AS nobody else has answered Karen Thurtell's letter ('Citizenship carries responsibilities', Herald, 16/9), here is my take on it, as a retired lawyer.
It is complete nonsense for any Australian to claim to be a "sovereign citizen" who doesn't have to obey the law (to stay in lockdown/wear a mask/give a name and address to police).
Such people have been slavishly following American libertarians who make such claims In defence of their 'freedoms', and such claims are only sustainable in the USA to the extent that their Bill of Rights applies.
Australia has no such law.
As citizens we have both rights and responsibilities, and the responsibility to assist the authorities to keep everyone as safe as possible during the pandemic must temporarily outweigh some personal freedoms, if we wish to live in a civil society.
Anyone not willing to accept this is 'free' to reject all of it, as long as they accept that there will be consequences in the interests of the greater good.
By all means tear up your passport, as long as you don't expect hospital treatment, police protection from an angry armed intruder, or even (very much appreciated) regular garbage removal.
Susan M Jones, Hamilton
Helmets not the answer
I BELIEVE that Geoff Black ('Don't kick risk of head injuries down the road', Herald, 18/9) has the best interests of rugby players at heart. However, his belief that players wear helmets is misplaced.
If you watch an NFL game you will see that the players are padded up more than an Aussie opening bat. The reason that NFL players are so padded up is because of the damage that can occur when the helmet meets soft flesh.
I empathise with the sadness the Newcastle rugby league congregation must be feeling, but helmets are not the answer.
Mike Sargent, Cootamundra
Despair over maritime collection
IN the Herald last week, Newcastle Maritime Museum Society claimed to protect and care for Newcastle Marine heritage. NMMS does not mention that the collection stored at Carrington, with no thanks to the society, was maintained by a crew of volunteers for more than 10 years using materials provided by other community museums.
That is until 12 months ago when the NMMS instructed the maintenance crew to leave the site.
Fair dinkum, what are these people doing? There is no place to store the collection, the present site has to be vacated very soon, the maintenance crew has been sacked and NMMS is still mucking about with debts that have been around for two years.
If this represents the best Newcastle maritime people can do. it is a wonder people want to build ships here.
Bill Storer, Charlestown
Plan for next mining jobs
REGARDING the Scott Morrison plan to back gas with our taxes.
Leaving aside the dodgy politics and rank ideology behind that decision, the Prime Minister is finally resigned to the fact that coal is on the way out, so what of the future of the Hunter's miners, their families and communities?
Where is his transition plan for them?
The ALP doesn't have one either. The best Joel Fitzgibbon could offer to miners affected by the recent Wambo scale-back was a meek, "I urge coal companies to do everything possible to keep people employed". If they can't, well suck it up, that's simply market forces at work hey.
In contrast, the Greens have been transition planning for miners and their communities for many years.
They took their 'Just Transition' policy to the last election, including $1 billion in funding specifically designed to retrain mine workers and protect regional communities.
Greens leader Adam Bandt is adamant that "the best job for a coal miner is another mining job" and that due to the unique needs of renewable technology he wants to see even more mines built to provide the jobs ex-coal miners will need.
This is what a long-term vision for Australians looks like.
John Arnold, Anna Bay
Put the politics aside
WHY oh why won't Anthony Albanese and his band of pollies join up with the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his elected parliamentarians to do what they can to help out all Australians in this time of need?
Throwing your hat in the ring is an honourable thing.
All I have seen and heard of Anthony Albanese on the evening news and in articles in various daily newspapers lately has been anti the prime minister - absolutely nothing that would help Australians.
C'mon Australian Labor, throw your hat into the ring. I'm sure that our federal and state parliaments can get us out of this mess.
You could call all bets off when we Australians seem to be coming out the other side of the COVID mess.
Wal Remington, Mount Hutton
Region being left right out
ONLY a couple of months ago, the state member for Newcastle got into a bit of a tizz over the inability of this region to obtain sports grants for its football stadiums. ('Labor puts the boot into Coalition on grants', Herald, 1/8.)
It appeared that this district was ineligible for the funding options under either of the metropolitan or the regional allocations on offer. We just didn't fit.
A few weeks after that the federal member for Newcastle had her hackles up while at the ABC studios on account of the state's premier being famously and wantonly dismissive of Australia's locomotive making capabilities.
For a moment it was as though Goninans at Broadmeadow or Downer EDI at Cardiff didn't exist. This too was sad.
And now we find out that the lucrative sale of the local port had a few unfortunate strings attached. ('Libs attack port deal', Herald, 18/9.)
There were inhibitions built into the contract which the ACCC finds objectionable, whereby apparently an otherwise viable container terminal facility was being thwarted.
There is bad luck, and there is also such a thing as things not being a coincidence.
I think that Tim Crakanthorp, Sharon Claydon and Nuatali Nelmes should get together to find out in case there is a pattern emerging. My fears are that the 750,000 residents of Greater Newcastle are being inadvertently excised from the rest of the state. Perhaps even the whole of Australia. If so, the only question remaining is why?
Steven Micevski , Dungog
SHORT TAKES
WELL Adam O'Brien, you have done very well so far with your team. I admit that I was Kalyn Ponga's biggest critic, but you have persisted with him and he is what people are saying, without the hype. Playing as they did on Sunday makes me, the original skeptic, wondering how good they could be if they were consistent and committed. All they have to do is not go to sleep in the 66th minute. So, well done to all concerned.
Dennis Crampton, Swansea
SLAY the Dragons. Well done Knights.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
HOW many politicians have needed to take stress leave while in office? And how many haven't, but still make decisions on our behalf? I am surprised at John Barilaro's decision, but I am grateful that he made it. Few people in life realise where their limits are, but he is one it seems. Best wishes to him and his family.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
IN reply to Robert Green, (Short Takes, 17/9), I concur to your intelligent, positive opinion. I consider your messages are far above all the political waffle foisted on the Australian community over the years. How dare our governments let foreign interests acquire our lands, inland waterways, agriculture and minerals. Why must we put up with self-interested politicians who seem to not care about our country's future? As an Indigenous Aussie once said "Poor Fellow my Country."
Inga Chaplin, Merewether
EVERY time I read an article about the Maritime Museum's problems, I wonder why Wickham School of Arts isn't the obvious answer. Maybe it would cost a bit, but its position is perfect.
Pat Scott, Arcadia Vale
THE enthusiasm for being part of the pay cuts should follow that from the politicians, public servants and union officials. The treasurer and prime minister should be calling this from the top.
Gill Whitton, Corlette
ON behalf of ourselves and other Energy Australia customers, I would like to extend our thanks for the coloured brochure included with our electricity account due late September: Managing your energy this winter. Very timely.
Peter Mullins, Rankin Park
SCOTT Morrison should remember how he came to the top job. His doomed predecessor Mr Turnbull had Labor support for his policy direction. This is happening to Mr Morrison with Labor backing many policy positions. This alarms hard-line Liberals with devastating effects for the future of the party leader.
John Butler, Windella Downs
MICHAEL Hinchey (Letters, 20/9) scoffed at Scott Morrison's "self confidence when he is allowed to talk a lot without saying much". How ironic, because I have always thought that Mr Hinchey has been allowed to write a lot without saying much. Anyone who doesn't believe that Mr Morrison has done a creditable job during these difficult times is indeed a hard marker.
