Junior school mayhem not acceptable
As a Gen Xer, I am disgusted by the reoccurring stories about a particular junior primary school where the senior leaders, and particularly the principal, continue to show little regard for other students, teachers and teacher’s aides.
Compassion and understanding seems only to be reserved for students that lash out, ruin and disrupt whole classrooms, damage thousands of dollars’ worth of resources, or bash other students or teachers.
What is going on in schools when this type of behaviour is allowed?
Which genius said it was okay, that no-one could intervene?
The disgusting and anti-sociable behaviour by many junior students without a significant consequence is nothing but a slap in the face to teachers and other students.
What is going on in the home, that allows a small child to act out this way? Why are parents not made accountable?
Parents need help now, not when that child becomes a teenager, as it is then too late.
If wayward behaviour is reoccurring, mandatory assessment of the home is needed along with regular sessions visiting a psychologist.
A dose of reality, via a slap in the face, cleaning up the classroom and even paying for the repair is what really is needed to allow them to wake up and acknowledge that they are on track to ruining their child’s life and lessening any hope they will be as a functioning member of society.
Schools once taught respect, honour, self-worth, caring and sharing, yet somehow rights and “don’t tell me what to do” has overshadowed this, due to PC rubbish.
I have had enough of hearing stories about reoccurring behaviour at this school by the same students. How many other schools put up with the same behaviour, we don’t know about? The state government needs to address this now.
Natalie White, Safety Beach
Christmas gift
On Friday 21 November, my husband, myself and my assistant dog were shopping in the Reject Shop in Hastings.
When we reached the counter the cashier asked if there was any other dogs in the shop. I said I had not seen any so she reached behind the cash register and produced a lovely Christmas teddy reindeer.
A customer had bought it for my dog because he “is beautiful”
Thank you to the person and we wish you and yours and very happy festive season.
Elizabeth Turner, Balnarring Beach
Christmas decorations
I am wondering if the Main Street in Mornington is going to have some Christmas decorations and cheer this year.
Mornington is the gateway to the peninsula and should be celebrating this festive season.
Christmas is all about the children but the council don’t go to any effort or expense to make our Main Street bling.
Even some lights in the trees would add some atmosphere. Get into the spirit.
Elizabeth Barstow, Mornington
Editors note: The Mornington Chamber of Commerce has advised The News that Christmas “pole wraps” and signage have been placed along Main Street over the last weekend. During the coming week a three metre tall Christmas tree with lights will be installed in Empire Mall.
Also at Empire Mall will be the installation of a children’s Christmas art gallery that will have around 40 pieces of art.
The chamber have also installed Christmas flags on the Nepean Highway, encouraging visitors to Main Street.
Many shops along Main Street are partaking in the decoration of their shop fronts in celebration of Christmas.
During the next week, a community-led yarn bombing will occur, that will involve the wrapping of around 40 trees along Main Street with knitted Christmas decorations.
A community carols will be hosted by the chamber on 13 December at Mornington Park.
On 20 December, Santa will be in Mornington, along with roving music entertainment.
On Tuesday 23 December the Mornington Christmas Main Street Market will be held (no Wednesday market on Christmas eve), with another visit by Santa, Faery Emma and live music from roving musicians.
Housing crisis
What a pity it took a visit, arranged by the Southern Women’s Action Network (SWAN), by Josh Burns, the federal Labor Special Envoy for Housing and Homelessness, for Zoe McKenzie to finally realise that there is a housing and homelessness crisis in her electorate.
This alarming situation has been obvious for a long time, but McKenzie has appeared to be deaf to the calls from housing workers, the shire, community advocates, The News and SWAN for urgent action.
We have heard very little from our MP while the crisis in our community has continued to worsen. This is not surprising given her party did not even have a designated Minister for Housing and opposed the Housing Australia Future Fund which is now providing thousands of social and affordable Houses across Australia.
And yes, McKenzie voted with the Coalition to oppose the HAFF and the Coalition’s policy on housing was to allow people to prematurely draw money from their superannuation, doing nothing to address the crisis.
It is good to see that McKenzie has now realised that the peninsula has the highest recorded homelessness figures in Victoria. As Burns said, the crisis should be less about the politics and instead focus on giving people the hope of getting into a home.
