I would think they would be more embarrassed to admit why these restrictions are in place. It's embarrassing to say that even though the conditions of the Newcastle Solution reduced violence by over 70 per cent that Newcastle is still, not double or five times or 10 times, but 20 times the state average for late night alcohol-fuelled violence (see Liquor and Gaming 'live data' site). That's embarrassing.

Perhaps they could have taken pride in the fact that the city is a safer place because of the restrictions, and proud that the city is more vibrant and attracts more visitors and residents now. Perhaps they could have recommended a Hunter Valley wine instead of the high alcoholic drink.

These statistics don't represent a product, they represent mostly young people in our community who are ending up at John Hunter Hospital. Because of the Newcastle Solution there aren't as many parents getting that call in the early hours of the morning to attend the JHH where their child has suffered, sometimes, very serious injuries. The restrictions are modest but they have created a huge reduction in violence. I fully agree with Mr Allwood from the Police Union that the Small Bars Trial is the thin end of the wedge.

NEWCASTLE police need not worry ("Police query diluted laws", Herald, 18/12). Once the relaxation of late night alcohol restrictions in Newcastle commence, there is a simple solution to curb any potential night time violence.

If this is something they are fearful of, rather than punish absolutely everyone who wishes to exercise their legal right to have a drink, police should simply go back to doing regular foot patrols around the streets of Newcastle on weekends, just like they did back in the good old days of the city's flourishing nightlife.

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

It goes without saying that a strong police presence is an extremely effective way of deterring crime, and up until the mid-2000s, police on the beat in Newcastle deterred street violence dramatically. In the pre-lockout law days, the real trouble didn't start until after the police presence simply ceased for some inexplicable reason.

I certainly don't remember hearing about even one single one punch death either while the police were out on the streets. I recall that these fatal attacks didn't occur until after said police presence was no more. Funny about that.

TOMMY Diamond's hypothesis (Letters, 21/12) that unions be abolished because he employs non-union labour and pays above award wages is flawed.

Interestingly, his details on the wages he pays are not matched by details of other entitlements his employees may or may not enjoy.

As pointed out by Paul Rowett (Letters, 22/12), conditions and entitlements have only been obtained through the intervention of unions.

I wonder whether Tommy, or our esteemed Federal Minister for Employment, Michaela Cash, has ever commented or intervened on some current employment issues. Without union intervention, unsafe working conditions, wage theft, non-payment of compulsory superannuation, unfair dismissal, the nebulous practices of employment contractors and workplace discrimination would be even more common today.

THE cat cull over at Stockton has highlighted a cull of an animal gone wrong. However one must ask why are there so many cats roaming around Stockton, and who is responsible for them?

According to an article published by the University of Sydney (Lock up your pet cat, it's a killing machine) May 2020: "Roaming pet cats kill 390 million animals per year in Australia, including reptiles, birds and mammals. That's an average of 186 animals, mostly native species, per roaming domestic cat each year".

Whilst I accept that there is an active de-sexing and microchipping program at Stockton, it is generally accepted that on average a female cat can have five litters of four or more kittens in a year. It's not hard to do the sums over a period of time. Not kept in check, an out of control clowder of cats can have a devastating potential.

Let's take one step back and turn our focus to the cat owners. As a pet owner they have a responsibility of keeping a cat, making sure the cat is not roaming unchecked around an evening, breeding, fighting with other cats, and causing harm to the local wildlife.

Just because the cat is microchipped, it does not stop it from killing our natural fauna. If you want a cat, make sure you can control its behaviour and movements, otherwise don't get one.

THE completion of the Pacific Highway upgrade will be seen by many as good news as driving will allegedly be quicker and easier. However, I often think that to reduce the hazards that were presented when travelling that allegedly notorious road could have been reduced had more passengers and freight been moving by train.

The problem is that while billions of dollars have been spent on our roads, little has been spent in comparison on our railways. It's true that signalling has been upgraded and concrete sleepers have replaced timber, but what is really needed is an improved alignment to allow faster running and heavier trains with existing motive power. The north coast line is still on its original alignment when it was built more than a hundred years ago. It hasn't changed.

When I was an engine man, I found that it was possible to run trains very efficiently when conditions allowed. Unfortunately, while much has been said about running more trains to get trucks off the roads, the reverse seems to be happening. Not only do alignments need to be improved by eliminating steep gradients and sharp curves to allow rail to achieve its full potential, but measures have to be put in place to encourage a greater use of rail transport. Rail operators are disadvantaged by having to pay huge track access fees; a lot more than road operators.

It has been said that if Australia is to cope with the forecast transport task then rail will have to play a greater role, but more needs to be done so rail can play that role.

I HAVE no problem with the Port Authority culling feral cats, in fact I believe all cats not kept in a house/unit or yard should be destroyed. The damage uncontrolled cats do to our wildlife is indiscernible.

BILL Slicer, Short Takes, 24/12, I wonder who causes animals to become the threatened species of the world. I would assume you refer to the two-legged human species as the ferals, as we cause far more damage than any other species.

IF Adolf Hitler was alive today Donald Trump would grant him a full pardon.

WITH a crisis hitting Sydney, and a federal government asleep at the wheel, the last thing we need is an incompetent state government. Gladys Berejiklian should step aside and hand the reins to Daniel Andrews until the problem is under control.

$350 million dollars of NSW taxpayer funding that is spun to protect koalas and benefit farmers but will do neither. It's simply to patch up an ailing and dysfunctional coalition government that's threatening to tear itself apart. They think we're all suckers and I guess we mostly are.

JOHN Ure, the planet is on its knees due to a virus that originated in the horrific Chinese wet markets, markets that are cruel, barbaric and have no place in modern society. Please don't tell me China does not have anything to answer for, in my humble opinion China needs to compensate every affected country. After all it's their eating habits that got us into this mess.

JOHN Ure, what is this great humiliation that you allude to in regards to the current situation involving China and our elected officials? Quite frankly don't let your obvious political bias blind you to the fact that China wants Australia like many other countries to let it go about its aggressive and belligerent behaviour without any response!

MAC Maguire (Short Takes, 24/12) of course it's no surprise that you are so harsh on our esteemed conservative PM. I believe he fully deserves a break with his family who he probably hasn't seen a lot of this year. He has done a wonderful job keeping his cool considering the resistance he has received from State Labor premiers.

GOOD to see the politicians sticking with the definitive advice of health experts ... except for December 24-26, of course, which must be blessed days I suppose. Let's hope we are lucky yet again hey, Gladys? Merry Christmas to all, hypocrites included.

COLIN Rowlatt, I can't see how losing access to the largest market in the world is going to be good for Australia, but it will be for others waiting to fill the void.