‘ Illegals’ should repay

YESTERDAY Queensland acknowledged a new sporting hero. Next week the state will farewell a retiring great.

Newly crowned world boxing champion Jeff Horn was acclaimed on the streets of Brisbane yesterday with thousands turning out for a tickertape parade.

The humble hero has seemingly come from nowhere to take his place on the world stage with his gutsy win over Manny Pacquiao at Suncorp Stadium last Sunday.

Coincidentally, another packed crowd at that same venue will farewell rugby league star Johnathan Thurston next Wednesday.

Thurston should have been playing in the deciding Origin game for his beloved Maroons.

Instead, he will be on the sidelines because of his season- ending shoulder injury sustained in Game Two.

Thurston does not want the occasion to be about him, however his remarkable achievements for Queensland over a 13- year career will be acknowledged during a prematch presentation. His Queensland teammates can make the occasion more special with a series win over the Blues.

It would be fitting to see Thurston join his triumphant teammates on the field celebrating a victory.

While some of our country’s elite sports stars have been attracting attention in recent days for all the wrong reasons, Queensland should feel proud to be able to claim athletes like Horn and Thurston as our own.

While they are at opposite ends of their respective careers they are both deserving of all the accolades that come their way for their inspirational achievements.

Reef report good news for all

REPORTS of the impending death of the Great Barrier Reef appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

The tourism industry breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when it was revealed the Reef was left off UNESCO’s “in danger” list following a meeting of its World Heritage Committee.

The committee was impressed with steps being undertaken by the Federal Government with its Reef 2050 Plan.

Negative reports on the health of the Reef have received international attention following back- to- back bleaching events.

There were fears in the tourism industry that those reports would turn people off visiting the natural wonder. The UNESCO decision is a tick of approval for the health of the Reef and the steps that have been put in place to protect it into the future. LIKE many in this country I am beyond belief and so angry at the decision that the ‘ illegal’ immigrants on Manus Island are now to be compensated.

The Manus Island so- called refugees are incarcerated because it has taken our government so long to vet them to ensure they have no connection with terrorism and are not a threat to our way of life. They are so called ‘ economic’ refugees. Well that title will no longer apply once they are paid out with our hard earned tax money.

I call upon the Government to now insist that these people who are being compensated, pay back their share of the country’s money that was used to save them from their treacherous sea conditions ( in a situation of their choosing), return payment for their accommodation, and security, repay the money used to ensure they received priority health care, entertainment and travel, as well as cigarettes and mobile phones.

Now that they will no longer be ‘ economic’ refugees they will also be able to pay for their own flights back to where they came from.

Apparently the age of entitlement is over for us the workers, pensioners and veterans of this great country, those that toiled, fought and stood for the protection of their land be it of birth or by adoption. These Australian people are the true economic refugees where, to this day, they struggle to pay their electricity bills, have a government that has little concern for their water security and criminals being supported while the victims of crime have to pick up the pieces.

I feel the anger and hear the frustration from friends, family and fellow workers. I hear the change in their voices as day after day our money ( which apparently the Government doesn’t have) goes overseas to foreign countries who give no financial support to us in times of need.

I see the actions of many who now want to tear down this present government which has turned its back on its own people while supporting those foreigners and overseas governments that do not care about the struggle of Australians. So if this frittering of our money continues, then the people of Australia must insist that the coffers be opened to match locally.

May I suggest that the Government, which seems to find money from thin air, match dollar for dollar, any money that goes overseas or to non citizens who did not follow the legal process to enter the country. This can then go to health care, funding of health research, building of infrastructure such as dams and roads, and, reduction of crime in our own country.

Charity does begin at home. Pay the Australian people first then let’s see if there is enough in the till to assist outside countries, and then, and only then, when all Australians have good health care, when our elderly can sleep safely at night in their own beds, when our water is secure, when power costs are reduced, when food is local and plentiful, and when manufacturing continues in this great country, can we consider sending money overseas.

If our government cannot afford to look after its own people, it certainly cannot afford to pay out compensation to Manus Island refugees.

A thought for our politicians: “If you want to change the world, go home and love your own family.” How much good could a further $ 70,000,000 do for assisting in securing our water supply. MARGARET BELL,

Jensen.