Just a question

I refer to your above column and in particular the extended trading hours for licensed venues during the Olympics 2000.

I wish to bring to your attention that the reporting of Council’s agenda accurately in your paper is extremely important as each councillor holds a very public position in local government.

Your Mr John Oakley has reported: "Cr Wales initially spoke in favour of the proposal but later voted with the rest of Council to reject extended trading hours over the two-month period."

In actual fact, I did not speak in favour of the proposal but simply asked Cr Doyle why he felt so strongly against this proposal without any explanation.

It is one thing to debate the advantages or disadvantages of a proposal, it is quite another to take a dictatorial attitude to what may be a perceived perception in the public place.

I personally wanted to hear Cr Doyle’s reasons for his strong abhorrence to 24-hour trading during the Olympics.

I believe it is every councillor’s responsibility to explain to the public why they choose to vote either way. Otherwise, a councillor could easily run the risk of appearing pompous, pretentious and autocratic.

Please remember, as a community newspaper, you have a responsibility to print the facts.

Cr Debra Wales