REJECTING LEASE OF STATE ASSETS
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LNP leader Tim Nichols is absolutely right to reject Campbell Newman's idea of leasing state assets for 99 years. If things are to be sold, they should be sold outright. The only thing which leasing achieves is a lower price. It therefore cheats the people of Queensland out of money which they should get.
But surely leasing means the people will get the asset back? No. It. Does. Not. And I moved all the way up from Canberra just to tell Queenslanders this. In the ACT a few years ago, we went through what happens at the end of leases, and all of us joined in to prove Campbell Newman wrong.
As everyone knows, there is no freehold in the ACT; all property there is leasehold. In the late 1990s, commercial leaseholders began wondering what would happen when their 99-year leases started to run out in a few more years (that is, starting about now). Could they stay on? Would they have to re-negotiate? What would happen to the value of their businesses if they wanted to sell out? Would the government simply resume everything, so that everyone would get nothing at all?
In a very short time, the message got through to homeowners, who started asking exactly the same questions. In an even shorter time after that, the ACT's Liberal government of the day caved in, announcing as loud and as fast as it could that all leases would be automatically rolled over as and when they fell due.
Which is exactly what would happen with the property leases held by LNP voters in the Gulf country. There'd no take-back of State land up there. Campbell Newman somehow forgot to mention this in the last election campaign, when he was busily telling everyone that we could lease our power stations for 99 years and then just take them back -- you know, like the Chinese did with Hong Kong.
No, we couldn't; it would become politically impossible. We would either have to buy them back at some horrendous price, or roll over the leases -- because in years 96, 97 and 98, the power station leaseholders would simply switch off the power until they got what they wanted. Just like leaseholders in the Gulf country and the ACT, they would have to take action to protect the value of their investment.
So, leasing State assets only cheats the people of a good sale price. Assets should therefore be sold outright -- if the State is going to get rid of them, that is. But that is a separate question, on which I don't agree with Mr Nicholls at all.
G.T.W Agnew
Coopers Plains
MISTREATMENT OF DUTCH AU PAIR IN SYDNEY
God, that poor woman, what a horrible family! You're really not supposed to have them doing anything that doesn't relate to the care of your children.
Plus, it's a cultural enrichment program, you are supposed to be good hosts and make sure they get to experience Australia during their time with you. No, our lovely au pair is certainly going to be like a member of our family and looked after, not treated like a slave.
Lara Lavers, Mount Isa
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MOUNT ISA CEO’S RESIGNATION
A council is elected to make decisions especially then they’re only elected a few months ago! Time to restructure if they believe it’s necessary is now. We need an experienced excellent head engineer for projects, not had one for a while. Let’s give the council a fair go. Very good engineers actually save ratepayers money. Well done council.
Gary Osman, Mount Isa
BUDGIE SMUGGLER COWBOY
Ha ha! For God’s sakes someone get that man an apron!
Shaz Sellings, Mount Isa
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