I SOMETIMES have trouble understanding the priorities and motives of our local politicians and civic leaders. Right now the top of the list appears to be extending opening hours of pubs and clubs (Lockout shake-up', Newcastle Herald 2/7) and the Knights having a home game ('Back in the game', Herald 13/7); good things, although not critical.
Then a bit further down the list appears to be the closure of the Jetstar facility at Williamtown, with the direct loss of 200 jobs and with trickle down of about 500. Two of our esteemed leaders did not miss the photo opportunity last week to stand and condemn this closure, which they should ('Plea to save Jetstar jobs', Herald 10/7).
However to me far more devastating is the announcement of the possible, if not probable, closure of the Tomago aluminium smelter ('Smelter power shock', Herald 10/7). If realised, the closure of Tomago would mean the loss of about 1200 direct jobs with a trickle down of maybe another 2000. Another 2000 to 3000 jobs lost to this area is not something we should be willing to contemplate. To date I have not seen or heard one word from the local politicians asking why.
Maybe it because they know the answer, and that is the high cost and unreliability of power brought about by the energy policies of various governments over many years, so they are not going to do anything that may upset their party overlords. Not so many years ago we lost the Kurri Kurri smelter, in my opinion for the same reason. It may well be convenient for some to have the smelter shut to postpone the need for a new reliable power station.
Raymond Stewart, Charlestown
Pains of past deserve solutions
OUR mother too, left hundreds of jottings about her life (Letters 13/7), but it was about a life of poverty in a small country town in the Hunter. These jottings were left also on any scrap of paper that she had at hand. These women obviously had some sort of innate sense that these stories would be important in the future.
The most poignant of all was written in her later years, when she was trying to escape the depths of depression that were sudden recollections of our life.
Her time under the reign of terror of a violent husband and father came back to haunt her many years after he had passed away. Our hearts break at the feelings of despair she had for her children and for herself as she struggled to make sure we were well educated so we could "escape" the life of poverty we were in.
Her writings helped her recover so that she lived the last ten years of her life in calm and relative happiness.
I fear that the government's latest inquiry into family violence will achieve very little. Its terms of reference are so wide that time will mean that much important information will not be heard. We must consider the historical and the generational context of the impact of family violence if we are truly to understand. Hopefully there will be some forum where our story can be told.
If you need support call 1800 737 732
Sue Perkins, Adamstown Heights
Eagles dare to question the call
TO be upfront from the start, I am a long term Manly fan. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I felt the need to respond to Barry Toohey's piece in the Herald ('Eagles whingers guilty of memory loss', Herald 8/7). I watched the Knights and Manly game on the weekend with Knights fans, Manly fans and fans of neither team. The real test, I believe, is to see what the neutral fans thought of what decision should've been made at the end of the game.
All neutral fans I've spoken to believe Manly should've been given a penalty at the end of the game, as a result of Tevita Funa being illegally impeded in his chase for the ball toward the try line. Foxtel commentators agreed (as did Tim Mander, a well respected former referee)
In no way did Manly deserve a penalty try, but they did deserve the chance to attempt a penalty goal to draw the game, and if successful, battle for a golden point victory.
Regardless of what's happened in the past and what happened during the game, I believe the simple fact is that Manly should've been given a penalty, and most neutral fans of the game would agree.
Ross Squire, Mayfield East
Border runs show system's flaws
I HAVE been reading about the issues on the Queensland border and the numbers of Victorians being turned around. Some it seems have indeed lied about visiting Melbourne hotspots recently and are being fined as a consequence. Fair enough - but what then happens at the border, and are NSW advised of the situation if people have actually come from hotspots and been turned back?
Surely it would be sensible to quarantine such people at their expense. It does also raise the question of the ease of access into NSW in the first place, though. In this case that clearly happened before the permit system came into effect. It's the old story, isn't it, that it only takes a few to enforce a clamp down on everyone.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
Fig dissent is too little too late
I BELIEVE the picture of Nuatali Nelmes and Declan Clausen standing defiantly with arms crossed in front of the fig trees at the corner of Stewart Avenue and Parry Street ('Council tries to rescue figs', Herald 15/7) is more satire than protest.
