Demanding our fair share
I am writing in response to last week’s article on homelessness (Foreshore fury over abandoned homeless camp, The News 3/2/26), which details some of the major homelessness and sleeping-rough challenges the southern Mornington Peninsula faces. Most of your readers will know that the Mornington Peninsula now has the unenviable claim of having the highest rate of people sleeping-rough in metropolitan Melbourne.
The article contains a quote from the Victorian government, which cites the peninsula’s 4,500 Airbnb homes as a critical factor in this problem, and that’s why “the short stay levy is critical to building more social housing”.
In the past two years, the Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula has met with the Minister for Housing and written to Homes Victoria clarifying where the funds raised from the short-stay levy will be spent. We have also directly raised this with the Victorian Treasurer.
There has been no indication, statement, or announcement that any funding from the short-stay levy will be spent on housing or homelessness support services in the Mornington Peninsula Shire.
In fact, funds raised from this levy are consolidated within Homes Victoria – an organisation tasked with finding locations for suitable housing projects around key activity centres in and around Melbourne – while 25% of revenue raised is reserved for projects in Regional Victoria.
To remediate this, the government could increase our share of funding distributed under the Big Housing Build. To date, the shire has received $14m from this program, while our neighbours across the bay in Geelong have received $487.5m.
The committee stands with this region’s hard working community support services and frontline providers, and we continue to respectfully demand our fair share of funding to address our own housing and homelessness challenges.
Joshua Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer Committee for Frankston & Mornington Peninsula
Homeless not shire issue
Providing accommodation for the homeless is not the responsibility of the shire (Homeless responsibility, Letters 3/2/26).
Who would pay for these homes, who would pay for the upkeep and the services?
The costs would have to be added to our rates, and it would be a large amount. Plus, the on going extra staff costs for the shire to administer the properties. The shire already provides support and services. I also wonder how would you expect the shire to select the most needy as we will never get to the end of the growing list of homeless people.
It may be best to provide support to help and encourage people to be self sufficient and try to reverse the reason why they are homeless.
John King, McCrae
Zero expenditure?
The Australian Electoral Commission’s “Transparency Register” has been updated with 2025 required data.
After all of the complaining and attacks by Zoe McKenzie about Ben Smith’s spending it is interesting that she did not spend anything on her election.
The 2025 Federal Election Candidate Return has Zoe’s total electoral expenditure at zero.
So she ran her campaign for free! Such a deal!
And the new donations regulations do not fix this problem, they exacerbate it.
Joe Lenzo, Safety Beach
Editor’s note: Under the AEC rules, the “Transparency Register” does not include the candidates from registered political parties who “may submit a ‘nil return’ and roll their reporting into the annual return for their party if those financial transactions were the responsibility of a party committee”.
Thanks Liberal supporters
I’d like to thank all those voters who supported the Liberals in the last state election.
Not only did you kick out the local, Labor’s Chris Brayne, who gave us much needed renovations of our schools, new bus time tables and an express bus service to Frankston among other things that we would never have if the Liberals were in.
The Liberals also voted in a candidate that for reasons known only to him, has created a situation where he’s pulled the pin and we, the taxpayer, are up for millions of bucks for a costly by-election.
John Cain, McCrae
Shire demerger
When three local councils were merged in 1998 to make the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, the state was broke.
Multiple shire CEO’s each earning as much as $400k became one. Direct shire employee numbers were reduced, and services were out sourced with “competitive tender”. Now… the state is still broke.
Hastings’ population has increased over 30% since 1998. It is likely that the entire MPSC has increased just as much. Each time I pass a roundabout with one metre high weeds, swerve a pothole, or see a shire contractor pass a pile of dumped rubbish, I reminisce about our Hastings Shire and the townships it managed.
The towns were tidy, and the council seemed efficient. At least that is what I remember!
Is it not time for talking about demerging the MPSC in some form to improve services and productivity for better outcomes?
A. Barling, Bittern
Review needed
I would like to respond to the letter from Brian A Mitchelson (Lucky to have BlueScope, Letters 2/2/2026).
I understand that the BlueScope is a large employer and has made donations to our schools and sponsored Hastings SES, Rotary and others over the years.
Their website states “… In financial year 2024, BlueScope Western Port contributed $50,000 to the local community via our sponsorship and donation program…”
It is highly unlikely that BlueScope would shut down its Hastings facility to avoid paying more annual rates to Mornington Peninsula Shire.
