The Advertiser and Sunday Mail Letters to the Editor July 13-19
July 18: Owners not cleaning up after their pets, the state’s high unemployment rate and extending JobKeeper have readers talking.
Opinion
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Letters to the Editor published in The Advertiser and Sunday Mail.
SATURDAY, JULY 18, AND SUNDAY, JULY 19
Putting foot in it
READING about the dog droppings at Bridgewater Oval (“Oval poo battle is a doggie doo-zy”, The Advertiser, Friday) reminds me of my early primary school football days.
In the 1950s, East Adelaide Primary played on an oval at the back of St Peter’s College, which was also used as a grazing ground for the cows and horses owned by the milkman in Hackney.
Our Friday afternoon matches always included a pre-match clean-up of the many droppings of these animals, under the watchful eye of the coach or teacher.
Needless to say, occasionally some were missed, with unfortunate consequences for the unlucky player.
PAUL TURNER, Dernancourt
Youth training
OUR state’s unemployment rate of 8.8 per cent is a real worry – economically and socially (“SA’s giant task to stop jobs slump”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Unfortunately, that rate is not spread evenly, affecting those in socio-economic disadvantaged areas more than others. And youth unemployment is particularly problematic.
But rather than the state having to wrestle with this on its own, a national approach is required. Particularly for the young.
Perhaps some kind of national training service should be on the agenda, rather than a hotchpotch of schemes run by individual states. That would help in building up our depleted industrial capacity. And it should also include the option of military service.
MICHAEL SCHILLING, Millswood
Welfare breach
I READ with interest the article “Extend JobKeeper to end of year: Business SA” (The Advertiser, Friday).
As I understand it, the original idea of JobKeeper was to keep employees engaged with their employer while lockdown conditions prevented them from working. Recently, I was informed at a hotel all employees were receiving JobKeeper and, thus, could only work limited hours a week, because the hotel would not contribute anything towards wages while JobKeeper was in place.
This resulted in certain sections of the business closing early so that management did not have to pay wages, regardless of the desires of customers.
Once a business is operating again at normal working hours, it should be up to the business to pay wages, not taxpayers.
This highlights the inherent problems with corporate welfare, where companies become addicted to handouts and threaten job losses and closures once the supply of money is cut off. I have no issue with assistance in times of crisis. But if a business cannot operate efficiently and independently, perhaps it should be left to others.
CRAIG HARTLAND, Valley View
Beyond hope
OUR governments’ COVID-19 strategy of suppression of the virus seems to be based on the hope of an effective vaccine being developed. Hope is not a strategy.
GEOFF FORBES, Kensington Gardens
Listen to speech
IN reply to Antonio De Ionno, being a “devoted family man” does not exclude, or excuse, misogynist behaviour (“Abbott devoted”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Moreover, a belief that Tony Abbott’s family would have called him out for “misogynist leanings”, in this case, is completely irrelevant.
Ionno should acquaint himself with the well-documented and public circumstances leading to Julia Gillard’s Misogyny Speech.
Maybe even listen to the entire speech.
Hopefully, then, he will rethink his accusation of “confected vitriol” and consign his I-love-Tony T-shirt to the dark recesses of the bin beside its namesake’s unenlightened views on the respectful treatment of women.
JAN MARTIN, Dulwich
Plan for pests
MICHAEL Prus asserts that the Local Government Association should have a plan for all councils to follow” (“Control pests”, The Advertiser, Friday).
He also says: “How hard can it be to get their acts together to eliminate these pests?”
I suggest that if Mr Prus believes he has the answer to eliminating foxes and feral cats from suburbia then how about doing his civic duty and forwarding his plan to the LGA so that the plan could be considered and implemented.
Mr Prus is obviously smarter than most people by developing his plan, and then he can show how easy it is to eliminate these pests.
If you don’t have the answers, don’t criticise councils.
B. STAPLETON, Golden Grove
Bikes on footpath
CONSIDER our community dilemma with cyclists at Torrens Park (“Ringing the bell on cyclists”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Crazy-brave teenagers ride out of Belair, off Old Belair Road and onto McLaren Street and surrounding roads.
Then they catch the Mitcham train back to Belair and do it again.
The issue has caused accidents, including costly damage to cars, bikes and bodies, as several choose to travel at high speed on our footpaths.
Legally, they can ride on footpaths because Labor passed this legislation.
What is Mitcham Council’s response? It took them 28 days after I wrote to them to tell me what I know.
Cyclists can travel on the footpath at the same speed as the road, just as long as they “exercise due care and consideration for pedestrians and other users”, according to a Transport Department “Cycling and the law” document.
And bad luck ratepayer, the Transport Department controls Old Belair Road and McLaren Street.
MICHAEL PRATT, Torrens Park
Slowdown laws
SPEED limits for bicycles on our footpaths are the same as the speed limit on the road alongside that which the footpath runs.
This situation is in need of a legislation change.
PHILIP COPLEY, Norwood
Water ad blitz
I AM happy to see that water prices will be reduced.
But l can only wonder how much more it could have reduced without all the TV commercials spruiking about it.
These ads are nothing but political advertising paid for by the taxpayer.
A press release would have been all it needed to inform the public.
MICHAEL WHITE, Mount Barker
Bottle relief
I REFER to “Why our newest cinema is really making waves” (The Advertiser, Thursday).
It appears we are to have up to 24 boats moored on the River Torrens so that we can watch films.
Well, I do not want to be a stick in the mud, but for older people like me, maybe we should be issued with empty bottles.
With all that water around, there are bound to be some calls of nature.
Oh, and might I suggest that they first show the 1953 film The Cruel Sea.
WAYNE NICHOLLS, Royston Park
Cruel fur trade
FULL marks to Councillor Julian Carbone (“Councillor in Burnside fur fight”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
I have been campaigning against the use of animal fur and skins for products for more than 40 years.
Many protests have been held against this horrendously cruel trade.
Many people are still not aware these products cause massive suffering and abuse of animals.
This should be covered, at least in Australia, by the Animal Welfare Act, but isn’t.
The only way to protect animals is to ban these products for display and sale and for Burnside Council to set an example for the state is the way to go.
Apart from animals caught in the wild with agonisingly cruel steel-jaw-traps are the animals in fur farms, kept in isolation in tiny barren cages, often left in the cold and snow to make their fur more saleable.
