The Advertiser and Sunday Mail Letters to the Editor July 20-26
July 25: “The notion that there is ambiguity in the rules for MPs claiming the country allowance is an ‘idiot defence’”.
Opinion
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- MICHAEL McGUIRE: It is untenable Stephan Knoll keeps his job
- MORE READER VIEWS: Read last week’s letters here
Letters to the Editor published in The Advertiser and Sunday Mail.
SATURDAY, JULY 25, AND SUNDAY, JULY 26
Set the standard
AS Michael McGuire rightly points out, the notion that there is ambiguity in the rules for MPs claiming the country allowance is an “idiot defence” (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Friday).
The rules changed from flat rate to reimbursement for “actual expenses” in November 2018.
As McGuire states, MacKillop MP Nick McBride noted the change and stopped making claims.
In law, ignorance of the rules is not a defence for breaching them.
The Marshall Government cabinet is now tainted by the ongoing presence of ministers who are in ambiguous circumstances.
McBride surely deserves a seat at the table, bringing with him a higher standard.
TOM RILEY, Onkaparinga Hills
Caught out
MICHAEL McGuire quite rightly points out that the offending SA politicians have not willingly admitted to their false claims; the media has caught them out.
Their greed further reduces our faith in our political leaders.
To my mind, there is only one solution and that is their removal from political life. They have forgone their right to sit in parliament.
Hopefully, Stephan Knoll will consider the morality of his position and set the example by standing down immediately.
SA does not need this distraction in these challenging times.
MAX DYASON, Vale Park
Ethical questions
HOW low can cabinet ministers fall by using, and having to repay, taxpayers’ money to claim their unwarranted expenses?
Personal ethics are evidently not a requirement of politicians elected to serve the public good.
Honesty, integrity, trustworthiness and selflessness in political leaders are virtues we do not see much evidence of. Shameful.
SIMONE HUNTER, Hove
Right to know
THE article “ICAC probes MP travel” (The Advertiser, Friday) says that the involvement of the ICAC commissioner “will deepen the pressure on Premier Steven Marshall”.
If I were Mr Marshall, I would be relieved to see the matter being dealt with by the ICAC. This will put an end to some of the damaging revelations exposed by media sources and limit the media reporting until the ICAC has finished with it.
No matter what ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander decides to make public when he is finished, the secrecy provisions of the ICAC Act will still be an impediment to anyone revealing information about the investigation without the commissioner’s permission to do so.
Both major parties in South Australia would be aware of the advantages there are in having an ICAC operating under secrecy provisions.
And those provisions are not likely to be removed any time soon.
RAY HICKMAN, Modbury
Declaring income
STEPHAN Knoll, we all incur expenses every day.
They are called living expenses and Mr and Mrs Average out here have had enough trouble paying our own without having to pay for yours as well.
SUE DUNN, Ingle Farm
Testing times
WE see assessments on public opinion referring regularly to a thing called the “pub test” or the “sniff test”.
There must be two vastly different types of pubs out there.
One type has a collective of informed and critical patrons. The other, somewhat the opposite.
Some of the worst advice, poor-judgment decisions and rank criticism have occurred in the front bar of a hotel after 11pm.
MARK HOOD, Daw Park
Knoll pressure
AFTER listening to a replay of an interview with Stephan Knoll on ABC radio, I am of the opinion that the death knell has sounded for Knoll.
He has shown himself to be one more member of the SITT (snouts-in-the-trough) brigade.
ELIZABETH BLANCHE, Thebarton
Show receipts
THE last vestiges of credibility of our politicians flew out of the door as Stephan Knoll refused to answer questions about his electoral allowance and how it was supposedly spent. It surely is time for receipts to be attached to all claims.
RADLEY KING, Mawson Lakes
F
air treatment
THE public of SA expects to be treated fairly by MPs and public servants when it comes to expense claims, and there is a need for full transparency. (“Knoll’s failure to explain his expenses simply fails the pub test”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
The two ministers embroiled in the expenses issue occupy well-paid and privileged positions and are meant to exercise good and prudent judgment in all matters.
Even if there is some ambiguity within the rules governing expenses, ministers and senior public servants should always apply the rules in the interest of the taxpayer – and not in their own.
It is interesting that the sizeable repayments by the two ministers appear to have been prompted solely by a need to publicly disclose their expenses.
Whatever their reasons for apparently claiming too much, it is good that reparation has been made.
However, many people would still be disappointed by what has happened.
MICHAEL SCHILLING, Millswood
Simple form
AM I smarter than the average MP?
A simple reading of the “Country Members’ Accommodation Allowance Form Part A”, as pictured in The Advertiser on Thursday, shows the allowance is “Claim up to $234 per night” and the claimant certifies “I incurred the expenses claimed above”.
This clearly does not mean that if you incur any expense then you can claim the $234 a night.
It means that you can claim reimbursement of any expenses actually incurred up to a maximum of $234 a night.
What’s ambiguous about that?
JOCK OSBORNE, Hawthorn
Fringe theory
ACCORDING to some fringe religious groups, wearing a mask is part of an evil plan to enslave us all.
They also believe that vaccinations, credit cards, ATMs, television and schools are part of the plan.
These are people who are endangering the rest of us by refusing to believe that COVID-19 is real.
NICK HASKELL, Athelstone
Future uncertain
A LONG-TERM changed economic and financial future will be the reality for our young and middle-aged adults.
For once, we Baby Boomers cannot be blamed.
Decades of economic growth and prosperity have led to an expectation by today’s working-age adults of more of the same. The new future must be a real shock to them.
Those of us whose parents lived through the hardships of World War II and the Great Depression are less surprised by the turn of events.
Our parents suffered in ways that we can never fully appreciate. The economic hardships were real and enduring.
“Waste not, want not” was a necessity, not the catchy alternative slogan that it has become.
Hard work brought improvement and, as they aged, our parents benefited enormously from high interest rates while we suffered high mortgage costs.
We experienced a freedom of expression that they did not and our anxieties were to come later with low interest rates on our dwindling savings, which we will take to our deaths.
