The Advertiser and Sunday Mail Letters to the Editor August 3-9
August 8: Readers have their say on lockdown limits, aged-care homes and Tour Down Under sponsorship.
Opinion
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- DAVID PENBERTHY: Event for up to 700 people not a good look
- MORE READER VIEWS: Read last week’s letters here
Letters to the Editor published in The Advertiser and Sunday Mail.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 9
Limited at home
ALL those involved with keeping the virus at bay have done a wonderful job.
But my concern is the low number for family gatherings in a home.
Because of the limit of 10, my wife and I could not see family on our birthdays, Mother’s Day, or a 70th birthday.
And now I cannot see family on Father’s Day.
The limit of 10 for family in a home is too low.
GEOFF TATE, Myrtle Bank
Treated equally
PREMIER Steven Marshall should have no problems in negotiating a deal for paid pandemic leave within South Australia.
My understanding is that the Federal Government cannot discriminate against any state or territory.
Isn’t the purpose of equal representation in the Senate exactly this – that no one state is treated more favourably than the others?
DOMENICA CAVUOTO, Klemzig
Fair go for elderly
WAKE up indeed, Tory Shepherd (“Wake up please, we’re not all in this together”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
We are definitely not all in this together. Never have been.
The aged-care fiasco is a classic example.
Some like to call them “private” aged-care homes.
I prefer “taxpayer-subsidised cash cows”. Either way, they expose a shameful fourth-class structure in Australian society:
THEwealthy: Those who make money while they sleep.
THEworking class: They work hard and pay their taxes and the interest on the money they borrow from the wealthy.
THEhomeless: They are there to remind the working class what happens to them if they stop working.
THENthere are those in aged care.
Absolutely shameful.
BOB RUWOLDT, Seacombe Heights
TDU sponsorship
OF course, Santos has spent millions on “community initiatives and sponsorship” (“Bid to put spoke in TDU’s deal with Santos”, The Advertiser, Friday).
That’s how the company buys social licence for a business model that emits carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, threatening us all.
And while it’s great that the Tour Down Under women’s race is now broadcast live, that’s of little comfort to South Australian women who lost their homes in last summer’s “unprecedented” bushfires.
Time to transition your core business and your workers, Santos, because we can see through your “greenwash”.
ROBYN WAITE, Highbury
Petrol products
COUNCILLOR Robert Simms’s idealistic views regarding clean industries are commendable but somewhat unrealistic if we are to provide a reasonable standard of living to all humans on this planet.
Take shoes, as just one of many, many examples. There are those who urge us not to exploit animals but even if we were to make only leather shoes and everyone had two pairs, there isn’t the potential amount of leather to come anywhere near meeting the demand.
Cr Simms doesn’t want us to use petroleum products. So there goes about 95 per cent of the current shoes made in the world. This leaves wooden clogs, if there is enough timber available but these will have to be made using stone tools, because steel manufacture requires coal.
Cr Simms would appear to see his idealistic world from his privileged position, within a privileged nation, without an understanding that his objective will adversely affect the less privileged.
BRUCE FARQUHAR, Hyde Park
Storage danger
OUR hearts go out to the people of Lebanon in this shocking tragedy of the explosion of warehoused ammonium nitrate causing so much death and destruction.
Surely it also sounds a warning of the dangers of being complacent about the transport and storage of toxic material in our own country.
The Senate is considering the serious proposal to regularly transport, exactly halfway across the country, long-lived intermediate radioactive waste, toxic for an incredible 10,000 years, to simply store it again above ground in the Kimba region.
At the Federal Government’s own admission, the above-ground storage time frame will be for decades.
There are repeated assurances of safety.
But this is a political, not a safety decision.
We need Australian senators to defeat this dangerous bill. We also need state government politicians to stand up for the safety of South Australia and for the safety of South Australians.
Accidents happen.
MICHELE MADIGAN, Tailem Bend
1947 explosion
THE type of explosion that happened in Beirut has a precedent.
As a senior chemistry teacher, I recall screening many times a 1947 black-and-white video of the SS Grandcamp borne aloft from its mooring in Texas City when its cargo of about 21,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate was accidentally detonated.
This started a chain reaction of additional fires and explosions in other ships – one appropriately called the High Flyer – and nearby oil-storage facilities.
The events killed at least 567 people, including all but one of the 28 volunteer Texas City fire department team. The blast flattened nearly 1000 buildings and was detected 160km away.
Two sightseeing planes flying nearby had their wings shorn off (we saw this too), forcing them out of the sky, while 16km away, half of the windows in Galveston were shattered.
It is the largest non-nuclear explosion in US history.
SANDRA REYNOLDS, Fulham
Learn recycling
INSTEAD of confiscating recycling bins and creating a health risk, why not give those guilty of flouting rules community service to be served in a recycling plant (“Sin bins”, The Advertiser, Thursday)?
SUE PEARCE OAM, Fullarton
More Unley trees
AS a resident of Burnside, I fully support Unley Council’s proposal to increase rates for properties with too few trees.
I hope this initiative gets up so other councils do the same.
It is ironic that many people choose to move to the leafy suburbs, only to have developers have all trees on their property removed as the first task.
These blocks are often subdivided, and the chance of ever having a tree on them is lost forever.
This initiative will encourage homeowners and property developers to see the value in keeping trees, encourage plantings and not leave the heavy planting up to their neighbours and councils.
ANDREW BATEMAN, Burnside
Saving subs jobs
THE State Government is warning of a shortage of skills for the submarine work, apparently requiring an overseas workforce (“Call for foreign workers”, The Advertiser, Monday). At the same time, the government has done little to keep the full-cycle docking maintenance crew locked into Adelaide, while federal Defence Minister Linda Reynolds (a West Australian minister) is so far refusing to rule keeping that work in Adelaide.
Apparently, the switchover date is about three to four years away.
If our government were to guarantee the jobs of the most valuable workers, say 1000, the cost might be about $100m a year, but Perth would not be able to attract the required skills. The work would stay in Adelaide, and the actual cost may be a few million.
And if the government shifts the workers to fill the expected skills shortage, they would be perfect to keep for the new submarines. Again no real cost to SA. Not all families want to move – house, children, schools, friends, relatives – just to help a WA minister.