Let us hope that McKenzie will now work across the political spectrum to stop point scoring and work constructively to demand the peninsula receives its fair share of state and federal government funding. The situation has never been worse and the need more urgent.
Thanks must go to the SWAN for their long-standing advocacy and their practical approach of initiating the visit of the Special Envoy to our community, allowing him to hear and see firsthand the challenges our community support centres and housing workers are bravely facing every day.
Marg D’Arcy, Rye
No outsiders
I found your response to my letter to be somewhat patronising and dismissive. You don’t need to justify your reasons as you are the editor (Locals only? Letters 25/11/25)
However it seems there is a pattern in these letters, mostly pushing current political issues with their opinions. Why would a holidaymaker need to discuss climate change, or treaty, in a local paper if they are just visiting?
As I said previously, there are quite enough divided opinions on these matters without outsiders adding to the conversation.
Tina Bennett, Somerville
Outside interest
The reason that there are usually a number of letters (Locals only?, Letters 18/11/25) from people who do not live on the actual peninsula is that they may well have relatives who live here or more likely have a second home on the peninsula.
They would have been attracted by the fairly relaxed lifestyle and also the relatively pristine environment.
For example, just in Mount Martha alone we have the Balcombe estuary, The Briars and the Mt Martha shops which is a quaint and charming little shopping precinct.
It is only reasonable that apparent outsiders to the peninsula would take an interest in its affairs and would want to do what they can to protect the uniqueness of the area and its natural environment.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Beach cleaning
DEECA’s rejection of machine cleaning on many of our bay beaches will allow for the protection of endangered species in our inter-tidal zone.
It will also, minimize disturbance and compaction which is caused by heavy machinery. This includes documented removal of natural rocks, undue disturbance and loss of sand and also, seaweed – all imperative to sand accretion and erosion control.
It must also, be stated that seaweed provides essential foraging for a range of marine and avian creates.
Our beaches are natural inter-active ecosystems, which in a time of increased urbanization and climate change, must be protected at all costs.
Ann Scholes, Mount Eliza
Merricks Creek
As a pristine estuary, Merricks Creek was once teeming with marine life including several fish species, crabs, and shrimps. This bountiful environment attracted a variety of birdlife and in turn, would have been a great food resource for the native Bunarong people before the arrival of white settlers. Even as late as the early 1950’s, the creek remained a deep, healthy estuary, being actively used for recreation, including fishing, swimming, and to a lesser extent boating and canoeing.
Subsequent human development and the building of dams in and around the river catchment, together with some unfortunate planning decisions that allowed residential subdivision of the sand dune precinct at the mouth of the estuary, have collectively contributed to the gradual degradation of this once pristine waterway.
That has been further exacerbated by foreshore erosion and well-intentioned, but dubious, engineering works, which inadvertently promoted an influx of seaweed and sand into the creek, leading to the significant shallowing of water depth and an ongoing odour problem throughout the creek due to the putrefaction of the accumulated seaweed.
It would be fair to say that today the creek remains little more than a drainage outfall and at its worse, a smelly nuisance, hazardous to both humans and wildlife.
Nevertheless, I believe that there is a potential for this waterway to once again become an ecological jewel along this coastline.
I ask that the council supports the establishment of a committee of management for the creek, namely, “The Merricks Creek Association”’, comprising interested residents and if possible, representatives from the responsible authorities for the catchment.
To overlook the need for action now is, I believe, akin to environmental vandalism and may consign this once beautiful waterway to that of a permanent, and often smelly, drain.
Ian Hester, Balnarring
Sea power not a starter
In response to Bruce Wearing-Smith query as to why tides cannot be used to create electricity (Sea power?, Letters 25/11/25), I offer the following.
Energy in fluids is either potential (pressure) or kinetic (velocity). These are interchangeable. At high tide its all potential, at mid-tide some of that water-head is converted to flow, and could be passed through a turbine, converting it to electricity.
Western Port Bay is about 300 square kilometres in area, and each cubic metre contains 0.00279kWh of energy, so with a one metre tide there is 837MWh stored. All sounds good.