Our children and theirs now have their own anxieties as they struggle to come to grips with the ruination of their unwitting assumption that things always improve.
But this is the lesson of history.
We must not fall into the abyss.
It is from such real lessons in life that we become resilient.
Collectively and individually, we are up to the task and always have been.
LENI PALK, Unley
Power spike
I AGREE wholeheartedly with Peter Brown in that the “solar sponge” tariff will increase the power costs for most households in South Australia (“Power tariffs”, The Advertiser, Friday).
As Mr Brown quite rightly points out, most people will want to use power in early morning and late afternoon and evening.
At other times, i.e. 10am to 3pm, many are away from home.
I have a view that it is an attempt by the power retailers to try to regain profits in a market that is becoming saturated with household solar generation and therefore reduced finances for them.
I’m a bit surprised the State Government buys into the concept.
Having been encouraged for 15 years or so to invest in solar, we now have a proposed plan to penalise us for doing so.
BRUCE JOHNSTON, Torrensville
On right track
WITH the pandemic having our states moving in different directions, the time may be ripe for each of them to develop their own railway gauge.
M.F. HORTON, Clarence Park
Reckless with virus
LATELY, some Australians seem to be thriving on luck and complacency.
We’re told smoking tobacco kills, as does excessive alcohol consumption and drug abuse. Sexually transmitted diseases can lead to regrettable consequences, while swimming with sharks is deemed to be dangerous.
Yet stern warnings against these risks are blissfully ignored every day.
Likewise, in pandemic times, despite regular and repeated advice, the risks of noncompliance with simple safety precautions are being ignored as we fail to maintain the discipline required to beat the plague.
Weak links in the rocky return to daily life and economic recovery are thus evident as society is left to face the dire consequences of the selfish stupidity of the reckless few.
NEIL LONGBOTTOM, Minlaton
Maintaining character
URBAN planning expert Edward McMahon, a senior resident fellow with the US Urban Land Institute, says “over the past 50 years many of the world cityscapes have gone from the unique to the uniform, from the stylised to the standardised”.
He is critical of most US cities in that they all look the same, with it becoming increasingly difficult to determine what city you are in.
McMahon maintains that the most prosperous cities in the future will be the ones which preserve their distinctiveness — distinctiveness which is derived from streetscapes, architecture and historic preservation.
A distinctive city is one that the young and well educated want to live in, Baby Boomers want to retire in and people want to visit. He endorses travel expert Arthur Frommer’s view that “tourists won’t visit a city that has lost its soul”.
With the current state government about to weaken Adelaide’s heritage controls, deregulate its planning controls and continue to turn a blind eye to the poor or mediocre architecture occurring in the city, it’s inevitable that its current distinctiveness will soon be lost.
In 2018, the Australian Institute of Architects expressed the view that poor urban design caused Melbourne’s fall from the world’s most-liveable city index. Our city appears to be going down the same path.
KEVIN O’LEARY, Crafers
Shark wake-up
IF the shocking Tasmanian shark attack on a 10-year-old boy is not a wake-up call, what is it?
It is time for the powers-that-be to get their heads out of the sand by banning shark-cage diving and removing great white sharks from the protected list. Enough is enough.
KYM BRAY, Port Victoria
Democracy at work
PETER Goers revealed, yet again, his intense dislike of the British monarchy with “Letters to Queen show how democracy was Kerr-tailed” (Sunday Mail, July 19).
It seems he ignores historical fact to suit his views. Gough Whitlam’s government was dismissed on November 11, 1975.
And then, a little over four weeks later, on December 13, the Labor Party, led by him, was soundly routed in a double-dissolution election.
Methinks democracy was well served for — and by — the Australian people.
BARRIE EDWARDS, Goolwa Beach
Liberal links exposed
WHAT an interesting expose by Peter Goers.
How many people knew of the connection between the Queen’s second-most powerful adviser, Sir William Heseltine, and the Liberal Party? I didn’t.
The problem is most Liberal Party supporters would scoff at the idea of a conspiracy. That is, until the shoe was one day on the other foot.
The truth is, only the Australian people should have the authority to decide on matters relating to Australian governance.
BOB RUWOLDT, Seacombe Heights
Shady dealings
ONCE again, we have to endure a Peter Goers antimonarchy diatribe.
Being brief, the Whitlam government was well on the nose with all its dubious dealings with shady Pakistan money dealers and his refusal to call a full election.
Sir John Kerr, for all his human frailties, was quite correct with his dismissal of Whitlam, which enabled a general election.
This was the democratic process for the people to express their judgment on the dismissal, which they did, giving the Fraser government the biggest majority since Federation.
So, Peter, the democratic judgment was done and seen to be done.
JOHN M. PLANT, Gawler
Sad republicans
IN respect to Peter Goers’ column, it’s wondrous, but not unexpected, that he manages to turn history on its head concerning the Whitlam government’s dismissal in 1975. This past week has been sad and teary for Peter, Jenny Hocking (Gough Whitlam’s biographer) and the republican movement in general.
It turns out the Queen’s hands were clean.
DON JOHNSON, Myrtle Bank
Egging on children
OUT of the mouths of babes. My three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, bringing home half a dozen eggs she’d collected from her uncle’s chicken run, said: “Don’t eat any of these eggs, daddy. They came out of a hen’s bum”.
KEVIN CLARKE, Para Hills
Punish stowaways
I CANNOT believe the four men from Victoria who hid on a freight train were let off and then accommodated at a hotel, courtesy of South Australian taxpayers.
A carload of others who snuck over the border were fined $1000 each and faced possible jail time.
Why not be consistent and fine the others and make them pay for their own hotel costs?
Don’t give them a holiday at our expense.
ROSINA HOLLAND, Blair Athol
D esal welcomed
THE good news of combined state and federal funding, totalling more than $47m, being made available for a desalination plant at Penneshaw, on Kangaroo Island, is a feather in the cap of the Marshall government.
