I MUST say I am extremely curious regarding the news that Dr Christine Everingham, pictured, has had her membership of the Harbour Foreshore Community Reference Group terminated by the council ('Council bans resident over staff exchange', Newcastle Herald 4/3). Dr Everingham has been accused of "pushing and poking" a council representative on several occasions at a drop-in session regarding the proposed plans of the Foreshore Park Development on February 13. "As a result of your behaviour, the NSW Police were called", states the lawyer's letter. Dr Everingham claims there was no police presence at any time.
The Foreshore Park Development Plan originally indicated the community garden would be relocated, a facility volunteers grew over 14 years. Dr Everingham is a founding member of the group. Cr Declan Clausen jumped out of the blocks to deny the relocation after the plan was published.
A lawyer acting on behalf of the council can terminate your membership in a community reference group, but it cannot terminate your influence in your community. It is also curious that Dr Everingham co-wrote a book, Wrong Track, critical of the Supercars arrangement with CoN. She has also written a book called Social Justice and the Politics of Community. She may have a new chapter.
Kevin Coffey, Cooks Hill
Porter should have stood aside
BY denying an inquiry into the rape allegation against Attorney-General Christian Porter ('Porter accuser's family supports inquiry', Herald 5/3) I believe the government are perpetuating rape culture not only in Parliament House but in schools and work places all over Australia.
If Scott Morrison was genuine in his comments that "there is significant work that remains to be done in the Parliament House work culture" and "Parliament should be setting the standard", then in my opinion an inquiry to determine whether Mr Porter is fit to continue his role as Attorney-General is essential. Refusing to follow due process that is commonplace for serious allegations against persons in positions of responsibility will not be tolerated by people across the country who wants justice.
Prue Bodsworth, Tighes Hill
Allegations wielded for politics
WHAT despicable behaviour from the left. The Opposition parties have in my opinion resorted to gutter politics to gain political ground from an unproven, and unprovable, historical allegation. I believe the only outcome of any parliamentary enquiry is the trashing of Christian Porter's reputation.
The fact this has been raised now is testament to the fact that the Opposition parties are bereft of ideas, policies and a moral compass. The assumption of innocence has been denied to Mr Porter. The victim of this alleged crime is deceased and cannot give a statement or appear in court to support the allegations. No police investigations can progress the matter further. Therefore, I think any demand for an enquiry is simply a blatant attempt at character assassination for political gain. Nobody who has not been subject to unfounded allegations can understand what harm it does psychologically to the individual involved.
The lack of any understanding of the basic tenets of our justice system displayed by the left is appalling and highlights why the silent majority are of the opinion the Labor Party should not be given the opportunity to govern in Australia. They simply don't get it.
James Williams, Hamilton North
The gold medal we'd love to lose
GREAT news for the economy: 12 Australian animals have been newly listed as extinct, raising the nation's official share of the world's extinct to 38 per cent. A Wilderness Society spokeswoman said no other country has a similar record. Gold to us! How good's 'Straya? That's another twelve animals the taxpayer doesn't have to fork out for. The money saved on their conservation can now be far better spent on things like fracking, gas power stations, stadiums and greater subsidies for coal mines - things that really keep the economy whirling along and hopefully contribute to the extinction of more tax-wasting marsupials.
It's estimated that public investment for Australia's 1700 threatened species has been about $122 million a year. The US, with 1662 threatened species spent at least $2.1 billion a year from 2011 to 2016. We know what's important down under and it's not the environment.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
Rights that reply are token efforts
IN reply to Marvyn Smith (Short Takes 25/2), I didn't agree with his assertion that the ABC employ Sky and Murdoch media people. His assertion that there is no "left" in Australia might come as a surprise to the three political parties: Socialist Action, Socialist Alliance and The Greens, who all consider themselves left-of-centre Australian political parties. And I didn't defend the ABC as you stated.