The killing methods for these poor creatures, so as to not damage the fur and skins, is too horrible to include in this letter, but those who care for animals can do the research.
CHRISTINE PIERSON, Kensington Park
Memorial spend
I READ a news report that $500m is likely to be spent on a new Australian War Memorial.
What?
If the Federal Government can find that sum of money, what about Foodbank? They look after the living, not remembering the dead.
CLIVE TURNER, Fulham
Directing anger
LAST weekend, I participated in a peaceful demonstration in Rundle Mall by members of the local Chinese community concerned with the very real increase in racist behaviour directed towards them, whether it be verbal or/and physical.
While recognising that most people are not racist in terms of intent, it is clear some in society are bigoted and ill informed.
And, instead of directing their angst towards the Chinese Government, with whom they may well have concerns about, they direct it to the average Chinese person.
This is made more difficult by the apparent tolerance of racist behaviour by some retail stores.
They have now chalked up several incidents but have spectacularly failed to respond to concerns by members of the Chinese community, or take a proactive stand to addressing the issue to protect customers from such behaviour.
My question is, why?
JOHN AMADIO, Croydon Park
Wattle logo elaborate, but not making hearts race
THE thinking behind the wattle logo to replace the double-boomerang kangaroo for Australian-made goods brings to mind crime writer Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye.
Chandler has his detective, Philip Marlowe, muse about something being “as elaborate a waste of human intelligence as you could find anywhere outside an advertising agency”.
ALAN MOSKWA, Beulah Park
Fair enough, Australia
AUSTRALIA is the “fair go” country. This is something we are all, quite rightly, proud of.
It is a simple pair of words most likely assembled by an intellectual giant who knew that most people wouldn’t be able to remember basic human decency, basic human rights, western cultural freedom, democracy, neighbourly spirit, helping each other no matter what the cost, and treating everyone as our equal regardless of wealth or social status.
All of these ideas are inherent to most of our citizens and don’t need detailed explanation. It is also largely considered that this should be a global ideology and, because of that, we’ve consistently put our hands up to be involved in any international area where these ideas are being trampled on. So, it isn’t surprising our federal government is taking the line it has in dealing with China during recent times.
Despite the wealthy mining barons, disagreeable politicians and those reliant on the trade between our nations thinking our government has got it wrong, a large portion of Australians agree with the stance being taken and are willing to allow it to run its course no matter what the cost is.
And that is what a fair go is.
SHAINE DUPREE, Wudinna
Respect for Anzacs
VICTORIAN Greens MP Adam Bandt charged taxpayers almost $3000 in flights for himself and wife to travel to Sydney for the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, with a further $80 for a chauffeur trip (“Taxpayers foot bill for pollies to parade”. Sunday Mail, July 12).
Mr Bandt said his attendance was as genuine a use of taxpayer money as Prime Minister Scott Morrison attending an Anzac Day service and billing it to taxpayers.
What a contemptible comment. Freedom of speech is not a gift; it was attained at the ultimate price.
Anzac Day commemorates the lives of Australians killed in war.
Our forefathers, who gave their lives for our freedom, are sacrosanct. It is an affront that the Greens leader should choose his freedom of speech so disgracefully.
IAN KENT, Renmark
Ingrid the big winner
THE story, “Chicken ticker! Injured bird shows real heart”, about meat-chicken Ingrid’s predicament, draws attention to the fate of meat chickens (Sunday Mail, July 12).
Quick growth brings heavy body weight and broken limbs.
Meat chickens are purpose-bred and usually killed by 16 weeks of age after lives of suffering.
Of the millions of meat chickens suffering in crowded sheds around Australia, Ingrid, at Edgar’s Mission, would be among the few to receive care and love.
ALICE SHORE, Birdwood
Learning to manage
I DON’T understand how the recipients of JobSeeker payments can’t manage on the normal amount.
I went onto what was social security benefits in 1996 after taking a redundancy package.
I paid off my debts and survived on welfare, prioritising rent, bills, fuel and food in that order. I was left with about $30 for entertainment.
When I first applied for it, the officer assisting me suggested I pay tax, which I did at $20 fortnightly. That got me a $520 refund each year and helped with major purchases. There are also rent assistance and government concessions, where applicable, in addition to the basic payment.
I eventually found work as a casual vineyard hand in the South-East, which gave me an average take-home pay of $600 a week. The tax refund was considerably higher, too. This additional $550 handout is a bigger incentive to not seek employment.
People can survive on the JobSeeker payment by adopting an appropriate approach.
JOHN HUNTER, Parkside
Trust in police
I CANNOT agree with Matthew Abraham in his criticism of SAPOL’s new Security Response Section to protect us in the event of a terrorist attack (“Bigger guns don’t make me feel safer”, Sunday Mail, July 12).
They are not just bigger guns, Matthew, but are obviously more proficient and have a much greater capability.
It is easy to describe a past circumstance such as the Port Arthur massacre where this new unit may not have helped. However, no future terrorist plot is predictable, and we should all feel more at ease knowing our police are more adequately equipped to deal with these unknowns.
I’m sure if Matthew was caught in a terrorist attack he would be screaming for help and would expect the most effective defence possible.
That now exists with the new SRS, and we should be thankful for it rather than critical of it.
BRUCE BURFORD, Adelaide
Barking hell
SO, people have discovered there are barking dogs disturbing suburban peace now they find themselves home for COVID-19 (“Dogs, frogs and turkeys”, Sunday Mail, July 12).
Those of us who are retired or not having a workplace to escape to have known it for years.
I call it the tyranny of irresponsible dog owners and have had my share of them as neighbours over the years.
My daughter told me recently she came to our home one afternoon and found her mother, who has since passed away, in tears.
The dog next door had been barking non-stop (again) since 6am and was still going.
I always wondered why our daughter had declined to attend that neighbour’s funeral, but now know why.
JOHN CONNELL, College Park
Slobs winning out
I AGREE with Peter Goers about today’s fashion (“Fashion can be a battle and slobs are winning”, Sunday Mail, July 12). The lack of pride in some people’s appearance – and I am not talking about the homeless – is disappointing to see.
Ripped jeans is one of my pet hates. And how I would love to see the clean-shaven look return to our menfolk.
Now it seems that it is also fashionable for men to go without socks when wearing dressy shoes.
Does a dress code still exist in theatres etc, or is that another thing that has disappeared in this ever changing world?
