21 July 2006

Community consultation, Stanhope style

| johnboy
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Pandy sent in news of another article in the Daily Telegraph attacking the butchery of the ACT Education system currently being undertaken by Messrs Stanhope and Barr. The Terror is pointing out that schools with high levels of NSW students are being particularly targeted and the ACT does get Commonwealth funding per student, regardless of where they come from. But this bit at the bottom was, I thought, particularly interesting:

Mr Stanhope is not even opening many letters, simply stamping “return to sender” on them.

Has anyone else encountered this curious approach to the public?

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I would be extremely surprised if ANY politician deliberately chose to return letters unopened.

Why would you? Much easier just to chuck the letter in the bin if you’re feeling that callous.

I think it’s much more likely that the letter was, well — wrongly addressed. An address of “John Stanhope, Parliament House, ACT” would probably do it.

NOt exactly – I got responses, albeit pretty lazy ones. My first letter expressing concern about the dragway I got a form letter back which was obviousley sent to all dragway letters (for and against), saying they had to weigh up all options, and that I would get to have input via the dragway consultative committee.After going to ameeting where the dragway consultative committee said that they weren’t allowed to consult the public, or to tell us anything about the secret govt noise reports etc, I wrote to Jon again, expressing my desire to make my feelings known, and asking how to go about it.
I got a terse (almost rude) letter, saying “as I said in my last letter, you will be consulted via the dragway consultative committee.”
I gave up after that.

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