TXT THE EDITOR
WE GIVE PREFERENCE TO TEXTS THAT INCLUDE A NAME AND SUBURB
Sunday, 7.6.20, marked 250 years since Captain J. Cook named Magnetic Island when his compass went nuts. It is one of the oldest and most interesting of the European names on our coastline. Happy birthday Maggie, we love you.
SA, W.E.
“This has to stop”, we all said. ”It’s only a matter of time”, we all said. Now there is no more time. Not for those kids who are dead, not for those left behind to keep trying to pick up the pieces. We, you & I, we knew this would happen, it’s been up in our faces for a long time. Many have tried to help, many have done nothing. Regardless, four young people are dead, their lives taken away needlessly. That is the reality. I may add my condolences to others expressed & I do, sincerely so, but will it actually stop the carnage happening again? We’ve run out of time for words. We must work together as a community now, not just sit, holding our breath, waiting until something like this happens again. And again. And again. Because, without change, it will. Tough problems require tough decisions & those in positions of power can make them. If they have the courage to do so. Stay safe everyone.
LYN, ANNANDALE GARDENS.
More cops and prisons is shutting the gate after the horse has bolted. With the proven link between crime and illiteracy, improving reading and writing is one of the best investments in reducing crime rates. But the literacy programs in Queensland schools were cut under the Newman government and Labor haven’t reinstated them.
ROGER, MT LOUISA
If the police and, obviously, residents, knew that two cars were doing 120km/h around the suburbs for hours, why on earth weren’t they stopped? The children would know that stealing cars and speeding was wrong, but, like so many others, believe they’re bullet-proof. The Department of Child Safety, apparently, has a lot to answer for, and so do their parents. These child offenders seem to have no controls at all. AGS HERMIT PK
Just wondering will the Queensland judicial system accept any responsibility for four lives lost on Sunday morning? You can’t tell me these kids have not fronted a magistrate before. If proper sentencing was handed down the first or second time around then maybe these kids might have learnt their lesson and not be offended.
YM4817
Premier Palaszczuk expressed sorrow for the death of the four teenagers in the stolen car but won’t admit the deaths are a consequence of her failed management of juvenile crime in Townsville.
RBH NORTH WARD
Townsville Bulletin front page “How could we let this happen”. How about how come it’s called a tragedy that four kids made the wrong choice regardless of their living environment. Don’t forget that many are suffering over the years these crims have taken from hardworking families – black white or brindle. Let’s hope it’s a wake up call to the rest of them.
LUKE 4812
Bulletin headline 8/6 How could we let this happen. WE didn’t let it happen. The parents of these kids and the Government let this happen. In the 1950s and 60s we had parents with little education or money. Very little welfare housing or unemployment benefits. Had to work in back breaking jobs on wharf, garbage, railway, roads etc. Difference was they made us go to school, knew where we were especially at night and cared about us.
TJ 4814
Townsville Bulletin got its headlines wrong on Monday’s paper. It should have read How could we the parents let this happen.
DON KELSO
Doesn’t matter how you look at the weekend’s tragedy, it comes down to the fact this community lacks political leaders with real substance. It’s sad that we accept this low standard. I’m sick of listening to the impotent three worming around these issues.
I’M KRWN
The majority of the recommendations by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) were applied in each state. One was a change in the definition of “custody”. Before the inquiry, custody only occurred after the suspect’s arrest. Now, it occurs as soon as the police begin an action, e.g., begin pursuing a stolen car, a siege where the suspect suicides, natural causes in hospital while serving a sentence and others. This is the reason for the increased deaths in custody, not brutality by police or custodial officers.
JEFF, CONDON.
You can understand what makes us cranky up in the regional areas of the state? We only get a few of the Labor Government here for photo opportunities, then we meekly obeyed the pandemic regulations only to have sand kicked in our faces by the footballers and now a bunch of professional protestors.
RON KELSO. AGS Hermit Park, Annap not only told them to stay home after the march she then congratulated them. If there is no community transmission from this mass gathering detected in two weeks then she has no grounds to keep the state in lockdown. SHOELACE 4812
Wake up people you’re being had. The Premier is laughing at you. Another outbreak of the virus and guess what – the election is history. Wonder what other rallies are on the table.
ROB NTH WARD.
Limited numbers allowed in shops, restaurants, pubs, etc but no problems with 30,000 at a protest no worries. Do you think it was allowed because 99.9% of people there vote Labor or their best mates that enable them to get in power because of their preferences the greens. Labor Party stopped being the “labour’s party“at least 30 years ago. Wake up workers.
RP THE HILL.
Predictably blame is laid square on the State Government for the rally in Brisbane. The Premier and Health Minister told them no, but if 30,000 people turn up what can you do? Turn guns on them? It’s what the USA did. Ironically, the protest was about lives ending at the hand of violence and racism, to attempt to shut down the protest would have underlined the reason for the protest, not stopped it. So are the LNP supporters advising violence then?
GJ, HYDE PARK
Remedy to death by shark … don’t swim, paddle, surf, scuba dive etc, wherever they could be. Remedy to death in custody; don’t get into custody in the first place. Common sense really. Ah … but I forget, silly me, common sense ain’t that common anymore. KERRY, WEST END.
Phillip Thompson is spot on about politicians of our era. His quote that parliament needs a truckie, miner, soldier, sparky, hairdresser, small business owner to fully understand the complexities of our society must be obvious to voters by now. Phillip sits in the same chamber as the gutless pollie who sent two staffers to chastise him, saying his two tattoos and beard intimidated other pollies. The tragic thing is we pay this drongo.
WW, C/JONG TTE regulars: End the COVID-19 restrictions now! We should be able to go where we want! Protestor: Great (grabs placard) TTE regulars: No, not like that! THE CREDIBLE HULK, MT LOUISA
To all those selfish rally protesters who jammed their knee in the neck of small business on weekend. Any virus outbreaks causing shutdowns and you have successfully suffocated Australia. Can you see your hypocracy … Nah, your never wrong.
RUSS, CRANBROOK
Odd how the texters complaining about the infection potential of the protests are the same ones who only a few weeks ago were demanding all restrictions be lifted.
JACK, ADALE
Every person who was fined for not complying with social distancing previously should immediately receive a full refund and a personal apology.
BALZAC, 4812
The Cowboys must be feeling at ease knowing that someone is taking great care of Kalyn Ponga, seeing that they couldn’t fit him in their salary cap. He had a blinder.
LEO, 4818
People might take a wage freeze better if politicians led the way. If they don’t, it’s not on. JOE BLAKE
I applaud Annastacia P for keeping our borders closed. Just read about a town in America that allowed an unregulated funeral to be held. As a result a second wave of COVID 19 has been responsible for an enormous number of deaths. Onus Annastacia.
S RASMUSSEN
Can someone please explain how a business person can go bankrupt three times and probably owing contractors and subcontractors lots of money and claim to be the biggest racehorse owner in Queensland. Why is this allowed?
MAUREEN 4816
The federal Jobkeeper payment will give each eligible employee more support than the piddling and competitive $10,000 grants the Queensland Government is offering to small and medium business. The stingy way the business loans were cut off shows exactly what Brisbane thinks of small business owners. They make lots of announcements but don’t actually do much. ALEX, AVALE