DENISE TARRANT, Happy Valley
Hiding behind suits
WELL, you may infer that clothes maketh the man, Peter Goers, but beware because many a swindling villain can be seen wearing the smartest of clothes and flash accessories.
Meanwhile, Peter, should you ever again visit your bookshop wearing trackies, or even your hitched-up corduroys late on a Sunday soon, don’t pretend to be ashamed.
Just remind any friends you might encounter that you are a self-confessed op-shop dresser. And if the cap fits, just wear it.
NEIL LONGBOTTOM, Minlaton
FRIDAY, JULY 17
Protecting elderly
WE were all appalled at the severe lockdown restrictions in our state regarding nursing homes.
But in hindsight, this was a very good decision by our professional medical professionals.
Just take a look at the deaths in nursing homes in NSW and Victoria to realise our strict rules regarding visiting our lived ones, during this pandemic, was for the very best of intentions.
We are so lucky that our leaders did the right thing, even if we didn’t agree at the time. Well done to our state government and health professionals.
JEAN HARNEY, Highbury
Stop stowaways
I CAN understand the outrage surrounding the four individuals who stowed away on the freight train and the fact that they have seemed to have escaped any penalty that is commensurate with the offence.
Yes, it’s a serious offence, as we don’t want to end up going backwards like Victoria. It is currently in a losing battle with the virus because of irresponsible idiots like these four.
What is even more galling than the lack of a prison sentence or fine, is the fact that we, the citizens of South Australia, are paying for their stay while they remain in Adelaide.
Heaven help us if any, or all, of them return a positive test.
GREG GADE, Ingle Farm
Train for game
IT’S a great idea to hold the AFL grand final in Adelaide.
Especially if there are plenty of freight trains running that week to give the Victorians entry to SA without any penalties.
GREG SLATTERY, Laura
Going to ground
DO some people go to ground and not get tested because they’re made to feel guilty?
Do they also fear official and social persecution?
SIMON FITZPATRICK, Semaphore
Abbott devoted
I REFER to Tory Shepherd’s article regarding Julia Gillard’s Misogyny Speech (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
First, let me say that I decry misogyny, whether it be as “garden-variety” sexism or as an “entrenched prejudice against women”.
I am certain that Tony Abbott, as a long-time husband and the father of three girls, would have been called out long ago by his family should he have displayed a misogynistic leaning in attitude or behaviour.
This leads me to believe that Ms Gillard’s condemnation of Mr Abbott was no less than an amount of confected vitriol in an attempt to seek electoral favour at the expense of Mr Abbott’s reputation as a devoted family man.
ANTONIO DE IONNO, Dernancourt
Naming bridges
I WONDER if it would be possible to give names to the pedestrian bridges of the River Torrens.
It would certainly make it easier to identify where to meet people, or to report to responsible authorities the location of where issues may have arisen along the river.
RAY RODGERS, Flinders Park
Cycling limits
THERE is a need for a speed limit on cyclists riding the River Torrens Linear Park shared path.
Many cyclists now use it as a transport corridor and thus ride at dangerously high speeds. When the park was established in 1997, it was intended as a leisure park, not for use as a transport corridor.
Impose a speed limit of 25km/h or, at most 30km/h, and insist on lower speeds when actually passing pedestrians.
Cyclists have the option to install and use speedometers, meaning there can be no objection to imposing a speed limit.
TREVOR KLOSE, Highbury
Control pests
THE story “Foxes on the run in western suburbs” is the perfect example of a local council not doing the job it is there for (The Advertiser, Wednesday).
Foxes, roaming feral cats and rats should be a top priority because they cause damage and are health risk.
The Local Government association should have a plan for all councils to follow.
We are in 2020 now. How hard can it be to get their acts together and eliminate these pests? Take the focus off non-council issues like “Councillor in Burnside fur fight”, gender and race (The Advertiser, Wednesday).
Stick to the basics.
MICHAEL PRUS, Fairview Park
Nursing positives
THE two research projects described in The Advertiser found that Australians’ perceptions of nursing homes are negative (“Our nursing home shame”, Tuesday).
These perceptions are no doubt influenced by the occasional horror stories in the media about particular nursing-home problems.
Obviously, since residents are in them because they are no longer able to live independently, there are downsides to living in nursing homes.
However, I would suggest many nursing homes provide a positive environment for their residents and the reality of living in them is more positive than the perceptions described.
BOB SCHOLEFIELD, Tranmere
Listen to noise
INSTEAD of advocating intolerance when telling young people to “drown out the noise” when dealing with views and opinions that don’t align with theirs, Meghan Markle should be telling them that, just maybe, somewhere in the noise is a notion they haven’t considered (“Listen for real debate through the noise”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
And it is actually worthy of investigating. Perhaps Ms Markle is trying to cover her own inadequacies.
MICHAEL HOUSTON, Kalbeeba
Change councils
LOOKING back across the past few years, councils have experienced problems with councillor behaviour and incurred massive legal bills in attempting to resolve conflicts.
It appears to me that, while they may be well meaning, and wishing to make a contribution, local residents elected to councils do not have the required experience or qualifications to be making decisions involving millions of ratepayers dollars.
It is time councillors in every area are replaced with a board of appropriately qualified bureaucrats who can make decisions with no bias.
The government of the day could appoint a board for each council containing people with relevant experience.
J. CHAPMAN, Lewiston
Fur flying
FUR goodness sake. About 5 per cent of councillors in SA create 95 per cent of local government’s bad headlines.
This handful of self-important publicity seekers and single-issue obsessives (often pursuing the objectives of political parties or factions) don’t understand their proper role or that of their council.
The cruelty of the fur trade is a valid target that deserves criticism. But it is not council business (“Fur survives push to ban its sales in Burnside”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
During my 18½ years as West Torrens mayor, the bane of my life was the wacky ideas pushed forward by a minority who thought any and every subject under the sun was council business.
Fortunately, there were usually enough saner councillors for us to stop silly motions being carried.
But not always.
And reputational damage could still be inflicted by a controversial idea being discussed at all, even though it then got voted down.
A majority of Burnside councillors threw out the proposed “fur ban” in local shops, but the damage is already done, and a state government is handed another diversion.
Why do ratepayers vote for these individuals? Is it just because they are colourful?
JOHN TRAINER OAM, former West Torrens mayor
Flying home
MY son is Australian, born at the Lyell McEwin 28 years ago, to Australian parents.
