over practical service.
A recent example highlighting the shift away from social policies in favour of core services comes from John Deere.
The company announced it will be removing nearly all its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in favour of a quality-based workplace.
It’s time to elect councillors to do the same.
We need efficient governance and essential services and to move away from woke politics at the local level.
Victoria needs representatives focused on strong community outcomes, not social activism.
Peter Walsh MP
Leader of The Nationals
