THE federal government's plan to spend $600 million to build the new Kurri Kurri gas plant is simply a bad decision - bad for our economy, jobs and climate. Why else would the conservative International Energy Agency strongly urge wealthy countries like Australia to abandon plans for new coal power, gas and oil investments? The IEA is far from a feel-good tree-hugging environmental group. For this organisation to advise the world to shift away from fossil fuels, it is clear that the writing is up on the wall for the fossil fuel industry. Our federal government will do well to follow global market trends instead of pouring taxpayers money into future stranded assets.
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Ching Ang, Kensington Gardens
Vaccination delay
APPARENTLY our television news presenters just regurgitate whatever our politicians feed them without checking the facts. In particular the insistence that people must get vaccinated against COVID-19 or else they are endangering the rest of the community. Sounds great, but what they don't say and what the news services conveniently overlook is that in many cases there is no vaccine available. Twice I have had vaccination appointments cancelled by very apologetic staff at the last minute because the vaccine has run out. Hopefully in two weeks time, if I'm lucky, I'll receive the vaccine six weeks after the initial appointment. Looking for a quicker resolution I read the government advertisement saying people over 50 can be vaccinated now. As I am well over 50 I followed the prompts, typed in Newcastle and 10 sites appeared where I could be vaccinated. Unbelievably, one of them was my local GP where the cancellations occurred. So I wonder how many others were the same and indeed how much this false advertising cost the government and therefore the taxpayer. Obviously the government believes that if you repeat the same misinformation repeatedly then people will believe it. How about the truth for once?
Robert Green, Georgetown
Bring in optional voting
THE dictum "think globally, act locally" has been ignored by both major sides of politics in the Upper Hunter by-election. Instead, both major parties have adopted the alternative dictum, "whatever it takes to win the seat". As a result, both major parties have played-up local issues and largely ignored global issues. They have sent mixed messages to the electorate and have tried to be all things to all voters. Principle and political leadership have been jettisoned ('Ready to seize opportunity', Herald, 22/5).
When I was an electoral officer in a voting booth, I was asked by some voters "which party should I vote for?" To this question I replied, "I can tell you how to vote, but you have to decide who you should vote for." This highlights a major problem with our voting system. What does an election outcome mean when voters are dragged to the voting booths and compelled to vote for candidates and on matters about which they know or care little?
Maybe it is time to abolish compulsory voting altogether. It could be replaced with a system in which voting was optional. But voters would need to get a voting licence before they voted. A simple licence test could be set and agreed to by a committee made up of all sides of politics. The test could include such questions as 'what political party is in government?', 'who is our Premier (or PM)?', 'to what political party does he or she belong', 'what are the main differences between the major party platforms?' If these changes were made then elections would be quicker, cheaper and their outcomes more meaningful.
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Less violence with foot patrols
NEIL Allen (Letters, 18/5) in answer to your question about why King Street McDonalds needs to be "fortified" on weekends, there are a number of possible reasons for this. One reason could be due to the "Newcastle Solution" that put all pub and club patrons out onto the streets at the same time. As an extremely frequent visitor to King Street McDonalds (on average, once every Saturday and Sunday morning sometime between approximately 2:30am and 5:30am from 1998-2008) I never saw any violent incident at all before the introduction of the counterproductive lockout laws. Ever. Not even once. Another reason for the current conditions at King Street McDonalds could have a lot to do with the distinct lack of police presence in the Newcastle CBD since the mid 2000s. Back when the police were still doing regular foot patrols, I also never saw so much as any verbal assaults at King Street McDonalds either. In fact, I never saw any sort of threatening behaviour, let alone rude behaviour by anyone during this timeframe. It seems that people are a lot less likely to cause trouble in areas known for having regular visits by police. Funny about that.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
Roles in the church
WITH what I found rather bizarre logic (Letters, 22/5), Julie Robinson declares religion to be the root cause of men behaving badly towards women, specifically "centuries of male privilege within cathedrals and churches". Not mosques, I note. What about the treatment of women in the ancient world before Christianity, and up to modern times in many non-Christian cultures? Ms Robinson's remedy begins with calling God, Mother God and she. Never mind Jesus teaching us to say "Our Father".
CS Lewis said that to say it doesn't matter how God taught us to speak of Him is an argument not in favour of Christian priestesses but against Christianity. Ms Robinson wants to give women any role within a church, as if female ordination might really end family violence. Some churches do give women any role, while in others, as I see it, different roles show diversity, but not inequality. St Paul (Gal. 3:28) says there is neither male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus. As for men giving themselves power and authority over women and children, Jesus reminded Pilate (John 19:11) that power is given from above, and reminded his apostles (Mt. 20:25-28) to serve others, not exercise authority and lord it over them like the rulers of the Gentiles.
Peter Dolan, Lambton
Rule needs more clarity
WATCHING the game between the Canberra Raiders and the Melbourne Storm, I noticed a couple of major flaws in the rules. On two occasions a player from the Raiders caught the ball over the dead ball line and even though the player's feet were out, the ball was deemed to be still in play as the ball hadn't touched the ground. If a player can catch a ball on the full and have one foot in touch over the dead ball or side line the ball is called out. This is a total contradiction of the rules of the game and needs to be changed. The other issue, a 20-40 kick was ruled on by a touch judge who was at least 20m away from where the ball crossed the side line and ruled against the attacking side. There needs to be a 20-40 post for clarity.
Neil Meyers, Warners Bay
SHORT TAKES
MATT Lodge: This guy? Wow. Surely there are plenty of local players that deserve a shot ahead of this bloke. Or not local. Just someone that doesn't have this atrocious history of behaviour. Is this Knights organisation really at the point where they are willing to forget all that for hope for a quick fix in the results ledger?
I really thought Wests and Phil Gardner had set a higher bar than that for this team and its culture and future.
Lisa Davies, Mayfield West
IF the rumours are true that the Knights are signing Matt Lodge, I will never go to another game again. I've been a member for 20 years and been there through many a roller coaster of emotions. O'Brien says we need to get the culture right and to recruit a person who committed an atrocious act is beyond a contradiction. Knights recruitment is an embarrassment!
Dave Fothergill, The Junction
BRIAN Woodward-Knight (Short takes, 21/5), I have always assumed that people were talking of descending the staircase toward the Queens Wharf and the Brewery as heaven. In every other respect I can agree with your comments. Now it seems we have another star attraction in waiting.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
PETA: could someone from this organisation that places the lives of mice before humans and wish to stop using animals for sports and entertainment give me their footy tips for this week? I'm having a shocker.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
CITY of Newcastle and IRIS can go to hell regarding their tacky stairway to heaven project. The council has a love affair with cement trucks and developers. Heaven is about trees and grass, not concrete.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
ANOTHER typical example of the Liberal/conservative government's punching down by withholding family tax benefits from migrant families for four years! The LNP's punitive policies are always aimed at the weak, the vulnerable and the poor! I'd be embarrassed to call myself a Christian if I were ScoMo!
Mac Maguire, Charlestown
WITH the megabucks spent in Newcastle and surrounds in the last few years ie the interchange, light rail etc there are no refreshment facilities operating at the new rail/tram/bus interchange for the needs of the travelling public.
And now you can catch the tram to nowhere as the very convenient RSL in Scott St closed and now there's no cafe and takeaway on the ferry wharf either. Catch the ferry to Stockton... no snack/coffee kiosk either. Newcastle "the progressive city"?
This issue was brought to the attention of CoN ,local members, counsellors etc with no response.
John Williams, Raymond Terrace
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