The Beagle Editor,
Cr Innes's justification for her apology to Prime Minister Morrison for Cobargo resident's hostility to his public relations visit after the fires there does not stack up.
She claims" "I absolutely understand why they reacted the way they did"; and describes Cobargo as "her area" and "I'm distressed that's the image that has been put put from my part of the world".
If a community which is not in your Shire has lost many houses, shops and lives it is arrogant and patronising to pretend you know what they are going through and to apologise for their behaviour.
It is notable that Andrew Constance, the State Member for Bega said instead to the media on 3 January: "The Prime Minister got the welcome he probably deserved." He also noted that the Prime Minister did not even bother to notify him of his visit.
It is also notable that on August 13,2019 Cr Innes used her deciding vote against a motion declaring a climate emergency in Eurobodalla Shire. This would have assisted earlier recognition of the threat of firestorms to our region.
Cr Innes support of a counter motion which did not use the term "climate change" and referring to the the election of the Morrison Government as justifying her position shows that she is more interested in being political than a rational, scientific or even common sense position on the interests of the people of Eurobodalla.
We need real leadership of our Shire which accepts that the climate has changed and prepares to fight big fires from now on.
Yours sincerely,
Francis Ross
