Recently the Premier of NSW postponed local government elections for 12 months, to September 2021.

The Bega Valley Shire has suffered drought, fire and coronavirus and compulsory lockdown resulting in major loss of business and income.

The present council, in place for nearly four years, has created a general fund debt of $14.1million, plus spent a federal grant in advance of some $3.3m, and when finally audited last month failed audit benchmarks - and councillors without any qualifications adopted and verified that audit.

The mayor of the Bega Valley until last week was Kristy McBain, the newly nominated Labor candidate for the byelection for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro.

The NSW government, represented locally by Andrew Constance, now advises that councils in NSW may determine how they vary rate pegging of 2.6% next year, to defer part of that increase (incidentally, regulated staff wages increase by 2.5% pa), and that councils can determine how much extra they will charge ratepayers to recoup the cost of drought, fire and coronavirus lockdown in future years .

You need to ask any existing, and aspiring, politician what they expect of you, given the significant council debt, small business and individual loss of income from drought, fire and isolation lockdown - and possibly the future added cost of increased rates to cover the council's debts as they accrue .

When all levels of government acknowledge we are going into a major recession.

I acknowledge government is expecting suicide rates to increase and is offering free mental health counselling.

The actions - often heroic - of our firefighters and other first responders during the recent bushfire crisis was nothing short of awesome and we will be forever in their debt. The response of Bega Valley Shire Council and its staff was also outstanding.

This was due in no small part to the strength of character, empathy and leadership shown by Mayor Kristy McBain. How many of us built our days around ABC TV and radio and Kristy's Facebook sessions for information and to seek whatever comfort we could out of the devastation and trauma which engulfed us?

The qualities which Kristy demonstrated during that crisis and since make her an ideal person to represent us as the Member for Eden Monaro. Barilaro and Constance - to their shame - have preferred to engage in public bickering and making the by-election all about them. Kristy has focused on making it all about "us". As she rightly points out the real issue in this by-election is the fact that "our community has been left behind" by both the current federal and state Coalition governments.

"May the force be with you" Kristy.

I lived in Singapore for over 25 years. When I first arrived in 1991, they still had wet markets. As I walked through one of the markets, a man was chopping up a raw chicken. The 'juice' from the chicken flew through the air and landed in my eye. I was horrified. After other incidents such as mine, all the wet markets were closed. China has to close all their wet markets as many animals carry a variety of diseases.

The local government minister Shelley Hancock has indicated that local councils will be able to further increase rates due to the impact of the coronavirus. It beggars belief that anyone could assert that local councils have been harder hit than their ratepayers during this pandemic and recent fire season.

The circumstance our council finds itself in (see audited finances) is purely of its own making. Cost shifting between levels of government, embarking on capital purchases and upgrades and providing services at a cost well in excess of general or user pay income are all circumstances the council either initiated or agreed too. It's time for people to protest the current level of rates and any further increases by contacted the local minister or councillors or an online campaign refusing to pay rates until the council engages with the community.

I am so sick and tired of faceless government spokespeople sticking up for their non-compliant staff and their wishy-washy response when caught out. The Forestry Corporation admits it did not completely comply with a regulation to properly mark important trees needed to protect native animal habitat and the environment. I have no confidence in the statement that their staff have been reminded of their obligations to strictly comply with the regulations, that regulations have been updated and staff provided with additional training.

Although a date for the Eden-Monaro byelection is yet to be confirmed, Labor has announced its candidate, and a Liberal candidate announcement is expected within days. We also expect any number of independents and minor party candidates to make themselves known once the writs are declared. As such, from next week we request that all letter writers with party affiliation commenting on political matters declare their membership for the benefit of all our readers. Letters must be on a relevant topic of interest and electioneering material will be rejected. We reserve the right to edit or reject letters due to legal or length concerns.