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There have been some questions asked over the last week. One thing our community is very good at is asking questions about what is being done that is in the best interests of our city. Over the past week we also saw saw questions asked of our council, and of government. On Friday Joe Townsend, who is the regional manager for Business NSW, wrote an opinion piece for the Express ahead of the JobKeeper deadline next month. Mr Townsend raised the question how will the roughly 23 per cent of businesses that believe they are at high risk of failure when supports such as JobKeeper, tax relief, interest waivers and other measures end be supported. Earlier last week we had the former WA Premier Geoff Gallop in town, as questions were asked about our educations system. More than 40 members of the local education system were in attendance at the Armidale Bowling Club where Dr Gallop presented a summary of his report that makes a worrying public education system prophecy. Armidale Teachers' Association's president Michael Sciffer said the suggested strategies in the Rural and Remote Incentives Review would not address the severe teacher shortages in rural public schools. Meanwhile, state MP Adam Marshall used parliament to ask questions about Armidale's water supply. He highlighted the need for Armidale Regional Council to expedite planning work for the raising of the Malpas Dam wall, the region's key water supply, to more than double its capacity. Mr Marshall has asked Water Minister Melinda Pavey to join him in Armidale soon, to meet with council and see for herself the preliminary designs, plans and costings. We look forward to hearing some answers. Thanks for reading, and remember you can get in touch with us here at the Express by email at armidaleexpress@austcommunitymedia,com.au. Laurie Bullock Group Editor

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