Letter of the Week
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I SEE in the papers the we are up for billions of dollars for new submarines. Defence will go on about their increased capabilities, but what will they do with them?
The defence White Paper identifies military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific area and possible threats to Australia. A threat requires capability and intent.
Apart from China and India there is no serious capability in our area. India has his own border problems so they are unlikely to show any intent. China might harbour some intent, in that they are a patient lot and will bide their time until they buy us out.
We went through this with the last submarine project – years of problems with millions of dollars down the drain. We need beefed up border protection, not submarines or supersonic aircraft.
Under our defence treaty obligation we are required to spend a certain percentage of GDP on defence. That’s okay, but why not spend it in the country. It could go towards a national service training scheme where those leaving the education system would receive training in military skills, camaraderie and discipline.
That would provide an immediate boost for our ground forces and the trainees would have something meaningful to contribute, while their adolescent brains become accustomed to personal responsibility in preparation for joining a civil society.
BOB, BROADBEACH
THE people supporting the filling of Black Swan Lake in the Gold
Coast Bulletin Letters to the Editor resort to personal attacks – “greenies”, “rent a crowd” etc – however not one of them has actually put forth reasons why they personally need to park their car behind the Gold Coast Turf Club or why extra parking is required at all.
Given the recent poll of 95%, and a petition of 16,000+ signatures in support of keeping the Lake, I urge Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Turf Club to reconsider their development as this is not what the public want. Black Swan Lake should be preserved and maintained by Council.
MICHELLE HARE, MERMAID WATERS
I DROVE cabs during the Sydney Olympics and the roads were a dream.
Aside from the increased public transport, dedicated Games lanes, road closures, and dire warnings of chaos, SOCOG banned all commercial vehicles, restricting their deliveries from midnight till dawn. This measure was invaluable.
Will our Games Transport Plan utilise this proven winner?
Regarding your Saturday Editorial lamenting the M1 basket case, here’s another winner from Sydney transport.
When their Anzac bridge opened with 6 lanes at 80kph it quickly reached capacity and became unworkable. So they created 8 lanes by narrowing the lanes and reduced the speed limit to suit. Problem solved overnight.
Over to you, Mark Bailey. It’s not too late.
ADRIAN NEYLAN, PALM BEACH
SO the climate change thing is now being ignored. Are you flipping crazy?
I mention this because the the new word just invented by the same people who invented climate change is ‘flip’. They have come up with another crystal ball theory about how the world is going to end. They say the the magnetic poles will FLIP. They are guessing it happened hundreds of thousands of years ago. And it might happen again.
They have invented this word Flip so that the stupid people might use it and just understand it’s the end of the world every time they hear it. Not really understanding it
means keep the funding going! Are the flipping serious?
D WILKINSON, WORONGARY
GAMES Minister Kate Jones (GCB, 5 February 2018) claims that a $1 billion transport expenditure has transformed the Gold Coast.
Yes it has brought much change, but she obviously doesn’t have a clue about the daily traffic problems faced by motorists travelling to, from, or around the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast traffic arrangements are a nightmare and the $1 billion would have been better spent on Gold Coast roads.
BOB HOLMES, COOMBABAH
THE story of vet Dr Caroline Orli and her euthanasia service I found very moving. My wife and I have had dogs for 40 years and have had to put several of them down. It’s very sad as they are like our children. I am 76 and have health problems, including cancer.
I would love to have the option to be euthanised when the time comes, with my family around me.
ERNIE, PARKWOOD
DOES anyone else get irritated by commercial television in their use of abbreviations when promoting forthcoming shows as in “Jan” and now “Feb”?
I think this reflects the quality (or not) of the type of shows they are pushing and their disregard for the use of good English.
I find the presenters on commercial television for the most part carry on like teenage children. Perhaps they represent the audience they seek?
Quite probably I am showing my age (in my 76th year) and am an old “fuddy-duddy”. My grandchildren would likely support that view.
GERALD MOSES, CLEAR ISLAND WATERS