Stick to the issues

I refer to the letter of Mr McNabb (Sour Grapes, Gazette, 9 July 2014) and note his response which is clearly incorrect and is an unsubstantiated attack on my integrity or motives rather than a robust and fair discussion on the merits of my earlier letter.
My letter was intended to voice my concerns over the continual cost of living pressures faced by many families in the local area and what I believe is decreasing government services and should only be construed on that basis.
I also note that I may not agree with all the current state governments’ methods and policies however I do strongly agree with some.
The intent of the article was to voice an opinion on the issues stated therein and not the member for Gembrook who is I am sure a hard working member who only wants the best for his electorate.
Mr McNabb is also well known to the local newspapers and to anyone that he targets or is opposed to.
It would appear that – as is his form – he has attempted to divert the discussion from the real issue(s) and made an unsubstantiated personal attack.
I note in his vitriolic rhetoric he fails and/or neglects to address the substance of my article – that is rising costs for families and decreased services.
Unlike Mr McNabb I refuse to make allegations or inferences that are not correct or a statement of fact.
Thus keeping this in mind and for the sake of clarity only I respond as follows.
As is a matter of public record I was a former member of the Liberal party for approximately two or three years and did run for pre-selection against other members of the party some time ago.
I was not successful and the current member won and good luck to him, the umpire made the call and that’s the end of that.
Fact – I recall I bought the now current member his first drink at his celebration party and made a small speech wishing him well.
Fact – I then did not make any public or private comments and stayed out of the public eye in the lead up to the election in order not to be a distraction and give the then candidate a clear run.
In regards to numbers of voters at the pre-selection conference – I am afraid I can’t tell you the numbers for and against in the vote as this was (is) confidential information and I don’t know what the “score” was, to that end Mr McNabb also should not be privy to such information.
In addition and again one of those annoying facts is that in that pre-selection conference some 40 per cent of the voters were appointed by Liberal party headquarters and are therefore not locals as is alleged.
Mr McNabb alleges in a case of sour grapes I threatened to run as an independent or preference Labor.
This is again incorrect since leaving the party some four years ago I have continued to support some Liberal members and some Liberal policies as is evidenced by me and members of my family handing out pamphlets on polling days at both a state and federal elections.
Also in the last local council elections my running mate was a Liberal and I preferenced some Liberals these preferences were based on the people and their policies not their party.
History also shows that I did not run as an independent or preference Labor in the last state election.
Common sense would dictate that if I had an “axe to grind” or “wanted to get even for some alleged affront” the last state election and before the then upcoming electoral boundaries changes would have been the opportune time when the margin was at its lowest and the current member was an unknown.
Accordingly this allegation is an affront to common sense as evidenced by history and the facts.
In regards to my resignation from the party – fact, this occurred some months after pre-selection and before the last state election when I was the then chairman of the Liberal party’s Police and Emergency Services Committee.
The contents of the committee meetings are confidential hence I am not at liberty to discuss same however I did resign as chairman of the committee and from the Liberal party as a result of a different viewpoint on an issue or policy before the committee.
My resignation from the party was a matter of integrity and not sour grapes as is alleged.
I believe in free speech and the ability to voice an opinion on the issues and not personalise the debate based on incorrect assumptions, mere allegations and/or personalities.
Free speech is an essential element of our society and one that should be encouraged so that the free flow of ideas and constructive criticism can better serve the public and the interests of the community.
I have spent most of my adult life serving the community in army special operations, the police and the law and I have been places and seen what happens when free speech is denied, I will not and I don’t believe other people should be bullied or intimidated.
Accordingly may I ask Mr McNabb with respect to keep to the issues at hand and not muddy the waters to suit some personal agenda.
I feel his letter says more about Mr McNabb than it does about me.
Christopher Andrews,
Principal,
Berwick Legal.