Penneshaw already has a small desal plant at Kangaroo Head — operated by SA Water — servicing the town. Built to supplement the town’s water, it was the first modern desal plant in South Australia.
The environmental advantage of this plant is that the residue goes into the open sea unlike the Port Stanvac plant, which is pumped into Gulf St Vincent.
The new plant is a huge boost for our jewel-in-the-crown island and is a lesson we have learnt from the bushfires.
The value of having an adequate water supply is paramount.
The support being shown to our rural cousins in country SA by our elected leaders is something that was missing previously.
As we face the challenges of COVID-19, we need to listen to our elected leaders and work together to ride out the pandemic. South Australians, we have to be proud of where we are at.
NANCY FAHEY, Woodville
FRIDAY, JULY 24
Smart travellers
GIVE me a break (“Your Right To Knoll”, The Advertiser, Thursday).
Our politicians are generally intelligent, articulate and hardworking. So I think they do understand the difference between a travel allowance that pays $224 a day, and one that reimburses up to $234 a night for actual expenditure incurred.
It is not that hard. In fact, it is so easy, that both private and public-sector organisations use a similar system to cover travel expenses.
Politicians should be like the rest of the community and put in their receipts in order to claim reimbursement of actual expenditure incurred when travelling or staying away from home.
Better still, our politicians must lead and set the highest ethical standards by their own behaviour, for the communities they claim to represent (and not detract from that as their current behaviour does).
Politicians, particularly ministers and parliamentary office holders, who cannot, or will not, meet community standards in this regard should stand down from parliament and let someone else have a go at representing their communities.
CHRISTOPHER PURGACZ, Goodwood
No entitlement
HAVING made an absolute hash of both transport and heritage, Transport Minister Stephan Knoll now refuses to give information about tens of thousands of dollars of taxpayers’ money he has wrongly claimed.
The sense of entitlement is sickening at a fraught time like this.
He must go before he becomes as big a liability to an otherwise well-performing government, as Jack Snelling and John Rau were to the last one.
P . THOMAS, Goodwood
Feeding the ducks
IF Stephan Knoll is demoted from the ministry over his dubious parliamentary allowance claims, maybe his once-in-a-generation planning reform will be fed to the ducks.
And not a single house will be demolished on the intersection of Magill and Portrush roads. And the open-space levy can be rediverted from administering higher and denser living, to open space.
The wishes of the ordinary people might be given priority over the mysterious machinations of the North Terrace mob after all, if only by default.
We can dream.
MARGARET MINNEY, Royston Park
Losing faith
HOW can the public have faith in our elected leaders if they are continually unable to follow their own laws with regards to pecuniary benefits?
Let alone the fact this is been going on for years, so conscience alone would tell a reasonable person that some moneys being claimed are just not right.
Elected to represent means exactly that, and I have a hard time these days determining which representatives actually represent me.
ALEX NEILL, Netherby
Let voters decide
NOTHING new about pollies rorting travel and other perks.
It doesn’t seem to matter what party they belong to, or if they are independent, these rorts continue. It is totally unacceptable. These perks must be unambiguous.
And perhaps the electorates should decide on perks, not politicians or so-called independent tribunals.
Any abuse of these perks must involve total payback of these funds plus interest. And if there is severe abuse, being sacked from parliament and possibly facing criminal charges.
These overpaid mouthpieces should be like Caesar’s wife – beyond reproach, not greedy and grasping.
PETER JAMES LOCK, Port Lincoln
Blame junior
AS Carolyn points out in Online (The Advertiser, Thursday), we probably shouldn’t be blaming Stephan Knoll for the huge blunder in his travel allowance claim.
This is because it would probably have been created by an office junior.
It appears most projects emanating from his office have been. Bring on the reshuffle.
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
Expenses met
SO, let me get this right.
If I’m, say, a public servant who lives in the Barossa Valley, and has to commute to Adelaide each day for work, I have to meet my own expenses.
Then we have an MP who is in similar circumstances but he can claim expenses for the same journey.
If I, the same public servant, were to file a claim for expenses that I was not entitled to, there would be repercussions.
In all likelihood, I would lose my job. Not so the parliamentarian.
The majority of politicians are seen as graduates of the school of rational ignorance, so they come with a ready-made excuse.
GREG GADE, Ingle Farm
Power tariffs
THE proposed changes to electricity tariffs may mean a substantial price rise for almost everyone (“SA Government pushes retailers to use ‘solar sponge’ tariffs to cut household power prices”, advertiser.com.au, Tuesday).
Before 10am and after 3pm is the time when most people need to use airconditioning and other appliances.
What they are saying is, don’t use your heating to warm up on these cold mornings. And in the summer after a hot day, don’t cool down after 3pm.
These proposals are just to generate more revenue.
If the power companies cannot cope with all the solar generated, do not penalise the people who have invested heavily in solar.
Power companies need to invest similarly in modern equipment to match the extra input.
PETER BROWN, Wynn Vale
Engine on fire
SEEING the article “That’s a real roo route” (The Advertiser, Thursday) brought back memories of being a passenger on one of the first Qantas 747 Spirit of Australia long-haul milk-run flights to Europe in June 1976.
It was a year’s wages – $1400 return.
En route to Rome after refuelling, smoke started to fill the cabin. I bravely pulled up the window shutter, noticing the closest engine was ablaze, and alerted a cabin crew member.
Fortunately, no one saw it, because the plane was half-empty. Many had disembarked to holiday closer to Australia.
The remainder were Australian clergy en route to Rome. No one panicked.
After being advised by a calm pilot of the need to shut down a problem engine, all one could hear was the clatter of rosary beads.
Shoeless cabin crew threw us dandy Amscol ice-cream tubs from a cardboard box.
The plane was placed at an angle for a five-hour return flight, ejecting 90,000 litres of fuel.
A pilot reassured us he could fly this plane on one engine if required.
Returning to Singapore, a replacement engine was awaiting on the near tarmac. All could view the effect of a burnt engine.
After an overnight fix and hotel stay, we arrived in Rome 24 hours later.
