Letters to the editor September 4 2018

Recently, there has been a new sign attached to those bus stops. These signs read "buses from this stop have changed" and an online contact address.

It’s a bit of a problem if you've arrived to catch a bus and don't have the technical equipment or ability to check that out on the spot and don't have a clue what the changes are. Long story short; those school bus stops are now for general bus use, but no-one has thought to change the signs. Passengers do not expect their bus to stop there; car drivers don't know that they shouldn't park there; all part of the shemozzle I guess.

FREE-to-air television is getting to the stage where the advertisements seemingly take up more viewing time than the actual programs. The TV guides should list the advertisements as well as the programs so that you can wash the car or prepare a meal before the program resumes.

I purchased a DVD player in order to fast forward the ads, but may be in danger of repetitive strain injury from constantly using the remote control. No wonder that streaming services are becoming so popular.

IN THE very week when the Charlestown City Blues FC launched action to reinstate the word Azzurri back into their club name, members of the Hamilton Azzurri club did that cause no favours.

I attended a lower level football match between Cooks Hill and Hamilton Azzurri, which was played in a competitive but sportsmanlike manner. 

However a group of young, drunk and vocal supporters constantly screamed and swore at the opposing players and other supporters, repeatedly chanted A-ZZU-RRI, and then let off a flare.

When the ground supervisor and others in the crowd asked them to tone down their behaviour, they complained of racism. 

I obviously have strong ties to Europe, but this was exactly the reason that ethnic names were removed from the top flight level of football in Northern NSW. Not only do I believe Charlestown should not have the word Azzurri reinstated into their club name, I think all similar ethnic based references should be removed from clubs at every level of the game.

I THINK it is a bit rich for Bob Geoghegan (Letters 1/9) to give credit to the government for keeping Australia out of recession. It was the Rudd-led Labor government that kept Australia out of recession, and yes, they used up the surplus to do so and were roundly criticised by all on the right for doing so.

As for the adverse comments on social media about new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, has Mr Geoghegan seen those made by conservatives on their pages about Bill Shorten? Does he think that Mr Shorten should be given a fair go also? He has, after all, been scrutinised probably more than any other Opposition leader in history through royal commissions and senate enquiries, and so far just a bit of gossip and innuendo. Yes, Morrison is entitled to have a fair go, and he will in the coming federal election. But do not ask the people who are not happy with the government to stop campaigning unless the anti-Labor people are also prepared to stop.

ON WATCHING a news report about the Eureka scientific awards, one could see Australia has its share of smart people. The truly sad part is that all of that amazing talent and ingenuity that is amongst our population goes nowhere near the important job of running our country. 

For decades I believe we have had governments with no vision or will to govern for the people, governments that have ridden on the back of willing workers and an abundance of mineral resources. For people with the wisdom and intelligence on show at the Eurekas to venture into the politics of today would be such a waste of their talents. 

This country needs to wake up to the fact that we have not got one system, service or mode of government that is not broken and that is no longer doing the job it was designed for. Until we find a more up-to-date method of government that can resist the factions and power of big money, we will never experience the benefits of those with vision working together without being hogtied by agendas or ideology. The fact is that these wonderful minds could bring to this country and save us from a slow decline.

WHAT A poor effort the Knights put in for their last game, in front of a nearly-packed stadium (“Bring on 2019”, Herald 3/9). I know they were suffering with injuries, but so were the Dragons. Some of the passing and handling would not be satisfactory in an under-sevens game, along with the defence. The Knights had enough ball to win two games but would not have busted a wet paper bag with their attack. Last week I gave them a rap for their effort against the Sharks, but the effort this week was not there. Take Pearce out of the equation and we would have been belted by more. The try by Jeremy Latimore was one of the softest tries I have seen this year. Three defenders could not hold him up. Some responsibility must be taken by the coach, who in my opinion is treading on thin ice, if the situation does not improve sharply next year in the early rounds. With the amount of incoming recruits, Mr Brown may be among those turfed if nothing changes.

MINISTER Peter Dutton is being attacked for allowing an au pair entry against departmental advice. I am alarmed by the narrowness of the attack. If I was in parliament, given this chance my attack would be: "So, Minister, you will allow a French au pair to enter the country, but you stop sick children from getting to hospital here because they are asylum seekers?"

It seems that this contrast is not made, because the Labor Party (along with the Coalition) presumes that the continuing vicious treatment of asylum seekers is acceptable to the Australian people, and that acting humanely is not of great importance to us. So it condones that treatment.

It sickens me to think that these politicians may be right, and we Australians are a really nasty lot. I wonder what your readers actually think of the treatment of asylum seekers by our successive governments. Are we Australians really so nasty that we do approve? And vote for it?

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