I don't understand why rugby league or other sports have asked players to take a pay cut. They, like others, are now at least temporarily unemployed and should be treated as every other Australian is: take unpaid leave, holidays or whatever.

After asking players to take pay cuts, how the NRL could then turn around and request government monetary assistance so the game can survive is beyond me. The monies received from the television rights, should be sufficient to offset any sudden loss of income. In my opinion one could ask if a payment of this kind would be discrimination against other Australians that no longer have jobs or any other form of income.

Why should the NRL or any other sporting organisation be given priority by the government over any other business or individual forced to go back to the ground roots to start again? As this current crisis continues, we are all in the same boat. We should be doing as we have always done as Australians and assisting each other in all ways possible.

THE coronavirus situation currently in our world can simply be described with the wooden barrel theory, which argues that it's the shortest length on the side rather than the longest that determines the depth of a barrel. I believe US President Donald Trump's continued labelling of the coronavirus as the "China virus", and some countries detainment of resources, are just some examples of countries bringing each other down when they should be lending a helping hand. These selfish tactics certainly won't work, as the conditions for us all are only as good as the country in the most need. Therefore, it's time for nation leaders to come together and help each other even out the wooden bars of their efforts to combat the spread. That's the only way for the world to pull through together.

CAN anyone tell me why Lake Macquarie City Council keeps on raising the idea to create a suburb called Lake Macquarie with the same postcode as Boolaroo and Speers Point when previous proposals have been soundly rejected by the community and the Geographical Names Board? Talk about flogging a dead horse.

The old chestnut about avoiding confusion with Port Macquarie doesn't hold water in my opinion. Plenty of other places such as Port Stephens, Hunter Valley, Central Coast, Great Lakes, Blue Mountains, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, to name just a few, don't seem to have an identity problem by not having a suburb with its own postcode, so why should Lake Macquarie? Quite frankly I don't see the logic in going down this path yet again.

I WENT shopping today as we were running low on food. I was impressed by the way the supermarkets were trying to do their best to comply with the new rules. One was letting one in and one out and limiting the amount of some products which was working a treat. The other had clearly marked rules for distancing and this was working well also. Most people were trying to do the right thing.

Then I went to my local butcher who had put in place rules for three only in the shop at any one time. I thought this was great until I noticed both husband and wife were going in together and then to cap it off a woman with two teenage kids entered in front of me.

What does it take to get through to these selfish people? The basic thing here is if we can slow the spread of this virus the seriously ill may get a bed and intensive care if not they will die waiting for a bed. Now is a time to think of others. I rest my case.

I LIVE in Swansea and have been observing petrol prices. My findings are as follows.

When prices started to reduce, all stations on my route were at $1.35 per litre when other stations were at $1.21. When prices reduced to $1.19 elsewhere, they dropped their prices to $1.33. When others dropped to $1.17, they dropped to $1.21. You can now buy for as low as $1.07 and their prices are now $1.19. In these times I think these service stations are ripping us off. I do not use them now and will never use them again. I won't forget. I have for some time been buying from Redhead and will continue to support that outlet when this is all over. If you live in this area, don't get ripped off. If you leave the outlet you normally use don't go back. Send a message.

IN this time of national crisis we are being urged to put our trust in the advice of government agencies. Accordingly, it is good to see the large City of Newcastle posters along Bathers Way advising citizens of basic COVID-19 precautions, including instruction to "wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water".

These posters are displayed at Bar Beach, Dixon Park and Merewether in close proximity to the council toilets.

Avoidance of the virus clearly requires washing hands with soap, but the problem is citizens are expected to bring their own. Despite letters and columns in your paper, the toilets still have neither soap nor soap dispensers. They also appear not to have been cleaned for some time.

So what can we assume? Has our council given up in the face of isolated actions by vandals, or are we drifting somewhere along the spectrum between dangerous incompetence and brazen hypocrisy?

The council website offers soothing reassurance on concern for "the safety of our communities" along with information on "top priority responses, preparedness and key actions". These are fine words but in my opinion quite meaningless when nothing is changing at this most basic level.

ANYONE who wants to bag Newcastle and District Tennis Association or other sporting bodies for not being an essential service amid social distancing probably has no idea what a game of tennis can bring. It's uplifting, laugh out loud funny at times and everyone involved is on the same level for a little while. This is essential these days.

Bag ScoMo for not knowing if he's left or right handed, not people providing essential and currently legal services.

THE pen goes to Dr Catherine Dunlop for her letter on the benefits of verandahs during the pandemic.

MY son is employed as a supermarket casual. He has cold symptoms, and has been told he cannot return to work until he tests negative for COVID-19. He called the hospital, only to be told he doesn't meet the criteria for testing. So how can he provide his employer with test results, positive or negative, if he can't get tested?

LAUGH of the day in these difficult times: Dennis Crampton who believes Pauline Hanson is our "only serious pollie". And his address? Redhead, obviously.

WHEN are our politicians going to follow the example set by our business leaders who are voluntarily taking pay cuts?

DURING World War II, people stoically endured 6 years of fear, uncertainty, death, loss, privation, and restrictions. Now, we start fighting over toilet paper after a week.

WHY are we in parts of the Hunter being price gouged on petrol? I use 95 octane in my car and motorbike. The cheapest I've found in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is $1.29, yet just on the M1 at Tuggerah it is available for $1.03. Surely it does cost 26 cents to be transported another 50 kilometres? Where is the ACCC?

IT seems ScoMo and his men's club think it is important to keep hairdressers working. I guess they still have the mentality that a wife has to look her best for her husband. Come on guys, let's get real.

JUST wondering why last week our government was telling us that Singapore was keeping its schools open when they were actually on school holidays last week?

IT may be like this until a vaccine is found.

A QUESTION for the Prime Minister and Premier: if parliaments are suspended, why are our children and teachers still at school?

MAYBE next time Danny Buderus has his face on TV he may like to express his concern about the fans rather than just our players, the club and the game. It's nothing without them. Set the example.

KEN Winning (Letters, 25/3), I'd hate to be the one having to make that call to lock out our citizens. As for self-isolation, I believe it's a farce. My wife was overseas visiting her sick mother when COVID-19 hit the fan. She heeded the PM's advice and returned to Australia. Able to get to Brisbane only, she made the decision to isolate in a Brisbane motel and not possibly risk the health of others by continuing to travel to Newcastle. Talk of state borders "closing" now has us extremely worried she may be stuck in Queensland until God knows when. We have been unable to find information on what options are available to her.