I write to you regarding the article “Dalton’s parting shots” (Gannawarra Times, March 8):
While I don’t share Mrs Dalton’s political views in many respects, I must commend her for being a tireless fighter in pointing out the rank hypocrisy of our governments, corporations and lobby groups who have sought to wring our country dry for their own financial and political gain.
In condemning her, SFF party leader Robert Borsak has inadvertently pointed out the number one flaw of our representative democracy as it stands. To say that Helen Dalton is doing a disservice to her constituents by “investing more time outside her electorate”, I believe he is committing an egregious lack of foresight.
The crisis of the Murray Darling Basin will not be solved by insulating one’s electorate to the collapse of an eco-system which expands almost a quarter of the continent, nor will her constituents be able to stave off the economic, environmental and social collapse that irretrievably destroying our natural environment and selling off its resources to the highest bidder will bring about.
This issue affects us all, and it transcends the arbitrary electoral lines drawn up in a government office telling us that we should only consider those who reside within these meaningless boundaries.
If it is ever to be solved, it will be because people like Helen Dalton continue to fight against the corporate interests that seek to coin the lifeblood of our communities into their own private gold.
It will only be until we can start to view water as a resource necessary to human life, one that is democratically controlled by the people, and not as a tradable commodity that can be used for building a wealth portfolio on the desk of a wealthy stockbroker or a greedy corporate farmer.
Luke Holdstock, Kerang
