LIKE Joan Lambert (Short Takes, 14/4), I too am one of those minorities who have no interest in rugby league, and I find it totally arrogant for John Barilaro, pictured, to assume that the sport is bigger and better than the rest of the community. In my opinion, rugby league is nothing more than a bunch of overpaid testosterone-charged males who believe that they are above the laws of the land.
During these most trying times many people are suffering. Many businesses are doing it tough. People are dying. We all have our part to play. How on earth can the leaders of that sport and Mr Barilaro believe that they should veto the opinions of our health experts and put our health system and many frontline workers at risk?
When the time is right, our true leaders will allow our lives to return to what they were. Mr Barilaro and those supporting the earlier return of this sport need to sit back, suck it up and support the decisions of those with the interest of all Australians. I am one of those frontline healthcare workers. I think my opinion should count for something.
Carol Selmeci, Murrays Beach
ECONOMIC MAGIC
ON reading Milton Caine's letter (The bill is covered, Letters, 14/4), I was reminded of the story of the Central Bank official from a "make believe" country who was visiting regional towns to assist in their economic recovery. Having endured years of drought, floods and fires, the residents were struggling with high levels of household debt. In his wallet the official carried 10 brand new $50 notes that had just been printed by the Central Bank as part of its' "quantitative easing" program.
The official met with the mayor of the town (who was also the publican of the only hotel in the town), explained the economic assistance package and handed him the $500. The publican went immediately to the general store and paid his long overdue account for produce received. The general storekeeper drove straight out to the local farmer and paid him the $500 he owed for farm produce.
The farmer's wife then went straight into town to the local service station and paid their account owing of $500 for diesel fuel and repairs to farm machinery. The service station owner drove straight to the local veterinarian and paid the $500 owing for treatment to his pets. The veterinarian who was a permanent resident at the local hotel walked to the hotel and paid the publican the $500 he was in arrears for his board and lodgings.
The publican then handed the $500 back to the Central Bank official. The town was now debt free and the official could move on to the next town to repeat this economic miracle.
Les O'Loughlin, Dudley
WINTER IS COMING
WE shouldn't be looking at results from countries that are currently undergoing early relaxation of rules by allowing people back to work and businesses to reopen.
Our country is coming into winter, a very infectious time of year, most other countries that are going to relax their rules are heading into summer, which is a time when transmission of viruses are lessened.
Money is not the be and end all of this pandemic, lives are. So it's a "no" to early relaxation for the sake of dollars.
Maybe down the track a vaccine will become available, because this is the only way this virus will be overcome. SARS and COVID-19 originated from wet markets in China, which are still operational. The purchase of exotic animal meat at these markets should be eradicated to prevent any other diseases or viruses being introduced into the population.
China should be held accountable for allowing these markets to flourish and continue. World governments should be putting their foot down now.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
WE MUST HOLD THE LINE
JOSHUA Davis (Letters, 13/4), on which planet do you live? Listening to Fran Kelly interview Norman Swan this morning, he told us that if we relax the distancing rule for one day, this would extend the pandemic by one week. I'm certainly prepared to forego my freedom for a period if it means ending the pandemic more quickly.
Australia is a federation of states and territories. Each jurisdiction is free to enact its own laws. But the way I see it, all the jurisdictions are pulling pretty much in the same direction with expert medical advice from the senior health experts. We will eventually come out of this pandemic sooner or later. The sooner, the better.
Les Field, Wickham
NO WAY IT SHOULD BE OPEN
DURING these anxious times, I was absolutely amazed to see in the Herald the amount of people using Bathers Way ('Free way', Herald 14/4) . In my opinion, Newcastle City Council and the Department of Health are derelict in their duty for not closing access to this area, especially in view of current health warnings. I think it should be closed immediately for public safety. Comparing the list of other areas that have been closed to the public, Bathers Way is a must and I would call on Newcastle City Council to act immediately and close this area for public use to ensure the safety of all.
Wendy Ditton, Raworth
HONOURING THE HEROES
WHEN this crisis is over, we must never forget that it was a war. While the history books won't explicitly state it, this is World War 3, and the battlefields have been in our hospitals. For most of us, our contribution to the war effort has been to stay home and watch Netflix, but our doctors and nurses have sacrificed so much - their health, safety, being with their families, some of them even their lives.
We should never forget this. We must never forget this. Will there ever be a monument raised to give us a respectful reminder of what our doctors and nurses have done for us? There should be.
Where the Queens Wharf Tower once stood, a statue of a doctor, a nurse and a paramedic should be erected, as a thank you to those who fought on the frontlines. Not just in Newcastle but also around Australia, even the world. A pay rise wouldn't go amiss either.
Glen Fredericks, Adamstown Heights
LEAD THE WAY
GOOD one, Newcastle council. After keeping Bathers Way open, why not invite the Ruby Princess up and moor her at Lee Wharf, throw it open for overnight stays. You might as well, as it is obvious you have no idea about social distancing. It will be many months before this pandemic goes, maybe even years.
People all over the area are doing the right thing, so be the leaders that you were elected to be - ignore the pressure from the selfish and stupid few, and understand that mixing en masse is dangerous.
Dennis Crampton, Swansea
I FEEL sorry for the lifeguards on Bathers Way ('Free way', Herald 14/4) having to police the crowds by reminding people to move on and not gather in groups. Were the cops out on boards and in rubber duckies rescuing swimmers and surfers struggling in the big Easter weekend surf?
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
THE head of the church cries "Lord forgive them for they not what they do." The prince of the church cries "Lord everyone is picking on me." What a contrast.
John Brown, Fingal Bay
MAC Maguire (Short Takes, 10/4) you gave me a laugh today, criticising ScoMo for helping the thousands of workers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. Anything ScoMo does, it seems to me, you criticise. Let's hear from you how you would solve the problem. At least when the Labor Party regains office, they will do such a great job that you won't have to write to the Herald criticising the government.
Geoffrey Cox, Lakelands
APPARENTLY scavenging in the week prior to a council bulk waste collection is an unpublicised, allowable activity under coronavirus quarantine restrictions.
Bruce Brown, Marks Point
IN the area of self-sufficiency and its review, I have long thought for the Murray Darling Basin and the apparently inept management of our most vital resource. Now I hear farmers down south are, right now, pleading for water in order to grow some staple crops. Why are we using that water to grow cotton and almond trees? We must be all going nuts.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
JOHN Bonnyman (Short Takes, 13/4), how dare the government stop Queenslanders from going to the beach, let alone the outrage from Victorians having their civil liberties stripped away. Oh I forgot: the most draconian measures are in Labor states; it's a state thing. Funny that.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
A CHINESE airline recently delivered medical supplies from China for our frontline medical workers. The aircraft and supplies came from Wuhan. I hope all those supplies are checked for contamination before being let loose on our medical personnel. I cannot fathom why the Australian government would bring in medical supplies from Wuhan.
Bruce Niblett, Stockton
DONALD Trump - why must the Australian media continue to pander to his daily exhibitionism? Every single day there is a new outrage from the orange one.
Jane Norman, Kotara South
I AGREE with David Stuart's comment, (Short Takes, 15/4). If the state could afford it I would like to see more policing out there.
Robert Menhenick, Charlestown
CAN anyone tell me why the flame of remembrance in Civic Park has been out and nothing has been done about it? It's shocking this close to Anzac Day.