DIETER GARTELMANN, Findon
Plains speaking
HOW surprising Mitcham Council and its Hills-based Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross would try to push through their cherished Blackwood hub project while the plains areas are under-represented (“$20m hub approval ‘unfair’”, The Advertiser, Friday).
They are determined to increase this council’s debt levels across the next seven years.
One can hope that, by the next election, a new mayor will be able to restore some sense to this group, which is sadly lacking both direction and competence under the present mayor.
Any ethical person would know it is unfair to inflict this problem on people who have no representatives.
It is well past time to abolish Mitcham Council and split the suburbs into their most adjacent council areas.
PAUL BUXTON, Westbourne Park
Crows hurting
IT may sound a fraction biased but I reckon the main reasons for the Adelaide Crows’ poor start to the season are injuries and poor umpiring.
A positive is captain and best player Rory Sloane looks like returning from injury in about two or three weeks.
Which means he’ll be back, fit and ready for the finals.
BRUCE BURFORD, Adelaide
Consistent team
I CANNOT believe all the negative reports and comments about our beloved Adelaide Crows team.
Having continually followed their progress – pardon me if I am wrong – but, if what I read is correct, they are the most consistent team in the league.
TONY TOVEY, Payneham
AFL control
I LIKE the suggestion by Senator Alex Antic that “SA’s AFL clubs should be elected by their members” (“Freeze grants to clubs plea”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Both Adelaide AFL clubs are financially indebted to the AFL, which holds and controls their licences to the extent that financial club members have been disenfranchised.
Also, these arrangements are clearly conflicted for all parties, given the AFL operates the national competition in which those clubs compete.
The members of the Adelaide AFL clubs should solely elect their board members, including the chair.
Board members could hold office for, say, three years, with a third of the board up for election or re-election each year at the annual general meeting held for members, probably in November.
By September 30 each year, the board must publish the club’s independently audited financial statements for the previous financial year.
When the clubs have these common business governance arrangements and practices in place, they may be eligible for federal, state and/or local government support in accordance with transparent procedures that meet community expectations and standards for the allocation of public funds.
CHRISTOPHER PURGACZ, Goodwood
Footy club song is just a bit over the top
NATIONAL anthems are songs where people sing about themselves as a group, claiming special abilities and threatening dire consequences upon any other group that doubts them.
Footy club songs are the same. They are full of hyperbole, promising to crush opponents, making claims of invincibility and promising to prevail.
Indeed, only one club to my knowledge has kept the promise of its club song. The team I support, Port Adelaide Power, promised not to stop until it was top. Having achieved the pinnacle, we stopped. As promised.
Now, I have noticed another club anthem makes disturbing claims that would seem to clash with the modern thinking of most body-contact sports. It promises that it will compete ”with a grin, risking head and shin”.
A bit much, don’t you reckon?
KEVIN CLARKE, Para Hills
Excuse to raise rates
I COULD not believe my eyes when I read “Urban forest – or pay more” (Sunday Mail, August 2). And it isn’t even April 1.
Have these councillors nothing better to do than dream up these dopey ideas to slug people higher rates if they haven’t enough trees on their property?
There are obviously too many Unley councillors with nothing better to do than think of ways to extract higher rates from their ratepayers.
I wonder how ratepayers who reside in apartments, or those on small house blocks – allowed by Unley Council to subdivide – have room to plant a tree.
Perhaps a bonsai tree, or one in a pot on the kitchen table, would be sufficient to satisfy chief executive Peter Tsokas or Cr Peter Hughes.
LYNDON FOREST, Marino
Women in politics
ONE of the political parties in South Australia last month held its preselection for the Upper House ticket for the next state election in 2022.
Six of the seven positions were filled by women, elected by the members of the party, without quotas.
This is something that should be celebrated by all political parties.
BARNEY McCUSKER, Mount Gambier
Schooling in life skills
I WAS reading recently that children at school can use their part-time work as part of the school assessment. This is a great idea, as it is an important part of growing up and gaining life skills for the future.
It was my thought that it would be worthwhile to see if the same thing that applies to children who are attending school can be applied to those who have had to leave school due to caring commitments.
There must be some way that the caring work could be credited into their school assessment.
For example, young Hanna stopped attending Year 12 to concentrate on her caring duties. Her school report should include a note for the reason for her not completing Year 12.
Also, her report could give her credits for subjects that may be covered by life experiences in her daily life.
If she were able, at some stage, to go back to finish Year 12, Hanna wouldn’t have to complete the full year.
ANDREW DAWE, Henley Beach South
Weatherill legacy
PENNY Wong illustrates how totally out of touch she is with mainstream South Australians when she states that former premier Jay Weatherill’s legacy is cheap renewable energy (“State of power as leaders plot a COVID-recovery”, Sunday Mail, August 2).
His legacy is that he blacked out the state and created Australia’s most expensive power prices.
Plus, he authorised the cutting down of many significant trees in Adelaide. The man was out of control.
Get in the real world, Penny.
P. COLLINS, Goolwa
Symbol of honesty
REGARDING the SA Liberal politicians who claimed extra travel allowances.
Late MP Bob Such was one of the most honest politicians in parliament.
But then Bob was one of a kind. What a shame there are not more politicians like him.
DENISE TARRANT, Happy Valley
Simple pleasures gone
WE took you for granted. At first, we thought your parting was temporary.
It was only a matter of time before we would be returning to you. Instead, we mourn your passing.
We miss the simple things like strolling through the city, enjoying the bustle, having coffee and people-watching. And meeting family and friends.
Something might come in its place, but it will not be the same. Cruelly, we cannot gather to say goodbye, shedding a tear, sharing a laugh, singing a lament, remembering the good times and the bad.
In solitude we whisper, even pray, “Earth to Earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust”.
I remember your parting words: “Love me tenderly, for every day, every breath, every step, and every friend, is a gift. So, mourn my passing and wait”.
The new will come, but this is a time for waiting, not meekly, but with intent. Making time to grieve, attending to the things that matter with an eye for detail and a big heart.
Yes, the world needs a big heart. A generous, beating heart. As we wait for the new.
REVEREND STEVEN OGDEN, St Oswald’s parish priest, Parkside
No slippery slope
IT’S no surprise to see conservatives using the slippery-slope argument that if “politically correct” types ban the name Coon cheese they will ban surnames such as Brown (“Love cheese name”, Sunday Mail, August 2).
When same-sex marriage was legalised, we were told the next step would be people marrying animals or children.