He is currently working in Canada on a two-year working visa. That visa expires in mid September, when he is due to return home.
So, he is, to use the words of Premier Steven Marshall, a “real straggler”.
Why would he return? Why would he leave full-time employment before he needs to?
Let’s just say that, when the “proverbial” hit the fan back in March, he quit his job and came home to unemployment. He would have been applying for JobSeeker.
So, for the six months March to September, he would have been paid about $40k by Centrelink. The government has saved this because he is in Canada.
In September, he might not be able to get home (unless he pays Business Class), and if he does, he may have to pay $3k for hotel quarantine.
So, for the Premier to say that he “has had plenty of time to get back to Australia”, is grossly ill considered.
With entry quotas in place, who decides who gets in?
Aussies overseas are being treated like non Australians. Not good enough.
If the problem is not enough quarantine, then solve that problem. Don’t deny Aussies access to their own country.
ANDY NEWMAN, Gawler East
Choose Adelaide
SURELY it is obvious that Adelaide is the best the choice for the AFL grand final.
Perth is too far away, NSW has virus problems and Queensland has the wrong weather in November and the wrong demographic.
TONY NICHOLL, Normanville
Feed footy roots
WE read of how much is being spent trying to re-establish our great game of Australian rules football.
And, at the same time, we are reading of the development staff at the grassroots level being laid off, while those at the top of the pyramid are retained.
The resurgence of sports will not start at the top, but will start at grassroots level.
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
THURSDAY, JULY 16
Far out, a fur ban
THE proposal by Cr Julian Carbone to ban the sale of fur items (including the famous Akubra hat, pictured) on Burnside Council land is just a step too far out to include in council matters (“Councillor in Burnside fur fight”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
If there are any better reasons to bring councillor numbers down to 12, apart from costing us heaps to keep them, is to keep such nonsensical items off the busy council agenda.
Mr Carbone and the Greens party should remember that the fur the Akubra is made from is from rabbits, which are in plague proportions here in Australia. They should be eradicated.
And if killing them actually provides some commercial value, then it is a service to the community and the country.
Get real Mr Carbone.
A. BOWERS, Glenelg North
Fibre needed
ONE wonders if those objecting to the exploitation of animals for human use of their fibre are the same people objecting to irrigation water being used to grow cotton. And the exploration and development of petroleum resources used to make artificial fibres.
That leaves sacrificing large areas of food-producing land to grow bamboo.
BRUCE FARQUHAR, Hyde Park
What of leather?
RE “Councillor in Burnside fur fight”, would Julian Carbone and Tammy Franks also ban the display of leather shoes for sale?
IAN DALLISTON, Lyndoch
A sight to see
SHEEP in the city? Or lost in the fog?
I smiled when seeing the article and pictures of the cute pair of accidental-sightseeing sheep in the coastal suburb of Henley Beach (“Woolly duo go on the lam in suburbia”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
Looks like they had their wish of a grand day out and mystery tour due to heavy morning fog disorientation.
And some relief from the COVID-19 lockdown.
A penny for their thoughts.
Maybe they were looking for a mask and hand-sanitiser shop. Or secretly just wanted a trip to the beach.
CLAUDIA TREGONING, South Plympton
Queen off hook
RECOGNISING the fiction of royal interference in the crisis of 1975, Australia is better able to endorse the remarkable benefits of a civic system led by a neutral crown that is ambitious not for politics but for due process (“GG kept Queen in the dark on axing”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
As Prince Charles is cut from the same cloth as Queen Elizabeth, the phrase “King of Australia” is one we may contemplate with every worthy expectation.
DAVID D’LIMA, Sturt
Voters vindicated
A THANK you must go to historian Professor Jenny Hocking for her action taken with the High Court for the release of the Whitlam dismissal, even if the result is not the one she may have liked.
The Republican movement and the Labor Party’s agenda has clearly been set back by the release of these papers and confirms what Australian punters recognised at the time when the Coalition took over government in 1975 and the two subsequent elections, winning by a substantial majority.
The majority of voters at that period in time democratically elected the political party of their choice and, by default, have vindicated the decision by an Australian head of state, Sir John Kerr.
IAN KENT, Renmark
Brighter wards
HAVING been a visitor to a couple of hospitals and institutions for the aged recently, why do those responsible for selecting the colour schemes in the rooms pick the most boring, depressing colours imaginable?
These include white, off-white, greys, and beige rather than friendly, cheerful pinks, blues, lavenders, yellows and other pastels. No one actually wants to stay in hospital longer than absolutely necessary. But surely being in a bright, cheery room aids in recovery?
ROBERT McCORMICK, Bridgewater
Stamp out virus
THERE seems to be pressure on state premiers from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and businesses for a return to business-as-usual before COVID-19.
Those applying this seem to be suggesting we need to accept a policy of suppression, rather than elimination, of the virus. If suppression is adopted, there will likely need to be continuance of social distancing, ongoing mass testing, and prohibition of large gatherings, none of which I suggest Australians will tolerate for too much longer.
Providing our international borders are strictly policed (such as they are in respect of animal and pest quarantine for example), there is no reason why the disease cannot be eliminated, then we can get back to normal.
BOB COUCH, Marino
Keeping distance
“EXCUSE me, that’s not social distancing.”
This is what I politely said with a smile to four different people on the train yesterday, as they sat down right in front of me and well within the 1.5m.
They all politely said sorry and moved. Probably thinking I was overreacting.
I may well be. And I don’t care. Because the last thing we want in South Australia is a Melbourne scenario.
Almost nobody at my local supermarket is sanitising their trolley or their hands any more and, at Marion Shopping Centre, forget it.
Although all businesses seem to be doing the right thing, many individuals are not.
Let’s not get complacent, Adelaide. Better safe than sorry.
KAREN ZASKOLNY, Kingston Park
Close dancing
THE images from Zhivago nightclub displayed in The Advertiser should surprise no one (“Zhivagos hopes defence goes the distance after fine”, Tuesday).
Any concept of social distancing appears to be absent.
Perhaps it is time to face up to reality. There are some business models which are inconsistent with the distancing requirements.
Good luck finding someone who visits a nightclub with the intention to be socially distant from other patrons.
The combination of youthful exuberance, alcohol and music in an unseated environment will inevitably lead to close physical encounters with others.
