KAREN Robertson, (Letters, 21/9), I think there's a definite reason why the do-gooders carry on about pokies much more than horse racing, that being that horse racing is just that little bit harder to sensationalise. Horse racing is romanticised quite often, and also made to appear somewhat glamorous (a perfect example of this being events like The Melbourne Cup).
Pokies, on the other hand, are a little more closely associated with pubs, clubs and alcohol so therefore are much easier to turn into the enemy. The wowsers will always try to find a way to spin alcohol as being the demon drop that supposedly turns any night out into one of drunken debauchery, which supposedly always leads to violence and problem gambling. What they tend to forget (or deliberately disregard) though, is the fact that people will always gamble regardless of whether alcohol is involved or not.
After all, gambling doesn't just occur in licensed premises, and because it can occur online, it can occur virtually anywhere. This is why problem gambling should be viewed as a completely separate issue, rather than viewed as a direct result of alcohol.
Adz Carter, Newcastle
Pork barreling knows no limits
COULD emergency vaccines and money become the pork-barrelling weapons of choice?
With a federal election looming, the Morrison government is struggling to claw back votes in the light of the vaccine-ordering debacle. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has tried to spin the economic and social debacle that he caused in a positive way.
Now the Morrison government is suspending job support after Australia reaches 80 per cent double vaccination. Again, the PM and his ministers are trying to spin this decision in a positive way: back in the black, jobs not welfare, and freedom have been mentioned.
The government claims that it is not dishonouring the exit deal it made with state premiers. Financial support for jobs and businesses and the vaccine will still be made available when and where they are needed. Very convenient! But could this emergency money and COVID vaccine become the Morrison government's new pork-barrelling weapons of choice in the lead up to the election? Picture it. There are outbreaks of COVID in particular electorates, not to mention summer bushfire emergencies. Jobs are lost, businesses collapse and hospitals are overwhelmed in these places. The government, like a knight in shining armour, comes to the rescue with more money and vaccines. It is just coincidence that the electorates who receive this federal largesse are marginal ones that the Coalition needs to win to retain government.
Of course, the Coalition needs an experienced hand to run this and to distance the PM from any possible post-election backlash. Who better than Bridget McKenzie, the newly minted Minister for National Recovery and Resilience and Emergency Management?
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
More details needed on Supercars
HOW can the ratepayers trust this council to make a rational decision on the extension of the Supercars contract? Supercars don't want councils to do due diligence, they would much prefer a "vroom vroom" tweet.
This council voted unanimously to do a cost-benefit analysis of the event and then in my opinion reneged by accepting a report which didn't address the costs. The report used a wet weekend in autumn to compare the attendances to the Supercars weekend. A later independent report showed how the attendance figures were manipulated, but this council is still using the inflated figures!
Using ratepayers' money, this council opposes every FOI request for cost information. One of the FOI wins by ratepayers exposed the secret services agreement, signed by the interim CEO and to be kept secret from councillors.
Our elected representatives no longer do what is best for the ratepayers but will instead vote to subsidise a private company that causes so much disruption, a private company that strives to keep basic information from them. A private company that will take over our streets for ten weeks and because of an act of parliament does not have to comply with safety, heritage and environment laws during bump in/bump out and the race weekend. The decision about a race extension should not be made without knowing all the facts.
John Hudson, Newcastle East
Wrong type of race in place
I WAS wondering; why would Supercars announce ahead of its unpublished calendar that an event was to go ahead in these uncertain times? Could it be because it is up for sale? Here's a challenge: how about a group of Novocastrians get together, make Supercars an offer, and turn the track into a climate friendly 21st century walkathon/three-legged /sack/egg and spoon race round the track event for all the family. Fun noise. No fume. All welcome.
Red and white stripe canopies, ice creams, coffee and spiders? We have nothing to lose. Just a thought.
Catherine Whelan, Newcastle East
Market has moved past squabble
WHILE internal squabbling within the federal coalition (between Liberals and Nationals) continues over the idea of a net zero by 2050 target, global markets have already decided and are moving on towards a zero-emissions goal.
This is why federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg recently stated that Australia had to accept that money was being moved to industries aligned with decarbonisation.
For Australia to remain competitive in global markets, our industries and infrastructure need to be relevant in a net zero trading world. However, a 2050 net zero target is not enough; our major trade partners such as the United Kingdom, United States, European Union and Japan have much stronger 2030 pollution reduction targets than we do. For Australia to not fall behind economically, we urgently need to update our weak and inadequate 2030 target of reducing pollution by 26 per cent.
In the very least, our target needs to at minimal match our trading partners. To do otherwise will be to miss out on billions of dollars in economic opportunities.
Ching Ang, Kensington Gardens
Models don't tell the full story
I AGREE with much of what Peter Devey said, (Letters, 27/9), but I also have a couple more points to add.
Good luck to the UN and all the other climate worshipers, go try telling China, India and Indonesia to stop their coal fired power stations within 10 years. As to the science of climate change, when did modelling become scientific fact, when has any modelling been accurate? Tim Flannery's modelling predicted no more rain, no more Great Barrier Reef, no more agriculture on our farms (forget our farmers having an all-time high yield this year).
The problem with climate modelling is that it relies on the people punching in the numbers to not have a preconceived outcome that they want to achieve, but alas many Australians seem to be addicted to fear; so fear is what the media feeds us on. Fear is what politicians feed to us every day.
Andrew Hirst, Beresfield
SHORT TAKES
I WISH China would get a move on with World War III now footy is over there's nothing on TV.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
THE roadmap out of lockdown takes the Monaro Highway exit from Macquarie Street.
Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook
I THINK Paul Scott's opinion ("Good deeds don't undo hurt of harsh words", Opinion 4/10) comes across as a flowery piece of tosh that leaves the reader wondering what he is really saying. Something as serious as abusive behaviour needs to be dealt with in plain language.
Julie Robinson, Cardiff
IN my opinion the cupboards must be bare when Prime Minister Scott Morrison endorses a disaster like Andrew Constance for federal parliament.
John Bonnyman, Fern Bay
A COUPLE of instances of what Dennis Crampton calls "very spoilt and obnoxious" behaviour from the Labor members wouldn't go astray. Mr Crampton obviously despises the Labor party, but even as school kids submitting work we were always taught to "please show examples", rather than just sling mud!
Mac Maguire, Charlestown
"PUT the goggles on and get into it." That seemed to be the message from the NRL grand final post-match celebrations on Sunday. Some of these blokes that have fired shotguns without a licence, driven quads on beaches and lived a fairly free life away from home. I think they really need to stand up and admit what they stand for. Sure as eggs, it's not equality. I am truly disappointed in their selfishness.
Vic Davies, Tighes Hill
I FIND it super stupid to tear up the CBD for three months for Supercars, but super smart of local leaders not to have it happening while they face the electors in December. Move the race to the Newcastle race track? Super smart.
John Dickenson, Newcastle West
TO the knockers of the upcoming Newcastle Supercar event in 2022; build a bridge.
Craig Swan, Kotara South
IMAGINE if we had ICAC watching over federal parliament. Too horrible to imagine the outcome. Even Jesus was betrayed by Judas with a kiss - from a man, not a woman. Most traitors are men, not women, in politics.
Richard Ryan, Summerland Point
I'M confident that we can do whatever we want to do as long as we're comfortable with what our actions bring are not a burden. The new normal is looking out for number one; me.
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