TXT THE EDITOR

Can someone please explain how not wanting Qld coal to be mined is going to help the planet? I understand that countries around the world are still building coal fired power stations. If we don’t sell our coal they will buy lower grade coal elsewhere and produce even more carbon emissions. Don’t think that just because you don’t want a coal industry in Qld that China, India etc. will just stop needing and burning coal. No coal mines in Queensland will not save the planet or the GBR, it will just push Nth Qld into poverty. Look at what the Greens have done to Tasmania not a job to be had. If you really want to protest why not go to China or Indonesia where you can’t see the sky or the sun because of the pollution. I’ll pay for your plane fare if you chain your self to Chairman Mao’s statue. Danny Mount Louisa

Re: Service station for Bushy Beach. 1. Our member wouldn’t know the first thing about what we wanted or needed out here. 2. I don’t want a servo to be the first thing we see in the suburb. Convenient definitely yes, but is it really what we need in that proposed location? 3. What about the house values surrounding the proposed service station. 4. We have one teeny tiny roundabout in and out of this suburb, another reason why Paul Jacob wouldn’t have a clue. Put one in Mount Low. News flash Bushland Beach isn’t really growing that much. It’s Mount Low and Burdell propping this area up. JV Bbeach

It’s all very well for Rick Vernon to tell people to stay inside or move when Maggie is burning, but I know of people at Wulguru suffering from emphysema who had an appalling time during the burn, who couldn’t afford to “move”, staying inside didn’t help, and spending a week in a shopping centre wasn’t an option. This burn affected most of T’ville, not just Maggie. I can’t understand why it must be done during such a windy period. Ags Hermit Pk

Gpsouth . You are quite correct about the timing of traffic lights and how they work but you need to look deeper. A good example is the intersection of Ingham rd and the RAAF base . Both sides give green arrows every sequence even when there are no cars in those turning lanes . This is just one of many intersections where there are faults that need to be addressed and they have not been repaired . Seems like there is cost cutting by bypassing the sensor rather than digging up the road to replace it . Thomas west end 4810

Frank Kirwan , couldn’t agree more with you about Aaron Harper. A few times I have asked for the figures on how many juveniles who are out on bail have committed another crime . I wanted him to explain how his policies on the juvenile system they have in place are working. Still no answer. I guess releasing kiddy crims out on the streets on bail is all they can come up with or otherwise they would have realised their policies on this subject aren’t working. The poor victims, what can they do when they can’t even get a reply. Come on show us the figures, if you want our votes. Blu kirwan

Good to see the 3 local Labor candidates are running again in the next election. Nobody else would want to run in their places. The only chance Labor has of getting re-elected, is so obvious, blind Freddy can see it. Labor need to start work on the Burdekin hydro and other dams now. Or they are simply doomed, and out of a job. At least then they could say they achieved the Burdekin dam hydro scheme in their term. Rusty Mr Low

How did we end up with teachers who can’t impart the literacy and numeracy skills to pass NAPLAN tests but can scare the kiddies into wagging school for climate protests? Tradie, Colorado

Dear ww.c/john regarding your weekend text to the editor TB,14/9 on climate change. I noticed you were of the opinion that no one was here 500 years ago. May I respectfully suggest to you the Wulgurukaba and the Bindal peoples share a markedly different view. Wulguru Bob

Oh boy! Am I sick of greenies and leftie activists telling the other 90% of us what we are aren’t allowed to do or enjoy! They can do what they like, but why do they presume the right to demand we do what they want? From horse racing to burning excess vegetation to prevent wildfires, nothing normal people do seems to meet with their approval. Jail time in the drought-stricken outback for activists is what is needed! Geo, Condon

Re protesters sat page 9 last option does that mean adani can now get on with their job with no more fuss from dh jeff vincent 4810

Re: Adani protesters. Instead of giving these protesters community service they should be made to pay for the police and any other services that attend to them and also the hours that they disrupt for holding the business up that they target. LR Kirwan

