Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

WONDER NO MORE
Dear Left Wondering (Letters SSO 1017), I hope you didn’t wonder too long!
Hopefully you attended the NMG EGM and heard from the ’78ers that they were not simply “complaining”, as you say, but raising issues that many others in the GLBT community also supported.
The EGM was also not called by the ’78ers, as you suggest, but ’78ers called for a public discussion on the issues which NMG has now agreed to without any need for anyone pulling constitutional strings.
You would have also heard at the meeting that the ’78ers urged that we find a more positive balance between commercial and political issues particularly concerning the parade. The ’78ers also called for the whole community to get behind NMG so that such financial pressures are alleviated so there can be more balance.
So, as the ’78ers said, let’s get behind NMG to make sure there are the right sponsorships and support for the good aspects of Mardi Gras and all it stands for.
— Stella
a long time ago
Wasn’t 1978 a long time ago? I suggest a lot of us had different views on lots of things then. So Tony Abbott acted differently from other members of the university [student] council [SSO 1018].
History has proven him wrong. Surely not a hanging offence. This abstaining vote from 1978 is not a reason to rehash this very old issue now.
It’s easy to criticise history now. I imagine most of the Star’s staff wouldn’t have been on the scene so it’s not very fair to jump on a bandwagon knocking views that are very old, changed and in most cases forgotten.
As for NMG’s co-chair — look inwardly at your mistakes before you judge and comment.
As for hoping  Tony Abbott will have a change of view now on this very old incident — don’t we all.
— Fred
SUPPORT ESSENTIAL
The Bobby Goldsmith Foundation recently announced it will be ceasing financial support towards clients’ costs of power bills. The BGF has been generously providing up to 50 percent of these costs to clients on low incomes.
The withdrawal of this support has come at a time when energy costs have already increased significantly and the cost of electricity will continue to increase a further incredible 60 percent.  With BGF’s withdrawal of support, this will mean clients can anticipate a 220 percent increase in their costs for electricity.
The clients, like me, who most need BGF’s support are clients whose sole source of income is the disability pension. It doesn’t go anywhere near as far to afford this increase.  Being at home most days of the week, all day and all night and cooking most of our meals at home to save on costs, means our energy bills are already going to be higher anyway than for people who are not home as often.
I understand BGF’s explanations for ceasing this support (it was originally intended as short-term support for the ill and dying) but the double whammy of the cost increase and the loss of financial support is an unmanageable tenure for DSP clients.
The energy companies will of course force us to pay and we will will have no option but to part with more of our pension payments. This will mean less money for food and that is the bottom line. Surely I don’t need to explain to BGF that this will hit as an intake of less nutrition and that poor nutrition leads to a range of health complications for HIV positive people.
Guys, you’re doing a really good job of pulling the rug out from underneath people when you’re there, and receiving donations, to provide essential support.
— Dan
SELF-PROMOTION
Just how many hundreds of thousands of ratepayers’ dollars is the City of Sydney wasting on huge self-promotion banners advertising Clover’s bi-directional separated cycleway, currently under construction in Bourke St, Surry Hills?
Residents and business proprietors in Bourke St have been telling Clover for two years now that they don’t want this cycleway in Bourke St and that it would be better placed in green parkland along the western side of Moore Park, one block to the east, completely off the road and replicating the excellent cycleways in Anzac Pde and Alison Rd.
The filth, noise and disruption which has been going on for weeks in the block between Taylor Square and Albion St is an absolute nightmare and no cause for Council self-congratulation.
Come the next council and state elections, Clover Moore might just realise how strongly residents feel they have been ignored, betrayed and abandoned by her over this issue.
— Chris

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One response to “Letters to the Editor”

  1. Sir,
    There’s been some discussion of the financial position of New Mardi Gras. This makes everyone nervous. We’d all be much poorer without it.

    Running a business is hard, keeping customers happy isn’t easy, staying ahead of the changing tastes, competition is tricky. NMG has done a pretty good job. (Particularly Marcus Bourget).OK mistakes have been made but its not a simple business they are in. Most businesses can make mistakes and fix them tomorrow or later that year. Not MG with only one shot each year.

    Why isn’t the corporate appetite for involvement not pursued more vigorously ? It would bring a secure financial footing and end the annual fear of problems. A lot of big corporates would be keen to sponsor and be involved. Why ? It shows their customers and employees they are cool, equal opportunity and grass roots connected.

    Why does corporate sponsorship so offend people in our community ? They seem to prefer a struggling parade, amateurish floats and program; as if it would be somehow more authentic. Or is it the loss of control ? But imagine the loss of control that could occur if it goes bust and the Trademark and Intellectual Property are picked up cheaply at a liquidator’s auction.

    Please everyone: move on, its no longer 1978 or 1991. Change is the price of survival. Embraced properly and with sound financing that big corporates can bring the festival could blossom into something amazing.

    An improved and stronger festival would bring greater acceptance by the broader community. And wasn’t this the point of the original protest and marchers back in 1978 ?