And since when, Helen Vickery, is “being mindful of other people’s feelings” a bad thing?
NICK HASKELL, Athelstone
Coon cheese madness
HELEN Vickery is spot on regarding changing the name of the wonderful Coon cheese brand as, quite simply, it is political correctness gone mad.
Absolutely absurd.
I hope the do-gooders aren’t aware of the SA towns of Coonalpyn and Coonawarra, as they probably will want them changed as well.
GRAHAM BENNETT, Woodville South
Names can’t hurt
WHEN I grew up in the 1950s and ’60s, there was a well-known saying which our parents instilled in us in order to build resilience and “grow a backbone”.
The saying was: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”
I am astonished that the name of a cheese is now causing offence to a minority of people, who are demanding a name change.
I recently went out and bought my first packet of this cheese, just to be contrary.
It’s actually very good.
Is Australia the only country in the world where it seems that political correctness has gone totally out of control, to the detriment of our laid-back, larrikin culture? Why are we putting up with this?
There is a simple solution that I am suggesting to the Canadian company that owns the Coon cheese brand. Raccoons live in Canada, so all the owners have to do is put a picture of this animal on the packet, and change the name to Raccoon cheese.
Problem solved.
ALEX HODGES, Birdwood
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Nation building
JOHAN Gunner says industry leaders are using the pandemic to advance their agenda (“Agenda alert”, The Advertiser, yesterday).
This is very shortsighted.
Building and construction is the heartbeat of our economy, directly employing more than 65,000 South Australians and indirectly supporting tens of thousands more SA jobs.
Building and construction has a multiplier effect that is virtually unmatched.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, for every $1m spent on construction, a possible output of $2.9m is generated, including 37 jobs.
The Morrison Government’s $25,000 HomeBuilder grants have rejuvenated residential building.
About 100 people work on a typical home build.
If plumbers, carpenters, electricians, bricklayers, suppliers and so on have money in their pocket, they can go out and spend it in travel, retail, hospitality and so on. The benefits flow through the whole economy.
The reality is you can’t have a strong economy without a strong building and construction industry.
IAN MARKOS, Master Builders Association of SA chief executive
Priority projects
IT is surprising and concerning that Infrastructure Australia found no priority infrastructure ready to roll in South Australia (“SA projects sidelined in nation’s major list”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
With SA poised to capitalise on demand for products made with clean energy, one would have thought fixing gaps and deficiencies in the transmission grid to help lower electricity costs and boost employment was a priority.
We recently shifted from being a net importer to a net exporter of electricity – and could export more.
In this modern-day climate emergency, we need to electrify transport.
We have abundant high-quality affordable renewable energy, and a skilled workforce courtesy of automobile manufacturing in the not too distant past.
We could harness both to produce electric vehicles – and/or ancillary products and services – that reduce transport emissions and help store electricity.
JIM ALLEN, Panorama
Rotten bin idea
REGARDING Celeste Villani’s article on disposal of household waste (“Sin Bins, The Advertiser, yesterday), while the principal of what is advocated is sound, the problems arise with the practicality.
It is all very fine suggesting recyclable food scraps, etc, should be placed in the organic recycling bins but the bins in the Salisbury area are emptied once a fortnight.
The problem is that, particularly in summer heat, meat products deteriorate rapidly.
Within a few days, the bins begin to smell rotten.
To wait for two weeks for them to be emptied is unacceptable.
It would be a severe health hazard, to say the least, and extremely unpleasant to smell.
It would be an invitation to house flies to leave maggots, thus creating more of a health hazard.
I suggest some householders are placing waste-food products into the general rubbish bin to avoid lengthy delay in its disposal, thereby avoiding health risks.
There must be better suggestions available to fit in with the waste-disposal companies and the community expectations regarding the disposal of rotting rubbish.
A.W. HOPE, Pooraka
Honesty deficit
IT is not just that South Australians don’t trust their politicians.
Given the revelations about misspending – some would say corrupt use – of taxpayers’ money by all levels of politics for many years, we simply do not trust any of them to behave honestly in any area.
But, most particularly, where the Remuneration Tribunal – begun by an Act of parliament – is involved, they have set things up almost to the extent that they live a cost-free life.
And when caught out, they blame it on administrative errors.
ROBERT McCORMICK, Bridgewater
Wider sickness
THANK you, Andrew Bolt, for your piece about COVID-19 and freedom (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
In reply to Bolt’s rhetorical question: “Is this just a Victorian thing, or a symptom of a wider Australian sickness?”, my answer would be, from my experience in trying to get politicians to listen to an alternative view, a resounding “yes”.
ROBIN PERCY, Surrey Downs
Temporary dump
DAVE Rickard raises an important point re the storage of 10,000-year intermediate-level waste at Kimba (“Dump needed”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Many at Kimba have been requesting the Federal Government to find a permanent disposal site for the intermediate-level waste, of the 10,000-year category, first.
The material is being placed at Kimba for up to 30 years until they find the safest permanent-disposal site that can be discovered.
BARRY WAKELIN, Kimba
Egging on virus
I HOPE all those who make the important decisions that have an effect on our lives are taking notice of the fallout from the lockdown of Victoria.
We have put far too many of our eggs in one basket.
And a lot too many of the eggs were being collected from the neighbour’s chook house.
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
Buying into panic
HOW much panic can a hoarder buy?
M. F. HORTON, Clarence Park
Tough borders
THERE is little point in the State Government enacting tough COVID-19-abuse legislation if the judiciary won’t enforce it.
Cross-border abusers getting a slap on the wrist won’t deter them.
Significant fines, plus jail, might.
The potential for Victorian infection rates in South Australia is a distinct possibility.
And those that go soft on those offenders must be held accountable.
Further, as it has been mentioned, how many more flights with possibly infected passengers will be accepted in SA?
Those living in high-risk countries have been given ample time to return, with taxpayers paying for some of the costs.
If we don’t want some interstate Australians coming here, then how can we accept those coming from overseas?
This pandemic might go on for years. Especially if we weaken our resolve.
It’s past time to get tough.
PETER JAMES LOCK, Port Lincoln
Stay in a hotel
THE state MP travel-allowance scheme has produced several unintended consequences.
MPs have managed significant investment-property portfolios and have even been able to give some cash to mum and dad, free of tax-office scrutiny. Out here in simple town, the solution is obvious.
