Robert Podhajsky, Ocean Shores
One thing I’m sure of, when I have voted in previous elections, state and federal, it absolutely was not a vote (whatever party) for the current method of government that has been implemented with the use of health emergency powers.
Compare the new population control powers in Australia with the dictators of the past who have caused wars and suffering to millions of people. Dictators who have been removed from power with violence, removed by the democratic principle of governments; Saddam Hussein was one, and there are many others.
‘She’ll be right mate’, has now been changed in the great southern land to, ‘Do what you’re told mate, or else’. This has happened in the mist and fog of conflicting information about COVID-19, and almost secret manipulation of what the rule of law will allow.
Flash back to the last federal election; imagine a new government policy saying, ‘vote for us, we are now going to change the laws of governing (no debate, a new parliament), using new and existing laws to stop the transmission of a coronavirus, like the flu. Experts have said it can’t be done, but we can do it! We will make you wear facemasks and more, even though the evidence is conflicting. We will introduce new measures to control it. Your health matters, the cost is not important. The taxpayers will pay’.
Do we need a new open and transparent method of government? I will vote for that. A new political party to stop the dictatorial process, we are human beings, not a statistic on a graph.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
