Newcastle Herald letters to the editor, Friday June 19, 2020: 'Get into the business of enforcing vital rules'

In my opinion the gym does not monitor their stated member requirements. Members are asked to disinfect their hands upon entering, bring a towel (and presumably use it), and to wipe down machinery before and after use. Not one person during my visits, apart from me, wiped down the equipment before or after use. One person actually coughed into his hand and then put his hand back on the machine.

Sorry, but I think it is the business's responsibility to manage the COVID-19 requirements. If the clientele won't, then the business simply has to engage someone to clean the machines.

As for the cafe, I was simply waiting for takeaway coffee. Initially the seated customers were appropriately distanced, but when one table decided to relocate the four people sat at a table next to a table of two. They did not seem appropriately distanced, and again the staff and management were apparently not monitoring.

Come on, businesses, it is your responsibility.

THE branch stacking and other Labor party rule breaches by some that have been exposed in the Victorian branch of the ALP is a bad look, but the people most affected by these are Labor Party rank and file members, of which I am one for more than four decades.

The truth of the matter is that this is not new and not unique to any one party or political organisation. For the Prime Minister and the Murdoch media to decry the issue to the extent they have is rather hypocritical in my view. I think it could be said they would probably be quite pleased that Labor Party members were being hurt. Also, the fact remains that the federal government has so far struggled to implement the Commonwealth Integrity Commission after two years.

The integrity unit would probably not have jurisdiction over internal political party issues that only affect party members and the use of party funds, but it would surely have jurisdiction over matters of integrity pertaining to parliamentary behaviour, and in particular the use of taxpayer money. I am not saying there are definitely issues here that investigations would uncover, but in my opinion questions have been asked and to date no answers given.

I READ with much pride and agreement the letter from Dr. Christine Everingham regarding the former lord mayor, Mrs Joy Cummings (Letters, 16/3).

Mrs Cummings and family grew up in a modest home in Nelson Street at Mayfield. With the support of husband Ray and their children, Mrs Cummings always focused on any issues that would benefit all Novocastrians. She always strove to maintain the local beauty around the harbour and foreshores of Newcastle for locals and visitors to enjoy whilst ensuring those living in the suburbs continued to have their infrastructure maintained.

I believe Mrs Cummings would be sadly disappointed to see the current council, which is apparently hellbent on removing these memories for future Novocastrians with large apartment buildings and public housing to replace taking their place. It is my hope that the next local government election might reveal someone that will aspire to try and mirror the qualities of Mrs Joy Cummings and represent the majority of Novocastrians as she once did.

BLACK Lives Matter organisers and related activists are at present swaying a lot of influence. I only wish that they put their power and enthusiasm towards the issues that matter and resolve the many issues that affect Indigenous Australians.

Domestic violence or drug and alcohol abuse are more important than the apparent focus on changing the names of Australian products such as Coon cheese or Colonial beer. Seriously, I don't believe that these are issues that would resolve any problems concerning Indigenous Australians. Domestic violence is a major concern given it can also lead to police being involved in violent situations. That can lead to other very serious consequences.

Don't blame racism, blame this movement's organisers for not focusing on the obvious.

SUPPOSEDLY attempting irony, Upper House MP Michael Johnsen uses the issue of abortion to attack Black Lives Matter protestors and then, to make himself "clearer", says that humans don't have the right to determine "what human life is more important than another" ('Protest post creates storm', Herald 18/6).

I'm glad he cleared that up. It shows he has completely misinterpreted, I believe in all likelihood quite deliberately, the obvious point of the protests. They are not aimed at making black lives matter more than others but to bring an end to them mattering less.

In my opinion the only irony Mr Johnsen succeeds in highlighting is that someone prepared to publicly assert such offensive and outlandish opinions can, in 2020, manage to secure and hold a position in parliament.

I AM most touched, Mr Dillon, by your concern for my sensitivities regarding the picture of Shaun Lane's derriere ('Eel cops shorts shrift', Herald 18/6). I was not put off my breakfast by that display, but instead reminded of some of the sights that this great game can throw up when the combatants are unaware that their every move is on display for all to see.

I remember many years ago when the North Sydney Bears played Bill Hamilton, a great front rower, was caught relieving himself on the field. The camera didn't miss.

The Lachlan Fitzgibbon photo was far more graphic than the actual TV vision, if my memory serves me well. Undoubtedly he was not feeling the best at the time and I have recovered sufficiently now to have moved on to enjoy the success of the Knights.

As a side issue, I was a seasoned ticket holder up until 2010 when management at the time ruined everything for me and my wife. They took our section in the eastern grandstand and made it so we couldn't have a season ticket where we had sat for many years. I remain a staunch supporter of the Knights regardless of the decisions some managers have made in the past.

I CONGRATULATE the Newcastle Herald on its Your Right to Know disclosures and other government actions that are only revealed to voters through freedom of information processes. I hope the Herald is prepared to publish summarised details of these government omissions and failures to disclose in the weeks leading up to both state and federal elections. Voters need to have these issues front of mind when next they vote.

JULIE Robinson (Short Takes, 16/6), when you have 20 people in your home (hopefully) you will know who they are and if you or someone tests positive they can be traced. At a protest march this doesn't apply. It's not about what you would rather do, but the potential for spreading the virus.

THE ABC has reported that Catholic priests are receiving JobKeeper payments from the government and the church has sent them a letter asking them to hand back some of the money over to the Church because of dwindling donations from parishioners. This is the richest church in the world. It has so much wealth, and is classified a tax-free charity. Is this money going to end up in their litigation fund to pay back the people that their priests sexually abused years ago? Hypocrisy.

REGARDING Agner Sorensen's and Michael Gormly's excellent renewable energy contributions (Short Takes 19/6), the next step, which should have been taken decades ago is a national energy think tank headed by the best in the world, our hugely experienced Ross Garnaut. Australia has had its coal time and should be building on its ideal position, for export of renewables.

THE federal government has attacked Labor over allegations of branch stacking in Victoria. One can only wonder if they have raised any issues with the NSW Premier over the allegations of unqualified personnel installing gas lines in public hospital redevelopments in NSW. I think it's pretty clear which is a more important issue.

IF my eyes did not deceive me, I believe I did see Cameron Smith ever so subtly tweak the ball from the hands of a Knights player. Result? Knock-on ruled against Newcastle and the Storm subsequently ran in for their second try. Cameron is playing for the wrong team; after all, in my opinion he is as slippery as an Eel.

IN regards to the 2015 Port Stephens election ('Both sides have branch stacking form', Editorial 16/6) Ken Jordan couldn't possibly have stacked the branches. Ken was a member at large, which means he wasn't a member of any branch.

IF I don't like politicians and senior public servants because I think the majority of them are overpaid, incompetent and only care about themselves and not the people they promised to serve, does this mean that I am prejudiced? If it does, I guess I am.