Nightclubs can only operate in an environment where there are no longer any social-distancing requirements.
GUY MUDIE, Highgate
Immunity myth
THE idea that so-called “herd immunity” could build up a natural immunity to COVID-19 is a flawed and dangerous idea.
There is absolutely no evidence that this approach works with this particular virus and Sweden’s “experiment” with this regime has been an utter failure.
Not only has Sweden suffered from higher healthcare costs, the death rate was nearly five times that of its Scandinavian neighbours.
CHRIS DALAS, Kilkenny
Insecure times
SO another Victorian takes a swipe at another state.
First, we have Premier Daniel Andrews having a go at us, then we have former premier Jeff Kennett stating that NSW couldn’t organise a major event when talking about the Melbourne Cup.
The highly acclaimed 2000 Olympics would appear to debunk that theory.
What is it about Victorians? Do they have to put down other states to make them look better? Maybe they are a tad insecure. Must admit it seems to be breeding ground for COVID-19.
RADLEY KING, Mawson Lakes
Justice stance
OH dear, Stewart Sweeney (”West no answer”, The Advertiser, Monday).
He wants us to roll over and accept what China dishes out – as the Chinese communists are now doing in Hong Kong.
Review Christopher Pyne’s good history of China’s political evolution and get worried (“China’s long road in power struggle”, The Advertiser, Monday). Winston Churchill, in 1938, understood the consequences of appeasement and not preparing for conflict. Fortunately other countries, including Australia, understood what he was saying and were prepared to defend the real liberties and way of life that we, and Stewart Sweeney, now seemingly take for granted.
DR PETER BALAN OAM, St Peters
Lucky country
AT first glance it appears that Rex Jory is very fortunate to travel all across the world (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Monday).
But then, as his article continued, I became more and more depressed. Zimbabwe ruined by Robert Mugabe, genocide of Muslims in Myanmar, 200,000 people in prison camps in North Korea, millions of deaths in Sudan and 80 million people across the world have no home.
Are we just lucky to be born here? Should we be doing anything to show our gratitude? Should we be worrying about these people in other countries or just live our lives as best we can and just hope our leaders protect our lifestyles and keep us on the right track?
I admit I think we are lucky. But is this just being ungrateful and uncaring? I don’t know. I just don’t know.
COLIN GILES, Tonsley
Inclusive doco
I HAVE just finished watching Adam Hills: Take His Legs.
For a whole hour I was transported to a world where inclusivity and achievement were truly celebrated.
Where a group of individual males living with a physical disability were applauded for their abilities.
And, for just one hour, the world seemed joyous and filled with the promise that, no matter the challenge, all things are possible.
CATHERINE DALY, Sheidow Park
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15
Efficient councils
LOCAL Government Minister Stephan Knoll’s plan to provide “hip-pocket relief for hardworking families and businesses”, by having a shake-up of local government financial operations, is surely a demonstration of “medice cura te ipsum” (“Council cap, pay review planned”, The Advertiser, Tuesday). This means “physician, heal thyself”.
There is more money mismanagement by those meeting in the big building on North Terrace, pictured, than there is by those meeting in our town halls.
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
Slash numbers
THE headline and opening paragraph “local councils would be limited to 12” got me all excited.
Wow, is that the whole state? Or even just Adelaide?
No, more’s the pity, just 12 snouts in each of the existing troughs.
There are already too many fights and arguments on Twitter between the existing elected members. So a reduction in their numbers would have to be a good thing, surely?
Bite the bullet, state government, and start putting the sword through the number of councils. By force if necessary.
PAUL BUXTON, Westbourne Park
Fleeing Britain
ON July 16, 1940, 80 years ago, Hitler ordered the invasion of England.
Three weeks later, with the Battle of Britain under way, I left my parents in Yorkshire and boarded the Polish ship MS Batory in Liverpool to be evacuated to Australia on a 10-week perilous voyage, during which I had my ninth birthday.
The next two ships to leave with young evacuees were the last, because they were both sunk by German U-boats.
It was 5½ years later before I could return to my parents in England.
I came back to Australia in 1957 to join TAA as a pilot, stationed in Adelaide.
My parents and brother’s family followed me to Adelaide 20 years later.
GEOFFREY HIGGES, Campbelltown
Blaming Obama
US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday, among many other things, that Barack Obama and Joe Biden stopped their testing for COVID-19 and told reporters “I’m sure you don’t want to report it”.
This was even though Mr Obama had not been in office for nearly three years when the pandemic began. None of the journalists present questioned him on that, making them no better than a row of microphone stands.
NICK HASKELL, Athelstone
Protect sharks
WE are all horrified that two people have lost their lives within weeks to shark attacks.
But a handful of people worldwide are killed annually by sharks, because humans are not their preferred food, yet we allow innocent mammals to die slow deaths in cruel drum lines.
A recent tribunal found that drum lines do not necessarily keep swimmers safe and gave them a false sense of security.
We kill 100 million sharks each year, thousands just for their fins. Yet they have lived in our oceans for millions of years.
They are an important part of the ocean’s biodiversity and are our oceans’ cleaners, by eating dead and dying fish and keeping fish stocks healthy.
The call by surfers to lift the ban that protects endangered shark species would further degrade the oceans’ ecology (“Lift shark ban: surfers”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
A live shark is far more valuable than a dead one.
DIANE CORNELIUS, Seacliff Park
Solar embrace
I TEND to agree with Brian Measday’s concerns as to the ongoing pollution of our planet by the burning of fossil fuels (“Fuel burning”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
It would seem the people of South Australia have taken to the solar-panel collection of energy from our mighty sun. So much so that the usual energy suppliers are finding their profits dropping.
Every home should have solar panels, as I do, on their roofs. Since necessity is the mother of invention, improved battery-storage technology will soon be available at reasonable cost.
Others concerned at pollution levels should perhaps turn to now-safe nuclear technology. Who knows, the virus could be a wake-up call to force change. I hope so.
J.A. STEVENS, Hyde Park
Guilty discounts
UP to a 40 per cent off if you plead guilty to committing a major crime. Really?
Why not, instead, lengthen the sentence if they don’t plead guilty.
MARTIN KLAVINS, Crafers West
Law changing
A FLAT 25 per cent discount for pleading guilty sounds more than generous.
Anything above this and we may as well chuck in a year’s supply of fuel and a set of steak knives.
