Your views: on data harvesting, ICAC, carers and defence politics
Today, readers comment on an enquiry into the Liberal Party, parliament’s move to cut anti-corruption powers, foster child payments and a submarine about-face.
Liberal Party HQ in Adelaide. Photo: Tony Lewis / InDaily
Commenting on the story: Libs referred to corruption watchdog over data harvesting claims
I received an unsolicited text message from the Liberal’s Dr Rachel Swift, candidate for Boothby, last week, despite never having given her my number.
It could have been scraped from an email complaint sent to Nicolle Flint, or via Sam Duluk, who has previously added me to Liberal communication lists without my permission.
Or they’ve done a “Palmer/Kelly” and just spammed everyone in the electorate. Either way, they seem very slow learners and willing to disrespect their constituents. – Jacob Hodgman
Commenting on the story: Upper House passes bill to rein in ICAC
I would like to protest against any move to diminish the powers of ICAC in this state. It smells of politicians protecting themselves from any scrutiny.
We only have to look at federal politics to see the danger of this. Democracy isn’t just a word. It is a principle that must be fought for, and ICAC is an important weapon in fighting corruption in the public sphere. – Ivan Lloyd
Commenting on the story: SA foster carer payment ‘nowhere near covers the cost or raising children’
We have had a six-year-old foster boy for over a year. We would love to get the amounts you talk of.
We get approximately $140 a week (to clothe, feed, educate, extracurricular activities like taekwondo, and forced to drive two hours a day to school) the fuel in a small car alone uses $70 just for school – this is without taking him to places normal kids would go like movies, play centres etc.
Took him to the doctor and required to purchase Ventolin and a volumiser to go with it, DCP refused to pay even when we produced a receipt. Foster carers provide a massive community service and change childrens’ lives. Fair is fair. – Owen Jones
Try getting nothing. My grandkids were removed by the Department for Child Protection, deemed unable to return home. I had to fight the department to get these kids, my family out of foster care: a residential care home was apparently better than a totally non-offending, tea-drinking no-druggie grandmother. Work that out. When in care they were paid, with me zilch.
I fought to make sure these kids were not under orders. Hard enough being the kid to be out of home or living with nan, let alone being a ward of the state too.
Us informal carers are treated like crap; there are thousands of us. Our poor kids not only lose mum and dad but then live in poverty. The department did not support us at all, just left to flounder. The government should be ashamed of themselves and this department. – Sharyn Powell
Commenting on the story: Notes on Adelaide | News Corp’s border battle | Pyne’s change of heart
No longer just Pine Gap, we now have Pyne Gaffe. – Vincent Burke
Gosh, it must be very hard to be a politician today. Having to dream up the right answer to fit the political problem of the day, just so you sound on board with whatever the Prime Minister says and present a united front.
No wonder we take whatever most pollies say with a pinch of salt. – Philippa King