Thank you, Qantas. Professional and calm, even under pressure and on three engines.
CLAUDIA TREGONING, South Plympton
Aussies overseas
AT any given time, there are about one million Australians living and working overseas, for whatever reason.
The Foreign Affairs and Trade Department has said about 357,000 Australians and permanent residents have returned to Australia since March.
This leaves about 643,000 still overseas.
So let’s do the maths: If only half of these had come home, to uncertainty and unemployment, that means 321,500 would now be drawing on JobSeeker and JobKeeper.
The Federal Government is saving heaps on those Aussies being overseas.
Yet, they are being told that they should have come home already, and are being treated as non-Australians.
These Australians are sick of the assumptions and the rhetoric of politicians.
ANDY NEWMAN, Gawler East
Voting changes
THE Electoral Reform Society of SA fully supports optional preferential voting for lower-house elections.
If a voter has a preference for only one, or several, candidates, then that voter should vote accordingly, and not be encouraged to give preferences to all candidates.
While it is also proposed to abolish political posters, it is noted there is no mention of banning how-to-vote cards.
If how-to-vote cards are to remain, it should be stipulated that those providing these need to show how they would preference all candidates.
This would be a useful guide, assisting voters in making their choice on which and how many of the candidates to vote for.
DEANE CRABB, Electoral Reform Society of SA secretary
Rates relief
RATHER than admitting the passing of the mother of all rate-setting errors – $13.28 instead of $1328 for an average house (“Council fees don’t add up”, The Advertiser, Wednesday), and then adding to it with another error, the staff and elected members of the Clare and Gilbert Valleys Council may have been better advised to turn abject embarrassment into a political opportunity.
This could have been done by declaring groundbreaking COVID-19 rates relief, to be repaid when times in this state get better.
As to the need for council mergers, and higher-quality staff and members, to avoid making the Vicar of Dibley look like the BHP board.
I will leave that for others to ponder.
DAVID HALL, Tranmere
Green integrity
OUR governments want environmental standards while totally opposing an independent environmental-protection authority to enforce them.
Where does integrity fit in?
IAN CARMAN, Magill
THURSDAY, JULY 23
Footy distancing
AS a Crows member who went to the game on Monday night at Adelaide Oval, I am quite bemused at all the back patting going on regarding the return of a bigger crowd. That was not my experience.
The 1.5m rule was all but forgotten when buying food, where people would lean across to reach for hot food or a drink from the fridge less than 30cm away. It was the same in the aisles in between quarters.
I was seated in seat one of my row and had hundreds of people file past me less than 30cm away from my seat at each break. Having seating away from the edge of aisles would have been better.
Having said that, people sitting in front and behind were less than a 1m away, with the person behind me constantly coughing and spluttering. How can this be called successful, safe social distancing?
I was lucky enough to be one of the 500 Crows supporters who got a ticket to the Showdown, and the way social distancing was implemented at this game with the seating was much better than what I witnessed Monday night.
While the return of crowds at the game is a wonderful thing, the events in Victoria are a stark warning that we cannot be complacent.
There is still work to be done to make going to the football a safe and fun experience for all.
NICOLE BERRY, Port Noarlunga South
Chips are down
GOOD to see the Crows fans have made a sacrifice for Port people ahead of this week’s game at Adelaide Oval.
Suffering through the undersized servings of hot chips, so that the Port faithful can have full-size serves this weekend, is most noble of them.
I commend their sacrifice.
Hopefully the warm inner glow from this will console them in their hour, or hours, of need.
PAUL BUXTON, Westbourne Park
Health relief
THE value of our emergency services family is beyond price, and a simple thankyou to those involved in any emergency response, can go a long way.
It may come as a surprise to some that the CFS set up the Health State Control Centre for the COVID-19 emergency. A special mention must go to CFS officer Brenton Eden for his role in this.
SA Police Assistant Commissioner Noel Bamford and Chief Inspector Adam Rice, along with the officers manning our borders, undoubtedly deserve recognition and gratitude for their efforts.
I thank those cross-border communities who’ve been generously keeping our frontline police supplied with coffee, food and firewood.
To our volunteers and staff, because of your dedication, each and every South Australian has the confidence to live without fear and holds comfort in knowing they can rely on you in times of need.
On behalf of all South Australians, thank you.
COREY WINGARD, Emergency Services Minister
Burning errors
THE people who are staying home causing a shortage of firewood by burning their combustion heaters all day long might be excellent on their Zoom gadgets.
But they clearly have not yet mastered the art of a clean-burning fireplace, judging by the thick palls of smoke coming out of the chimneys.
Come on people.
If you don’t get this right by using your airflow correctly, we are all going to be banned from having wood fires in the future because of the pollution you are causing.
It is distressing for the environment and people with allergies.
Our children need clean air on this planet long after we are gone.
MOIRA NEWMAN, Hawthorndene
Fund injection
NOT everyone has forgotten the Whitlam government’s difficulties (“Costly spending”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
In fact, he was attempting to do what Prime Minister Scott Morrison is now doing: stimulate a flagging economy.
And with far less resources with which to do it.
In those days the government had to actually borrow money in order to do that. Nowadays governments print more money and allocate it where they believe it will do the job.
Regardless of the circumstances, the issue is the legality and morality of sacking of a democratically elected government, which the palace letters reflect, was more to do with political and personal expediency brought on by the global recession in which the Whitlam government was immersed.
Does anyone believe the Morrison Government should be sacked due to the COVID-19 crisis?
No.
Not only because the Opposition is largely supporting its policy, in contrast to the blood lust of the Fraser opposition at the time.
But also in respect of a fundamental, democratic principal which values the validity and weight of a majority electoral vote over its official tenure.
WAYNE NELSEN, Collinswood
Spicy printing
SO KFC has made a decision to produce 3D-printed chicken nuggets using artificial meat (“KFC plan for ‘printed’ chicken nuggets”, The Advertiser, Wednesday).
There are other important questions to be answered about such plans.
For example, will these new artificial chicken nuggets be made using free-range artificial meat, as well as 3D-printed artificial secret herbs and spices?
