REGARDING the future of the Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot precinct ('Push to activate land', Newcastle Herald 31/8), it is rather concerning that this historical monument that once housed some of the state's greatest locomotives may have a similar fate to CBD rail corridor. Currently, there are several railway museums in northern NSW, including the Richmond Vale Railway Museum and the Dorrigo Steam Railway Museum, which are struggling to survive. Although I am hopeful that they will prevail, it is increasingly looking likely that they may suffer a similar fate to the Newcastle Maritime Museum. If they are forced to close, their exhibits may end up being sold for scrap. Meanwhile, the number of qualified steam train operators is continuing to decline, meaning that most locomotives in the future will sadly be static exhibits.
The central location of the roundhouse (pictured) is an opportunity to provide a sanctuary for the future preservation of the region's transport and mining heritage. Naturally, the roundhouse would be mainly dedicated to rail heritage, however an annex could be constructed on the precinct, which could house exhibits from the maritime museum and from other modes of transport and the mining sector. The Hunter Valley was developed by coal, steel and railways; it is only right that the old roundhouse be transformed into a monument to tell our children the story about our industrial past,
Stephen Miller, Rutherford
Think hard on cityscape's new look
HAVING grown up in Newcastle, I have always been a very proud Novocastrian being involved in community services along with voluntary management positions in a number of sporting organisations. Prior to my retirement, in my working occupation I was very fortunate to have dealings with representatives from all around the globe.
These dealings often lead me to taking them around our beautiful beaches and enjoying the views above Bar Beach at the lookout. However, my most fond memories were taking them on an evening across to Stockton on the ferry so they could view our beautiful city under lights with the magnificent cathedral in the background. A picture of part of our once-beautiful harbour was included in Saturday's paper ('Strategy of the shovel and the screwdriver', Opinion 29/8) depicting ugly concrete structures consuming a once beautiful foreshore and skyline and unfortunately this ever-growing concrete jungle continues to manifest at ever-increasing rates and I fear the once beautiful foreshore along with the matching backdrop will soon be lost forever and end up a cold, wet and unsightly slum.
I know we have all experienced inconvenience with COVID-19 and feel it was very unfortunate the council elections were deferred for a further 12 months unable to give all Novocastrians the opportunity to express their views on the demise of our once beautiful foreshores and surrounds of which we were once very proud.
Peter Mullins, Rankin Park
There's blame for shorting super
I UNDERSTAND the government is considering not increasing the superannuation supplement. They went to the last federal election, agreeing to this 0.5 per cent increase to take place in 2021. They are now saying this is due to the financial situation this country is in, but they helped get us into this financial mess prior to COVID-19.
Will the Coalition forgo their 15.4 per cent superannuation and reduce in line with the millions of Australians who get 9.5 per cent?
Thanks, Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg. Your super is safe, but this is the only way the workers will get an increase.
Robert Bowne, Marks Point
Labor the point of broken promise
IT was great to see and hear Kevin Rudd and Paul Keating in the spotlight berating Scott Morrison for his attempt to renege on his government's legislated pledge to raise the superannuation contribution. The Coalition seem to despise the thought that their big business mates have to contribute anything to worker's financial well-being. Look what they did to penalty rates, or how hard they fight against a rise in the basic wage. Rudd and Keating were right to be fired up and call out the latest attack on workers for what it is. My question is, why should they have to?
Labor has an Opposition Leader. His name is Anthony Albanese but you could be forgiven for not knowing. Superannuation is core Labor business and a wonderful achievement Labor can be proud of. Albanese and Labor should be taking this fight right up to Morrison and beating him from pillar to post with it. Morrison can't win it. He's trying to break a promise to working Australia his party made and legislated. Labor has hardly made a noise. Imagine the Coalition trying this on against Hawke or Keating. Is Albanese trying to make himself a small political target? It didn't work for Kim Beazley and it won't work now.
