I HAVE never voted Liberal in a State Election. Yet, in recognition of the sterling job that Gladys Berejiklian, pictured, has done for the state during the pandemic I probably would have next time. With her gone, no. I accept that personality politics is probably not the best criteria for deciding who to vote for, but this instance is different. The Liberal Party should not vote on her successor until at least the 70 per cent double vaxxed milestone is reached. It is only a couple of days. Even then her resignation from parliament should not be accepted.
Ken Thornton, Rathmines
Delay on federal ICAC is clear
THE Premier has done the right thing by resigning from parliament and it is now abundantly clear why her federal Colleagues are fiercely resisting the call to set up a similar anti-corruption commission at federal level. If such a Commission existed , I believe they would have lost their majority in the lower house well before this. In my opinion there are a number of federal members who need to have a very good look in the mirror and ask themselves some questions.
Darryl Tuckwell, Eleebana
Accountability cuts both ways
WE have a major problem when three unelected lawyers and a group of public servants ($25 million worth) can remove a democratically elected officer from office. Previously they have done the same to other premiers (one for a bottle of wine), after which the NSW ICAC dropped charges.
I believe an investigation into ICAC would seem in order. Victoria has avoided any real investigation into the deaths of over 800 people without any consequences when no single person took the blame for botched security. Maybe they should have a Victorian ICAC. More fool us for letting Gladys go. Good people in parliament are hard to find. Congratulations to Newcastle TV for an excellent report, and regret shared by most.
John Hollingsworth, Hamilton
Not all missteps are corruption
THE newly-departed premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has given a spirited defense of her actions claiming she never saw a conflict of interest and insisting she'd always acted with the highest level of integrity, all of which in my view suggests that perhaps corruption has become so normalised in our political system that being held to account is enough to bring on a sense of outrage and even cold fury.
The body that is investigating her actions, ICAC, presumably did so on solid grounds just as they have done when removing other politicians from both parties. However ICAC is limited only to investigating "deliberate or intentional wrongdoing" - not negligence or mistakes. How many government mistakes, like allowing mining in catchment areas or development in koala habitat, turned out to be beneficial for some who just happened to be among those who are the major donors to political parties? Residents in Newcastle might recall that it was Ms Berejilklian who first opposed removing the rail line, but then succumbed to the grand vision of opening up the harbour, something that in my opinion only opened up land for developers.
Don Owers, Dudley
Critics' roar loader than engines
AS reliably as the sun rises and sets, I knew as soon as the dates were announced the old Newcastle East Residents Group brigade would be straight in the paper and on social media flogging their bleeding-heart agenda. Supercars have selected a date which even the show committee are over the moon about, and not in a prime season for your precious access to what seems to be becoming your own private beaches. I'll give you a tip: most of the other ratepayers don't care, we are over hearing about it. We don't think you'll be happy until it's gone and you can put your own fence up around the East End. So do us all a favour and save us the paper space for other articles and let what will probably be the last event happen without all the other rubbish.
Tony Mansfield, Lambton
Protests wrong, but not anti-vax
BILL Hancock, (Short Takes, 29/8), has some misconceptions in comparing the current COVID vaccine protests to the vaccine-campaigns against polio, measles, and diphtheria of years past. Apart from the fact that the vast majority of protestors were protesting against unconstitutional vaccine-passports, mandatory vaccinations, punitive lockdowns and not vaccination itself as many were already themselves vaccinated. Protestors only rioted (which I don't endorse) as a reaction to violent police enforcement against their democratic right to protest. Unlike vaccination for polio, measles, and diphtheria the COVID-19 vaccines are not designed to eliminate infection in the community but to reduce serious disease, hospitalisation, and death. Vaccines for smallpox have eliminated it from world infection and polio has been all but eliminated from western countries. COVID-19, on the other hand, is well recognised as likely to be with us indefinitely much like seasonal flu and cold viruses. Even when vaccinated you can still become infected, get sick and spread the COVID-19 disease. In fact, the unvaccinated are at serious risk of infection from vaccinated carriers. I would encourage all citizens to be vaccinated against COVID-19. But unlike Bill Hancock who can criticize protestors from the comfort of his Newcastle home, have some empathy for those thousands of Victorians and some in NSW who have had their jobs, businesses, livelihoods, and family-life destroyed by dictatorial governments like that in Melbourne - the most locked-down city in the world.