And down the track, might McDonald’s and Hungry Jacks follow suite using artificial beef, pickles, sauces, cheese and lettuce?
ROBERT SHURVILLE, Tailem Bend
Remote pollies
JAY asks us why parliaments can’t be run remotely (“Text talk”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
As he says, they could use Zoom, or an equivalent developed for governments and councils.
If they did this, however, it would turn out to be too big a success.
Think of the savings. Our politicians might miss out, though.
No early finish to the week to allow for travelling.
And how would they buy their Canberra properties without a travel and accommodation allowance?
GARRY TURNER, Port Pirie
Working Port
I APPRECIATE most people’s concern re the Port River dolphins.
I am a retired professional fisherman and have probably spent more time with them than most people.
I have watched them at close range surfing the waves in a group in 30-knot winds having the time of their lives.
I love them as much as anyone, but this is where they should be – not in a polluted working port.
But if they choose to they will be at risk.
The power of the people has managed to persuade the government to reduce the speed limit to 7 knots, which, if you know dolphins, you realise that the speed is no threat to them.
What more do people want?
Are they trying to persuade the government to shut down a working port?
Some sense of reality is needed here.
MARTY NELSON, Port Lincoln
Wrapped in tape
AUSTRALIA’S federal environmental protection laws have been undergoing a 20-year statutory review (“Green tape cut for new uranium mine projects”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
When I read and hear reports that the Federal Government will be slashing green tape in an attempt to unlock job-creating projects and delay and costs for industry, I shudder.
Our present environmental laws need to be greatly strengthened, not slashed.
Now, more than ever before, our wild places and native animals need much stronger statutory protection.
In the US, President Donald Trump has recently cut environmental-protection laws in a significant way.
We must not let this happen in Australia.
BRIAN MEASDAY, Myrtle Bank
Green positives
WHEN so much environmental news is troubling, along come the three school-student winners whose essays convince us that fixing our future does matter (“Fixing our future matters”, The Advertiser, Monday).
They offer a variety of solutions to the ecological emergencies of our world.
Congratulations to the students, and to the farsighted organisers of such a competition. Let’s hope the positive ideas are being listened to, and tested, by current decision-makers.
JULANNE SWEENEY, Eden Hills
Display Aussie
THAT South Australian businesses are signing up to the new Buy Aussie platform is great news (“SA businesses sign up for Buy Aussie push”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
But it is to be hoped that supermarket chains operating in Australia do so as well.
And actually do more than what they do now, which is to pay lip-service only to the concept.
Where do most of them actually put Australian-owned-and-made products?
On the bottom shelves, while they give all the prime eye-level space to multinationals who don’t give a damn about Australia and only care how much profit they can make out of us.
That absurd Australian-made graph should be abandoned. As, where it is claimed “Packed in Australia using 7 per cent Australian product”, they never tell us where the other 93 per cent comes from.
In addition, they should all stop selling imported pork, bacon and ham and only stock the world’s best: Australian.
Aldi, Coles, Costco, Foodland, IGA and Woolworths, etc, you make your big profits here.
So actually support Australia.
ROBERT McCORMICK, Bridgewater
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22
Leading nation
I DON’T agree with Ray Humphrey that the Queen cannot comment on matters that relate to her, or her representative, that happened “so long ago” (“Queen silence”, The Advertiser, Monday).
She was involved long ago and she is still our head of state.
The Queen’s secretary Sir Martin Charteris states in the recently revealed letters that the Queen was reading Sir John Kerr’s letters and following them. The Queen knew Kerr was considering a dismissal. Australia truly needs its own head of nation appointed with powers that we have devised ourselves.
I welcome Christopher Pyne’s support for an Australian republic (“Time is right to be a republic”, The Advertiser, Monday). As the Australian Republic Movement progresses through consultation, the kind of republic we want to see is one with one of our own as a head of nation and not a foreign king or queen.
DEBORAH CROSSING, Australian Republic Movement SA convener
Costly spending
THE thing everyone has forgotten about the palace letters is that the Whitlam government was about to send us as a country broke.
All the social-welfare plans and ideas sounded and looked great on paper but still had to be paid for by someone.
Labor then, and still now, is quite happy to let others pay for its grand schemes and ideas because it doesn’t have to be around to clear the debts it creates.
BRYAN CLARKE, Andrews Farm
Thrilling marriage
WHAT a great picture of Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (“Bea-trice on Her Majesty’s secret service”, The Advertiser, Monday).
Along with her sister Eugenie, they have been treated cruelly because of their perceived lack of fashion sense.
How thrilled the Queen must have been when seeing one of her designer dressers worn by her granddaughter.
If that wasn’t enough pleasure for both of them, Beatrice was also wearing the tiara for the event, which I consider the best one that granny has.
PATRICIA AHRENS, Evanston
Genuine asylum
WAKE up, Krystal Ball (“Text Talk”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
The overwhelming majority of asylum seekers on Manus and Nauru have been deemed genuine refugees. Their indefinite detention without charge is to serve the depraved political purposes of this cruel and un-Christian government.
PETER SCHULZ, St Agnes
Quality overpass
CLEARLY the state Transport Department loves spending hundreds of millions of dollars designing and building world-class road improvements.
The new interchange at Darlington is amazing – just like Los Angeles.
Is there really a business case for these works? Or are we just shifting the congestion to the next intersection? South Road has been restricted for more than a decade. At what cost?
Businesses and houses have been destroyed. Does every improvement have to be world’s-best practice? Would the money have been better spent on upgrading public transport? Overseas, many cities have stopped building flyovers and freeways, as it just encourages more cars.
JEREMY BROWNE, Hindmarsh
Game of fuels
WE are all reluctantly witnessing and participating in one of the most outrageous commercial games ever played on the public.
Sometimes hourly, but certainly daily.
This huge game of petrol pricing must surely come under the heading of financial abuse.
