I have my own concerns about an inevitable cost blow-out and the very likely chance that some structural damage may occur to the existing building, but the major point of dissention was parking, or lack of it.

Many local people would have attended events at the Canberra Theatre or the National Theatre, or even any of the many restaurants in the Canberra CBD.

None of these venues have parking at the door but people still manage to walk the required distance from wherever they can park.

I am sure there is provision for disable access too, but again, there are not multiple spaces at the door.

Goulburnians do have a mentality that they must be able to park at the door of whichever business/venue they are visiting.

We really must see past this and look at the big picture.

We have waited a long time for a dedicated performing arts centre and this our best chance. Let’s not blow it because everyone can’t park right at the door.

The shameful Manus Island and Nauru saga continues, with our politicians showing yet again how effective blinkers are against truth, decency and common sense. Here is what the Australian government’s reasoning seems to be:

We needed something to make us look strong, and asylum seekers were an easy target. Besides, how dare they try to come here and ask us for help! So we captured them, and imprisoned them for an indefinite time in conditions designed to break them physically and mentally. OK, we can’t charge them with anything, because they haven’t done anything illegal, but we think the Australian public is too stupid to realise that, especially since we cleverly keep on referring to them as ‘illegal immigrants’ (smart, hey?); and OK, it is illegal for us to keep them imprisoned, but once again, the Australian public blah blah blah, and the rest of the world doesn’t matter.

The main thing to remember is that we are staunchly defending our proud nation against the horrible threat of … well, there must be something, maybe the horrible threat of squat toilets? And so it is perfectly all right to punish helpless men, women and children (especially those – ‘Suffer the little children’, ha ha, great joke, hey?) because they … wanted our help, no, scrap that bit, because they deserve to be punished. And it makes us look strong, and we can do as we please, and who cares if these are actually brave and resilient people who have already come through trauma most of us can’t even imagine … no, scrap that bit too, they’re just a threat to our way of life (especially toilets) and a nuisance and deserve to be punished.

But we have a bit of a problem now, just a bit, because the PNG government has got fed up with doing our dirty work, and we need to do something else with those inconvenient nuisances way out there. So if we make their conditions even worse, maybe we can push them to go to Cambodia and be persecuted, or PNG mainland and be persecuted, or back where they came from and be persecuted. Of course Cambodia and PNG can be coerced or paid to take those nuisances, now more traumatized than before, and who cares anyway? We’re strong and can do as we please. Maybe even the US will take some, if we promise to do some dirty work for them in return? But we must not accept New Zealand’s (repeated) offer to take them, because that wouldn’t punish them enough for … for being people that deserve punishing.

Both the major political parties have been part of this appalling policy. Surely there must be a politician (LNP or Labor) with integrity and moral standards (let alone common sense, because we could have saved billions of dollars by arranging matters so that no-one needed to get on a leaky boat, and asylum seekers could be helped with dignity and efficiency) prepared to get up and say: ‘This policy is totally wrong. It should be stopped right away, and those who have suffered deserve our deepest apology and our highest level of reparation.’ 

I hear in the distance a small voice singing ‘For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share’, but I don’t think anyone is listening. As for expecting a member of those two major parties to demonstrate integrity, I’m not holding my breath waiting; and I’m deeply ashamed of what is being done in our name.

You do not need to travel far to see that communities need upgrades to their local infrastructure.

Better roads, well-maintained schools, improved hospitals, water security and more sports and community facilities are needed in every corner of NSW. 

That’s why I called on the Nationals Leader, John Barilaro, to support Labor’s plan to invest 100 per cent of the proceeds from the nationalisation of Snowy Hydro back into regional NSW.  This investment could create jobs, grow the economy and improve the quality of life of all who live in regional NSW. 

I was disappointed to see the Deputy Premier reject this idea. Instead, he thinks we should invest only 30 per cent of the proceeds into our regions, giving Sydney once again more than the lion’s share.

Throughout its history the Snowy Hydro has been a great example of the wealth creation capacity of regional infrastructure.

As it enters its next chapter, under complete ownership by the Australian Government, it is only fair that the benefits are re-invested back in our regions to secure their future.