I did contact the shire regarding BlueScope’s land rates and site valuation and was advised “… With respect to the Steelworks property, valuations are undertaken by the Victorian State Government. As such, Council is not able to alter or challenge these valuations on behalf of property owners… the rates collected from the Steelworks under the current differential rate are significantly higher than what would be received if the property were charged at the general rate in the dollar. Council is satisfied that the current arrangement ensures an appropriate contribution from both the Steelworks and BlueScope.”
I still believe the Western Port (Steel Works Rating) Act 1972 is no longer fit for purpose by allowing BlueScope to pay the same annual rates of $840,000 on 1700 acres of land since 1983. An updated valuation of the BlueScope land and buildings/equipment is required to determine the current capital improved value of the industrial site.
Regarding general rates on the Mornington Peninsula, residential, commercial and industrial properties pay the same amount while other councils have lower rates for residential property owners.
Frankston City Council general rates for residential property are 20% lower than commercial and industrial properties.
Should families and retirees living on the Mornington Peninsula pay the same rates as liquor stores, pokies venues, supermarkets or the Esso gas facility?
Public feedback on the Shire’s Rating Strategy Review closes on Sunday 15 February 2026. shape.mornpen.vic.gov.au/rating-strategy-review
Dale Stohr, Crib Point
Thanks to BlueScope
On behalf of the Hastings Seafarers Centre Inc. I wish to also state that we are lucky to have BlueScope (Lucky to have BlueScope, Letters 3/2/25).
The Seafarers Centre provides “R & R” facilities and bus transport for crews with shore leave from ships that berth at the three wharves in the Port of Hastings. The centre is staffed totally by volunteers from three of the churches in Hastings (Anglican, Roman Catholic and Uniting) from a building supplied by BlueScope (then BHP) on BlueScope land at the end of Bayview Road.
BlueScope, at their wharf, together with Esso at Long Island Point and United Petroleum who use Crib Point Jetty, are businesses who continually support us as an organisation in a number of different ways.
Australians should all remember that we are an “island” nation and more than 75% of what we need, use or want comes in by ship, offset by a wide variety of exports that leave by ship.
For the good of Australia, let’s all look at “the big picture” for the good around us.
Deirdre McLean, Acting Chair, Hastings Seafarers Centre Inc
Give politics a rest
Let’s give it a rest please. We know that a state election is coming at the end of the year so at least stop writing in with political claptrap and get on to something more important.
There are many organisations on the peninsula (the shire will provide you with a list of them) that are desperate to get more volunteers to help with the various activities.
It does not matter how much time you have to spare but giving your time is important in keeping our wonderful peninsula running smoothly.
Whether it is helping with student driving lessons, Rotary, your local CFA brigade etc, they all have many areas that you can help with.
So stop whinging and get off your backsides and volunteer. You’ll be surprised how good you feel when you have helped someone achieve their goal or, indeed, helped them with something that they are unable to do for themselves.
So no more political claptrap. Doing something more useful would be appreciated.
Barry Kirkpatrick, Mt Martha
Road barriers
I’ve seen a number of signs in the higher reaches of the peninsula deriding the installation of road barriers. Unsightly. A disturbance to tranquillity. A blight on nature.
Red Hill tops out at 251m above sea level, scientifically not quite high enough for a shortage of oxygen to affect decision making. But what else to make of this strident opposition to a feature saving lives?
On another note, I’m sure a number of local community groups would appreciate volunteers, but where do we find the time?
Nick Schaffer, Rosebud
Cooling earth
A good question from Alan Reid (Cooler earth in 2025, Letters 3/2/25), and one well answered by the editor. A little further context may help.
While carbon dioxide is responsible for most global warming (around 64 per cent), it is not the only factor. Other greenhouse gases, including methane and CFCs, contribute a further 27 per cent.
Natural climate variability also plays a role. As the World Meteorological Organisation explains, 2025 was a La Niña year, which tends to have a cooling effect on the tropical Pacific.
The global average temperature record from the Copernicus Climate Change Service shows both this short-term variability and the unmistakable long-term warming trend. That trend is driven by the increase in atmospheric CO₂, clearly illustrated in the graph at science.nasa.gov/climate-change/evidence/ showing the dramatic rise in recent decades.