BRIAN JOHN FARNAM, Littlehampton
Future of youth
TERRIFIC to read the essays by the young people on ideas for the future, generally on tackling climate change (“Fixing our future matters”, The Advertiser, Monday). The winning idea of taxing billionaires appeals. Some billionaires, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, already invest their money in solutions for the future. But how do we enforce taxes on the others?
Governments are effectively billionaires. Many, though not all, are committed to action on climate change. Why not ask each government for a contribution to an international fund to tackle the big issues of climate change, both through action and research?
These and other ideas of young people should be encouraged. It is their futures that matter more than those of seniors like me.
How about adding one senator for each state to be elected only by young people, say between 16 and 30?
Dr JOCK CHURCHMAN, Firle
Controlling sand
I AM continually amazed that some councils don’t get the idea to solve problems by copying what has worked for ages in other countries.
In Britain and the US, groynes are used to stop the movement of sand.
A simple Google search shows exactly what to do. It is not rocket science.
MICHAEL PRUS, Fairview Park
Inquiry outcome
IT seems the State Government wants to throw the book at people not adhering to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
This sends the right message. It’s complacency that spreads a virus.
In March, The Advertiser reported that two Americans, while positive, fled the state and flew back to the US. The police were not going to be prosecuting them. A day later, it was reported they were now under police investigation (due to public outrage, no doubt).
I wonder if the police have finished their investigation and what the results are.
Will they be brought back to spend time with the Victorians who have been caught?
BOB KORBEL, Tusmore
No exceptions
IT seems Victorians think rules do not apply to them.
How many are there crossing the border with fake medical conditions, etc?
Maybe I am naive but if we have closed the borders, should that not mean no one is allowed in?
If we keep making exceptions, we might end up being the ones trying to escape to Victoria.
DOMENICA CAVUOTO, Klemzig
Opening for wave
EVENTS in Victoria have brought to an end any delusion of Australian exceptionalism when it comes to the coronavirus.
The aggressive push by business interests to prematurely unravel safeguards, and the failure of governments to fully appreciate the scale and duration of support and safeguards required, has provided the opening for the second wave to occur in Victoria and NSW.
It may extend to other states. The events of this year have merely been a rehearsal for future pandemics and for the impacts of climate change.
The staged and incremental billion-dollar responses so far will need to become trillion-dollar in scale. The old economics is no more. The new economy is yet to be created.
Meanwhile, in South Australia, masks should be made compulsory and the crowds at AFL games dramatically cut back.
STEWART SWEENEY, North Adelaide
Positive message
THE Federal Government is responsible for the shape and eligibility of its JobKeeper stimulus.
However, it’s also responsible for lessening the daily doom and gloom that discourages the community from contributing to the economy.
The continuation of JobKeeper needs to be accompanied by greater positivity from all sides for the community confidence to re-emerge, reinvigorating our near-dormant hospitality and tourism sectors.
ELDERT HOEBEE, Torrens Park
Oval no luxury
BY jingo, Paul Turner had it easy, having the cowpats picked up before his footy matches (“Putting foot in it”, The Advertiser, Saturday).
No such luck for the Pulteney Grammar rugby union boys in the late 1950s. Our home ground was in the south Parklands, directly opposite the now-demolished Parkside Hotel. A herd of dairy cows were agisted there, as mentioned in a poem I penned years ago:
We played where dairy cows would graze, and a minefield of small green heaps greeted us on Saturdays.
“Tackle him Smith!” someone yelled. I dived and slid on my chest And lifted my chin as this warm green thing slid neatly into my vest.
I got up and shook the damn thing out, a voice: “What a mess you are!”
A wary look, a guarded sniff; ’twas akin to Bolivar.
MIKE SMITH, Ridgehaven
Powerful kick
PORT Adelaide maestro Robbie Gray was never in doubt to ice the game post-siren against the Carlton Blues.
It was the “Gray-test” goal and finish to an AFL match this year.
BRAD WATTS, Curtin, ACT
Wonky approach
IT constantly amazes me that so many of these full-time footballers are so poor at goalkicking.
Too many of them do not run straight at the goals. Their kick might go straight but that means it is usually goes straight through for a behind.
Where is the coaching? Straighten up, lads.
Buddy Franklin is one of the few who can run at an angle and still bag a goal.
PAUL TURNER, Dernancourt
Tough isolation
SO the poor Victorian AFL footballers have to stay away from Victoria for at least six weeks.
What a shame. They should join the army and be away for six months.
Do we hear the soldiers complaining? No way. And they don’t get the pay and conditions the footballers get. Toughen up, you wusses.
DI FEUTRILL, Golden Grove
TUESDAY, JULY 21
Republic models
WE probably have one of the best and most democratic forms of government in the world.
Therefore, calls for us to change our system to a republic must be carefully considered (“Time is right to become a republic”, The Advertiser, Monday).
A number of republic models that come to mind would be far from an improvement. The custom for the past 30 years of appointing only Australian governor-generals should be part of the constitution.
However, I’m struggling to think of any real benefits that other changes would deliver. But the risks of undermining one of the most politically stable nations on Earth are very real.
Those pushing for a republic fail to detail the model they think will be an improvement.
The USA? Italy? Venezuela? Zimbabwe?
BRUCE FARQUHAR, Hyde Park
System working
AS Christopher Pyne notes, recently released letters prove there was no royal conspiracy when then governor-general Sir John Kerr used his reserve powers, without telling the Queen, to dismiss then prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1975.
The Dismissal was democracy in action, since it allowed the Australian people to decide the issue via an immediate election.
It also showed that the governor-general is effectively our head of state.
The Australian Constitution, one of the oldest in the world, has given us stable government for nearly 120 years.
As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
ROSLYN PHILLIPS, Tea Tree Gully
Road study
LET’S hope the geotechnical exploration by the experts looking at the North-South Corridor remember to check the hydrology (“South Rd option probe”, The Advertiser, Monday). We don’t want another Darlington episode. Do we?
Given they’ll start in August, we can assume an underground stream or two will be present.
PETER K. JONES, Glen Osmond
Give sanctuary
I REFER to the presumed fate of yet another dolphin in the ironically named Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary (“fears held over Port dolphin calf’s fate”, The Advertiser, Monday).
