General News
26 February, 2026
Your throughts: our latest letters to the editor
Readers write on local and state issues
Sir In reference to the front page article (Loddon Herald, Febuary 12 - Amber Alert), I would have to say that this has been the best newspaper story that i have read in a very long time.
Full points for this story. The majority of the Media in Australia would never run with this type of story.
So you should be congratulated for standing alone and fufilling the work that the others are not prepared to do from fear of any negativity.
The media is supposed to be our voices directly to show our concerns with the Government. Well done.
Brian Young
Wedderburn
There’s a housing
crisis and it’s here
Sir, Again I shake my head and sigh at Loddon Shires inability to realise there is a real housing crisis happening-and yes happening even here in their shire.
When Ahmad led Amber to council offices (Loddon Herald, February 12), he was, in reality, representing many ratepayers and Australians who either cannot afford, or do not want, regular brick and motor dwellings, on their land.
Yet still council regulations halt all attempts to realise these other forms of housing.
Caravans, lifestyle sheds, shipping containers, tiny houses on wheels, transportable sheds -all these are readily available, modifiable and liveable, yet cannot be given permanent dwelling or occupancy permits under current legislation used within Loddon Shire.
Other shires have realised this and looked into ways to incorporate flexibility- allowing their constituents to utilise and beautify their own land; meaning the communities as a whole benefit.
Money is spent locally, local school numbers are kept up, businesses can operate and keep doors open, allowing areas to progress and expand. Painting a different picture than the falling numbers and scores of empty or closing shops and businesses seen throughout Loddon.
Much is focused on tourism within the shire, and is a good asset, but councils need citizens permanently residing to have said tourism!
Until Loddon Shire councillors address their archaic and unbending laws in relation to alternative housing needs and requirements, this shire will not be a progressive, inviting place, attracting both permanent and visiting populations.
Adrienne Mackintosh
Inglewood
The cost of
corruption claims
Sir, Geoffrey Watson’s report into CFMEU corruption on Victoria’s Big Build construction sites makes for distressing reading.
The revelation $15 billion of Victorian taxpayer’s money ended up in the hands of bikies and organised crime figures, and the Allan Labor Government knew but did nothing about it, is a gut-punch to every hardworking Victorian - $15 billion dollars is the equivalent of over $5,000 for every Victorian household.
It could have paid for over 130,000 police officers, nurses, or teachers.
It could have provided a significant funding increase to the CFA – for decades to come – instead of the $55 million cut the Allan Government made.
It could have fixed our roads.
It could have increased support for farmers, regional schools, regional small businesses, regional hospitals, regional disability care, and mental healthcare services.
Instead, the Government has let regional Victorians down.
The CFMEU has underpinned Premier Jacinta Allan and the Labor Party for decades. As Minister for Transport Infrastructure and now Premier, she has been compromised in her ability to act against the CFMEU and stamp out corruption.
The Nationals and Liberals have referred the largest corruption case in Victoria’s history to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) for investigation. Victorians deserve answers and accountability.
The Nationals in government have committed to a Royal Commission to root out corruption and clean up our major project sites.
Danny O’Brien
Leader of The Nationals
LETTERS
Letters to the editor can be sent to news@loddonherald.com.au. They should include the writer’s address and contact details (not for publication) for verification purposes. Letters should be of 300 words or less and may be edtied for legal or speace reasons.