Steve BG Newstart is not a right its a privilege and a generous hand up by the taxpayers of Australia. The only right you have is to support yourself and your family. It’s not your right to hand down a generation of Welfare Recipients. You right is to follow all the avenues to get a job. Not pick and choose what fits into your social life. What right do you give the Brickie or any subby? They are up before most are out of bed. Working in 40degree heat in the North. He has the right Steve to expect that if your on Welfare you at least try to contribute to society. They have the right to ask you to pee in a cup because they’re funding you. Welfare is a privilege Steve not a right don’t get them confused. Glenn4810 Re Steve Belgian Gardens, firstly, social payments are not a right, they are a privilege funded by the tax payers, when welfare recipients accept an unemployment payment it is to support them while they find a job so they should be ready to start work immediately when a job is available. This being said they need to be able to pass a drug test. If they are not able to pass a drug test don’t pay the benefit because they are not serious about wanting a job. I have worked under strict drug and alcohol standards for many years while paying tax to fund welfare recipients and a failure to pass the tests would put me out of work, you adapt to suit the circumstances. Mount Low Murd

Steve Belgian Gardens. I as a taxpayer can be drug tested buy my employer their clients and the Qld police if I fail I lose my job why then should people on a tax fund benefit not be subject to testing as well. They test positive they are then offered assistance, I test positive I’m offered a newstart form. Get a grip Steve it sounds as if you condone the use of drugs paid for by the taxpayer. So leave the conspiracy theories of dodging Newstart rates out of it testing was floated for welfare be for your beloved government became the opposition. Troy Black River

Steve BG. If I fail a drug test I don’t get any more money because I don’t have a job. Why should it be any different for any person in Australia who receives tax payers money?

All recipients should be tested and I include public servants and politicians. Police, ambos, fireys and army are tested why not pen pushing admin staff? Point in question, TCC Councillors are exempt from their own testing policy, why? Geoff 4817

I was staggered to read on my tax assessment the level of Australian Government gross debt. This year it’s 546 billion, last year it was 532 billion. We paid 18.2 billion in interest. I thought Scott Morrison said he would have a surplus soon. Based on current debt I would say he is telling lies again. Perhaps its time to get rid of all politicians and let the business experts run this stuffed country. JC Idalia

D. Bilton. The answer to your desalination plant question lies in a rusting wreck of a white elephant that a previous Labor government built on the gold coast. Taipan 4811

Regarding the pig hunting debate . Yes farmers want the pigs eradicated . But they also don’t want hunters on their property without their permission . This is a problem that’s increasing it’s as if certain hunters especially the younger ones think they can go were they like when they like . Geo ingham 4850

I have much pleasure in advising the 15 Frontline Action on Coal protesters that only 20% of aussies now hold a negative view of coal mining. All the lies & mistruths have failed miserably, the propaganda war is lost. So kindly rack off, & let Australia get to work! Regards Pedro Cranbrook

“Climate change” and “global warming” are synonymous and mean “hotter”. But it’s not “hotter”, it’s still the cool season and peak temperatures are comparatively low. The bushfires (14/9) are because it’s dry and windy and too much fuel has been left lying around. The problem is the fuel, not the weather. But that won’t stop greenies capitalising on this human land-management error to promote their peculiar vision of doom. Tradie, Colorado

Mckinlay Shire is sitting in some of the best solar irradiance resources in Queensland and they’re on the Copperstring 2.0 route. Could their future outlook be sunny? Steve, Belgian Gardens

Mt. Low Murdy, I didn’t always live in Queensland. Prior to coming to Townsville, back in the early 1980’s, I lived and worked in the town of Kununnurra, in the far north of WA, where the Ord River runs through, and 40kms to the east, is Lake Argyll, all fresh water, and 9 times the volume of Sydney Harbour. It’s just a pity that the lake is so far away from the eastern states, otherwise it could be transported by tankers, to where it’s most needed. What Queensland needs, is its own “Lake Argyll” and Ord River scheme, to bring precious water to parched areas in this state. Could well be doable with a bit of intelligent government nous, but frankly I doubt whether this present govt is up to such a mammoth task. Whoever takes this on, is got to start thinking outside the square. It’s going to take lots of planning, plus lots of money to achieve this. We’ve got to drought proof this state. D. Bilton w /end