BRENTON FORREST, Mannum
Virus controls
I DON’T know which I find more insulting, people who refuse COVID-19 testing or those who disregard COVID-19 protocols.
Last week I had the flu, so did what the government asked. I got tested, as some symptoms were similar to COVID-19.
The whole process of booking online, and doing the test, took all of 15 minutes.
And I got the negative result back within 48 hours.
Have people got so self-centred that they can’t do what is right for their community?
When has someone’s right to dance, socialise or gamble become more important than another’s life?
The disrespectful and selfish behaviour of many Victorians has shown what complacency and egocentricity can achieve.
BRUCE HAMILTON, Valley View
Beating deadline
GRAHAM Cornes may be disappointed that Adelaide is unlikely to host the AFL grand final.
But, under the current circumstances, it may be a blessing in disguise after borders have been closed to Victoria.
We had many people managing to travel here before the deadline and people coming in after the deadline may not necessarily be sticking to the rules.
A fine is not the way to go. We need to send anyone who is caught breaking the rules back to where they came from.
DOMENICA CAVUOTO, Klemzig
Website off road
THIS is for the attention of Adelaide Metro.
Twice I have attempted to contact you via the feedback page on your website.
My comments failed to submit the first time as the little wheel just went around and around. Yesterday you couldn’t even get that far, as an error message appeared.
I suppose it is a good way to receive no complaints.
Can you please arrange for the timetables along bus routes 142 and 147 to be updated.
It is now more than a week since the new timetables were introduced and the bus stops on the above routes are still showing those from January, 2019.
Not everyone has a smartphone.
CHRIS LOCKHART, Leabrook
Hydrogen heart
IT was heartening to read that a hydrogen production plant is already being built in South Australia (“Clean gas is in the pipeline”, The Advertiser, Friday).
The earlier vision and courage of SA in building extensive wind and solar energy generation projects has enabled the state to be best placed to generate renewable hydrogen.
Unlike Victoria, which plans to use brown coal as the energy source.
The EU Hydrogen Strategy, released last week, states that renewable hydrogen offers a solution to decarbonise industrial processes and economic sectors where reducing carbon emissions is both urgent and hard to achieve.
SA is ahead of the pack.
RAY PECK, Hawthorn, Victoria
Storming palace
PUT simply, on July 14 in 1789, a French mob stormed the Bastille in Paris as a revolutionary act to achieve better living conditions for ordinary poor and downtrodden French men and women suffering badly under a cruel and selfish aristocratic regime.
At this point in time there is plenty of civil unrest, which sees ordinary people again out on the streets for the poor and dispossessed.
Bastille Day reminds us that, if we do not heed the cry for help from those among us who are suffering economic and social deprivation, the “haves” in our society could feel the wrath of society’s “have nots” once again.
It remains to be seen whether the greedy and uncaring elites in our society get to experience some sort of modern equivalent of the storming of the Bastille if they continue to ignore the plight of the less fortunate in our society today.
TERRY HEWTON, Henley Beach South
Cat-control tips
AT bedtime my father used to joke: “Time to wind the cat and put the clock out”. Monty was then ejected and the door locked. How things have changed.
Some good points have been made about cat control in the past week. But nobody has offered a practical suggestion as to exactly how Sooty or Fluff can be lured indoors at dusk. The key to success is consistency.
Several cats ago I began the following routine:
Keep a kitten is kept indoors for several months until well bonded with the owner.
Always use the same words and friendly tone of voice to praise the cat.
In the morning the cat is not released until the birds have had their breakfast. It will probably choose to spend most of the day indoors.
Call the cat at dusk, and when it comes give it a treat, such as a small serve of wet food, immediately.
If the cat doesn’t come in straight away there is no reward.
Remove its other food so it can’t just pop in for a snack.
Of course I don’t claim a 100 per cent success rate (especially at full moon), so no catty comments please.
ELIZABETH HUTCHINS, Leabrook
TUESDAY, JULY 14
Virus warning
SOUTH Australia has so far been lucky to maintain zero COVID-19 cases.
But, as our Victorian cousins have shown, we have to be mindful and not become complacent by assuming life can resume as previously.
There’s no longer the privilege to wander around our country, or the world for that matter, oblivious to hidden lethal plagues.
Right now, it takes just one escapee from the border patrols to bring about the nightmare of restrictions and lockdown.
LYN DeGUGLIELMO, Paradise
Vic cops brunt
PREVIOUSLY when somebody coughed in the vicinity, the immediate reaction was: Do you have COVID-19?
Now it’s: Are you a Victorian.
GREG GADE, Ingle Farm
PM on speed dial
CRITICS of our Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s decision to take a much-needed family holiday have forgotten about, or conveniently ignore, technology.
Even though Mr Morrison is taking a break, going to the footy, and spending time with his family, he is easily and quickly accessible through mobile phone, email and Skype if his input is required.
This decision reflects his utmost confidence in those who have direct control of governments’ – both state and federal – response to this pandemic. And it doesn’t rely on the PM’s involvement to be successful.
Everyone deserves a break at some time, even our Prime Minister.
IAN MacGOWAN, Ceduna
Help Hong Kong
DO the riot police in Hong Kong not know their own brothers, sisters, fathers, uncles, mothers and aunties are trying to ensure a modicum of democracy?
Why are they fighting and arresting their own?
Or have they all been imported from mainland China?
Sad indeed. And super sad for the entire globe.
ELDERT HOEBEE, Torrens Park
Show cheap bills
ANOTHER day, another promise of lower power prices (“Power bill hope as prices plunge”, The Advertiser, Monday).
Although wholesale power prices are currently cheaper on average, we have heard all this before, and it never seems to translate into cheaper home bills.
The main problem is the corporate businesses that supply and distribute the power in between the wholesaler in the user. Uncontrollable, and able to lift prices easily, the current system is the equivalent of trimming an overgrown tree with nail clippers.
What we need is someone with the fortitude, and a chainsaw, to prune the system back to basics so that it can grow more productively.
ALEX NEILL, Netherby
Direct action
EARLE Kilvert rightly asks: When will the expression “never again” become more than words? (“War reminder”, The Advertiser, Monday).
How about when the people, not politicians, get the vote on whether or not they want to send their sons and daughters to war.
It’s called direct democracy.