If there is a demonstrated need for overnight accommodation after work or a function, stay at one of the numerous good quality hotels on North Terrace.
Send bills to the auditor general. No payments to MPs, no rorts and no funny deals.
End of story.
PAUL BUXTON, Westbourne Park
Democracy threat
IT is disturbing so few commentators have remarked that Prime Minister Scott Morrison appears to be using the considerable shadow of the coronavirus pandemic to bypass the Australian parliament.
And, even more so, that he has met with little questioning, criticism or resistance.
Federal cabinet appears to have been replaced by a mute, ineffectual, so-called national cabinet which, among other limitations, has no provision for input from the opposition parties.
This is apparently supplemented by an advisory committee, selected largely from the business sector by the Prime Minister with questionable constitutional legitimacy.
We are subjected almost daily, with media connivance, to televised propaganda sessions (not confined to important health and safety information) from senior government ministers and/or public servants, a demagogic process reminiscent of that used by South American dictators or pre-World War II fascist governments.
Parliament is due to be recalled.
But the terms and conditions are unclear.
In the meantime, important legislation in areas such as industrial relations and national security are being introduced into the “rump parliament”.
These are potentially dangerous precedents which should arouse the serious consideration and concern of all Australian citizens.
The threat of a dystopian post-pandemic Australia is real enough without the simultaneous and surreptitious erosion of Australian democracy.
EDDIE Le SUEUR, Panorama
Foxes flew in
IT is a nonsense to suggest flying foxes are integral to the ecology of Adelaide.
A quick check of Wikipedia, as well as old The Advertiser articles, clearly proves the first recorded permanent colony of these fruit bats only arrived in Adelaide about a decade ago.
If we are going to protect Adelaide’s flora and fauna, we should focus on species that have been here for thousands of years.
Not these recent wing ins.
DAVID FINCH, Toorak Gardens
Hospital pressure
RECENTLY I spent several days in the Flinders Medical Centre.
I cannot speak highly enough of the care and attention I received from the doctors and nursing staff.
They were all caring and concerned for my health and wellbeing under trying conditions.
MAXINE FORBES, Aldinga Beach
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
Disaster pain
ON August 6, 1945, I was born in Melbourne into a world badly traumatised by a horrendous world war and which, on that day, took a decisive step towards ending it – the allied dropping of an atom bomb on Hiroshima.
On the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima, I am glad my parents are no longer alive to experience the very different kind of crisis we are all facing today.
If they were here today I wonder if they would have faced the COVID-19 hardship with the same heroic stoicism that got them – and the Australian population at large – through the Great Depression and World War II.
Early indications are that most of us are rallying creditably to the cause, with every chance of holding the COVID-19 health and economic collapse at bay.
But, unlike the World War II generations, we cannot rely on the warmth and comfort of unfettered social contact that they enjoyed. And so it remains to be seen to what degree we can marshal the resolve to get through our current crisis without this in the longer term.
TERRY HEWTON, Henley Beach South
Spare the country
WITH the State Government imposing harsher COVID-19 restrictions, surely these should only be applied to the metro area where people are still arriving from overseas and interstate.
Regional areas, their residents, and economies, should not be penalised. They should be left as they are currently when they have zero cases.
I don’t think there have been plane loads of people from Singapore and India landing at Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Whyalla and other regional centres. So leave us as we are unless things change in our areas.
PETER ANDISON, Loxton
Hygiene help
IT is spot on to suggest that gloves worn at length by shop workers are there to protect themselves (“Protect workers”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
I no longer frequent my favourite healthy fast-food shop because, on one occasion, the server thought it acceptable to serve the previous customer, take money and then turn around and pick up my selected bread roll.
All using the same pair of gloves.
The fact that she got angry with me for declining the roll, and asking her to put new gloves on, suggests more training is required.
I have seen similar occurrences often. And don’t start me on people that serve my drinks by placing their hands around the rim in lieu of the base of the glass.
Quite clearly, simple hygiene measures and practises are not so simple.
JO HOUGH, Keith
Wear a mask
BOUQUETS to those frontline staff who risk their health each day.
To stem the indiscriminate tide of death that comes our way.
Brickbats to those anti-maskers, selfish, vain and feral.
With no respect for those in charge. It’s our lives they imperil.
So harden up you princesses, it’s not too much to ask.
Do as you’re told and stay at home. Or wear a bloody mask.
BERNIE COATES, Modbury North
Agenda alert
IT’S unfortunate that many industry leaders are using the pandemic as a free kick to advance their agenda.
There is currently no major shortage of building work for good builders, contractors and trades. Compare this to the poor travel agent, irrespective of how good they are, their industry and business has been shattered.
Building more roads will not help the travel agent, or any other person in the travel, hospitality or entertainment industry, that has had to down tools during the pandemic.
JOHAN GUNNER, Adelaide
Price busters
OH no. Toilet rolls have gone up again.
But my wife tells me that kitty litter has come down from $23 to $16. Now if I can only work out a way to use it.
WAYNE NICHOLLS, Royston Park
Casual workforce
THE evidence is compelling that most of the COVID-19 spread in this country, and in particular Victoria, is lower-paid workers working when ill.
This is when they are faced with feeding and sustaining themselves and their families or staying home.
Even with this evidence, we see the federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg espousing Reagan and Thatcher economic policies. If we should learn one thing from the pandemic, it’s ensuring people need proper employment, not casual work.
GRAHAM THOMAS, Seaford
Don’t shut down
I SWEAR that if the South Australian authorities dare close everything down here because of selfish, ignorant Victorians – and an odd case here mainly due to the glaring incompetence of Victoria – people will not tolerate a renewing of social controls and shutdowns.
There’s no reason to shut down. Regardless of consequences, people are over it.
PAUL WILLIAMS, Strathalbyn
Dump needed
SO radioactive waste needs to be isolated for up to 10,000 years (“Wider than Kimba”, The Advertiser, Monday).
That’s a long time for it to be accumulating and sitting in the basements of hospitals.
In fact, I doubt whether any hospital would be around that long. So the waste would surely have to be transported and handled an indeterminable multitude of times. Hmm, perhaps better to have it isolated in a dedicated radioactive waste storage facility where it can stay in the same place for the next 10,000 years.
DAVE RICKARD, Hallett Cove
Corflutes slipping
LUCKY residents in the Gault Ward of the Mitcham Council area are currently in the midst of two consecutive by-elections to elect two replacement councillors.
