I concur with the sentiments in your editorial, Monday June 2, regarding comments made by the supposed Independent members for New England (NSW) and Kennedy (QLD) Messrs A Windsor and R Katter respectively about the future of the National Party. It is interesting that once again the only contribution they currently make to the Parliament is to display their anti-conservative party, pro ALP allegiances.

It is further interesting that the Member for New England has been charged with the task by his mates in the ALP (Anthony Albanese) to investigate the Regional Partnerships grants scheme of the previous Coalition government. For a member to constantly harp at the former Coalition government while in power about what it had done/hadn’t done I find it hypocritical that he would indulge himself in the ALP/ALP-aligned independent witch-hunt to get the conservative parties, especially the Nationals.

What Federal Member of Parliament would be stupid enough to object to the grants that the former Coalition government issued to rural and regional electorates. You see though with Mr Windsor you are damned if you did and damned if you didn’t. It suited Mr Windsor to convey the message that the National Party wasn’t looking after its constituents and swing to the

independents.

Tamworth wouldn’t have the marvellous Australian Equine Livestock and Events Centre if it weren’t for the great work of former deputy prime minister John Anderson or Senator Sandy McDonald. Is Mr Windsor complaining that we shouldn’t have got the federal funding for that under the grants scheme? Mr Windsor’s active participation in the ALP’s Coalition grant scheme witch-hunt would suggest he is.

Now it appears that the ALP are indulging in a similar grants scheme called Better Regions program and according to The Australian have directed more than 90 per cent of almost $150 million to marginal held ALP electorates won at the November 2007 election. It will be interesting to see what the supposed ALP-aligned independents have to say when Labor pork barrel’s in their marginally held ALP electorates or indeed in the electorates of New England and Kennedy.

Mark Rodda

TAMWORTH