LetteroftheWeek
Have strong opinions, write in an engaging way? You could win our Letter of the Week, and with it a book from our friends and sponsors, the publishers HarperCollins. This month’s book prize is Cross her Heart by Sarah Pinborough. Some secrets are worth dy
YOUR support for light rail stage 3 is commendable but misdirected, as all it does is substitute one form of public transport with an alternative.
Spending the same amount of money on widening the M1 to Tugun will have a much more beneficial effect on the whole community. It also will not create the need for more multimilliondollar subsidies every year, as our buses are much cheaper to operate than trams.
Leave the trams where they are on the busiest sector in the city, and service the rest with affordable and flexible buses. REG CARTER
DRUG testing for new income support recipients? I’m all for it when each parliamentarian’s income is subject to similar testing and analysis before payment is made.
Since the stated purpose is to “help curb the devastating effects of the abuse of drugs on individuals, families and the broader community,” if parliamentarians fail, they should be “placed on income management” just like those receiving income support.
My tax dollars go to both sets of people; I believe they should be treated equitably. JUDY BAMBERGER I AM a proud Vietnam veteran who decided to march at Surfers on Anzac Day.
At the Nerang bus stop two vehicles stopped asking if they could drive me there.
Unreal kindness, I took the bus and on arrival was greeted by handshakes and appreciative remarks.
The smile and happiness on the children’s faces was heartwarming.
Brilliant service, a day to remember and to the strangers who provided my drinks, thank you. PISTOL PETE DALGRIN I WOULD like to thank the Bulletin for the article about the passing of the world champion speedway rider Ivan Mauger. For such a dedicated sportsman it is a pity that no other news outlets celebrated his feats, also I did not notice any TV coverage. I tried to inform all news outlets but was fobbed off. DON POULTNEY, ELANORA LOGAN City Council pays their chief executive $500,000 per year. I am surprised that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has not applied for a better-paying job with Logan City Council! ANGELO, BIGGERA WATERS LET’S hope we are not going down the American path of suing for every little thing that upsets us. These law firms that mostly originate in the US are nothing but ambulances chasers. We are made of sterner stuff than that and surely are responsible for our own actions. ROD WATSON, SURFERS PARADISE THE prospect of five federal byelections and the loss of another Senator all point to the need for a referendum sooner not later on constitutional changes, including Australia becoming a republic and adopting a casual vacancy system for the House of Representatives.
The Real Republic believes we need a public debate and referendum on an Australian republic in addition to other constitutional reforms delivering real benefits to Australians.
Already WA voters face the prospect of a by-election to fill the seat of Perth, and now four other lower-house MPs have quit in the wake of the High Court’s ruling against Senator Katy Gallagher.
Contrary to what Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says, we should be debating the republic question right now so a referendum can be held sooner rather than later.
The Real Republic believes we should also be debating other real reforms to our constitution and processes of government including any necessary changes to Section 44 covering the citizenship of MPs, but also real reforms such as adopting a casual vacancy system for the House of Representatives.
We should consider changes that could eliminate costly and disruptive by-elections for the lower house, along the lines of the current system for filling Senate vacancies.
Australians want real reforms, not empty symbolism, and that means a directly elected Australian as our nation’s head of state, not one chosen for them by politicians.
The 1999 referendum that followed the 1998 Constitutional Convention failed because all it offered was a model for politicians picking our head of state, not one directly elected by the people.
The Real Republic wants to go further and give a directly elected head of state a role in appointing and overseeing anti-corruption and integrity bodies at the federal level instead of the current unhealthy practice of politicians appointing the agencies and individuals overseeing their behaviour.
We believe the real reforms we are putting on the table will deliver real benefits and savings to Australians. DAVID MUIR, CHAIRMAN, REAL REPUBLIC