One of the seven candidates in the first by-election has seen fit to plaster corflutes bearing his image all over our suburb.
No doubt, this candidate believes this will enhance his chance of being elected to fill one of the two vacancies on the council.
Unfortunately, he and his supporters appear to be lacking in experience in relation to the mounting of corflutes on lampposts, etc, so that they do not fall down.
Consequently, wherever one goes in the suburb, you see these unsightly and untidy election posters, many of which now stand at odd angles at ground level.
Needless to say, I have already cast my postal vote in favour of another candidate.
The candidate featured on the corflutes received my seventh preference.
HUGH K. TAEUBER, Colonel Light Gardens
Moral obligation
THE recent issue with politicians claiming allowances within the regulatory framework is simply another example of the growing divide between legal and moral behaviour within society.
If a claim or action is legal, then why care about whether such claims or actions are morally or ethically correct? Or, indeed, fair to others in the community?
Ever since the “greed is good” and the “disease of me” mantras were widely adopted in the late 1980s, there has been a noticeably growing disregard for doing the right thing.
It is not confined to elected representatives. It is across the whole spectrum of society.
One common example is the many retirees using huge super payouts to buy extravagant residences so they can claim welfare support.
Quite legal, but seriously, living off welfare while hoarding wealth?
Hardly fair to put so much unnecessary pressure on public funds.
Welfare and government benefits are a privilege to help the needy.
We are facing a huge health pandemic this year, and economic recovery will need all Australians to respect others, to value the benefits that exist in our generous country. And to stop the sense of entitlement that pervades too widely.
BRIAN NANKIVELL, Flagstaff Hill
Land rebuilding
REBUILDING the state’s economy provides a strategic opportunity to capitalise on major financial, as well as environmental and social, gains from well-targeted investment in landcare projects.
From personal experience as a Mallee Region landholder, and many discussions with farmers, local councillors and others, restoring habitat is a win-win-win proposition.
First, endangered species are thrown a lifeline. In our case, the exquisite Mallee emu wren, which weighs about 5g, or a teaspoon of sugar.
Second, primary industries win because restored healthy land is more productive than land which is overworked.
And third, tourism and businesses win because there are interesting and unique things to attract people to see, do and spend locally.
However, to get these runs on the board, it is critical the state government and private sector have the good sense to invest in landcare programs which have a solid track record of achievements, such as the Murray Mallee Local Action Planning Association.
The magic of these programs is they actually do turn small investments into large gains.
Landcare is win-win-win.
Dr JOHN HALSEY, Sandalwood
Bats flying high
MICHELLE Etheridge’s excellent article “Holding on to what’s left” could have gone a step further to convey the importance of flying foxes to our environment (The Advertiser, Wednesday).
Their vital role in dispersing seeds is crucial to keeping native forests healthy.
Seeds can be dispersed over the great distances that they travel, which expands the gene pool diversity and strengthens forests against environmental changes.
Bats have been part of the Australian night sky for more than 35 million years.
Their preferred diet is nectar and pollen from native trees, particularly eucalyptus trees.
As Professor Corey Bradshaw said, we need stronger legislation to guard against vegetation clearance. And street trees could be selected for habitat, thus creating vital corridors for them.
DIANE CORNELIUS, Seacliff Park
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Lights linger on
FINALLY we have the Darlington debacle completed but they have still got it wrong.
Why is there still a set of traffic lights (pictured) on the down track from Ayliffes Road?
Surely with all the planning and the amount of excavation that was required, they could have taken the down track under the intersection of South and Shepherds Hill roads and linked it with the lower section of South Road so traffic did not have to stop.
Another lack of forethought, planning and common sense when it comes to Adelaide’s road system.
ROD YATES, Hallett Cove
Market created
I CAN’T see why the authorities are so surprised that organised crime groups are having record sales for their illegal tobacco products (“Smoking dopes”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
The Federal Government, with its high cigarette tax (and rising), has created a perfect marketplace for the illegal trade by organised criminals.
A fair price for tobacco products on the open market would alleviate the need for illegal traders.
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
Terminal appeal
BEING a proud South Australian, I was recently embarrassed by the appearance and state of the Sealink Ferry Terminal at Cape Jervis.
The carpark looked neglected and disgraceful.
The terminal’s cafe was shut and the general appearance of the waiting area was uninviting.
How can SA attract tourists to our major regions if we don’t make them more appealing and family-friendly?
WOLF WILCZEK, Glandore
Uranium return
I REFER to the article by Michelle Etheridge “Nuclear switch move fails the pub test: Mayor” (The Advertiser, Tuesday).
Like most, I am happy Australia is finally resolving the nuclear waste-disposal issue.
Senator Rex Patrick is obviously looking at options in suggesting Woomera.
It is surprising no Australian uranium mining company or exporter has raised their hand, and surrendered their expanding mine voids.
These short-life mines have the transport infrastructure, townships, and could be progressively rehabilitated for customers wishing their waste disposed.
This would create jobs into the future. No new environment would be harmed in the process, while disposing of their legacy product.
This would be great for their profile. They have the hole, having sold the initial product.
Perhaps this is too simple.
CLAUDIA TREGONING, South Plympton
Protect workers
DR Peter Clarke correctly reminds us that disease transmission is not hindered when disposable gloves are used for extended periods of time (“Hands-on heroes”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
I thought about that some time ago while observing various checkout people in shops.
I concluded the only reasonable explanation was that the gloves were worn to protect the employee/user, not the customer.
A case of “sauve qui peut”, or “Let him save himself who can”.
LENI PALK, Unley
More handouts
I CANNOT believe the Federal Government will help Victorians with another $1500 bonus, even though thousands refused to be tested for COVID-19 (“ScoMo launches paid pandemic leave – but only for Victoria”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
Makes no sense.
BERNIE DUBAY, Brighton
Economic hit
THE community should not have to have harsher restrictions placed on them because of inconsiderate idiots who have spread the virus during the past week.
Those individuals need to be sued and jailed for the economic pain they have caused.
As a business owner, I am sick of having to carry the can for stupid, malicious indiscretions.
ELDERT HOEBEE, Torrens Park
No tolerance
I WONDER if it’s not time that the judiciary itself takes on board the seriousness of these continued breaches of COVID-19 sanctions and imposes penalties that discourage, and send a clear message, that tolerance is no longer in our vocabulary.