Problem is the water level in the bay follows the sea tide by about 15 minutes, so the level difference is significantly less than a metre, and the subsequent surface velocity of water at San Remo is about 2m/s and at Cape Schanck is about 0.2m/s, and significantly less at depth. Compare this to a fresh-water hydro-electric turbine at around 20m/s plus.
If we dammed up the bay entrances to get the full metre tide difference, and funnelled that through a bank of turbines (say 1000), the velocity would still be low due to the small water-head, and coupled to the short 4-times-a-day availability of peak tides and troughs, power would be minimal. Of course shipping in the bay would be excluded.
But here is the real kicker. The seawater is alive. No not baby seals or sea-dragons, but mollusks like muscles and barnacles, seaweed, thongs, floating plastic and a host of other rubbish. The spinning turbines would not operate for very long before they blocked.
High capital cost; high maintenance cost; low output. Sorry, but it’s just not a starter.
John Dusting, Mornington
Tidal not appropriate
Bruce Wearing-Smith asks whether tidal power in Western Port Bay is feasible (Sea power?, Letters 25/11/25).
The Tidal Energy in Australia report identified only two suitable sites: Banks Strait in northeast Tasmania and Clarence Strait near Darwin. Even these, with tidal velocities of 2–2.5 metres per second (m/s), are less energetic than overseas sites where converters typically operate in flows of about 4 m/s.
The study also assessed grid proximity, water depth, marine protected areas and other environmental constraints. Western Port Bay, a Ramsar-listed wetland with tidal flows of just 0.6 m/s, does not meet the criteria.
Bruce also raises environmental concerns about solar and wind, yet their impacts are far smaller than those of fossil fuels and can be managed under Australia’s environment laws —currently being reviewed and needing strengthening.
Tidal energy converters have their own impacts, including changes to hydrodynamics and sediments, habitat modification, collision risks for marine animals and disturbance during installation. Every energy source has trade-offs, and tidal power is still costly — around twice the price of solar and onshore wind.
Victoria’s night-time demand will soon be met largely through more wind generation, expanded big-battery storage including Snowy 2.0, and hydropower from Tasmania via Marinus Link. With coal plants set to close in the 2030s, it’s certain energy will remain a major talking point over the coming decade.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Renewable energy
Having noticed repeated claims lately by governments as well as fanatics that renewable energy is the only way to go, I also noted that the Tomago aluminium smelter might have to close because of higher power costs.
This smelter contributes $2.2b annually to our economy and 1000 skilled jobs. I believe that the real reason for projected closure is that there is not enough reliable electricity now. The smelter requires about 900 Mw of electric power, continuously, 24/7. It cannot stop.
Technical data is hard to find, but for example, Mt. Gellibrand wind farm, costing $258m, has 44 turbines of 3 Megawatts each. That’s 132 Mw, right? Wrong. That rating is for maximum output, in high wind.
All wind generators in S.E. Australia have a capacity factor of 30% to 35%, which means that, over 24 hours of variable, or nil, winds, the averaged output of the windmill is about one third of the much- touted and boasted windmill capacity.
So, that 132 Mw, above, is only 44 Mw coming out of that entire wind farm,on a constant basis. Not much for the trouble.
One single modern coal fired generator of 500 Mw can reliably generate 500Mw 24/7. That’s 11 of those unreliable wind farms, and the coal, or nuclear, generator doesn’t stop if the wind drops.
At end of life, replace about 500 wind turbines versus one central 500 Mw generator. And never forget that solar panels don’t work at night.
I see talk of necessary giant batteries, one planned is around 17,000 tonnes, costing $200m, capable of 500 Mw for four hours before it goes flat. That’s just one.
Australia has no industrial future and can never be the dynamic industrial powerhouse that it once was.
Brian A Mitchelson, Mornington
Liberal leadership
Sussan Ley became the first female to lead the Liberal Party of Australia recently. Then her mother died; that is a milestone in anyone’s life, and a sad one. After, the National Party seemed to be breaking away from the Liberals.
Within a week or so, Sussan rectified this.
It was necessary because the Liberals have been joined at the hip to the Nationals (formerly the Country Party), for something like 50 years.
