SO the Premier of Sydney Gladys Berejiklian has left the building. I now have great expectations that her successor broadens their perspective beyond the boundary of the Sydney basin. I understand Ms Berejiklian has worked tirelessly to build a grand sports stadium in Sydney, move the Powerhouse Museum, refused nurses and ambos a reasonable pay rise, then sold off more of our infrastructure. All we need in Stockton is some money for a little bit of sand and authority, not dollars, to build a container terminal. Under Gladys the government allowed the virus on the Ruby Princess to spread throughout our state and others. To this day no person has been held accountable. This was followed by a mockdown on the Northern Beaches and by a lockdown in western Sydney where tradies could not work locally, so they were allowed to travel throughout the rest of the state taking the virus to all corners.
I have high hopes that the new premier has a whole of state mindset and listens to the communities. All we want is fairness for the entire state and accountability for those in Macquarie Street. We all condone what we walk past.
Lance Kindleysides, Stockton
We should be cheering for ICAC
GLADYS Berejiklian has finally fallen on the ICAC sword. But she says she has resigned not because she has done anything wrong, but because vindication will take time. ICAC questioned Ms Berejiklian's behaviour in its late 2020 hearings. Since that time, in March 2021, using the theory, starve a watchdog and it might stop barking, the Berejiklian government has cut ICAC funding. Despite the budget cut, ICAC has continued to bark. It has finally ended Berejiklian's political career.
Rather than regrets and hand-wringing, voters should be cheering that the anti-corruption watchdog has done its job. Bring on a federal ICAC watchdog (with teeth).
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Lack of access choking the city
HOW many more coffin nails can Newcastle take? The latest is handing over Hunter Street West to cyclists, who don't seem to want it anyway. I drive that section of road frequently and am yet to see a pushbike on the recently installed roadblock.
The cyclists all seem to be on the footpaths around Honeysuckle. Take the Joy Cummings Promenade, for example. When it opened several years ago, cyclists just swarmed in without any mention of it being intended for them. In fact the only signs on the promenade pertaining to bikes are in the vicinity of the Queens Wharf Brewery, and they indicate no bikes allowed.
Let's face it, pedallers. The Wharf Road carriageway is only 20 metres to the south, where motorists are now reduced to a dawdle. You don't seem to have any limit on your footpath speed.
Newcastle is choking from lack of access. Something must be done urgently.
Ray Dinneen, Newcastle
Forget rights, think responsibly
I HAVE to take issue with Philanthropy Australia's raffle for those completing their COVID vaccinations. I am dismayed that they are providing monetary incentive for getting vaccinated against COVID.
I know that there are people who genuinely haven't been able to get vaccinated because of supply or other reasons, but it beggars belief that those who could be beneficiaries who have chosen, for whatever reason, not to have had their "jabs" are able to benefit financially, when those of us who have done the right thing get nothing.
I am double vaccinated with AstraZeneca, if you don't mind, as of 6 weeks ago. It might also be noted that it is only because it was not available to us earlier, that we weren't totally vaccinated earlier! Why is it that money is more important than social responsibility? It seems to me that so many are crying out for their "rights" (and inferring we need a Bill of Rights), but where is the bill of responsibilities? I really don't think this raffle sends the right message. Shame.
Rod Woodhouse, East Maitland
Carbon capture hasn't eventuated
PAUL Duggan, (Letters, 30/9), argues that there is no need to transition to renewable energy sources, rather we should rely on carbon capture and storage (CCS). In the last decade huge amounts of money have been spent on CCS at the behest of the coal industry to give false hope that coal fired power stations can continue to be operated and built without devastating damage to the environment. Thus far, because of the energy intensive nature of existing technology, try as I might to find a reference to an economically viable CCS operation, I could not. Perhaps Mr Duggan can cite some commercially viable CCS operations that I failed to find. I won't hold my breath.