It’s obvious that Victoria is at the mercy of fools. And those fools are now basically bringing their irresponsible attitude and behaviour into the other states.
Fines are meaningless because many will never pay.
So just lock them up for a minimum of 60 days, no bail and no suspension. Confiscate their cars and phones to pay the fines.
If that does not send the desired message then nothing will. Because a dropkick will always be a dropkick.
GREG GADE, Ingle Farm
Stop the flights
IN light of the recent COVID-19 quarantine fiasco in Victoria, and people’s predilection to not follow the rules, should not those Australians living overseas and considering a return stay put?
After all, should the benefit to a few outweigh the benefit to the many? And put at risk the health, social wellbeing and economic prosperity of all Australians?
ANTONIO De IONNO, Dernancourt
Stay consistent
IAN MacGowan is being highly selective in attributing lax attitudes about social distancing to Black Lives Matter protests (“Virus door open”, The Advertiser, Monday).
After all, we allow tens of thousands to attend football matches. And the pubs are open.
JOE MORRISON, North Shields
Broaden testing
I READ with interest the article on COVID-19 “Alarm over fresh cases” (The Advertiser, Monday).
Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier warned there was some potential for community transmission of COVID-19 as a result of the new infections.
And she warned the state was in a tenuous position if we became complacent with our health protocols, and we could easily end up like Victoria.
Prof Spurrier is sending a timely warning to all of us to not become complacent with the health protocols and be vigilant at all times, similar to what has occurred in Singapore.
I believe the only way to rid ourselves of COVID-19 is for compulsory testing of everybody to find the carriers and treat them.
Difficult to do, but not impossible to achieve.
DES KEMP, St Agnes
Too many cranes
IT is hard to imagine many South Australians being attracted to the Property Council’s Daniel Gannon’s high-rise vision of “cranes across Adelaide’s skyline” (“Adelaide’s future skyline revealed”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
In other words, he would turn Adelaide into a characterless concrete-and-steel heat trap like other capital cities.
And who would inhabit these high-rise monsters?
In a post-COVID-19 era of uncrowded and environmentally safe and sensitive living and working conditions, massive office blocks will be underpopulated, and even high-rise hotels and apartments will be relatively unpopular.
Job creation is an essential component of our economy. But any construction boom should be based on suburban home renovations and responsible, low-density, environmentally sound urban infill.
The aftermath of the pandemic must not spawn an era of ill-advised and unnecessary planning decisions based on the building, construction and development industry’s stranglehold on government policy.
WARREN JONES, Protect our Heritage Alliance convener
Who is investing?
READING “Adelaide’s future skyline revealed” about buildings that are proposed to grace the Adelaide city centre, one wonders how many of the buildings are or will be owned by foreign investors.
The owners’ details were not included and I believe we should be privy to this information.
COLLEEN MILTON, Belair
Trump support
TO Ken and Lesley (“Flight to Mars”, Sovereign state”, The Advertiser, Monday): If you think US President Trump is bad, you don’t want sleepy Joe Biden getting in. He will destroy the US.
He is supported by all the crazy Democrats who want to turn the US into a socialist economy, one step away from communism.
The ASX and NASDAQ were flying before the COVID-19 virus stuffed the world up.
Go Donald.
COLIN DENNIS, Whyalla
United voice
I APPRECIATE that the Morrison government and many previous governments have been trying to “close the gap” for Indigenous people.
Lots of resources and ideas have been tried, and yet the Indigenous people themselves have come forward with the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
One of the key concepts of the Uluru Statement is Makarrata: “The coming together after a struggle”.
This coming together is a huge message that is sorely needed right now, as the world is being ripped apart by racial tensions and political infighting.
This is about recognition of Indigenous people and their representative voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution and within our parliament.
There is a gradual coming together happening in Australia and it starts with raising awareness of the past two centuries of struggle for the Indigenous peoples.
There is so much we can all learn from 60,000 years of Indigenous people’s stories and culture.
I feel like my own level of understanding is only really beginning, and real recognition needs to occur for everyone to move forward and close the gap.
JENNY ESOTS, Willunga
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Charity scrooge
TREASURER Rob Lucas’s rejection of financial assistance to Treasure Boxes is utterly appalling (“Demand soars but charity is knocked back”, The Advertiser, Monday).
The fact that it did not employ more than one person might suit the bureaucratic-red-tape test, but has no place in reality.
Chief executive Rikki Cooke is doing what governments should be doing. And that is helping the needy.
And when she asks for help, it falls on deaf ears.
Disgusting.
PETER RUSSELL, Semaphore Park
Planning plea
AS the new state Planning Minister, I trust Vickie Chapman will establish more environmentally friendly planning laws.
I hope she outlaws the draconian destruction of our neighbourhoods, which John Rau brought in during the Labor reign.
A much more democratic basis should be established, giving councils and residents a voice to object to unsuitable infill in our suburbs.
The urban life should not be sacrificed at the altar of big developers who reap the benefits of filling each precious piece of land to capacity.
A realistic approach would be to limit the building permits to perhaps 50-60 per cent of the total site, leaving sufficient free area for parking and landscaping.
Neighbourhoods long since established are held to ransom by these structures with minimal parking onsite and restricting traffic with on-street parking.
It’s in your court now, Vickie.
A. BOWERS, Glenelg North
Building roads
BUSINESS groups and the Labor opposition have pointed out the South Australian government COVID-19 infrastructure stimulus spending is the lowest in the nation (“Time to spend big”, The Advertiser, Monday).
Treasurer Rob Lucas states that $2bn is already committed to such projects and state debt is heading to $30n.
Rail and road bypass from Murray Bridge to Two Wells is again being promoted as urgent infrastructure, justified by both monetary payback and safety improvement.
These infrastructure projects are no-brainers but are held back by lack of finance.
The bypass freeway could be built as a toll road financed by private funds without impacting state debt.
How about it, Mr Lucas?
PETER CRAMMOND, Kadina
Spending demand
THE pandemic has disrupted the economic and social status quo.
In the face of such an emergency, the policies of governments and central banks have shifted to become more interventionist.
Peak business groups and corporations are calling for, even demanding, more government spending (“Time to spend big”, The Advertiser, Monday).
The policy silo of the so-called sensible centre of both the Right and Left variety has been breached.
The 40-year dominance of neoliberalism is under challenge.
