Letters to Editor

Fuel prices cost council an increase of 50% per kWh
I note from reading the Coober Pedy News, that council has had to go over budget to pay it's power bills to enGen for the townsites electricity usage. This is absurd, how can a company, enGen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Wesfarmers, get away with such a large increase in cost's per kWh, when the company as a whole achieved a net profit of $591,367 million in 2005. 
This is the result of privatisation and corporate greed. I would be working towards, if I am elected, of having government funded solar panel arrays erected in not only Coober Pedy, but all other outback towns, to ensure that by using the sun's natural energy to manufacture electricity, the cost of power to the end user will fall. There would still need to be resource based generation plants to soak up any excess power supplies needed, particularly during the hours of darkness or days of overcast or foul weather. It would also be in the interests of all, to have all current generation systems converted by their owners to Natural Gas, especially in the states' north, where we have the Moomba Gas Fields located, allowing for cheaper cleaner generation. 
Please feel free to contact me either on 0400522118 or john.herring@sa democrats.org.au or visit my web site at www.johnherring.info  John Herring Democrats Candidate for Giles 52 Harvey Street Whyalla Norrie 5608


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Dear Sir

"Politics is the art of controlling your environment" stated a famous 
American writer. How correct he is and yet how many of us realise it?
The State election on March 18 is an important day for all South 
Australians. Many choose to not vote correctly and others lean toward the 
usual choices of Labor, Liberal or the Democrats.

Many South Australians do not realise that there is an alternative and one 
which will benefit us far more than not.  In fact, many state "We would vote 
for that person but that we are not in his electorate". This is wrong as all 
South Australians are in his electorate!

This remarkable man continues to work for all of us, sometimes in 
controversial but effective ways.  He has lobbied for many important causes 
such as compensation claims for asbestos victims, tougher hit-run laws after 
the tragic events surrounding Ian Humphrey and Eugene McGee, the South 
Australian egg industry, politician's perks, Land Tax and Council Rates, 
funding for Cancer trials and numerous other issues which affect our society 
in negative and often unproductive ways.

This man is none other than Nick Xenophon and whether you agree with him or 
not on his pokies stance, to condemn him is to attack the very person who is 
the consistent social conscience that irritates the other major parties.

The fact that the other parties would like to see him ousted, is the very 
reason he needs to be voted in! This time however, he needs 8.3% of voters 
(around 70,000 to 80,000) as compared to only 2.86% which assured him of a 
place in the Legislative Council in 1997. This is a large increase but 
definitely a possibility if the public are aware that voting "1" for Nick is 
possible no matter where your electorate is.

As someone who over many years has dealt with many politicians from Labor, 
Liberal, the Democrats and the Greens, there is only one who has responded 
to my requests with a prompt and sincere apply and that is Nick Xenophon. 
His honesty and integrity are second to none and these qualities are what we 
need more of when decisions regarding the future of our state are being 
considered. He is a "grassroots" man who is approachable and helpful; 
over-worked yet always sincere.  He retains his own high moral standards - 
always.

South Australia is a state where many progressive changes are needed and an 
honest eye kept on issues which affect all of us and our families. As an 
Independent who is not about to be "bought" by anyone (in fact, he only 
accepts maximum donations of $500 from anyone, including businesses) he can 
continue to fight for all of us if we give him the opportunity.  But as an 
Independent he doesn't have the backing of a political party machine and all 
its resources so he needs help.  If you are interested in supporting Nick's 
campaign in any way, please contact his office on 81258877 or visit his 
website www.nickx.net.au 
Sincerely

Marie Linke

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