Already I can foresee our Mayor and Councillors rushing to check their passports are in order and checking flights to China not forgetting accommodation befitting our City’s elected representatives together with a number of council officers.

State and Federal Governments have the expertise through their various trade departments to facilitate trade discussions.

They have trade commissioners and offices in most overseas capitals staffed by people who understand the culture and economies of these countries and importantly can speak the language.

Has our Council sought to secure assistance from these government departments and will they do so before advancing this idea any further?

Mount Isa already has a sister City in Kamloops, Canada. I doubt if these days we even bother to exchange Christmas Cards.

Already this Council has spent over $100,000 in travel for our councillors.

Let’s not add to this figure by jet setting off to China without doing our homework and investigating other avenues.

Before they take off on their massive and highly and expensive “Cook’s Tour”, there are many problems at home which need fixing.

Leave trade to the experts in the various industries and governments, who have gained the respect of international traders, not to local Councillors with no expertise whatsoever in this field.

It makes good headlines but judging by past performances from many other Councils who have been down this path, it is simply the excuse for an expensive junket.

Kendall Santillan, Mount Isa

So now the people that warn about road closures in floods are “safety Nazis”. 

Perhaps Bob Katter would like to drive through them all as a crash test dummy? 

Please don't use a taxpayer funded vehicle on your travels, Bob. And please sign a waiver so that emergency service personnel don't have to risk their lives saving your sorry backside when it all goes pear-shaped. 

George Harley, Mount Isa

Youth crime is not as bad as people think, according to police statistics.

Gary Osman Youth crime is and has always been a major problem in Mount Isa. Just talk to people in the street it’s the biggest concern to residents its not just social media. There are no proper youth programs to engage troubled youth. Government agencies fail to act where families have no parenting and massive over crowding of housing. Locking everyone up doesn’t work no room left in detention centres or jails. Governments fail to attack real issues – prevention and rehabilitation centres in country where offenders are taught social skills and how to work. Employment or lack of is massive issue and welfare dependency huge problem and not forcing youth to school. Nothing has changed in 15yrs. 

Jeremy Barraclough Great comments, but has anyone checked the crime statistics? I’m pretty sure police would be all over that particular fact. I’m sure they would also be able to describe the trends over time far more competently and comprehensively than ‘the man in the street’.  A lot of it is illegal entry, which is why the constant campaign of ‘lock it or lose it’. If people actually took the simple step of locking their car, they would avoid the opportunity for this petty crime to occur. In many cases youths are just taking coins for some food. Let’s not talk about detention. Here’s a better idea, go down the the PCYC and volunteer. Get to know the kids. Understand their perspective and do something positive about it and advocate for them rather than telling them. If you aren’t actively participating then you’re not helping.