Coral panic

An article (GA, 16/4) claimed “the Great Barrier Reef has suffered through its worst ever heat stress, with more than 80 per cent of reefs enduring dangerous levels of heating” and “centuries-old corals succumbing to the extreme heat”.

Since 1970, the reef has been the subject of continual alarmism by experts predicting impending doom from the crown of thorns starfish, agricultural fertiliser and pesticide run-off, tourism, sediments, dredging, sea acidification, cyclone damage, ocean warming and bleaching.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg of the University of Queensland, an expert on coral reefs said in 2000 that corals cannot fully recover from serious bleaching episodes and the overall damage is irreparable.

After a 2006 bleaching he said “most of the reefs we saw were 100 per cent bleached” and “between 30 and 40 per cent of coral on Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef could die within a month”.

In 2016 scientific “experts” declared the reef dead because of bleaching and in 2017 scientific “experts” said it was damaged beyond repair and can no longer be saved.

On April 2021, the GBR Marine Park Authority in its “reef health update” said there were no signs of coral bleaching on offshore reefs and only low to moderate bleaching on some inshore and mid-shelf reefs.

In 2022, coral cover of the GBR was the largest recorded but the ongoing alarmism is incessant.

Peter Rees, Torquay

Anzac Day crucial

Today Anzac Day is more important than ever. With more people questioning the relevance of

Australia Day, Anzac Day remains the one day when Australians can come together as a nation. Anzac Day is enshrined in an act of parliament, which ensures ongoing acknowledgment of those who served in our defence forces overseas.

As a conscript in Vietnam, I will be remembering the 521 Australians who were killed in action in Vietnam, 200 of whom were conscripts.

The integrity of Anzac Day must be protected at all costs. It is therefore unacceptable for politicians to read messages from the Prime Minister and endorsed party political candidates speaking.

Lest We forget

John Bugge, Portarlington

Stop wasting money

Again the state government has found a way to waste our money.

More than $100,000 to let two people wander the council precincts to no good end is nothing short of throwing our money in the fire.

It is our money. Not yours to throw away. Stop now, we are already too far in debt with all of their grand schemes.

Jim, Moolap