All this happened in about three to four weeks of her leadership.
What a woman to survive all that in such a short time, and no anger, whineing or tears; just courage and ability!
Go forward a few more weeks and Andrew Hastie leaves the cabinet; he was an important member. The leader has Angus Taylor hovering in the background along with Sarah Henderson saying “It’s the worst I’ve ever seen our Party”. All this is very destabling for the party and the leader.
Mary Lane, Mornington
Voting record
I was surprised with MP McKenzie’s response to my recent letter (Liberal Climate Plan?, Letters 25/11/25) where I outlined the disconnect between the Liberal Party’s lack of meaningful climate policy and her declaration of a “special duty” to Pacific Island States with respect to climate change.
Instead of engaging with the content of my critique, she took to social media to reduce legitimate questions surrounding her Net Zero revocation to “attacks from the teals”, appearing to invalidate my concerns – which are shared by tens of thousands in the electorate – on the basis of my assumed voting pattern.
It was also suggested that The News should have investigated and printed said voting pattern along with my letter.
Should this Trumpian rule apply to all submissions that question our Member?
The assumed voting patterns of constituents shouldn’t preclude sitting members of parliament from addressing concerns from constituents on important matters. They are, after all, tasked with representing and being accountable to all of us – no matter how we vote.
All constituents have the civic right (and duty) to raise questions and make respectful commentary on policies, as I did. My letter was an expression of this right, as a constituent of Flinders.
“Letters to the Editor” and other forms of communication that seek to hold decision makers across the political spectrum to account on their policies are not “attacks”.
Framing them this way undermines our fundamental right to participate in decisions that affect us and discourages others from asking questions of their representatives.
The Liberal Party approval rating among Millennials is currently at 23%, and Gen Z voters at just 10%. When representatives dismiss our concerns on poor policy, which we inherit the consequences of, they become irrelevant and votes are lost. That’s a real loss for democracy.
Karli Baker, Dromana
Dismissing constituent
Zoe McKenzie responded to my letter about her Net Zero stance by dismissing me as Ben Smith’s campaign manager on social media. For the record, I was a volunteer, not his campaign manager. But more importantly, that’s completely beside the point.
I’m a constituent in Flinders. I pay taxes, I vote, and I have every right to ask my federal member where she stands on policy that affects my community. Zoe’s decision to deflect rather than answer speaks volumes about her approach to representation.
She could have simply stated her position. “I support Net Zero” or “I don’t support Net Zero” or even “I’m still considering the evidence.” Instead, she chose to attack my credibility rather than address the substance of my question.
Yes, I volunteered for Ben Smith’s campaign. I did so because climate action matters to me and to thousands of other Flinders voters. That doesn’t revoke my citizenship or my right to hold my elected representative accountable.
The question remains unchanged: What did Zoe say in that Liberal Party room meeting about Net Zero? Does she agree with the International Energy Agency’s evidence that it’s the cheapest path for Australian households? Does she care that her own party’s polling shows Flinders voters want sensible climate action?
This isn’t about partisan point scoring. It’s about basic transparency and integrity. When a constituent asks their member a direct policy question, they deserve a direct answer, not a personal attack posted on Instagram.
My concerns about climate policy, energy costs, and political accountability don’t become invalid just because I volunteered for her opponent. That’s not how democracy works.
Kim Robbins, Safety Beach
Against Treaty
Self-determination for First Peoples? Weasel words! Are the super-citizens created by Victoria’s treaty law going to pay their own way or renounce their other citizenship?
I beg leave to remind Eric Smith (Welcomed Treaty, Letters 25/11/25), who uses the child’s argument in favour of a treaty (“Everybody else has one”), and Joan Doyle (War on Treaty, Letters 25/11/25), a proselytising promoter of the concepts of inherited guilt and guilt by association, that only about 11% of those eligible voted in the election for Victoria’s “First Peoples’ Assembly”, one of the nominated tasks of which was to negotiate a treaty. Perhaps this division of citizens by race lacks support among our indigenous relatives too.
While Joan Doyle’s belief that language and culture are objects that can be stolen is obviously irrational, as is her belief that the kidnapping of aboriginal women by Bass Strait sealers before the settlement of Melbourne proves that slavery existed in Victoria, I do agree with her that racism still exists here. Indeed I would argue that racism is endemic in this state.