Has the communication broken down so badly that a $1.4 million project only pops up in council papers when the excavators and chainsaws are about to be revved up on site? If this is true, is it another example of the corporatised council administration working in concert with the state government to keep the community out of the planning process?
For the community to have confidence in the decisions being taken, supposedly for the benefit of everyone in this city, in my opinion we need our elected representatives on council to take control of the planning process and ensure that they and the community are fully engaged in the process in a timely and meaningful manner.
Ron Brown, Islington
Bon voyage to the returners
IN response to Maryanne Merkel (Letters 14/7), I wasn't having a shot at your daughter and her partner. Yes, there are extenuating circumstances that would prevent many Aussies returning home.
Hopefully they get back to Australia safely. I also hope that your daughter's partner adopts this country as their home and wishes to become an Aussie. So please, accept my apologies and wish them the best.
As far as Cameron Park travels, it is beautiful this time of year. I normally travel to Greece to an archaeological dig this time of year, but my travel plans are also being interrupted. Stay safe and well.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
SHARE YOUR OPINION
Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text message to 0427 154 176 (include name, suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words and Short Takes fewer than 50 words. Correspondence may be edited and reproduced in any form.
SHORT TAKES
JULIE Robinson (Letters, 16/7) I have not and will not get on Peter Gogarty's band wagon whilst it is limited to seating only "privileged white men". It's not that I don't detest the sort of vile behaviour you describe; I have in fact called this out in the past and on one occasion been flattened for doing so, I'd do it again. Evil is not limited by colour, race, sexuality, religion or social status and until we all, and I do mean all, accept that fact we will never have "equality and justice". Many like me, my mates and male relatives will continue to lead by example and with both eyes open.
Dave McTaggart, Edgeworth
REGARDING the letters to the Queen, I bet all the Republicans are crying in their chardonnay after the government letters indicated no involvement of our Queen in Whitlam's dismissal. Some also forget that one month after the dismissal the people of Australia voted in the Liberal coalition with the largest majority they had ever had. Labor was reduced to around 30 seats.
John Hollingsworth, Hamilton
RATHER than bemoaning Gough Whitlam for "destroying the Wyndham Scheme" John Davies (Letters, 14/7) could celebrate that the Whitlam government abolished university fees and helped students meet living expenses through the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme. I am grateful for the opportunity provided for me to undertake a teaching career.
Martin Frohlich, Adamstown Heights
BRAVO John Cooper (Short Takes, 14/7) for bringing attention to the recent book by former climate activist Michael Shellenberger. By the way, he isn't the only former activist to have second thoughts about their previous climate scare-mongering. I doubt that many of the climate evangelists who contribute to this page will bother to read it because they believe there's only one side of the debate.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
I BELIEVE that our lord mayor wouldn't be so keen to save the fig trees if Supercars was running past Birdwood Park ('Council tries to rescue figs', Herald 15/7). Vroom vroom.
John Hudson, Newcastle East
I BELIEVE the picture of our lord mayor and deputy trying to save a tree ('Council tries to rescue figs', Herald 15/7) is gobsmacking. I cannot believe the total hypocrisy after the battle to stop the removal of the Laman Street figs. The tacit approval of council regarding the removal of our rail line will show in time what a lunatic decision this was, although developers are still salivating at their good fortune and laughing at the useless replacement tram to nowhere except a quick view of empty shops and businesses. I wonder where and what our political geniuses will come up with next?
John Chaplin, Merewether
THE lord mayor and her deputy are photographed ('Council tries to rescue figs', Herald 15/7) protesting about the proposed removal of the fig trees. Would it be anything to do with the fact that these trees are just down the road from council's offices?
