These days, as our rivers become polluted by toxic coal wastewater or siphoned off by lobbyist big business, this resource is already being threatened within Australia. In a season of patchy rainfall this can make all the difference to dam levels and quality of water.

Whilst great amounts of energy and money are being spent on a national debate, that of whether homosexual couples may take on the nomenclature of ‘Marriage’ for the civil partnership that is already in legal place for them, and rightly so, perhaps the truly pressing issues are being sidestepped.

That of resources.

What if we face a country, a world, where there isn’t sufficient fresh water, or food?

We need to be thinking about this.

On a national level, and with Australia’s greatest benefit in mind, we should stop selling off our sovereign land to foreign concerns.

We should instead support our farmers and increase arable land by cleverly harnessing and then harvesting water.

The resultant lush farming product can then translate to an export of the future.

In this age of science and wonders, Oz (including our beautiful Southern Highlands) could become a sustainable food bowl for the world.

Let’s get on with the huge issues that matter.

I join the many objecting to the state's planned de-funding of advocacy services in disability and mental health.

When you study the role of these services you realise how valuable is their work in providing for the needs of these disadvantaged groups in our society.

The NDIS will not provide the services these NSW agencies do. There is in truth a need for more such agencies.

Need convincing? Just look, for example, at the unacceptable number of homeless individuals we have today. And, then, the number who have mental health or intellectual issues making up the prison population. 

Never count on the Commonwealth to get things done as well as they should be.