My understanding of “sanctuary” is a place of refuge or protection. Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary is described on its website as “one of the gems of metropolitan Adelaide”.
Maybe the gem is hidden away like a pearl. At least as far as those dolphins seeking refuge or protection are concerned.
WARREN LEWIS, Glengowrie
Dolphin haven
THE speed limit imposed on boating in the Port River is obviously completely inadequate.
Wonderful volunteers keep on eye on the health of the dolphins and report frequent speeding. Sadly, we read that yet another dolphin, Tiffany, is carrying injuries and her five-month-old calf, Galaxy, is missing presumed dead due to boat strike.
Dolphins can’t read signs. They don’t understand boundaries, and they need immediate respect and protection from the only people who can help. Governments need to act now to ensure a true dolphin sanctuary is a safe haven free from pollution and danger.
DIANE CORNELIUS, Seacliff Park
Masking reality
IT is embarrassing at times to see some of the political leadership in Australia.
Currently Victoria is the leader in the way they are treating the current pandemic.
Victoria has finally decided it may be a good idea if the wearing of face masks in Melbourne becomes mandatory.
This should have happened a month ago and would likely have saved hundreds of people from catching the virus. Plus a number of deaths.
GRAHAM WEEKLEY, Flagstaff Hill
Andrews backflip
IN April, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was warning healthy people not to wear face masks, based on expert advice.
Now, he has introduced summary penalties for any Victorian not wearing a mask.
His constant bungling and contradictory behaviour is concerning at a time in which Mr Andrews’ Labor Party colleague Shaoquett Moselmane, over the border in NSW, is under investigation for alleged nefarious links to Beijing.
The ALP, thanks to individuals like these, is struggling to prove its competence.
ANTHONY QUARTUCCIO, Lockleys
Needing parking
I AM disappointed to hear of Adelaide City Council’s plan to convert 300 free parking spaces into paid parks.
I, like so many in the CBD, rely on these free parks.
I live in the CBD and am currently working from home. This means my vehicle is parked.
I cannot afford to pay for any parking. It’s difficult enough to survive in this current climate without paying for a daily park.
I share my accommodation with two other family members. The parking payment will be higher than my current rent per week. I will be forced to depart the CBD.
KIRSTEN POWELL, Adelaide
No sculpture now
WHEN our finances are tight, why on Earth are we even considering paying to bring the sculpture Uniting a Nation from Sydney?
It was designed for Sydney and rejected by them.
The money spent on transporting it to Adelaide, and the ongoing costs, would be better spent on public housing. And the ongoing costs could be used for ongoing maintenance.
M. ISABEL STORER, North Adelaide
Essential work
IT is amazing that all workers considered essential managed to change their methodology to incorporate prevention of the spread of COVID-19.
But our elected politicians (our employees) have not managed to do this and have delayed parliament further.
This means there is no debate, no questions from the Opposition about the upcoming economic statement and no checks and balances to decisions.
CAROL LLOYD, Goodwood
Merge councils
I AM amazed that a city the size and population of Adelaide has so many councils in the metropolitan area.
Brisbane has one.
If ratepayers and future state governments wish to save money in the long term, may I suggest the Liberal and Labor parties set up a bipartisan council-transition group to reduce the number of councils.
Areas could be divided into Adelaide City Council, Northern Beaches Council, Southern Beaches Council, Southern Suburbs Council, Eastern Suburbs Council, Tea Tree Gully and Salisbury Council. Excess buildings could be sold, leased or turned into community centres.
Frontline staff numbers should be able to be maintained, with some redundancies on offer. Ratepayers should be given the opportunity to decide on ward or general representation in their council area, with a maximum of 15 councillors including the mayor. At least that would halve the number of councils, with money saved by having fewer mayors, councillors and chief executives.
KATHRYN INGLEBY, Burton
Local factories
OTHER than the pessimistic coronavirus news coming out of Victoria, the most worrying headline to me last week was “Chinese takeaway”, boasting of our high level of trade with China (The Advertiser”, Tuesday).
As a country we do have to be wary that everything coming out of a communist dictatorship like China is under political control. And that includes trade. Trade can be switched on and off like a tap for a country like China and over-reliance on it puts our economy at risk.
Surely the time has now come for every item sold in this country to be clearly marked with its country of manufacture, and Australian-made goods made especially obvious.
Major efforts should be made by the government to diversify our trading partners. And overseas aid should be used to help in building manufacturing plants to produce the items we need. This would have the advantage of giving these countries an ongoing income to assist in their own long-term future.
A. PHILLIPS, Craigburn Farm
Dixon driven
I THINK it’s about time I sing the praises of Port Adelaide Football Club, which is doing so well this season.
Top of the ladder by a game, plus percentage, the Power have responded positively when challenged during several games this season. And they made no excuses for their poor performance against Brisbane.
Port has arguably the most iconic player in the AFL at the present time in Charlie Dixon.
This intimidating man mountain tries so hard all the time regardless of the situation during matches. Football writer Mark Robinson described him as “Baz (Barry Hall) reincarnated – without the flailing fists but with the same attitude” (“Big, bad, bustling Charlie”, The Advertiser, Monday).
He makes me proud to be a Port Adelaide supporter.
MORRIS CICOGNA, Rosslyn Park
Eddie an icon
I THINK “Eddie ready to go” missed the point of Kane Cornes’s article (The Advertiser, Monday).
It wasn’t so much about Eddie’s playing ability, which, by the way, is still at a marvellous level, it was more about what he brings to the club.
With their culture, with giving their supporter base something to look forward to and with his skills and infectious enthusiasm. Not to mention the fact what he could do for the youngsters coming through the system as a mentor. Massive mistake by the Adelaide Football Club.
JACK KYRIACOU, St Morris
MONDAY, JULY 20
Protect walkers
NICE try Trevor (“Cycling limits”, The Advertiser, Friday).
