Letters to the editor September 26 2019

With Sydney's new stadiums and a reported $750 million fish market on the way, what has the Hunter received in return? A light rail which has decimated a number of small businesses, a transport exchange which is open to the elements and looks like a livestock saleyard. Very little indeed. It is obvious to me that the state government has eyes only for Sydney while the rest of the state is to survive on breadcrumbs. In Stockton's case, unless something drastic is to occur, there will be no survival at all. It is time this government looked at its priorities, stopped letting lives be destroyed and made this state a better place for all.

Alan Metcalf, Stockton

SHARE YOUR OPINION

Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.

WHERE DESERT MEETS SEA

WE do not need more dams. We need water for the current dams. The plentiful sea water is rising, so strategically placed desalination plants and pipe-lines would feed the rivers and dams. Hydro and wind turbines hopefully give us cheap power. The other major project needed is fast railway with parallel freight and passenger routes. Railway bonds built services in the past. Have you noticed how much money is spent on lotteries and gambling every week with very little return for most people? At least bonds are redeemable after 10 or 20 years.

The sea is encroaching on one side, but the desert is creeping up on another. Australia should be creating soil with its organic waste. Cut and fill trenches with waste from food, farm, paper, abattoirs, add dolomite or gypsum, cardboard, old wool carpet and cotton textiles.

With plenty of work for people and cheap power, houses with air-con and insulation could be built further inland. There would be a lot less mental health needs if people worked and could have their own house, even a tiny house on wheels.

I was 30 when I came to Australia 51 years ago. You could have two jobs in one day. Factories made trains, cars, buses, clothing, ships, bricks, glass and steel. What happened to this "lucky" country where people still want to come? Government and councils had their own maintenance work forces, not outsourced expensive contracts.

Australia must get on with mega projects with a happy working population. Water is so essential to all life forms and also industry. Fix this and stop the worry about rain.

Joyce Armstrong, Karuah

MY 'GO' IS TO PUSH SCOMO

GREGORY Grey (Short Takes, 23/9) writes that I should "have more of a go for climate change" myself rather than supporting the students' strike. I'd invite him to visit my website and review Hansard to see how I have been having a go over the past six years - speeches, media releases, letters to the editor, opinion pieces, events and visits to other electorates. I'm proud to have been involved in forming the policies Labor took to the last election on renewable energy and climate change, and I continue to hold the government to account for their lack of action. I've also been fighting for action to secure the clean energy jobs of the future, in industries including clean hydrogen, renewable energy and mining the materials needed for clean energy. Doing all of that does not mean I should not welcome and support the actions of students. It's the Morrison government's job to reduce Australia's emissions; the more voices telling them that the better.

Pat Conroy, Shortland MP and Shadow Minister Assisting for Climate Change

NO SPACE FOR CHARITY

DEAR ScoMo, have you read the paper lately? Australian farmers and our ecosystem are falling apart, yet you decide that $150 million dollars should go towards aiding Trump's space race ('Australia shoots for stars with US deal', Herald 23/9).

Where's your loyalty? Your primary responsibility must be to the people you represent. I don't think that this decision is in Australia's best interest.

Graeme Kime, Cameron Park

FAMILY MUST COME FIRST

I FOUND the story about young people abandoning family plans due to climate change (Sun Herald 22/9) very disturbing.

Reading on, there was a 24-year-old woman who had an unplanned pregnancy. She decided to terminate the pregnancy because of the climate crisis, "the ultimate deciding factor" (her words). She had read scientific articles about the best and worst-case scenarios. "I cannot justify bringing children into a world in the midst of a mass extinction event and facing total ecological collapse," she was quoted to say.

I believe climate change activists should stop and think twice about what they are preaching if this is the result. In my opinion they have brainwashed our schoolchildren, who now believe they have no future because of older generations' carbon admissions.

Climate-change activists, shame on you all. If this is a way of saving the world, I feel sorry for you and mankind.

Phill Payne, Gateshead

KEEP KIDS OUT OF FIGHT

PETER Lipscomb (Letters, 23/9), I'm sorry that you were appalled by my letter, but you don't seem to grasp that people like me are not deniers. Most intelligent people are aware the climate is changing, as it has done for millennia and I assume will continue to do. What appals me is the fact that children are being told that we are all going to be wiped out by 2030. That, to me, borders on child abuse.

Greg Hunt, Newcastle West

STOP RIDING YOUR LUCK

CYCLISTS are riding at dangerous speeds on Newcastle's shared pathways, putting walkers in danger. As an avid cyclist and walker I am dismayed that my fellow cyclists would engage in this careless behaviour.

Council erected speed signs in high trafficked areas are ignored, and instead riders shout abuse at walkers to get out of their way. The law is clear; the rider of a bicycle riding on a footpath or shared path must give way to any pedestrian on the footpath or shared path. Cyclists, please respect others and ride at a safe speed.

Alan Byrne, Maryville

UNTIL recently George Pell has instructed his lawyers to do whatever possible to question the credibility of the complainant. However in his application for special leave to appeal he would have us believe he now accepts the credibility of the complainant. Whether or not this cynical manoeuvre secures his freedom, in my opinion it has destroyed any residual credibility he might still have. I believe he should now do the right thing by everybody, including himself and his church, by resigning every office.

Mark Porter, New Lambton

It's very funny how millennials are scared to death that climate change will end their lives, but popping a few pills that have been retrieved from someone's anus at festivals is nothing to worry about. Popping poison poo pills will take more lives over the next 10 years than coal will.

Steve Barnett, Toorak Gardens

MY big question is, where has the money gone on the sale of Newcastle's port? Not to Newcastle, that's for sure. No cruise ship terminal and a band-aid for Stockton beach. Newcastle council, I ask you to stand up and demand answers. Sydney gets the lot.

Glen Morgan, Waratah

ON the telly the other night they showed a woman being attacked by a very upset and not so friendly magpie. She must have been riding her bike through the streets of Collingwood.

Barry Reed, Islington

THE school children all over the world rallied against climate change, our children marched down Hunter Street ('Signs of the times', Herald 21/9). Someone tell me why Stockton people can't do the same. The PM flies to the US when they could talk on TV link up. He knows when to go away: when his country has a crisis.

George Tattersell, New Lambton

FOR crying out, loud Peter Lipscomb (Letters, 23/9), we are talking about children as young as 10. The law courts in this country treat those under 18 as children because they can't fully comprehend the difference between right and wrong, but you want us to believe kids as young as 10 can get their heads around the climate change debate ('Signs of the times', Herald 21/9). Many of them still believe in Santa, one of the biggest contributors to waste and pollution with the toys he brings them. Try telling them that Santa is only bringing eco-friendly gifts this year and see how much support you get. Me, I'd rather let kids enjoy being kids. There's enough misery ahead.

Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth

GRAEME Kime (Letters, 23/9) is correct. Now we have compulsory water tanks on new homes and extensions. The government must insist on solar panels and batteries to all new homes or sale properties. Water lost equals negative opportunities.

John Bradford, Beresfield

SUCH insight and passion was displayed by 16-year-old Greta Thunberg at the UN Conference ('You are failing us': Thunberg to UN', Herald 25/9). Leaders of the world, take note and take action now.

David Quinn, Mayfield