The question now is: Will a new egalitarian coalition emerge based on a sufficient redefinition of its intellectual, ideological and programmatic platform to make a real difference?
Will a new sensible centre emerge, and a new variety of capitalism emerge, that creates a better economy and society and sustains our ecological systems?
Opportunity knocks. The need is urgent and great.
STEWART SWEENEY, North Adelaide
FIFO trainers
THE SA Government has flagged the need to recruit “skilled and experienced foreign workers” for the defence-industry workforce (“Call for foreign workers”, The Advertiser, Monday).
I have a strong suspicion that this need is promoted because both state and federal governments have long held the view that Australia cannot prosper without population growth.
And they will use any excuse to achieve such growth, even though it can be clearly demonstrated that population growth lowers our standard of living, rather than improving it. I have no objection to a few experienced foreign workers being recruited for critical defence projects.
However, their role should be confined to training local workers only. They should not be permitted to carry out hands-on work. And when the training is finished, they should be required to return home.
In view of our current and projected unemployment levels, it would be nonsensical to do otherwise.
BOB COUCH, Marino
Training places
INTERESTING to read that we are lacking in the skills to build our own submarines and other large projects.
When the governments privatised thing like Telstra and railways, and let car manufacturing and other industries fold, they closed the training places for the skills we need for these large projects.
The governments have to start to train the people needed for these jobs now to get our unemployed ready to fill these gaps, by increasing funding for TAFE and similar.
Not cutting funding.
MICHAEL WHITE, Mount Barker
Mining value
TWO letters caught my eye in The Advertiser on Monday.
Bill Moloney, in objecting to the Hillside mine, has painted a gloomy picture in casting doubt on the decision of the Environment Protection Authority in approving the Rex Minerals project (“Mine clearance”).
The umpire has spoken and Rex will now be rewarded for more than 10 years’ hard work in getting this mine up and running. Yorke Peninsula has a proud heritage of copper mining in the 19th and 20th centuries. This will now continue in the 21st century.
Regarding Eyre Peninsula, Dave Sweeney, of the Australian Conservation Foundation, objects strongly to the Kimba radioactive storage facility (“Wider than Kimba”).
This project will provide a service of national importance, and the people of Kimba should feel proud that this site has been chosen and approved.
The citizens of both peninsulas stand to gain from these projects, which have been a long time coming into fruition.
SEAN KENNEDY, Lower Mitcham
State’s interest
THE majority of the good people of Kimba may have voted for a nuclear waste facility (a facility few nations in the world want) in the hope of a small boost to their local economy. But is their decision in the best interests of the state as a whole?
Or, have they simply sold out SA for a few pieces of silver?
Let us not forget the shortsighted and incomprehensible decision by politicians to sell off Darwin Harbour, Australia’s most strategic port, to foreign interests. And how that decision has come back to embarrass us.
Should this proposed nuclear dump ever be built, then, in the years ahead, it too may well be looked upon with similar regret. And people will ask themselves: “How could this possibly have happened?”
KEN MADIGAN, Port Pirie
Hands-on heroes
GLOVES do not possess any magic antiviral property.
It is concerning to see police, defence and security personnel doing their duty wearing disposable gloves in the belief that they provide protection from disease transmission.
In a medical situation, hands are sanitised before putting on the gloves, the potentially contagious procedure is carried out, the gloves are disposed of, and the hands sanitised.
Gloves which are worn for some hours will not stop bugs from being transferred to or from surfaces or people.
The wearing of the gloves is likely to inhibit frequent hand sanitisation, which is the key to reducing transmission.
Dr PETER CLARKE, Adelaide
Sacrifice needed
REGARDING the folk continually bleating about their “rights” during COVID-19 restrictions, I am reminded of a line from a Star Trek movie where Mr Spock sacrifices himself for the good of the whole crew.
He and Captain Kirk say the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Or the one. So, to all the selfish types out there, and you know who you are, realise you are living in a society and start living by the rules of that society.
This isn’t forever.
K. HAMMILL, Felixstow
Tracking virus
IT is interesting to read Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews still has his backers in all that is occurring there. For example, reader Maureen Goldie (“Rusted-on Right”, The Advertiser, Monday).
Just a reminder to Maureen that the Premier’s actions likely caused this second wave of COVID-19 in the first place.
In calling at homes of those who had tested positive, Australian Defence Force personnel found that about 25 per cent were, in fact, not at home.
It is unforgivable to think people would be out and about recklessly spreading the virus.
A valid suggestion by the Liberal Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien that they should be wearing electronic tracking bracelets was predictably rejected by the Premier.
There is no doubt what Daniel Andrews himself should be wearing.
And that is much of the blame for the debacle that is occurring over there.
BRUCE BURFORD, Adelaide
Smartening up
THE rapid spread of COVID-19 is simply explained.
Half of the world, except thee and possibly me, are actually below-average intelligence. We may be doomed.
HAROLD HANSEN, Mount Barker
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Mine clearance
THE recently announced program for environmental protection and rehabilitation approval for the Rex Minerals Hillside mine near Ardrossan marks a sad day for the Yorke Peninsula and South Australia.
The many people who have fought so hard to protect this prime food-producing land from environmental destruction feel devastated at this shortsighted, callous decision.
How could the Environmental Protection Authority approve an open-cut mine which will be dug right next to St Vincent’s Gulf?
This is environmental destruction, not protection.
Added to that, having a huge tailings dam so close to the coast poses a great risk of toxins entering the gulf in an extreme weather event.
Yet another ugly legacy of this mine will be a huge dump containing waste rock that will remain once the mine is finished in 13 years.
I ask that investors in the Hillside mine think about whether they really wish to be involved in this disastrous project.
It’s one that comes at a great cost to the environment and one that will change the beautiful, agriculturally significant Yorke Peninsula irrevocably.
BILL MOLONEY, Arthurton
Credit interest
I JUST received my credit card statement.
It gives me the minimum payment option of $9.04, and an approximate payment time of 83 years at a cost of $65m.
Australian banks charge the highest interest to the people who can least afford it.
My credit card’s interest has stayed at almost 20 per cent, while other interest rates are at record lows.
Why do banks quote such totally incomprehensible figures on statements?
They give an unreal minimum payment, which is a fraction of the monthly interest charged, and give the impression it can somehow pay off the balance over more than a lifetime at a cost amounting to tens of millions of dollars.