Reg Howes, Valentine
Hairy matter of staying clean cut
IS there coiffure discrimination and favoritism in NSW? Our senior political representatives from the Premier and Health Minister on down, as well as television presenters, both local and national, remain remarkably well groomed. This is despite hairdressing businesses being closed since July. Is it that these people have access to hairdressing in preparation for TV appearances while the public becomes increasingly hirsute? If so, this discriminatory practice should cease until we all again have access to hairdressers.
Jack Vaughn, Adamstown
Supercars sign-off not so simple
I WELCOMED the informative report on council deliberations regarding Supercars ("Supercars back March 4-6", Herald, 29/9).
In my experience with contract / agreement matters, any change in expression within the terms and conditions are legally relevant. As the words last and opener are not synonymous any formal agreement, particularly one with such strong public effect, would need in my understanding re-negotiation with all stakeholders before final signature. Noting that a renewal for another five years is a matter for the next Council has encouraged me to commence noting in my diary councillors, both current and aspirational, who agree with me that the event is an aberration in this residential zone of high residential density. This race track is in a precinct where regulations generally prohibit activities of this nature (serious air and noise polluters) and have done so for over 50 years. Thankfully, the Newcastle LGA elections loom.
Richard Marr, Newcastle
Be careful who you trust on COVID
I AM hesitant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 on the advice of the most reliable of sources, my US Facebook friends. They tell me it is "your body, your choice" - except if you require an abortion in Texas. Finally, I am alarmed that there is a shortage of horse worming medicine to treat COVID-19 - doubtless another government ploy. To my heroes George Christensen and Craig Kelly, hold fast chaps; it's only a matter of time before you are elevated to that highest of offices: lapdog to Clive Palmer.
Mike Sargent, Cootamundra
SHORT TAKES
AUSTRALIAN politicians have picked up the unfortunate habit of using "refute" to mean "deny". Of course it doesn't mean that. It means "thoroughly disproved". It certainly doesn't mean "I'm not admitting anything". If we allow this abuse of language to go unchallenged, we lose a perfectly good word.
Peter Moylan, Glendale
WHY not build a racetrack in the middle of the Newcastle Racecourse? They did at Warwick Farm, Sydney. Give the race club a huge injection of money. What about it, Newcastle council?
John Dickenson, Newcastle West
I WAS bemused to read a letter from Kerry Harrison, ("Hammer home lockdown rules", Letters, 29/9), about the apparent misuse of COVID rules. Kerry points out that during lockdown people should only visit hardware stores to procure items for emergencies. What from the nursery section could be an emergency requirement?
Stan Keiffer, Arakoon
KERRY Harrison stares her amazement at a hardware store full of people browsing and a throng of people, up to ten, lined up at the checkout as she went to leave. Now maybe they were all shopping for their essential item just as you were during these, "bad COVID times". Oh sorry, that's right, you left without your essential item.
Darren Saxon, Pelican
IT'S looking highly likely that Scotty is planning on running his election campaign on national security, following his decision to cancel the submarine contract with France (via SMS), and go with US nuclear subs instead, causing France to recall its ambassador. I thought McCarthyism was dead and buried. Does this mean we should all be checking for Commies under our beds? Now we hear our PM is unsure about whether he will attend the upcoming Climate Summit in Glasgow. Could it be that he's scared of facing Emmanuel Macron?
Bev Page, Adamstown Heights
FOLLOWING the latest announcement and public reaction to the return of Supercars next year, it is time now for the Newcastle Lord Mayor and any sitting Councillors who propose to be re-elected to Newcastle Council this December, to publicly state their individual view on the merits or not of Supercars for Newcastle now and into the future. This information will allow the Newcastle LGA voters, who may have concerns with the event one way or the other, to make an informed decision when voting.
Mel Horadam, Newcastle
THE AFP, following their inconclusive findings in the Brittany Higgins case, now find nothing untoward in the airport land purchase, from Liberal Party donors, at 10 times it's value. All relevant bureaucrats and the minister are still in place. Should I ever be in trouble I hope they're investigating.
