DEPUTY Premier John Barilaro made an appearance in the Hunter Region recently, spending $4.25 million from the government's drought stimulus package on roads ('$4m drought grant boost', Newcastle Herald 18/7). Funny how that money can be spent to help the Upper Hunter, but yet the Government won't commit to finish the Glendale Interchange. Maybe Glendale should be declared a drought zone.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nathan Bower, Cardiff
NEVER stand between a developer and an opportunity to complain ('CBD will rise like 'phoenix'', Newcastle Herald 18/7). Cranes dot the city skyline and apartment buildings sprout like mushrooms yet Jeff McCloy still moans about the planning approval process. As for those pesky bats and frogs, if they're so protected by environmental red tape, why does the eastern seaboard of Australia have one of the highest extinction rates in the world (National Geographic 14/3/18)? After six years of Coalition rule, it seems to me that developers in this state have never had it so good. But enough will never be enough for some of them. Reason enough to reject the sales pitch that they are simply acting in the public interest.
Michael Hinchey, New Lambton
ANOTHER business closing down in CBD ('Last drinks called in another city closure', Newcastle Herald 17/7). Another example of government's so-called "revitalisation" being great disaster.
Peter Newey, Hamilton
IN response to John Arnold (Letters, 18/7): bravo. As to the Cameron Smith issue you raise, a good source of free pavers can be found at any house demolition site. Don't waste your money at Bunnings.
Sam Bates, Adamstown
PETER Dolan (Letters, 17/7) dismisses my assertion that the confessional is yet another manifestation of the power of the Catholic Church, asking "how does knowing the secret failings of an anonymous person which you are not allowed to divulge give you power?". This debate is about the sexual abuse of children; a horrendous crime, not a "failing". The power held over the head of the parishioner is they must confess to the priest, one of the "rules" that Catholics must obey. Yes, the confession is to God, not the priest, but in earlier years - probably even now - parishioners would have understood full well that the priest would know their identities. Anyway, confession to the priest is yet another Catholic Church invention. In the early days of Christianity, confession of sins was made in a general sense by congregations at times of baptisms and other rites. There is nothing in the Bible that requires individual confession to a priest. That only arose several centuries after Christ and was not made mandatory for Catholics until the early 13th century.
John Ure, Mount Hutton
JOHN Ward (Letters, 18/7): you may be saddened for your grandchild being born into this world. I, however, am excited for my two boys. The worm has turned, as shown by the federal election results. Common sense, honesty and sanity has and always will prevail.