Social distancing still in place

Like others I made the trip to the new K Mart and Bunnings once the restrictions were partially lifted.

Yes the car park is too small, especially when when people travel up to nearly 50 kilometres to get there. It seemed I was one of the few locals in either store, but the stores were full.

People were blocking the aisles complaining about how long they had to queue to park. The length I was more concerned about was the 1.5 metres separation that seemed to evaporate within the stores as people entered. People had no idea how long 1.5 metres was or they thought it didn't apply to them.

Restrictions have been lifted a little, but social distancing rules have not changed. I felt very sorry for the staff who had to try to police it, but some people were literally in their faces. Gatherings of up to 10 people couldn't be policed as it seemed that so many people were doing catch-ups with their friends. I grabbed my ‘essentials', paid and left as soon as possible.

The pandemic is not over. An easing of restrictions doesn't mean that you are safe. Downloading the CovidSafe App doesn't protect you. However you just wonder whether there is something in the doorways of large shopping stores that stops people's brains from functioning properly.

Greg Tuck, Warragul systems and in the past with bushfires for example energising that drive to take an individual action to support the community, I have wanted to donate blood.

As a young man, aged 18 to 26, each year I would see the summer blood challenge and a community group I belonged too taking part and each year I had to say to my peers, I want to, but I won’t be allowed. Today as I near my 38th birthday I am still prevented for offering to donate.

Men who have sex with men in Australia are currently ineligible to donate blood for 12 months since last sexual contact with another man, even if we have had ‘protected/ safer sex' (used condoms).

Now if this was the 1980s and HIV was unknown and widely spreading through the community, I could understand stopping prospective gay and bisexual men form giving. But we are now in 2020, with not only a much more advanced understanding of STIs and HIV, but also with rapid detection.

While I regularly see my local GP for a full sexual health check, I have used the Rapid HIV testing that provides reliable results for HIV within 20 minutes that can be access in Melbourne. (Also Bendigo but sadly not locally in Gippsland).

With the ease we now can detect HIV and many other STIs, it’s time to see the policy changed at blood banks to give more Australians the ability to join the donor list. In 2018 research into the area found 77 per cent of men who had sex with men would donate blood if allowed.

It has been suggested that men in this category could abstain from sex with another man for 12 months in order to donate, but that's not realistic compared with changing a rule that is unfair given HIV infects regardless of gender, unnecessarily strict given medical knowledge and abilities now, and appears just to be a homophobic relic given HIV exists in the community regardless of sexuality.

With IDAHOBIT Day last Sunday reminding us of the effects of Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia on our community it’s time to call on our medical and political leaders to bring around a policy change to open the door for increase donations.

David Lyons, Trafalgar

Governing for the people of this electorate means funding a new hospital. We need that more than anything else.

So Daniel, what happened to the promise to govern for all Victorians? Was that said tongue in cheek and you didn't really mean that? You just wanted to sound magnanimous. Maybe it is time to come clean and tell us the truth (if you can).

If you can find $15 million to fund the building of a homosexual pride centre, which will benefit two per cent of the population, why can't you find the money to fund a hospital here for the benefit of 100 per cent of the population.

Roger Marks, Drouin

It is well to remember that when the Federal government changed in 2007, Australia was completely debt free. With the so-called Global Financial Crisis, (GFC) our debt began to blow out. None of it was repaid and the interest charges kept mounting.

Now because of the reckless actions of governments, Federal and State, that debt is approaching $1 trillion. Australia is like a credit card. If you spend, you must pay back. If you don't pay it all, then you pay interest. Our debt is now so high that our great grandchildren will be paying it and their children too if governments keep borrowing.

Is it any wonder that we the people become cynical when our elected leaders spend our money in such a reckless way?

Australia the Lucky Country? Not anymore given our current crop of incompetent leaders.

Don McLean, Bunyip