There really are only a few stories in there and most of them are complete beat-ups. The sad thing is that APN is really successful in their hundreds of local markets, so obviously their strategy works.

On the other hand, it probably would be difficult to fill a newspaper with stories every day in Hervey Bay. Newspapers that sell anyway!

I do however agree with Sadman, that you really can’t pick a fight with them – it isn’t a good look and they have all the power. Plus, the war of words would probably benefit their circulation – especially when it’s about Centro.

Sensationalism sells papers, you must have heard that old adage “never let the truth get in the way of a good story”? Trying to combat a newspaper puts you on a hiding to nothing, you just can’t win. It’s a bit like the pollies first law “if you tell a lie often enough, it becomes thetruth”.

Now to the facts of this matter. This region has always had proportinately high unemployment. It was and still is basically a rural region. I doubt it will change in my lifetime. In fact it is one of the reasons people move here.

To keep increasing housing and the population without creating a wide range of employment, is a recipe for desaster. Idle hands do the devils work is a saying with much truth in it, so what to do?

Well we will never attracked large industries here and I doubt the people want them. So we have to make the best of what we have. Climate, clean environment, layed back lifestyle. Which in turn means, tourism, aged care, cottage industries, education and of course rural industries. At these we have to make ourselves the VERY BEST.

Nothing and I repeat nothing can or should be allowed to detract in any way from what we have. Some of the suggestions of late have little chance of success and are in fact industries other regions are trying to do away with.

In this time of a world financial decline, for the people and our council to allow themselves to be panicked into
bad decisions. As a result of the media, the development industry and self interest, will in the long term kill what keeps this region alive.

Sadman