Firstly, the Victorian government believes that its aboriginal citizens are incapable of creating their own political organisations should they wish to do so, so has created one for them.
Secondly, twenty-first century non-aboriginal Victorians are blamed for eighteenth century British colonialism, and are required to compensate the twenty-first century mix-raced descendants of eighteenth century aboriginals for it.
Finally, all aboriginals, including university professors, business executives and professional people are considered to be disadvantaged and non-aboriginal Victorians blamed for this, despite the necessarily hand-to-mouth traditional aboriginal culture. I would remind your readers that traditional aboriginals had no clothes other than animal skins, no houses, no iron, copper or bronze tools, no pottery or crockery (not even cups), and no money.
Albert Riley, Mornington
Treaty claims absurd
Claims that Victoria’s new First Peoples’ representative body will “interfere in any government function” or “create separate laws for First Nations people” are inaccurate and not supported by the treaty legislation or credible reporting. These claims are circulating mainly through social media, political commentary rather than mainstream newspapers.
The most extreme assertions come from Facebook posts and online commentary portraying the representative body as an all-powerful “elite” with veto authority over government decisions. AAP FactCheck has repeatedly debunked these claims, confirming that the powers are advisory and consultative, not binding. The Assembly cannot veto legislation or take over government functions.
The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), a radical conservative “think” tank, has framed the treaty as a “separate, parallel system of government granting special rights”, influencing online debate not reflecting the actual legal provisions. These critiques are opinion pieces, not news reporting. Other than the Herald Sun, even the Murdoch Empire, clearly critical of the treaty, reports that the representative body will make “formal representations” but it’s not framed as having total control or veto. Then there’s QAnon narrative from Advance Australia.
The Victorian Liberal opposition argues the treaty risks establishing “another level of government”; a populist political position, not factual descriptions of the powers granted by the legislation.
Most mainstream media report more accurately, confirming that the treaty will have formal recognition and the ability to advise on policies affecting First Peoples, including truth-telling in education. They make clear that the Parliament retains full legislative authority, and the Assembly does not control the school curriculum or possess law-making power.
The strongest claims about sweeping powers or the creation of separate legal systems come not from major newspapers but from QAnon social media, opinion-driven commentary, and populist political rhetoric, all contradicted by fact-checks and the legislation itself.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Pensioner desexing?
Not sure whether I was amused, bemused or terrified at the comment reported from a recent council meeting, which stated in part “that there should be subsidised desexing for pensioners” (Shire adopts new Animal Management Plan, The News 11/11/25).
As an old fellow, hopefully with a few more active years, this did bring on some concern.
Is this a step too far for our worthy councillors.
Peter Meeking, Blairgowrie
Barley-Charlie@89
December 2025, surely better than November, apart from the cricket?
Mellow, the oncoming, the part of the year when everyone is nice to each other, equanimity, even gregarious human beings?
On politics it’s all about power prices, thus the courage of Anthony (gone walkabout?) Albanese’s powerful (no Opposition) Labor government.
What became of the gender diversity issues? Susan (no net zero) who (?), maybe align with the “Get Danny Andrews” mob?
A mental break, acting: I spent time in theatre, working to a live audience, unlike most actors never ambitious, likely because I could always get work at racetracks before computers arrived.
Likewise film and television, smaller parts. Friends, the odd one or two idiots, particularly, “tickets on themselves” not necessarily deserved?
Television, playing to an imaginary crowd without throwing the voice, learn the words, free coffee, food, lots of chatting, home, bigger pay packets. Not so film, Gestapo directors, strange thoughts relating to their unidentified creativity, shoot and reshoot, same scene, ignore, yawn.
Twenty years in the Commonwealth Public Service, alongside artistic backstabbers, enough to cleanse any ideas of advancement, in retrospect a bonus.
Checked my 2026 horoscope; “a defining year for love and wealth, early unexpected expenses and health concerns.” Wealth? Settle for a Collingwood flag.
“If you haven’t got a penny a halfpenny will do. If not, God bless you.”
Cliff Ellen, Rye