On the same topic, claiming that I'm dreaming, Michael Gormly (Letters 25/2) talks of Tom Switzer and the left-leaning Amanda Vanstone as right-wing views, both of whom are heard as guest-spot commentators on Radio National, a radio program that few Australians would listen to in any case. Neither were journalists or newsreaders, as I stated, employed by the ABC.
I believe such token inclusion of supposed right-wing views when there are numerous ABC TV channels and radio stations could hardly be classed as balanced coverage. Yes, the ABC have a duty to tell everyone's story, or at least a broad selection of Australian views. But it is clear that the ABC don't get anywhere near doing that.
Peter Devey, Merewether
ABC trust by the numbers
GREG Hunt (Short Takes, 27/2) relies on a survey commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) in 2020 to support his claim of ABC bias. For many years the IPA has waged a relentless campaign for the ABC to be abolished or privatised. It asked respondents to agree or disagree with the proposition "the ABC does not represent the views of ordinary Australians". This is in my opinion what pollsters call a leading question, perhaps even push polling; a no-no if you're looking for accuracy. One of Australia's leading polling experts, Professor Murray Goot of Macquarie University, observed at the time the question "isn't balanced; it invites.....responses that favour the proposition (and the IPA's position)..." 30 per cent agreed with the proposition, 32 per cent disagreed, and a striking 38 per cent didn't know.
However, stung by Mr Hunt's accusation that I quote only surveys I like, I tried to find some other credible ones on the ABC I didn't. I couldn't. But I did find more polling: Reuters Institute (2020): 72 per cent said they trusted ABC news; Australia Institute (2020): 58 per cent said they trusted the ABC; Australia Institute (2017) of South Australians: 74 per cent said ABC funding should be maintained or increased; Essential Polling (2018): 54 per cent said they trusted the ABC; Newspoll (2015): 82 per cent said the ABC was a valuable or very valuable service. So, I ask again - if the ABC is so biased, why do so many Australians trust and support it? Are they all "woke"?
Michael Hinchey, New Lambton
SHORT TAKES
WE can't get the $250 travel card in Newcastle but if you live in Charlestown you get it. Why?
Bruce Hardy, Mayfield
HERE we go again, Ian Bowrey (Short Takes 2/3) "The Institute of Public Affairs is a promoter of climate science denial". Really? I regard the IPA as a promoter of climate science realism and recommend you read the review on its website of "Climate Science: the facts 2020" by eminent climatologist Dr John Maunder.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
IF the prime minister and attorney general fail to read an important document what other documents do they ignore? In my opinion they are not fit for office.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
DR Seuss' publishers have decided to can 6 of his books for "politically correct" reasons. Looks like I won't be able to enjoy reading the daily comic strips as much when Ginger Meggs gets the chop.
Geoff Smith, Mount Hutton
US citizens must be different from Aussie citizens, because PFAS has been classified as very dangerous to humans in the US, but our government states there is no definite evidence of human health impacts here ('Toxic ban', Herald 1/3). Please explain.
Graeme Bennett, Warners Bay
WHY did Christian Porter the attorney general have to raise an opposition MP's example when denying the allegations against him? Everything is political in politics.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
IN my opinion those individuals, including letter writers to this page, media outlets including the ABC, and political parties, all of them, attempting to score cheap political points with allegations of rape or paedophilia are only one step above total scumbags who are actually guilty of such crimes
Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth
THE IPA (Institute of Public Affairs) an "independent" counter to left leaning ABC programs? Its sobriquet is the Institute of Private Advocacy for very good reasons.
Keith Parsons, Newcastle
MARVYN Smith (Short Takes, 25/2), minimising one's tax exposure is purely sound economics; only a fool would think otherwise. The fact is, we allow fools to thrive on other people's money, hence organisations like the ABC who fail to provide value for the investment of the majority of taxpayers. I reckon the audience / the minority viewership would be lucky to occupy boxes one to eight at the Wentworth Park greyhounds at any given time.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
IF Coon Island's name must change ('Island name must change', Newcastle Herald 27/2) then my suggestion would be Wombat Isle to reflect the original inhabitants.
