The Nats and the Libs think we are too dumb to understand “optional preferential voting”.

A deal was done on our behalf between the Liberal Party and the National Party. In that deal we got Pru and I don’t know what the National Party got for their part in the bargain.

Goulburn is the seat of the people of our electorate, it is not the seat of the politicians of the Coalitions. As a local resident, I would like my say every four years as to whom my representative is.

We want a local member who is just that. One who happily lives and works in the electorate.

We don’t want a local member who is so “busy” with party demands that it takes over two months to get a meeting with them (and then only in Bowral when the seat was for Goulburn.)

Having heard nothing for four years, come the election we suddenly hear promises everywhere. This stinks of vote manipulation behaviour. I strongly suspect those promises are meaningless.

Just return to the Westminster System, free and open elections and the big parties not deciding who gets what. Maybe a local would be better than a “blow in” from a major party. If we don’t make a stand our democratic rights will be whittled away.

Wal Ashton, Outdoor Recreation Party