YOUR VIEWS
FOR longer than I can remember those with a right leaning have been chipping away at the ABC. Not happy with the ability to slowly pull the guts out of our national broadcaster by starving it of funds it has made sure our daily papers are in their control.
Which raises the question: what is the difference between some of the tinpot countries we have the audacity to can and the creation being created in this country?
And what is concerning is this poor country has and is going down the gurgler and there are few who could care less. D.J. FRASER CURRUMBIN
THE last royal commission held in Australia was over the aged care institutions and it would seem that in the big scheme of things, bugger all has changed to actually safeguard the elderly and infirm – so what exactly, was the point of it all? Why waste millions again to achieve nothing?
Over the decades there have been any number of investigations carried out into the bushfires, which have ravaged this country from time to time, yet very little was done by preceding prime ministers or state and territory premiers, which is why Australians are now suffering.
As I understand it, although royal commissions do have a wide range of powers they cannot actually force law or policy changes as such, they can only submit their reports and recommendations to the government of the day and then it’s up to them to make any legislative or procedural changes.
The most recent bushfire royal
commission was held in relation to the Victorian bushfires of 2009 and it is obvious that their reports and submissions made to the government of the day were not acted upon.
If people want to put the blame on any prime minister, they should first look at those who were in power before Scott Morrison, such as Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Tony Abbott or Malcolm Turnbull who were all also in a position to act on the submissions and reports but didn’t!
Scott Morrison must do whatever is necessary to make sure that everything is done to ensure that the destructive forces of bushfires are never able to get out of hand again and that the areas of forestry management and mitigation are not able to be waylaid by misguided environmentalism. GAEL BEALE GOLD COAST
SHAUN Cunneen’s letter (January 16) tells us of the necessity of protesting.
A lot of what he’s said is correct, inasmuch as if you don’t make a noise, you won’t be heard (oil on the squeaky wheel).
He states some facts when he mentions women’s suffrage, Gandhi, civil rights etc, all good causes, but then he breaks into fiction when he refers to man-made climate change.
For far too long we’ve heard of Pacific Islands flooding, polar bears becoming extinct, ice caps melting, etc, but NONE of these things are happening, and if they were, show us the proof.
It beggars belief, that with all the money available to handle the
world’s problems, we can’t feed the poor or look after the homeless or those suffering domestic violence, but somehow this same money is going to change the climate of the planet?
He says we were warned by the Greens that our bushfire seasons would get worse. Well, they would know, as they were the ones who wouldn’t allow burning off the rubbish, as has been done for millennia by our natives. Even scientists agree that it can be hot, we can be in drought, the winds can blow strong, but, if there is no fuel, there is no fire. Commonsense seems to be lacking in the Greens department. JOHN MCGEORGE NERANG
WHAT a dumb idea to have our teachers taught at university instead of at teachers college. The standard of education has slowly deteriorated since this has happened and will continue in a downward direction until this is rectified. Lowering the entrance score won’t help, it will only make it worse. Another failed Labor idea. ROD WATSON SURFERS PARADISE
THE excellent letter in the GCB of 15/1/2020 by CPE Smith sums up well the issues and concerns felt by southern GC residents re the route of the light rail. The statement that we need to “save the GC Highway from the light rail” is so true. Quite simply, to place the light rail along this highway is to overload it, as the letter illustrates. In trying to accommodate everyone, it will simply frustrate everyone because of parking and access issues.
The streetscape issue is another problem. It is all very well for council representatives to say that the presence of the light rail can no longer justify the increase in height and density of nearby buildings “until appropriate investigations have been done” (GCB 7/1/2020). Experience tells us that “inappropriate” investigations will be done, and in secret. And of course this new ruling is not retrospective!
The council planning boss says that residents’ feedback had been taken into account – all this is too little, too late. For example the Palm Beach ugly lumps of high-rise buildings were put up with what can only be described as indecent haste.
The chief planner goes on to say that “we do not want to see big, bulky tower bases around suburban streets away from “our active centres” – this is precisely what they do have with the oversized Magnoli buildings at 19th Ave, Palm Beach.
To sum up, the council’s planning processes seem to be based on the practice of locking the gate after the horse has bolted. Ratepayers deserve better than this. DOROTHY LLOYD PALM BEACH
THE Scots have calmed down since Mel Gibson went blue in the face shouting “freedom” as he led them to victory against the English in the First War of Scottish Independence. Supporters of a Yes vote were routinely depicted as tribal and unstable, while the unionists were coolly detached, rising above the chaos with their reasoning. TONY CAVUOTO PALM BEACH