Thank you for the only essence of non-partisan newspaper reporting on the Central Coast in your publication.
It is refreshing to receive information and news that is not permeated with the bias and deception of Rupert Murdoch as dished out in abundance in the Express Advocate by his brainwashed idea-logistic group of ‘neo cons’ posing as journalists.
Leading up to the state election, the Express Advocate incessantly promoted Chris Holstein and in one particular edition, his name and photographs appeared nine times to Kathy Smiths’ zero.
Now they are still refusing to acknowledge her as the State Member for Gosford and will not profile her in any way except to acknowledge she was in fact elected as the parliamentary representative with the ‘he was robbed’ by preference of the greens and Labor headline: ‘Holstein Blames Lies and Scare Campaign for Liberal Loss’.
Holstein is in fact a poor loser and did not accept that he did not secure enough votes under the current system and Kathy Smith did.
Pure and simple in the rules.
Put aside the nefarious depredations of Holsteins’ fellow liberal members at the Entrance, Terrigal and Wyong and their shoddy deals.
Holstein attempts to vindicate his loss to the almost anonymous labor opponent, Kathy Smith, by saying he secured 2. 000 more votes on first preference, i.e. 42.5 percent of the vote.
Holstein goes on to take responsibility for all achievements of government in his team, although many were commenced by the last labor government.
Under the present system of voting and using Holsteins’ figures, if he received 42.5 percent, the 57.5 percent did not vote for him, a short fall of 15 percent.
15 percent did not tick Holsteins’ box.
The question arises, is Holstein suggesting that a system of first past the post would have installed him as the member?
A great deal of conjecture would arise as to this 15 percent and their voting intention under a new restrictive system.
Under the current system, voters exercised a right to vote for a party of choice, with the knowledge a second preference would be delivered to a choice in government according to wish, thus appointing Kathy Smith as the popular choice in logic and consensus.
The time has come for Murdochs’ tabloid to embrace public opinion on the Central Coast.
Note that John ‘Singo’ Singleton did not staunchly support Holstein in this campaign, although he had previously signalled he would nominate and promote conservative candidates.
Letter, 28 Apr 2015
T.C Parkes, Barraba