IT is understandable that Scott Morrison's visit ('Top funds', Newcastle Herald 9/2) was kept a secret from the long suffering residents of Williamtown as they would definitely not have the $10,000 price for the dinner fundraiser ('ScoMo dinner builds Liberals' war chest', Herald 10/2). The residents of this poisoned zone have been pleading to a succession of PMs over years to come and see their suffering but it seems to be only money for or from business that interests Mr Morrison.
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While we all are happy that the most expensive fighter aircraft ever built is going to bring skilled jobs to the area, I find the hypocrisy of Morrison's boast that he supports training galling when he and his state counterparts they have been relentless in trying to dismantle the TAFE system by privatisation despite a high percentage of their attempts ending in disaster and gross abuse, just as they have in the privatise aged care schemes. Now that we know that the Morrison government is prepared to spend billions to secure a few hundred jobs, as one of the tens of thousands of seniors living in the Paterson and Hunter seats I will look forward to them on their next visit announcing a similar injection of funds to eliminate the abuse and neglect by for-profit operators in the aged care industry. However, based on the findings of the royal commission that this government failed to protect the aged in care at the height of the pandemic that led to the unnecessary and lonely deaths of some 665 aged in care. Former Treasurer Joe Hockey called us leaners on the budget, so most of my fellow aged are expecting the same grand statement but very little action to correct the abuse and neglect.
Frank Ward, Shoal Bay
Message was clear to expats
ALL the experts like Ryan Park are now coming out of the woodwork calling for the so-called repatriated Australians returning to Australia to have their quarantines extended because one tested positive after 16 days.
I would like Mr Park to answer my question: why are these people still returning to Australia so long after the pandemic's outbreak? They were told by the PM on approximately March 16 2020 that if you are Australian and are overseas you should come home now. They were also told by the DFAT. Pretty obvious to me, Mr Park: in my opinion they need to get home to the JobSeeker payments because the governments where they don't pay all this good money. I really hope they are obligated to pay up front or repay in the future.
Kerry Redman, Tuncurry
Take your pick of who can help
OUR government is contemplating opening up a COVID-free bubble to allow overseas fruit pickers to come into Australia to pick fruit as supermarkets prices are going through the roof. More importantly the fruit is rotting on the vines.
Just maybe our government should put their thoughts into utilising all those who have received community service and youth detention be used for this purpose, and maybe offer picker status to those who wish to put their hands up rather than put their hands out for government freebies.
The government are offering to help the workers in the tourist industry because of the lack of overseas tourists. Surely they can assist our fruit farmers.
In my opinion we certainly don't need any overseas workers who can possibly bring COVID-19. Let's not jump the gun about opening our international borders too early; give it at least a year.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
Ramp up access in upgrades
I BELIEVE the road and footpath works have finally been completed in Llewellyn Street, Merewether. A few weeks ago I noticed an elderly lady who had just purchased a trolley load of groceries trying to put them in the boot of her car, which was parked on the road in front of the store. Now that the concrete work has been finalised, she had to somehow get to her car up the two steps and load the groceries into her boot. This took her about four or five trips to achieve. Luckily she had her walking stick to help her balance on these steps. Her comment was, if they were going to change this and put in flower beds and steps, why didn't they put a ramp instead? Unfortunately, I wasn't able to help her as I can't manipulate these steps either without a handrail.