With La Niña now fading, forecasters are watching for a return of El Niño conditions later this year. If that occurs, it is highly likely that 2026 will be warmer than 2025, and possibly the hottest year on record. No doubt Alan will be watching with interest.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Turbine trouble?
Dr. Amy Hiller is rightly concerned about the number of koala deaths on the Mornington Peninsula (Koala deaths, Letters 3/2/26).
I am still waiting for her reply regarding the swathes of koala habitat cleared for wind turbines across Australia.
Sue Glenn, Mornington
Immigration levels
I was shocked in the last federal election when Anthony Albanese made a statement leaving me with the impression that immigration numbers were something out the federal government’s hands.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, “net immigration to Australia for the year ending March 2025 was 315,900 people; a decrease of 36% from the previous year” (ABS website).
In believe this is far too high for homogeneous growth and should be drastically reduced to much lower levels; say 40,000.
Of course, people want to immigrate here to our beautiful country and escape factors such as war, overpopulation, repressive governments, limited employment opportunities or poor wages and a bleak future. However, in my opinion such a rapid and massive influx in migrants will generate its own unwanted problems for Australia’s future.
The volume and number of different languages one hears on the street every day is a clear indication that Australia is changing rapidly. Each culture comes with its own values and bonds, which I believe has its own set of problems from political leverage to employment to respect for others. In addition, massive immigration can only exacerbate the lack of housing and financial difficulties young Australians face in purchasing a house.
Australia is lacking in many key employment areas from medical staff to police to farm hands and even defence. Our government needs to ascertain how “we” deal with this, but it needs to be transparent and logical not just a policy of using immigration to balance the books. If it cannot do this, then we will see a fracturing in our society and a rise in cruel and radical anti-immigration elements, like in many other countries, and pay the price for it.
Henry Kelsall,
The Sustainable Future Association
National pride?
I am being marginalised and disparaged by some members of my local club for daring to ask if we were going to be celebrating Australia day?
Our administrator from one of our community WhatsApp has cancelled my enquiry and inferred through posting a request to avoid political posts, that my same enquiry on this app is political and thereby inappropriate?
Our local club has celebrated Australia Day since its inception in the late sixties but post Covid this is suddenly a “no no”, even to discuss it!
While certain members attend or support the Invasion Day celebrations at “The Briars”, it appears it is considered politically and socially inappropriate to openly discuss or celebrate Australia day on 26 January and they pull rank from their acquired positions in clubs, organisations or social media platforms to close down conversations and activities related to our national day of celebrations.
When did our national pride and flying just one uniting flag on Australia Day become a toxic political subject matter and an act to be frowned upon?
Michelle Gregory, Somers
BarleyCharlie@Almost90 Random thoughts, sometimes called niggles.
Consistently, letters to the editor contain the phrase “ordinary Australians” some adding “ordinary and decent” Australians. What (in God’s name?) do they mean, or infer? A special breed? Personally, my inclination means it rolls off their tongues, unconnected with true blue Australians.
Like always we live in strange times. Princess Pauline and Mister B Joyce running second to Albo’s lot, no doubt the increased numbers for white Aussie Pauline attributed to disillusioned Liberal voters, normally within the one (political) thought process: “Anything but Labor.”
Paul Keating for clarity? His previous – Blind deference to Washington risking subordinating Australian interests to unpredictable U.S. priorities, once dismissed by some as contrarian, now rings with striking clarity 2026.
With Trump’s return to the White House bringing renewed unpredictability – threatened tariffs on allies, territorial ambitions like Greenland, and a transactional approach to alliances – Keating’s warning looks less like radicalism and more like realism.
As the U.S. under Trump appears to prioritise “America First” with little regard for multilateral norms or allied concerns, Australia’s deep entanglement in arrangements like AUKUS – costing hundreds of billions – feels increasingly mismatched.
Into February, 50 days to the big Nine O. A rethink, living for the moments, a Magpie victory, birthday bash and oysters. A strange situation into the nineties, most previous years connected to my future; and now, what future? As a younger man I enjoyed a night of playing poker with a win of a small amount in a particular game. Which has now grown up to mean small moments of happiness, similar (very) to a Collingwood AFL victory or (better still?) a pension rise applicable to an ordinary decent Australian? Just saying.
Cliff Ellen, Rye