04 March 2009 in Media
Weak State Labor hides behind public servant
A letter to the editor in today’s Mount Barker Courier from a Mr Andrew Milazzo of the State Transport Department in relation to the Nairne Primary School crossing issue highlights the growing politicisation of the South Australian public service by State Labor.
Last week, along with my State colleague Mark Goldsworthy, I criticised the Labor State Government’s decision on the improvements to the Nairne Primary School crossing ‘as not the best outcome’. This was because the State Labor Government decided to put penny pinching ahead of the safety of the children at the Nairne Primary School.
Concern was also raised by the Editor of the Mount Barker Courier in his editorial in last week’s edition.
This is an issue that has dragged on for many years much to the community’s disgust. It must be remembered that both the Council and the Federal Government have had money on the table for some time waiting for some action by the State Labor Government, the Government responsible for the road.
The public servant’s excuse for not pursuing the best (and the safest option) is simply money which begs the question does the State Labor Government have a sliding scale on the price of our children’s safety?
This was a decision made by the Labor Minister, not an unelected and unaccountable public servant and therefore any defence of this decision should be made by the Labor Minister.
I can only presume that State Labor has used this public servant as a political human shield because they know that for too long they have sat on their hands while the children of the Nairne Primary School have been required to stand in front of semi trailers with a ‘lolly pop’ sign.
The people of the Nairne community deserve better.