Trish McKay, Cooks Hill
No time that's the fight time
IT seems to me that Newcastle police Detective Wayne Humphrey has a rather selective memory ('Lockout 'lunacy'', Herald 3/2). Detective superintendent Humphrey states he does not wish to see an end to Newcastle's lockout laws as he doesn't "want to go back to standing on the footpath outside a licensed premises talking about the death of a young person from a one-punch assault." But my understanding is many violent assaults on the streets of Newcastle have in fact occurred well before the 1.30am curfew. Some such assaults have occurred earlier than midnight, and some even before 9pm. So what difference do these laws actually make to the possibility of fatalities? I feel that they're not even half as fool proof as those in favour of them would have us believe, and it appears that the troublemakers now merely start drinking and causing drama hours earlier. When the laws were introduced in Sydney, it was largely because of the untimely passing of one-punch victim Thomas Kelly. That fatal attack actually occurred at approximately 10pm. So unfortunately, had the lockout laws been in place in Sydney back then, they still would not have prevented this death.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
Catalina memories breeze back
YOUR recent piece on Rathmines brought back memories of my experiences as a 13-year-old member of the Kogarah branch of the NSW Air Training Corps In 1951. Our branch of the corps, along with other units, were invited to spend two weeks at Rathmines, which for me would represent my first time away from home.
Our uniform was a replica of the RAAF standard issue of the day, with shirts that featured separate collars which required collar studs. Getting these in place required practice, and it meant that loosening the collar in hot weather, resulted in bits & pieces flapping in the breeze.
We travelled by steam train from Central station in Sydney, arriving at Awaba station at dusk. From there we were trucked to Rathmines air base, where we allocated our accommodation in huts.
After breakfast, we were taken on a tour of the base, and at that time there were two Catalinas on the dry land "parking spot", and another single engine amphibious aircraft, which may have been a Kingfisher.
Highlights included a rugby union game where we cadets were blended with regular RAAF personnel. Coming from a rugby league background, and hanging onto the ball when tackled, one quickly learnt to get rid of the ball as soon as; a ride in a RAAF crash boat from Rathmines to Belmont and a session in a Link trainer. Thank you for the opportunity to share these experiences.
Terry Hopwood, Belmont North
SHORT TAKES
IT is obvious from past experience that Newcastle needs another dam to address future droughts and abolish the need for unnecessary water restrictions.So please Hunter Water, stop wasting ratepayers money on propaganda TV ads or considering "suggested" alternatives for healthy drinking potable water and get on with the construction and completion of the much-needed dam this time round.
Bruce Kershaw, Kotara
PEOPLE wanting to change the alcohol lockout laws should heed the advice of radio announcer Richard Freedman, who often said, after another group of football players were involved in a Saturday night fracas, "Nothing good is going to happen outside a nightclub at 4 a.m." Tread warily.
Mick Miller, Salamander Bay
BY wrapping the COVID vaccination spin in the notion that life will be easier, the rollout will fail. In lockdown, the Canberra spin told us business was suffering. We can only guess that vaccinations will help business and polling. When will the Canberra spin say vaccination brings people together and saves lives instead of needing everything to be about business and politics?
John Butler, Windella
"IT was hard not to feel sorry for Kovinic" ('Remarkable Barty crushes Kovinic', Herald 10/2).Sorry I myself don't feel sorry for her defeat at the hands of Ash Barty. Why is that you ask,Dana receives $100,000 for her 44 minutes on court and her 20,160 minutes in hotel quarantine. That amounts to $4.95 per minute.Not a bad amount.
Peter Selmeci, Murrays Beach
Don Fraser, you are correct. You can say anything you like in a democracy, but you will also be held to account if you discriminate, racially abuse, vilify or slur a member of that democracy.
Mark Bowen, Broadmeadow
STEVEN Busch (Short takes, 9/2) it was John Howard not Julia Gillard that allowed all our offshore gas to be exported at very cheap prices.
Col Page, Adamstown
RAY Peck (Short Takes 9/2): I wouldn't get too excited about Australia meeting it's zero emissions target by 2050, in line with most other countries. Seeing as China cunningly hasn't committed to the same target til 2060 it effectively gives the world's biggest polluter free rein to do what it likes for 10 years. I fail to see how this will help the planet.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
GREG Hunt (Short Takes 8/2), maybe the cup from your side of the political spectrum overfloweth with lampoonable material. Boo hoo.
Steve Paras, Pelican
THE World Health Organisation have failed to discover the initial source of coronavirus. Surprise, surprise.