I KNOW I'm getting older and I know I'm becoming less tolerant with some decisions and actions of our political leaders but the statement by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard that it's a reasonable excuse for estate agents and potential buyers - one from the North Shore - to leave their lockdown areas in Sydney and to travel to the Hunter Valley and other regional areas to attend open house inspections (something they're banned from doing in Sydney), is something I just can't comprehend.
We have the Premier telling us every night to isolate as much as possible, to stay at home if in lockdown areas, going out only for urgent reasons, such as obtaining basic supplies, shopping online if possible, or for medical reasons.
Then we have a Health Minister stating that it's reasonable to leave a lockdown area, travel to regional areas where we have worked hard to keep COVID out, and attend open house inspections amongst local people. Regional hospitality is suffering badly with restrictions because of the threat of people from Sydney ignoring lockdown instructions, but it's OK for these people to attend open house inspections in our area.
Most people in regional areas would not consider these inspections as reasonable in the current COVID climate. Perhaps the NSW government needs to concentrate more on ensuring that those many health and aged care workers, drivers transporting people from airports to quarantine hotels and other emergency and essential workers are properly vaccinated rather than looking after homebuyers from the North Shore.
Congratulations to the Newcastle vendor and agent involved who agreed that the visiting agent and buyer were not welcome at the open house viewing.
Ken Springbett, Cessnock
No safety until we are all safe
IN reply to Scott Hillard, I read with amazement that you stated some figures (which I will not repeat here so as not to cause further vaccination reluctance) concerning death rates for COVID and those associated with Astra-Zeneca, ("Plan to make plan is no plan at all", Letters, 2/7).
Vaccine reluctance is our enemy. As an example, an article on internet news today reported that about 67 per cent of Americans 18 and older had received at least one shot of COVID vaccine according to CDC data reported on Saturday. Also most US adults who plan to get vaccinated have already done so. The bulletin also stated that vaccine number goals wouldn't be met as they struggle to convince still-resistant Americans to get the shot. Great pockets of American regions are vaccine-reluctant and it is here where COVID-19 rates are ever-increasing while in the rest of the country they are easing significantly.
Vaccination reluctance is going to be the world's biggest problem in overcoming this pandemic, that is my opinion, and yet we have the likes of Clive Palmer, Donald Trump and now Scott Hillard spreading incorrect information to the public confusing and scaring those most in need of the protection that vaccination can give. The situation in America will be repeated here in Australia unless we can give some confidence to those still concerned about vaccination.
Remember this Scott Hillard, we are not protected until we are all protected.
Russell Spencer, Woodrising
Vaccinations are the key
FIFTEEN months ago Scott Hillard was writing a number of letters to this paper using world statistics to support his claim that COVID-19 was no worse than the influenza. Now ("Plan to make plan is no plan at all", Letters, 2/7) he has resorted to using Australian statistics to make the same point. The reason for the change is that present world statistics plainly show the exact opposite. Nearly everyone would say the reason for Australia's relative success to date is due to the lockdowns that have been put in place from time to time. The very thing he is against.
The current more infectious Delta variety of COVID-19 is of major concern and in my opinion if the authorities had their time again, NSW would have been placed in lockdown earlier.
Mr Hillard's claim that there is no benefit from vaccinations does not make sense because the sooner most of us are vaccinated, the sooner we can return to the more open economy that he craves.
Lloyd Davies, Stockton
No masking the stress on staff
THE mandating of face masks for all retail staff highlights how out of touch our lawmakers are.
I have no issue with face masks when retail staff interact with customers on the shop floor, or in a queue or walking around shopping centres, theatres, on public transport etc, etc.
What I find frustrating is that we are forced to work behind screens making it difficult to hear and be heard by many customers then just to really make it difficult we now have to wear a face mask.
This makes complex conversations near impossible, adding stress for both customers and staff. Some of my staff have been with me for 10 years. I have never seen them as stressed at the end of the day as I have witnessed over the past seven days, the only thing that has changed are the masks.
What is obvious is our lawmakers are not in the real world and have no concept of the implications their decisions make. They need to try working with the public behind a screen and with a face mask and glasses before they make decisions.
For the record, 99 per cent of our customers have been fantastic with both masks and providing their details for contact tracing.
Andrew Hirst, Beresfield
Save those who helped us
AFGHANS who helped the Australian military as interpreters and in many other capacities are now in great fear of reprisals from the Taliban. They are in urgent need of Australia's help to leave their country for a safe haven. The Australian government must provide this for them.
I have read in the newspapers that some of these people were contractors and not directly employed by the Australian government, and that this might lessen their chance to be evacuated. This is not acceptable. They did help, we have a moral obligation to get on with helping all these brave people.
Olga Parkes, New Lambton Heights
Get priorities right
AUSTRALIANS, both here and overseas, have been let down by the federal government. The first priority is to protect the health of all Australian citizens by immediate vaccination.
Why can't Australian citizens have this protection immediately and then provide for our neighbours?
Bring home our Aussies stranded overseas while still supporting our overseas commitment to foreign aid.
Gerry Mohan, Shoal Bay
SHORT TAKES
AS a 69-year-old Boomer, I can report from my own experience that the AstraZeneca rollout in Newcastle has been seamless over the 12-week period to full protection. Thanks to all the medical professionals involved.
Alan Hamilton, Hamilton East
WHEN our government brings in a soldier to help them vaccinate our nation, they have obviously lost the plot, and are looking for a non-political person to take the blame for their inadequate performance.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
SO residents in lockdown can come to Newcastle for house inspections due to an exemption granted by Brad Hazzard. Why can't they do inspections on the internet? Inspections, like auctions, can be done there without putting anyone at risk. Another example of the Berejiklian government's gold standard in handling the pandemic.
Bill Snow, Stockton
VICTORIA had great success with early shutdowns. NSW has not proven to be the gold standard after all.
Colin Rowlatt, Merewether
IT would be interesting to know if any state politicians have students enrolled at the school which received vaccinations for all students.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
AUSTRALIANS, both here and overseas, have been let down by the federal government. The first priority is to protect the health of all Australian citizens by immediate vaccination. Why can't Australian citizens have this protection immediately and then provide for our neighbours? Bring home our Aussies stranded overseas while still supporting our overseas commitment to foreign aid.
Gerry Mohan, Shoal Bay
REGARDING Richard Ryan's Short Take in reference to what Paul Keating would say on the vaccine failure by this government, there is another saying that I believe that fits them to a tee: "They could not grow or control a choko vine over an outhouse roof". I can assure you this type of vine does not take much effort to grow, but how to control it - that's something that "Smirk" Morrison and his government would find very hard to do.
Stewart James, Thornton
JOHN Cooper has a very valid point. If politician bashing was an Olympic event, then some gold medalists have been in the columns lately. Opinions are an important part of society, but we need to also have an alternative to the problem we are trying to address and offer it to all.
John Bradford, Beresfield
AFTER 20 years the western powers are retreating from Afghanistan and the Taliban are moving back to reclaim their country from the foreign invaders. Australia has lost 41 lives, the Americans countless. So what has been achieved? Afghanistan strikes me as another Gallipoli - a disaster. If nothing else, I hope our military commanders will learn a lesson - don't get involved.
