Bearing responsibility
IN 1960, Syria’s population was 5 million, and by 2010 it was 22 million. In the same period, Iraq went from 7 million to 32 million.
These countries are mainly desert, so obviously resources, especially arable land, have become overloaded. Add to this their intolerance of religious and ethnic differences, their propensity to violence, and the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and we have the ingredients for the present crisis.
This crisis is a consequence of the actions and attitudes of many individuals within these countries and they must bear some responsibility for the outcome.
Europe has stabilised its population, set up secular democratic governments and its people generally do not want to be overwhelmed by migrants.
If a European country wants more migrants, it should arrange processing and transit by planes and ships for them. This would stop the needless loss of life and suffering that we see now.
Europe (and Australia) should also contribute generously to supporting refugee camps in the middle-east where people are safe, can get education, and wait out the hostilities.
Gordon Payne
Jenkin St, South Fremantle

Junked
I BELIEVE it is important our elected councillors can read and follow instructions. Therefore I will not be voting for candidates who cannot understand “no advertising material” on the letterbox. That’s two out of four down for the south ward so far.
S Campbell
Louisa St, South Fremantle

Full disclosure needed
LOCAL councils and church organisations, commanding public funds, must operate in an accountable and transparent manner.
Mike Nichol’s letter “Probe proper” (Herald letters, September 26, 2015) raises several issues relating to management and conduct of our Melville council.
Firstly, the Crime and Corruption Commission should have conducted the investigation of ward councillors if there’s concerns. The expenditure of public money by the City of Melville to engage a private sleuth begs the question as to whether such activity constitutes legitimate use of public money.
A key question is: on what basis can the council engage a sleuth to investigate anybody when it feels the need? Have other such clandestine operations been conducted in the past? If so, when and for what purpose?
The issue is a broad canvas, going to the heart of accountability and transparency of all local government operations. There needs to be open and public disclosure (online) progressively month by month over the financial year relating to all remuneration paid to mayors, CEOs, ward councillors, including all benefits and entitlements, the purpose and cost of any travel and accommodation, the purpose and value of entertainment including business meetings, sporting end other events and luncheons.
The council must provide full disclosure of why it was necessary to engage a private sleuth to investigate our two Bicton-Attadale ward councillors including who originally raised the issue, who authorised the investigation, its stated scope, who conducted it, its overall cost, and the outcomes and recommendations arising from it.
Ratepayers must ensure our public funds are spent wisely and not wasted on what could be construed as an attempt to discredit hard-working, local, elected representatives.
As proposed above, the WA local government minister now needs to mandate the monthly publication of all costs and expenses incurred by all local government enterprises and amend legislation if necessary. This would minimise reoccurrence of such an ill-judged investigation and provide all ratepayers and residents with a greater degree of accountability and transparency for how their money is spent at an operational level.
Dr Graham Mahony
Warragoon Cresc, Attadale

Unfair coverage
I FIND it disappointing that our local papers, which are the mouthpiece for the community, have not bothered to interview all candidates running for the Fremantle council elections.
For totally self-funded independents running for the the wards there are very few avenues where we can communicate the reasons why we chose to run.
For our democracy to work, publications like the Herald should be presenting a balanced view of all candidates so the community can make an informed decision on who should represent them at council.
Looks like only the candidates with future political aspirations and the financial backing of the various political parties get the privilege to grace the local pages.
People of Fremantle, take the time to seek out your candidates and ask them why we deserve your vote. Make it count this election!
Andrew Luobikis
South ward candidate
Mardie St, Beaconsfield
The Ed says: We do try, Andrew, but with limited space coverage comes down to newsworthiness—and sometimes a touch of luck.

The Boy from Lake Grace
I WOULD like to share this poem with all Dockers fans and Herald readers. Also, to wish the Dockers all the best for their season next year and a good recovery for Nat Fyfe.
The Boy From Lake Grace
He went to the Brownlow with his walking stick
No, he wasn’t going to miss that, not a bit
With curly mop, black tuxedo and a matching bow tie
He looked the superstar and made the girls sigh
When asked who he brought along for his date
He turned to Michael Barlow, his team mate
“I need someone strong to carry my bag,” he announced
Which caused a ripple of smiles and giggles all around
The evening dragged on, the audience awaited the counting
While at the Dockers table, tension and anxiety was mounting
Till at long last the result was clear
Nat Fyfe is the Brownlow medal winner for this year
His acceptance speech was just as amazing
With his wit, charm and even some teasing
He had a footy dream, he joined the Fremantle Dockers team
The boy from Lake Grace, we all love him
Elsa Cheah
Hamilton Hill

Popping the port myth
ONE has to question the critical thinking skills of Perth Freight Link (PFL) opponents such as Lynn MacLaren MLC and Peter Tinley MLA (Herald, October 3, 2015), who seem to think Fremantle Port is like a balloon, such that once its capacity is reached it will explode and be no longer functional!
Well, have I got news for them. As I understand it, there is no intention of Fremantle Port ceasing to operate as a working port, so all freight currently going to and from that facility will continue for quite some time after any additional port is built.
As such, something like the PFL is still required now, or in the very near future, to better deal with the existing level of truck traffic as well as that which will eventuate in the period until the port reaches capacity.
Unless the growth in population of Perth and WA is halted immediately (which I personally think is a worthwhile objective), at some point the city is going to need a ring road like the M25 Motorway in London or the Boulevard Périphérique in Paris, in addition to other transport options such as increased rail freight and light rail.
Burying one’s head in the Bibra Lake wetlands like a black swan feeding is not going to solve the city’s transport problems.
Colin Delane
Anscombe Loop, Leeming

It’s just mean
I FIND the new ticket parking machines like those installed by Wilson’s Parking near E-Shed the essence of mean-spiritedness.
You are required to enter your car licence plate details, which are recorded on the ticket. This prevents you from being able to hand over your ticket for use by someone else should you have remaining time on it, despite the fact the bay has been paid for till that expiry time.
But why? Why stub out those occasional times when you are either able to pass on a small gesture of kindness to a stranger or receive one yourself? These small acts are what help oil decent interactions between people and make us feel positive about our fellow human beings.
The opportunity to pass on an unexpired parking ticket or to receive one happens infrequently. Certainly, I would have thought, infrequently enough to have minimal impact on Wilson’s profit margins. The pettiness of it has left a bad taste in my mouth. Unfortunately, I suspect these mean machines will become increasingly the norm.
Amanda Gillett
Sawle Rd, Hamilton Hill

Other issues too
THE council elections for Melville have been dominated by the Perth Freight Link and sadly other local issues have been overshadowed.
In our modern media world 10-second soundbites often condense an issue. The slogan “Rethink the Link” is at first attractive and sounds reasonable. Unfortunately, it has been coined by a pressure group that has a particular viewpoint and which seeks to impose its will by whatever means possible.
Of course, there are genuine decent people involved but it masks what is a complex issue and divides people into “for” and “against” of “right wing” and “left wing” which is unhelpful. It is being used as an anti-Barnett government wedge and I am no fan of Colin Barnett.
But we need to examine the facts and conclude that both sides of politics have abjectly failed to have long-term vision, leading us to the situation we now face.
Finally, and this is the most important point, whatever route is chosen it will impact on our Aboriginal sites and wetlands. Have a reality check, take a look at the map and don’t let those who shout the loudest cloud and simplify issues.
Philip Scott
Candidate, Palmyra-Melville-
Willagee ward
The Ed says: Chopped lots for length.