They then set a plausible payment and suggest that you will save tens of millions of dollars by not going with the minimum payment.
Surely we can expect more from our leading financial institutions.
PETER LEADBEATER, Gawler South
Local writing
ANOTHER good reason for living in SA is to be able to read columns about our own city.
Two examples are the clear, thought-provoking ones written by David Penberthy and Michael McGuire in Friday’s The Advertiser (“Failures that led Vics down dangerous path”; “It’s a hotel, but the main reason to stay there would be the joy of not having to see it from the outside”).
CATHERINE MORE, Seaford
Flight to Mars
IF US President Donald Trump is re-elected in November, I am signing up for the Mars program.
There’s a good chance of finding more intelligent life.
KEN PAGE, Port Elliot
Sovereign state
I AGREE that Australia needs to be clear with China about human rights, freedom of navigation and protection of our sovereignty.
I hope, however, that we are pursuing these concerns in our own name and not as part of Donald Trump’s re-election strategy.
I remember well how we were conned by the US during the weapons-of-mass-destruction fiasco.
LESLEY BRETAG, Warradale
Coal transition
IT is common knowledge that the burning of coal is a major contributor to global warming.
It is, however, obvious that the burning of coal for the purpose of producing energy cannot cease overnight.
The reduction in the use of coal will need to be carried out across a carefully planned period.
The large number of approvals being granted to enable new coal mines to be opened confuses the situation and is not easy to comprehend.
We seem to be heading in the wrong direction.
Climate change is an extremely serious matter. I cannot imagine anything more serious.
Does our Federal Government have in place a procedure to deal with the phasing out of coal mining?
The Australian people surely have a right to know.
BRIAN MEASDAY, Myrtle Bank
Rorts inquiry
MUCH has been written regarding the four Liberal pollies rorting the travel allowance.
They have all fallen on their swords, and rightfully so.
Snouts in the trough do nothing for politicians, who usually rank low in public opinion, along with lawyers, insurance salesmen, etc.
It is no coincidence that opposition MPs have little to say on the matter.
One can only guess how many Labor politicians will be shown to have had their snouts in the trough in the new ICAC investigation.
And what will happen to any past pollies who are proven to have rorted the travel allowance? Will they have to pay it back?
As many have written, if this was private enterprise, it would be a sackable offence. And probably court cases would follow.
So why are these current lot of pollies allowed to just pay it back and move on to the backbench?
More to come on both sides, I am sure.
PETER JEFFERY, Kingswood
Rusted-on Right
IN response to David Bishop, it’s funny that the only people knocking Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews seem to be rusted-on Right-leaning Liberals (“Text talk”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Touché, I believe.
MAUREEN GOLDIE, Blackwood
Ideology shift
WE need to protect our most vulnerable with new rules banning carers from working in multiple nursing homes (“Protect vulnerable”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Seriously? Blame the workers?
How about pointing the finger at ideology – the ideology that efficient, user-pays, profit-driven private aged-care homes can do things better than public ones. COVID-19 has exposed that little myth.
BOB RUWOLDT, Seacombe Heights
Not team players
HOW sad and disappointing that some people refuse to accept the harsh reality of COVID-19.
“I know my rights,” they screech, as they rail against restrictions imposed to keep us all safe.
Has there ever been a more definitive declaration of ignorance than that?
BERNIE COATES, Modbury North
Virus door open
ALL actions have consequences, which should be expected.
Allowing large groups to attend protests around Australia during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic is a clear example.
Before these protests, Australians were strictly adhering to social distancing, staying at home and keeping safe.
Since the protests we have witnessed: jumping on trains to cross borders, non-adherence to social distancing, the gathering of large groups, the falsifying of legal documents, the refusal to answer questions truthfully, etc.
The consequences expected as a result of these events and actions should have been obvious. It was OK to gather in large groups without penalty.
If you place expectations on a whole society, it is necessary to maintain them and not make any allowances.
It is a bit late to shut the gate after the horse has bolted.
IAN MacGOWAN, Ceduna
Business on nose
I REFER to the article on Neutrog’s proposed Visitor Centre (“Beetlejuice”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
As a nearby resident I can assure you residents in Kanmantoo and Callington, who regularly have to endure the foul stench emanating from Neutrog pervading their townships, would rather managing director Angus Irwin focused on alleviating the smells.
I suspect the visitors’ centre is a red herring designed to distract the Environment Protection Authority.
Will Mr Irwin be handing visitors gas masks to avoid the stench? And what about the residents in the nearby townships who have to put up with the disgusting smells emanating from his rapidly growing operation?
Neutrog makes a good product and is having much marketplace success, so a bit more attention to solving the problem that is currently pervading the community would be welcomed.
PETER ROBERTS, St Ives
Planning hopes
I READ with interest that Vickie Chapman will be assuming responsibility for the state Planning and Local Government portfolio.
Is it too much to hope that she will reverse the creation of planning laws and regulations, both by Labor and Liberal governments, which have enabled the destruction of our suburbs?
Where we live in Erindale, there is continual razing of gracious homes set in treed gardens. They are replaced by vast, two-storey, grey, Soviet-style dwellings which cover the whole block.
The council has no power to prevent this sad destruction of our suburban environment, thanks to state government legislation. A further matter for concern is the proposal to use money, which is levied on developments and set aside for the purchase of open spaces, for other purposes.
I am old enough to remember when the supporting legislation was enacted.
I have been continually baffled that state politicians have such a cavalier attitude to the protection of our heritage.
KEITH LLOYD, Erindale
Wider than Kimba
AS Australians there are issues that transcend postcodes and affect us all.
One is the management of dangerous and long-lived waste products, including radioactive waste.
The vast majority of Australians (population about 25 million) do not live in Kimba (population about 630).
However, we all have a legitimate right and responsibility to engage in discussions about how best to manage and minimise risks, now and into the future.
We are fortunate to live in a democracy and, while Kimba Mayor Dean Johnson may have a right to try and open the door to radioactive waste, he has no right to try and close the door on public concern and debate (“Kimba votes”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
This would be Australia’s first purpose-built national radioactive waste facility – transporting and handling hazardous materials that need to be isolated for up to 10,000 years. This plan is not simply a local issue. It has wide-ranging implications, is actively contested, and requires much deeper state and national scrutiny and rigour.
DAVE SWEENEY, Australian Conservation Foundation