Save your breath

WE are told many volunteers will be doorknocking seeking support one way or the other for this wretched plebiscite. Wretched because it is being funded with money supposed to be put aside for unexpected and urgent needs. Both Shorten and Turnbull, the princes of Parliament, deep down have no connection with the needs of so many deprived Australians. If this vote is about equality and fairness and lack of discrimination, what happened to families having at least basic accommodation and proper health care? We can only dream how $122 million could change the lives of so many — families struck down with industry closures, cancer patients unable to work with bills continuing to mount, and those trying to cope with power costs. Sorry doorknockers, save your breath.

Details, please

THE article by the Premier makes claims about the health system which need some clarification (Talking Point, September 26). “Hospital elective surgery waiting lists are now at record lows”: This seems at odds with comments from the AMA and waiting patients and provides no details. “We’ve employed more than 250 new nurses” is another assertion with no detail on where or when. The “opening of over 120 additional beds” does not specify timing and seems to mirror some of the claims by the Health Minister, which never seem to match reality on the ground. We should hope the claims relate to the present, rather than some long-term aspiration, and if they do, then the Premier should share the details, so we can be reassured our health system is moving in the right direction.