Mood:
energeticTopic: nsw govt
Dear socially/environmentally/future aware colleagues,
Yesterday, on one of my frequent trips to a local library, an apologetic lady of about 45 timidly asked me to sign a petition. She was very uncomfortable in doing this - her natural disposition obviously made her feel guilty, disobedient and trouble-making - but she was forced to do it through fear of losing her job and income. As a librarian she was quite lowly paid, but highly educated and, in my view, an extremely worthy citizen doing skilled and important work. But she is also easy and safe to kick, and this is what our present NSW Government and economic system are likely to do to her and to many other local librarians, as may be gleaned from the attached, very conservatively worded, statement (in quoting the increase in library funding since 1980, it doesn't even allow for the CPI increase !).
This is the latest of a number of recent socially and environmentally outrageous actions by the present NSW Government which should eventually be recognised as the most corrupt, regressive and contemptible state government since federation (I very much regret saying this, as a former environmental advisor to the Wran Government and bushwalking friend of Bob Carr). Anyhow, I feel strongly that free access to knowledge and education are essential aspects of the relatively civilized culture we've had, but now seem to be in danger of losing. Accordingly, I'm writing a letter of protest about public library funding cuts to:
- The Premier (thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au)
- The Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance (John Watkins, dp.office@watkins.minister.nsw.gov.au)
- The Minister for Education and Training (John Della Bosca, office@smos.nsw.gov.au)
- The Treasurer (Michael Costa, Fax 9228 5699)
- The Minister for Community Services (Kevin Greene, office@greene.minister.nsw.gov.au)
- The Minister for Local Government (Paul Lynch, office@lynch.minister.nsw.gov.au)
- The Minister for Youth and Volunteering (Linda Burney, linda.burney@parliament.nsw.gov)
- The Minister for Science (Verity Firth, office@firth.minister.nsw.gov.au)
- The Leader of the Opposition (Barry O'Farrell, LOP@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- The Shadow Minister for Education (Andrew Stoner, oxley@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council (Michael Gallacher, michael.gallicher@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- The Shadow Minister for Local Government (Chris Hartcher, terrigal@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- The Shadow Minister for community Services (Katrina Hodgkinson, burrinjuck@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- Sylvia Hale MLC (Greens) (sylvia.hale@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- John Kaye MLC (Greens) (john.kaye@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
- Lee Rhiannon MLC (Greens) (lee.rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au)
You may want to consider doing something similar.
With regards and best wishes,
[retired science academic] Fred Bell
Posted by editor
at 8:01 AM EADT
