MPS must provide informed opinions
I HEAR Barnaby Joyce regularly defending George Christensen’s right to his opinion and his right to express that opinion.
I agree with Barnaby.
However, there is the matter of an “opinion” and an “informed opinion” and “the facts”.
George Christensen, by dint of his parliamentary status, is in a responsible position.
As such, he has the inherent responsibility to ensure he provides an informed opinion.
More so his parliamentary status means he has better opportunity than most to ensure he has assembled all the relevant facts.
By any reasonable approach or understanding of the events of Covid-19, George’s position stands in stark contrast to the reality of Covid-19 in Australia and around the world.
So, George inform yourself of the facts, stick to the facts and be responsible and lead. Opinions are opinions and are not relevant where science and information are to the fore.
George might also care to reflect on the good old need for teamwork.
It doesn’t necessarily require marching in step all the time.
That would be a stagnant dull old world.
But sometimes, good teamwork counts for a lot and achieves so much more.
ROB DONKIN, Kelso.
PINCHING OUR TITLE
HOW cheeky of southern journalist Mike O’connor Courier Mail 28/9/21 to “steal” something that has belonged to Townsville for over 5 years. I refer to his description of 3 politicians as The Three Stooges.
Different politicians, different issue, same political party, and as usual a great read from
O’connor, but folks let’s be honest, as every reader of the Townsville Bulletin for the last five years well knows, Townsville has ownership of the original concept of The Three Stooges. O’connor’s three stooges are Palaszczuk, Deputy Steven Miles and Health Minister Yvette D’ath. I do acknowledge the sometimes foulmouthed Miles, (what was that word the smirking Miles used to describe our Prime Minister, really unbecoming of the position of Deputy Premier), and the dummy spit tantrum from D’ath when journalists had the audacity to ask if she had checked about legality with the Therapeutic Goods Administration are both worthy of Stooges status.
But I always like the original version, always better than some jumped-up cover or copy. And besides, how galling that the bloody South East take something that belongs to us without asking. After all, they’ve been taking all the mining royalties from us since Jesus was a boy and spending same in Brisbane. And to be fair, how else could they possibly build cross rail or fund the 2032 Olympics?
So there we have it folks, there will always be only one real Three Stooges, and all three reside in Townsville.
If only they would realise that, and start feeling the amount of hurt and despair in this once great city, all caused by the policies of the government that all three are members of.
BARRY DAVIES, Cranbrook.
INSURANCE WOES
I RECENTLY planned a cruise overseas to New Zealand for 2022. Ambitious I know! However, I’ve been Covid immunised since May.
I booked the cruise and paid a deposit. Paid for accommodation in Brisbane pre-flights. Booked flights. Organised insurance.
Then I receive an email the cruise is cancelled. Because there is no end date in Queensland to the borders opening.
A touch ironic is that the cruise is fully refundable, the hotel fully refundable. Jetstar won’t refund anything, but I can change flights and still go to Brisbane at least.
The travel insurance wouldn’t cover the flights anyway and when I cancelled the policy, I lost approximately $70 to Medibank travel insurance.
There’s a certain irony to losing money to the organisation that is supposed to protect you from losing money. Thanks for nothing Medibank Insurance. It is as little value for money as its private health insurance (which I’m also going to cancel).
ANGELA SCOTT,
Railway Estate.
WE HAVE FALSE TEETH
I REMEMBER when US president Lyndon B Johnson was in Australia schmoozing with Harold Holt back in 1966. “All the way with LBJ”!
Yeah, and we remember all the body bags coming back from Vietnam, too.
Now seeing PM Scott Morrison in the US kowtowing to Biden it’s “Australia’s not hidin’. It’s all the way with Biden!”
Australia has a standing army of 43,000. China has a standing army of, wait for it, 2,185,000.
But they also have two million in reserve.
Am I the only fool in this country who thinks we are about to bite a lion when all we have is a set of false teeth?
Good to hear that, at last, Townsville will get a new entertainment centre. We will then attract entertainers of a wide variety to satisfy 100% of the people, not just footy bogans. I ask two things: Can we please have a decent roof capable of withstanding tropical downpours and can we have it built in a sensible location with plenty of parking. JEFF, CONDON. Bad start for the new ALP candidate for Herbert. He blames the Federal Government for holdups in cash coming to Townsville when it is actually the Labor State Government which is blocking the money.
STEVIE BELGIAN GARDENS
We have already got two industrial estates not fully occupied (Stuart and Bohle) so why on earth is there even a mention of another one?
PERCY WEST END.
What a farce our state legal system has become. An adult, described as having a “consistent disregard for court orders” runs rampant in the community and is involved in 7 car thefts before being given a whimsical prison sentence. While the Labor noddies triumphantly pat themselves on the back, 7 innocent
families are torn apart and left to pick up the pieces. Shame on our three invincibly ignorant tax burdens that call themselves “representatives”. DEAN AITKENVALE.
Can someone try to explain to the new ALP candidate that projects and funding do take a little time to get right. Perhaps his masters in George St or the Mayor could as they are experts in delaying or quietly killing off projects.
DAVE BUSHYBEACH
Jenny is using Landsdown as her next election platform using ratepayers money to fund it. DON 4814
Common Sense, Aitkenvale. What don’t you understand? The State Palaszczuk Govt played politics and gave the $195 million back to the Feds saying we will pay for the pipeline ourselves. Make the most of the concert hall and whatever else will eventually come from the original $195 million as the state-funded pipeline stage 2 will be another state election promise in October 2024.
RON KELSO.
Do Townsvilleans realise that the proposed $100 million concert hall is designed for limited events such as the Chamber Music Festival and the Eisteddfod? It will not be capable of hosting musical theatre or plays that require backdrops. THEATRE GOER 4810
In hindsight, it looks like a poor decision to replace the footy stadium with a new one of similar capacity. How good would a 50,000 capacity stadium have been? PETE