Peter Devey, Merewether
Signed, sealed ... now deliver
I'M feeling Garry Scow's pain.
I posted a beanie to my sailing mate in Wamberal for the princely sum of $9.40 on 19/7/2021. I thought it was a bit steep but what else can you do in lockdown?
I chased it up with the staff at Kotara Australia Post some weeks ago and they kindly tracked the parcel for me and gave me a print out of progress to date
It reached Chullora at 6.19am the following morning and was on its way to Lisarow at 8.06am the same day and has an expected delivery date of July 22. As I write it still hasn't made it to Wamberal after 64 days.
Ian Gilkes, Adamstown
Judiciary should have squared up
AGAIN we see the inconsistency of this so-called governing body, the NRL, that seems to be trying to stuff up our game and changing the rules for the chosen few. I really think that Latrell Mitchell would have a very good chance of winning a case on the grounds of discrimination after the slap on the wrist treatment dished out to Nathan Cleary. I watched both infringements and was totally dumbfounded with the outcome of allowing Cleary to play in the grand final. Sorry, but if one can play, both should play. This is simply not good enough.
Dennis Crampton, Swansea
SHORT TAKES
SOME good news: Fort Scratchley is coming out of hibernation and will re-open to the public on Monday October 18 with all exhibition rooms open and tunnel tours limited to a maximum of six people. With our October open day and our annual concert cancelled due to COVID, we look forward to welcoming the public back to the Fort. All our volunteers on duty have been fully vaccinated and visitors will be required to QR Code in and provide proof of vaccination.
Frank Carter, Fort Scratchley Historical Society president
I BELIEVE the actions of the faceless ICAC honourable men in their timing to add to the stress on our very stressed Premier are to be deplored. The last straw for a woman who has done a wonderful job in NSW fighting drought, fire and COVID, none of which she signed up for. NSW is the loser here.
Elizabeth Watson, Swansea
LONG live ICAC.
Kate Rabbitt, Newcastle
SO sad for Gladys, the mother of our state. She just tried to keep us safe and guide us through COVID.
Diane Eade, Mount Hutton
BEING an ardent advocate of anything anti Gladys I have to admit she will be a difficult person to replace. Indeed I doubt whether any potential candidates will stand a chance of success. In my opinion our treasurer is a complete arse, followed swiftly by a plethora of likeminded dilettantes, that clearly lack the substance that supported Gladys' position in the first place. However, suggesting that pork barreling is a reasonable and fair way to run the state is in error and forever to her shame. No se vale here Gladys.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
THANKS John Dickerson, (Short Takes, 2/9), I never thought I had "all the issues and answers", until you said I seem to. Perhaps I should put myself up in the council elections, and as you suggested that I do so, I take it I'd have your vote. Good decision, I know I'd vote for me.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
WHEN I first saw the title of the story about a Newcastle harbour tunnel to Stockton I thought it must have been the first day of April. As I read the article I realised this person who wrote the story actually believed this was a possibility. An under the harbour tunnel for cars and another for a tram/light rail? What will people come up with next?
Tim Bradfield, The Hill
SO the crowd was reduced by 25% but no-one wearing masks. Anyone else notice the crowd at the NRL grand final? How dare they don't do what Anna said.
Garry Robinson, Mannering Park
WE take an hour of daylight out of the best time of the day and put it into the afternoon; daylight saving or daylight sacrifice? Surely if we need to have it four months of the year November through February would be a reasonable compromise.