BOB RUWOLDT, Seacombe Heights
Gas expansion
I READ with dismay about the expansion of the gas network to Mount Barker and northern Adelaide (“Gas price cut on the way as network heads for Hills”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
Gas is, after all, a fossil fuel, and is one of the key drivers of climate change.
Ultimately, we do not need more gas and their infrastructure when it costs so much less to run an all-electric house that relies on renewable energy and storage.
The fact that cheap renewable energy happens to be better for the environment is just icing on the cake.
GEORGINA HART, Parkside
Fuel burning
THE concerning rise of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere shows an undeniable link with the current level of fossil-fuel burning.
It is now beyond reasonable doubt that humans do have the capacity to change our climate by burning fossil fuels.
The Federal Government is actively supporting the burning of fossil fuels to create energy. This is worrying because so many alternative, well proven and less polluting options, now exist to satisfy our modern energy needs.
Creating energy by burning fossil fuels represents big money for those involved with coal, gas, etc.
The young ones of today will have every reason to look back with a sense of justified anger when they remember the actions of our present government.
The constant warnings from scientists around the world as to the terrible results to be expected from burning more and more fossil fuels seem to be falling on deaf ears.
It is unfortunate money seems to be the dominant factor determining how our energy needs are satisfied.
Shame on our government for ignoring calls of alarm relating to climate change from so many of our schoolchildren.
BRIAN MEASDAY, Myrtle Bank
Tradies missing
HAVING a badly leaking front gutter, I responded to two adverts to have it fixed.
But the response was not what I had hoped for.
Firstly, one did not even return my call. And then another bloke didn’t turn up.
Am I mistaken in thinking that people are in need of work?
ANN BLASER-REYNOLDS, Oakden
Think of elderly
KEN Adams, you make my blood boil (“Waste of survey”, The Advertiser, Wednesday). Calling elderly, disabled and vision-impaired commuters selfish because they would find it too hard to walk the extra steps to get to their closest bus, tram or train stop, is appalling.
Have you had to rely wholly and solely on public transport? Do you know what it’s like not to have your independence? I think not. Not everyone has good health and is able to walk easily to their closest stop. Then there’s the weather to contend with – very hot scorching days or a downpour and getting wet. There’s nothing worse.
Also, what does it matter if not every bus stop is used or only one or a few people use the bus stops? It’s totally irrelevant. That’s why it’s called public transport. It’s for members of the public who don’t have a driver’s licence, the luxury of a car, or can’t afford taxis everywhere.
And many people would have been inconvenienced by these changes, including me. That’s why there was the uproar there was and the State Government decided to reverse its decision. Good move. Put yourself in other people’s shoes and think about it.
C. ROBERTSON, Findon
Back workers
WITH the cessation of Emirates operations out of Adelaide for the foreseeable future, and up to 200 jobs lost due to that, it beggars belief those workers will not be entitled to JobKeeper allowance.
The Federal Government states it is a foreign-owned business and, therefore, staff laid off don’t qualify for JobKeeper.
The bulk of that workforce would be local and pay taxes like most workers.
They live in and spend their hard-earned income in the community.
To turn around and flick them off so heartlessly is shameful on this government. It could be a fine line drawn when so many companies set up in Australia are all or partly foreign owned and therefore subject to similar treatment.
As far as I’m concerned, when you work for a company or business in Australia, live here and pay taxes, you are entitled to assistance like so many others in these extraordinary times.
The government is quick to reap the benefits of tourism and trade income derived from allowing foreign airlines to service the country and employ people.
But it is quick to deny this workforce any help when most deserved and needed.
ANDREW JACKMAN, Penola
Thanks police
WE should be thanking Police Commissioner Grant Stevens for the forethought and implementation of the new rapid-response group, as it is too late scrambling during or soon after an event.
Some of us have seen the direct result of what it is like.
So don’t sit in a lounge chair, or in an office pushing a pen, and criticise his actions.
I also point out the remarkable job all our state governments and agencies have done during the COVID-19 situation.
I. SWAN, Woodville
Too much lighting
THE St Clair Skate Park at Woodville is open for business and is popular these school holidays.
It is good to see our young people out in the fresh air being active away from their screens. The park is floodlit from sunset until 9pm every night.
Even when it is pouring with rain and there is no one at the park.
We do not floodlight other playgrounds or parks in our council, so why the skateboard park?
Being a frugal person, I installed solar panels on my roof in 2011, have never paid an electricity bill since, and cannot justify waste.
Each month, Foodbank provides relief to more than 815,000 Australians experiencing food insecurity.
Here in our beautiful Charles Sturt Council we have homeless people sleeping in the grounds of the Scosa centre on Woodville Road in these difficult times.
The centre has relocated and their former home has been sold for a housing development.
There is only one tenant left, a medical practice which is being relocated.
NANCY FAHEY, Woodville
Goal search
NOT enough goals are being scored in the AFL.
I’m switching to soccer.
D. G. PITT, Plympton
MONDAY, JULY 13
Buses to outskirts
THE proposed St Yves development near Roseworthy sounds good in many respects (“$500m project set to bloom”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
But I saw no mention of public transport in the article.
If one is going to build housing developments on the fringe of Adelaide, public transport should be extended. If the introduction of public transport is delayed until after a development is built, or services are infrequent, residents get used to relying on their cars.
Rather than cutting some services ostensibly to improve others, while cutting costs or remaining revenue neutral, the State Government should consider spending more on public transport and less on roads.
Some roadworks are justified. But some of the destructive intersection upgrades currently proposed could be avoided if traffic were reduced by increasing frequency of public transport across the board. Particularly on connector routes.
MARGARET DINGLE, People for Public Transport secretary
War reminder
SATURDAY, July 11, was the EU’s official day of remembrance for the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It stands as another tragic reminder of the consequences of discrimination, hate speech and toxic manipulation of the political agenda. When will the expression “never again” become more than words?
EARLE KILVERT, Felixstow
Clean and green
THE 5 per cent hydrogen blend at Tonsley will be an interesting experiment in furthering the green hydrogen economy (“Clean gas is in the pipeline“, The Advertiser, Friday).
But we’ve missed a chance to go one better: All-electric homes with solar are far cheaper, more efficient and healthier than a hydrogen gas blend. Tonsley would have been better equipped to have been gas free to begin with. Green hydrogen has a good role to play for energy storage and heavy transport, but using it as a means to prolong the gas network for homes is going to result in continual high bill prices for homes, due to poor electrolysis efficiency.
