Commenting on the opinion piece: Beware mirages in the campaign desert

Hello Amanda. I find it interesting that you are raising concern of an image that may appear to be the case until you get a closer look. In particular, your reference to the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services prefaced by an attempt to imply ‘ambos’ lack integrity, followed by a taunt designed to discourage people actually taking the time to look for themselves.

If perhaps you took the time with your perusal of the Productivity Commission’s report, in particular the content of Part E, Section 11 Ambulance Services, South Australia had the lowest per capita contribution of all government agencies for 2019-20, at a value of $91.23. Comparing that to the eastern states for example, $162.63 in Queensland, $107.44 in New south Wales and $131.68 for Victoria for the same period. The national average at this time was $121.28, so we were sitting well below.

I’m curious to see how you can claim South Australia had the highest investment in ambulance services per person of all mainland states and territories in 2020-21? It is reported publicly that the increase in government funding to $194.0m, returning a comparable government contribution to 53.3% of total service funding as in previous years, making it a per capita contribution during a pandemic of $109.56, still placed South Australia well under the national average from the previous year of $121.28.

You don’t have to be out of your mind, a real nerd or obsessive to find this information as it is there for everyone to see. That characterisation would certainly not reflect the members that make up the Legislative Review Committee from the South Australian House of Assembly who may be reviewing this information. A review that was brought about as a direct result of a petition delivered by the ‘ambos’ to parliament, that was signed by some 44000 members of the South Australian public who are also concerned with the state of the ambulance service and the risk to public safety that is occurring.

If you require fact checking on this in the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services, please take the time to look at Table 11A.3, Ambulance services response times and what has occurred there in South Australia during the same period, compared to other states and territories. The perspective from the top of that mountain on the landscape of response times across the nation would certainly make a mirage near impossible to see.

But at ground level like any mirage, the water lever may appear 5% higher from a distance but on closer inspection, it is bone dry. – Grant Copley

Commenting on the opinion piece: The campaign’s most perilous moment is yet to come

It was pointed out to me last week the increasingly negative campaign posters from Labor. Personally I tend to ignore the signs as I drive past them.

This weekend I received a postcard suggesting that Labor would protect the liveability of our inner suburbs, implying that the Liberals were out to destroy St Peters with high density housing. This made me angry! Some may not remember, but it was Labor’s 30 year plan launched in 2013 that proposed building four-storey developments along the banks of the River Torrens. This plan raised considerable ire and angst among the residents.

As for Stephen Marshall not listening, in January a neighbour complained to his office about the frequent power outages. Within a couple of weeks the neighbour received a response explaining the actions SA Power were taking to upgrade local infrastructure to make it more resilient and protect local bats from harm. – Mathew Pole

Commenting on the story: Goodwood bikeway overpass project delayed after community backlash

The thing that worries me most about these developments and upgrading plans is the gung-ho way they talk about the trees to be removed.

It’s all very well to say that X number will be planted again, plus various grasses etc, but trees take ages to grow and we and the climate need them now. Surely there must be a better way. I’m glad the community has been heard – at least on this occasion. – Anne Smith

Commenting on the opinon piece: Metrics rule in the cultural Hunger Games

Very insightful and well articulated. It is the whole shebang, not just the bang for the bucks! – Richard Warley