NEW ADDRESS FOR LETTERS
The Gold Coast Bulletin is introducing a new email address for Letters to the Editor. From now on, please send your letters to letters@goldcoast.com.au. Please also include your name and suburb at the bottom of your letter.
THE Turnbull Government is working with states and territories to investigate reforms to the way heavy vehicles are charged to use roads.
Today, heavy vehicles pay a user charge, through registration and a per-litre fuel-based excise, but the system is complex and does not work particularly effectively. Nor does it meet the needs of heavy vehicle operators as well as it could.
The Government intends to invite the heavy vehicle industry to participate in a National Heavy Vehicle Charging Pilot. This will see selected participants involved in a pilot program to test the replacement of registration fees and the fuel-based Road User Charge, with a national direct user charge.
The pilot will run initially through to 2020 and will allow heavy vehicle operators to test, influence and shape a fairer system.
The first two stages of the pilot will be research-based, focusing on working with industry to develop the options to pilot. It will not involve participants paying additional or alternative charges.
The Government will also be establishing a business case program for location-based trials of distance charging for heavy vehicles.
Under this program, which will commence in 2018-19, the Government would fund business cases for trials in specific regions.
Reform of heavy vehicle user charging has the potential to deliver substantial net benefits for the Australian economy, estimated to be between $8 billion and $22 billion over 20 years. PAUL FLETCHER MP MINISTER FOR URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE
I’M afraid councils often overreact when it comes to complaints from one person about an issue that doesn’t appear to concern anyone else. (‘Anger as peacocks removed from home’ Dec. 14).
The enormous pleasure and education this family of peacocks has provided for local residents in an area of Nerang far outweighs the whingeing from one birdbrain in the area. And for council to inexplicably leave one male bird behind has understandably ruffled the feathers of many locals.
Why don’t council officers pluck up
the courage to reunite this bird with its family? Beats me! KEN JOHNSTON ROCHEDALE SOUTH
WHAT’S wrong with our society today?
A student takes drugs, illegal drugs, he has broken the law, he took a chance when he put that illegal substance in his mouth and he died as a result of that decision. Bad luck, it’s sad for his family, but there are only two people to blame: the drug seller and the drug buyer.
Now our overworked police who thought he was drunk are to be investigated for not contacting 000. This is ridiculous.
It’s time we all started to take responsibility for our own actions. ROD ROTTEN CURRUMBIN
HAVING read the Cold Coast letter I fully agree. The council spends millions of dollars on firework displays, which damage the environment, cause injuries, and only last an hour each time, yet are used on every and any occasion.
Christmas is only once a year for around two weeks, yet there isn’t any Christmas cheer except for residents, God bless them.
Surely the council can manage to brighten our lives once a year, after all it doesn’t cost them anything. We are the ones that pay in the end. MARG
WHILE I do not take sides of any argument, I do analyse the pros and cons.
It is interesting how upset the Palestinians are over Trump’s decision to relocate the American embassy to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is not mentioned in the Koran so as an innocent bystander I do not understand why the outrage by Palestine.
There is no hope whatsoever of peace between these countries. Palestine schoolchildren as early as age five are taught how to behead and stab Jews.
I have seen videos of their children in school practising on dolls how to behead Jews.
There will never be peace while the truth is withheld from the public. NICK BELLOFF