Article regurgitates federal line on tests

WARNING. For those looking to improve their written English skills in order to meet the conditions of the more stringent English language test for new Australian citizens, please do not use The Groom Gazette as a guide.

Federal Member John McVeigh, in the first edition of his newsletter, explains the proposed new citizenship legislation and why the government believes it is necessary.

He tells us in the headline that it is about “keeping Australian’s safe” (sic). There then appear four more English errors in this article alone and several more in the whole newsletter.

If a citizenship applicant made similar mistakes on a test, I expect a red pen would be liberally used. If John McVeigh believes that new citizens need to demonstrate better English language skills, then he should start by ensuring his own are near perfect.

Moreover it is disappointing that this article does nothing more than regurgitate the federal policy and does nothing to dispel the climate of fear on which it is based.

It would have been good to see some recognition shown by Mr McVeigh of the success of individuals and organisations in his electorate who are working to ensure we continue to help foster a successful and harmonious multicultural society. — JANE BROWN, Rangeville

Costly surgery

ACCORDING to a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare there were 22,700 hospital admissions for weight-loss surgery in 2014/15.

In the 10 years to 2014/15 hospital admissions for weight-loss surgery increased by 300% in public hospitals and by more than 200% in private hospitals, spokeswoman Jenny Hargraves said.

Nine out of 10 procedures in private hospitals and four out of five patients were females aged between 35 and 44.

As well, 124,600 procedures were billed to Medicare.

It is reported that almost two thirds of Aussies are overweight. People are turning to costly surgery instead of healthy eating.

Most consume far too much junk and unhealthy foods. This costs the rest of us more for our hospital and associated costs as the government and health funds have to recoup the cost of these bad habits which in many cases result in expensive surgery.

The logical answer is that we all eat sensibly and eat healthy food. — RAY HARCH, Toowoomba

❝similar If a citizenship applicant made mistakes on a test, I expect a red pen would be liberally used.