WHO does the Prime Minister think he is talking to when he says he was reacting to the abuse of taxpayer funds in the Christine Holgate debacle.
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He has never reacted to the many cases of abuse of taxpayer funds in the past, starting with himself and the treasurer using Air Force 1 to travel to Sydney to attend the birthday party for Lachlan Murdoch.
What parliamentary business was conducted on that trip? Not to mention the unfortunate overspend of $27 million on land surrounding the new airport.
If he were a real"bloke" he would admit he was wrong, apologise and move on, I hope the women of Australia see this for what it is and let him know at the next election what they think. I will.
Peter Holland, Wyong
Poor judgment by 'ScoMo'
IN the Christine Holgate matter, if the report of Prime Minister Morrison's comment that "the issue here was how taxpayers' funds were being used in a government-owned company" is correct, the man has no shame.
The matter of the watches being awarded to Australia Post executives came to light about the same time as the sports rorts, and the purchase of land well above market value near the new airport at Badgerys Creek.
The use of taxpayers' funds in these latter two transactions puts the expense for the watches well and truly in the shade.
I believe the whole matter also demonstrates the PM's poor business judgment because I'm sure there would be very few CEOs who would agree that a business outcome of the sort achieved by the Australia Post executives was not worthy of some special reward.
I'm also reasonably confident most Australia Post franchisees would agree that the executives did a better than average job in securing the banking licences.
Ken Dighton, New Lambton
Holgate's achievements ignored
IN light of the investigation undertaken into the legality of former CEO of Australia Post Christine Holgate awarding Cartier watches to senior executives as performance bonuses being proven, Australian taxpayers could face a massive compensation pay-out to her.
In her testimony to a Senate Inquiry Ms Holgate levelled some serious accusations toward Scott Morrison, AKA the "Smirk."
She claimed he had bullied and humiliated her under parliamentary privilege by demanding "she be gone", an accusation which the "Smirk" will find difficult to defend, for his contrived "hissy-fit" at Ms Holgate was recorded in Hansard and, his lips foaming tirade captured by TV footage and still cameras.
MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
It might be said the "Smirk" was as much motivated by Ms Holgate's refusal to conform with the privatisation of Australia Post, a move strongly favoured by both the "Smirk" and Australia Post chairman Lucio Di Bartolomeo.
The watches were awarded in recognition of the recipients having saved 8000 Australia Post jobs and 190 postal/banking franchises in rural and regional areas. Achievements and benefits the "Smirk" appears not to have even considered before launching into his parliamentary "hissy-fit."
Simply put, the "Smirk" has again been exposed as being a "bone idle" political charlatan.
Barry Swan, Balgownie
'Russian roulette' being played
ALMOST every time I drive past the Myuna Bay recreation centre I wonder why just the recreation centre was closed because of possible flash flooding from the ash dam when the roadway and picnic reserve in a lower location are still being used.
Considering they are all in the same hollow, rather than replacing the rec centre to another location, why not just raise the height of the road to form another safety barrier?
There is ample room on the northern side to construct another road above this hollow without interfering with traffic flow that would leave the existing road open until the new road was built and a permanent entrance to the foreshore and recreation centre.
Replacing the rec-centre only solves one problem, and possibly costing more than building a new road on a raised section, much of the already excess of coal ash could be used, it has been used successfully elsewhere on roads, why not here?
Surely council engineers with power station resources can look at this proposal, at present they are playing Russian roulette with people's lives.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
Put TAFE money to use in region
I WAS reading an article in Thursday's Herald in regards to the Liberals no cash splash promise in the Upper Hunter by-election.
After reading it I started to wonder where the money went from the disgusting sale of the Scone TAFE that the Liberals had no right to sell.
So why isn't the money from the sale going back into much needed infrastructure in that area? Also, how many people did you throw out of work as a result of the privatisation of the TAFE?
Here is a suggestion, how about putting the money you took and build a new state of the art TAFE college for the area.
You and your government are a disgrace in relation to the privatisation that is going on.
Philip Carter, Metford
'Waffle' at expense of education
I WISH to comment on some of the nonsense being taught in NSW public schools.
I have read that children from kindergarten to year 12 are indoctrinated with lessons in unconscious bias, white privilege and institutional racism.
The above slogans are just fantasies dreamed up by academics who have too much idle time on their hands.
These fantasies are then propagated by activist journalists.
This waffle in the school syllabus is being peddled to the detriment of basis subjects.
In NSW, the Minister for Education is not some Liberal left wing trendy such as Matt Kean, but is a member of the National Party, of which John Barilaro is its leader.
What is John Barilaro going to do in respect of this insidious Marxist dogma being taught in NSW public schools?
Mr Barilaro, if a poll was taken of the residents of Muswellbrook and Marrickville, regarding the Marxist dogma, many more residents of Marrickville would be in favour than in Muswellbrook.
John Rumble, Albion Park
Bypass lessons to be learned
WHILE it is clear that we should probably be talking about the new road from the end of the M1 at Beresfield more than the current debate about Singleton, I would like to advise the government that it would be folly to not make the Singleton bypass a dual carriageway, and therefore to not repeat the horrendous mistake in not making the fly-over at Maitland Railway station dual.
I would like some of the pollies and/or bureaucrats to try to drive west through Maitland on any afternoon.
Rod Woodhouse, East Maitland
SHORT TAKES
LORD mayor, I wish you used my 49 per cent rate rise to collect my garbage instead of a luxury office. It's now Thursday and our Monday garbage is still out to be collected.
Bruce Cook, Adamstown
I WONDER, did Dutton ever realise he was a liability to everyone? We would welcome a Liberal government with open liberal views. Without the effluence.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
PULLING troops out of Afghanistan is a good idea. We need them ready for war with China.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
IN my many trips around Newcastle,especially shopping centres I see many grandparents looking after grandchildren. Some of these grandparents are quite elderly. Do they receive any reward, compensation or payment from the government for the valuable service they provide? If not, why not.
Peter Selmeci, Murrays Beach
MICHAEL Hinchey really gave a good sermon to Mr Gardner regarding the Knights being sponsored by coal. He ridiculed coal with his high and mighty assertion that coal should be done away with as soon as possible to save the world. Coal will be around for the next 30 to 40 years and I don't think any preaching by Mr Hinchey is going to change that.
Allen Small, East Maitland
HOW many more cyclones and extreme weather events will it take for our leaders to wake up to the advantages of underground power. If we are serious about creating employment, burying our power reticulation would be a great start. Why not start in the Hunter Valley where jobs will be needed as coal mines close.
Stan Kiefer, Arakoon
JOHN Howard's Honorary Award (Former PMs praised by uni, Herald, 15/4) should have been Horribilis GST Award for all those who remember and know why our costs of living and the prices of houses are so high.
Brian Watson-Hill, Corlette
OH so true Jo Wark (Short Takes, 15/4). When reading a column written by Jeff Corbett you always have to consider whether it is funny or tongue in cheek. Either way it's always worth the time.
Fran Chapman, West Wallsend
BILL Slicer, the reason they have suspended the AstraZeneca for under 50s is because a very, very small number have had a medical issue detected with their platelets. They are looking at why this happened and whether they can continue. I am booked to have the first AstraZeneca needle in three weeks and the second one 12 weeks later.
Jenni Urquhart, Birmingham Gardens
ARE politicians the only people who bump elbows while moving forward?