With SA already having a high penetration of renewables, a move to all-electric households is a far better path to zero emissions.
DR JASPER LEE, Norwood
Asylum for all
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison is talking of offering asylum to people who are being politically oppressed in Hong Kong. He estimates there may be thousands.
This is very compassionate, but has he forgotten there are a few hundred asylum-seekers still held in Australia’s offshore detention centres?
There are those in mainland Papua New Guinea, many of whom have been deemed by UN High Commissioner for Refugees to be genuine refugees. Hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to incarcerate people who have not been convicted of a crime but have been locked up for as long as six years without any hope of future resolution.
These people are no less worthy than Hong Kong residents who are also afraid of political persecution.
Even leaving aside humanitarian concerns the Federal Government would save many millions of dollars for its straitened finances by closing the centres and bringing these forgotten people to Australia for compassionate resettlement.
ELIZABETH BLEBY, Unley
Protecting people
PROTESTERS gather at Parliament House displaying aggravation at the police force being armed with extra weaponry.
To those protesters I say: Modern-day society has bought us to this level of peacekeepers taking this extra step to try to protect us from the evil that is evident and every single protester is undeniably part of that same society.
So it’s a long way from being a fair move to blame the police, or, for that matter, the government.
I trust our law keepers to use these new powers responsibly (as they always have) for the protection of our society, of which we are all members. No exceptions.
It is, after all, a rather stupid approach to shut the gate after the horse has bolted.
DENNIS PARKER, Yongala
Iconic sculpture
I WAS horrified to read the Adelaide City Council and Art Gallery of South Australia may not see the value of Basil Sellers’ donation of Terrance Plowright’s monumental, beautiful sculpture Uniting a Nation.
Rather than looking for a place to plonk it, Adelaide could make this impressive artwork its recognisable icon.
As is the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Opera House. Prague has many works like this.
It could be featured in advertising, becoming Adelaide’s Mona Lisa. Wake up. This fantastic work is worth its weight in gold. A world-class tourist drawcard is awaiting.
CLAUDIA TREGONING, South Plympton
Wider audience
THE artistic sculpture may be unloved by some, but for others it is a sight for sore eyes.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
If you cannot find a suitable site for the artwork, maybe Port Augusta would be grateful for the tourist attraction.
Come to that, if you want it nearer to home, how about the Salisbury Wetlands? I am sure the birdlife up there would welcome another perch to sit on. Problem solved.
LYNDSAY A. EICHNER, Payneham
Stop this world
DESPITE the best endeavours to curb the pandemic, it seems the Earth is rolling back, and no one is able to grab the handbrake.
M. F. HORTON, Clarence Park
Herd immunity
TWO letters make some brave points (“Virus warning”, “Uneven burden”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Simone Hunter discusses whether those forced into harsh lockdowns in small high-rise apartments are suffering a curtailing of their human rights and freedoms.
While Terry Hewton points out the responsibility of governments to find a balance between protecting the population physically no matter the cost – and wrecking all confidence in our economic future.
I believe the Federal Government needs to do a Sweden and build up a natural herd immunity to COVID-19 while doing what it can to protect the elderly and vulnerable.
No one strategy is ideal, but we do know that measures so far are producing mental health problems and financial despair on an unprecedented scale.
We seem hung up on the number of cases rather than deaths. Which, if we had done every time the community suffered a bad flu season, we’d be in continual lockdown. As for governments determined to keep shutdowns hanging over our heads until we have a vaccine, I sure hope they can find an endless swag of money to help their populations through another Great Depression.
STEPH McCARTHY, Eden Hills
Tests fallible
IN response to readers advocating that care workers should be subject to psychology tests prior to employment, I would like to advise such tests are not infallible.
Having previously been employed as a director of nursing and manager in various aged-care centres for 31 years, and employing staff over that time, I never found one out of the numerous variations of testing that gave me true results.
The results being that this person may or could demonstrate certain characteristics.
Some of the glowing reports were written for the worst performers at the worksite, taking months or years to terminate employment due to union intervention despite offering the staff additional education, training and supportive counselling.
Psychology tests can be manipulated by people smart enough to answer to questions what they believe the employer may want.
Conversely, some of the most kind, caring and hardworking carers failed psychology tests but I took a gamble on them following performance at interview.
MARION MAGUIRE, Aldinga Beach
Victoria let-down
COVID-19 in Australia is like the Spice Girls.
Everybody is doing their best except Victoria.
LYNDON FOREST, Marino
Font of beauty
A BEAUTIFUL heritage fountain used to stand at the centre of the Rundle Mall.
A great photographic opportunity with the backdrop of the magnificent Adelaide Arcade to embellish the image.
With the somewhat bland Rundle Mall upgrade about eight years ago, the fountain was shunted up against the Adelaide Arcade entrance, rendering its once-impressive water fountain to a mere trickle. And its once-large round pond base was transformed to a tiny cramped square. With this considerable loss of status, and subsequent ignominy, comes the continuous defacement of its glory (assumed as it matches the parasol adorning the arcade) with tacky parasols.
How much further indignity does the grand Victorian lady have to endure?
I used to observe numerous tourists photographing the fountain.
Not any more.
This fountain once adorned the grandest building of all, the Exhibition Building on North Terrace, unbelievably demolished in 1962 and replaced by the ugly Napier Building and underground carpark, etc.
Oh, Adelaide.
DENNIS COLEMAN, Torrensville
Fix airport road
I FULLY agree with Arthur Mangos re western roads in disrepair (“Works go west, The Advertiser, Friday).
Especially Sir Donald Bradman Drive, particularly between Tapleys Hill Road and Airport Road.
This is a major road to the city passing the airport with substantial traffic frequenting the airport business centre, Ikea, Bunnings, Aldi and AFL Max.
This part of the road needs resurfacing now and has been deteriorating for more than 10 years.
P. LAVENDER, West Beach
West no answer
THE next 30 years will see the US replaced by China as the world’s dominant economic and military power.
The key question is, will the US go down fighting and dragging Australia and other countries with it, or will the transition be managed more peacefully and productively?
In particular, will the policies and decisions required to avert disastrous global heating and intensifying inequalities be pursued while the pecking order of the great powers is shuffled?
Not sure about you, but I am not convinced Kanye West is quite the person for the job.
STEWART SWEENEY, North Adelaide