I like Albanese and believe he has workers' interests at heart. But it's not enough. Given the budget bungling, the police state paradigm, the favouring of mines over farms and the rorting of sports grants and travel allowance the government give Labor all the ammunition they need. Labor needs to be an opposition constantly bringing them to account loudly and publicly. In my opinion this is the worst federal government in my lifetime and Albanese needs to take advantage of that. Working Australia, and more broadly all Australians, deserve better from the opposition. Go get 'em.
John Lawton, Belmont
NZ has jurisdiction for atrocity
IN reply to Antony Bennett (Letters 2/9), this country only deports criminals back to their country of origin after they have completed their sentences. In the case of the Christchurch shooter Brenton Tarrant, Australia will take him back when he has completed his life-sentence.
The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters has been promoting the return of Tarrant to Australia ('NZ issues demand for Tarrant to be returned to Australia', Herald 28/8), . This is ironic in that it was Peters who has consistently opposed any tightening of NZ gun laws to prevent ownership of semi-automatic and automatic rifles like those used in the Christchurch massacre until Jacinda Ardern revised NZ laws after the massacre as a matter of course. Just like with the Pike River Mine disaster and the White Island volcano disaster, NZ always does the right thing after a disaster has killed lots of people.
Tarrant may have grown up in Australia but he was a permanent resident of NZ. If we in Australia try to deport an immigrant back to where they came from, critics scream racist. It was NZ that gave him a gun licence that Australia wouldn't give him, and the ability to buy powerful weapons that are illegal in Australia. The Christchurch massacre was a terrible terrorist event but it is NZ that must take responsibility for Tarrant's crime, not us. Do any Kiwis take offence at what I've just said?
Peter Devey, Merewether
SHORT TAKES
HOW times have changed. School leavers up in arms because graduation celebrations have been cancelled. Schoolies week has been cancelled. Well, kidults, as the Beastie Boys sang, you've got to fight for your right to party. It wasn't that long ago when young men left school and had to fight; it was called the Vietnam War.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
JIM Gardiner (Letters, 2/9) endorses our postulating Liberal leaders in attacking Victoria's involvement in the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Maybe instead, he should be asking questions of these same leaders as to why China was granted 50 per cent of a 99-year lease of Newcastle Port plus apparently a full lease of Darwin Port, site of some of our northernmost defence facilities. To me this represents the greatest sellout of our country in history and I feel a huge majority of Australians would think this of far greater importance than Mr Gardiner's concerns. Also what the hell are the Confucius programs he mentions? Please explain.
Robert Green, Georgetown
CHINA has surely done Australia a good turn. To remove our farming and wine markets, we now have an opportunity to open our exports to countries who don't use our relationship as a pawn. The statement by the NSW government that Australians can't build trains ('Trains 'not good': Premier', Newcastle Herald 28/8) doesn't stand up to minimal inquiry. Pass this work onto NSW citizens and this state could lead Australia and the world out of this pandemic. The federal government will be clapping their hands to be relieved of JobSeeker and dole payments while NSW workers will step up their tax contributions. Thank you China, great idea.
George Paris, Rathmines
ANTONY Bennett (Short Takes, 3/9): anyone who commits a crime in Australia who is not an Australian national, in any state of Australia, gets deported once their time has been served. We don't, and never have, asked someone else to take their citizen back rather than us put them in prison. Why should Australia make an exception to the rules because Winston Peters is up for re-election next month and felt it would resonate with his country ('NZ issues demand for Tarrant to be returned to Australia', Herald 28/8)? Perhaps the Kiwis should ask why they didn't have the same gun laws as us which may have prevented such a tragedy in the first place.
Aaron Buman, Carrington
IN the past we have all seen poor performances from federal and state governments alike. However, the failures of Victoria in the policing, judiciary and political systems over the past 10 years are breathtaking. Take the Lawyer X and the George Pell fiascos from the Victorian police, the Victorian government's $1 billion road that was never built, the red shirts scandal, the safe schools program and finally the handling of the hotel quarantine that led to the proliferation of COVID-19. For failures in competence and ineptitude in policing, judiciary and government systems, I believe the Victorian government must rank as gold medal winners.
