While the association has little time for the self-serving activities of the Member for Eden-Monaro, Kristy McBain, it holds the same view regarding her former Liberal opponent at the recent by-election for the federal parliamentary seat, Dr Fiona Kotvojs.
In a
Letter to the Editor of the
Bega District News on October 16th,
Dr Kotvojs rejected claims allegedly made by
Ms McBain that the electorate had missed-out on recent grants made under the federal government’s
Regional Recovery Partnerships program.
And certainly the association could find no comment attributed to Ms McBain suggesting that the electorate had missed-out because the seat was held by the Labor Party.
Based on Dr Kotvojs’ claims, the Eden-Monaro electorate appears to have done reasonably well under the recent grants, notwithstanding Ms McBain’s alleged complaints to the contrary
Of course it’s often said that those who live in glass houses should be careful when it comes to throwing stones & certainly the association believes that Dr Kotvojs is guilty of the same misleading behaviour that she has accused Ms McBain of engaging in.
During that discussion Dr Kotvojs defended the level of expenditure by the federal government on bushfire recovery programs, citing her experience in the management of international aid programs.
Dr Kotvojs claimed that significant government bushfire relief funding had been made available to the Bega Valley, including significant funds donated to the shire’s Mayoral Appeal Fund.
The association believes that was quite a remarkable claim given that the Mayoral Appeal Fund existed only to assist the residents of Tathra impacted by the bushfires in March, 2018 & which had been closed in November, 2019, well before the X-Mas/New Year bushfire disaster struck & federal funds were allegedly made available.
As far as the association is concerned, it seems that the claims & counterclaims made by our so-called political “representatives” are mostly designed to disparage their political opponents, while serving only to confuse the public when it comes to understanding what is really going-on & what has really happened.
The association is certain that there are times when members of the public wish that their politicians would stop trashing each other & just go-away, given their apparent inability to communicate honestly on the facts of issues of vital concern to the community.
While both sides of politics engage in this self-serving behaviour, the association believes that on this occasion the “sour grapes” were well & truly being served by Dr Kotvojs.
John Richardson
Secretary/Treasurer
Bega Valley Shire Residents & Ratepayers Association
Tel: 0264945669
Email: secretary@begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au
Website: http://www.begavalleyshireratepayers.asn.au