Getting nasty

THERE have been some seriously nasty developments in the aftermath of the fight to stop McDonald’s from opening in Tecoma in the Dandenong Ranges and protesters are driving local businesses to close.
James Merlino, the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and local MP has said, “I will back my community against McDonald’s in Tecoma.” What he should have said was that he backed a vocal minority in Tecoma at the cost of the silent majority and local businesses. He has been very active in his support for those protesting but he has done nothing to allay the fears of the local businesses that are suffering and going broke.
Since the protests at the site have happened on a daily basis, some traders’ sales have dropped by as much as 80 per cent. Local small business owners that were not seen to support the anti-McDonald’s group have been verbally abused, intimidated, and boycotted by a number of their supporters.
I understand that more than 90 per cent of people employed in the Dandenongs work for a small business and small businesses account for 96 per cent of all Victorian businesses.
If Labor gets in, small business in Victoria will pay a heavy price.
Laetitia Jones,
Kalorama.