I have tried to bring the subject of speed limits for cycling up with the previous government, but to no avail. I suspect that the voice of organisations like Bicycle SA are much louder than that of pedestrians.
In my view, wheeled vehicles should slow when overtaking or nearing pedestrians, and the passing speed should be no greater than walking speed.
That way we would all get a fair and safe go.
IAN NAPIER, St Peters
Bring them home
LIKE you, Andy Newman, I have a son stuck overseas, with his family (“Flying home”, The Advertiser, Friday).
There must be countless Aussies in a similar position, stuck between a rock and a hard place and denied entry to their own country by the logistics and crippling cost of getting home.
Could not the Federal Government consider charter flights from some major cities for ordinary Australians wanting to get home, as they did for travellers from India?
The excuse of charging for quarantine, and that they have had enough time to get home, hardly seems fair.
Many were obligated to remain where they were, with airfares and plans in place to return. But the goalposts have shifted and most airlines cannot honour these return fares now.
Those that can are price gouging with enormous increases in price, due somewhat to the capping of numbers by the government.
It seems to me that if you hold return tickets, and had every intention of returning before these decisions, the government has an obligation to its citizens to get them home safely and to quarantine them at its cost. Fair’s fair. Isn’t that the Aussie way?
F. BOLLARD, Felixstow
Sentence concern
THE last sentence in the article by Law Society SA president Tim White, in my opinion, summarises it all (“Law has the balance right on discounts”, The Advertiser, Friday).
His article relates to the contentious issue of a 40 per cent reduction in jail time for offenders.
The comments I am referring to state “the period of imprisonment imposed by a court should reflect the severity of the offending involved”.
It is this with which I disagree, Mr White.
Sentences imposed by courts repeatedly show that the penalties, in fact, do not reflect the severity of crimes committed. They too often appear to consider the rights and circumstances of offenders and less so those of victims.
I am confident the court of public opinion would agree with my sentiments.
BRUCE BURFORD, Adelaide
Tax dilemma
I AM a part-time working married mum with two little kids.
I have chosen to keep my work details in my maiden name and my family details in my married name.
Since my workplace, and other workplaces, now have to lodge our summaries direct to the tax office through MyGov, I have found myself with no access to any of my tax information without going through an accountant. Nor can I do a tax return without going through an accountant.
This is because my MyGov account doesn’t recognise my maiden name at all, and there is no option to have an account in both names.
Surely it is discriminatory, and is an antiquated way of thinking, for a government that is meant to be liberal and pro-equality for working women and mothers in the workplace.
Why should we be punished for keeping our working life and family life separate to each other?
TRISH LYONS, Adelaide
Have political go
A CORRESPONDENT draws a long bow when he equates the fact that Tony Abbott has a wife and daughters and so he could not be misogynistic (“Abbott devoted”, The Advertiser, Friday).
I wonder if Mr Abbott would have enjoyed seeing his female family members spoken about in the way Julia Gillard had to suffer. Mr Abbott showed the all-too-familiar attitude that anything goes in politics.
MAUREEN GOLDIE, Blackwood
Animal care
MICHAEL Prus shows his lack of compassion for all animals (“Control pests”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Not only foxes, cats and rats, but those poor creatures suffering in agony in the cruel fur and skins trade.
I wonder if he has seen the results of councils who try to eliminate these pests?
I have. Dead pets and dead and suffering native wildlife who eat the baits and the baited “pests”. Also, I have seen the damage done to the water supply and environment by the poisons.
Killing does not solve problems, it creates bigger ones.
G. HANNAH, Kensington
Queen silence
AFTER reading the column by Jenny Hocking, Emeritus Professor at Monash University, I am quite frankly disappointed (“Opinion”, The Advertiser, Tuesday).
I would have thought that a mature woman of her standing would be aware that the Queen cannot answer any questions or get involved in any discussion about what had taken place so long ago, so this has to be from one side only.
Not very fair.
I would have been more understanding if the column had been written by a staunch republican young man, but not a woman of her experience.
It seems that the saying “let sleeping dogs lie” does not appeal to her. But she may consider that, without it, there would not be much interest in the column.
RAY HUMPHREY, Golden Grove
Show the money
REGARDING the article “People power’s fight for Stobie”, will the North Adelaide residents pay for the upkeep of the former Stobie home should approval be granted for state heritage listing (The Advertiser, Friday)?
DRAGAN COJICH, Mawson Lakes
Planning rush
THE rush by the State Government to implement an unprepared phase two rural Planning and Design Code seems like a recipe for disaster.
Clearly the electronic e-planning system, which is essential to the new planning process, is not yet ready, and possibly never will be.
Councils and planning professionals have made this clear to the State Planning Commission, which seems determined to press on regardless.
In an attempt to circumvent the predictable chaos in the assessment of development requests, the state Planning Department has foreshadowed that it will take over from councils the processing and approval of planning applications.
This will disenfranchise local councils and communities in determining the future of their built environment and amenity.
This deeply flawed attempt at implementing the new planning system must be suspended until the policy settings have been clarified and the implementing processes properly established.
If this takes another year, then so be it. The government must get it right, however long it takes.
WARREN JONES, Protect our Heritage Alliance convener
Owning Crows
I REFER to the excellent article about the AFL holding the Adelaide Football Club’s AFL licence in lieu of a $11.3m debt negotiated between the AFL, SANFL and the AFC in 2014 (“Strain of the Crows’ camp that won’t end”, The Advertiser, Friday).
Rather than investigating spending $65m (presumably involving more indebtedness) on a new centre in the Adelaide Parklands, as was the case recently, I would like to see the AFC pay back its debt to the AFL.
Thereby ownership of the club can be returned to its members.
Then financial club members can hold all board members to account in the traditional way.
The AFL operates and controls a professional sports competition worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
And at the same time it can control clubs within that competition.
Its honesty, openness and transparency must be of the highest order. Is it? Who would know?
CHRISTOPHER PURGACZ, Goodwood
Eddie ready to go
COULD not help but respond to the article from Kane Cornes “Letting Eddie go Adelaide’s biggest blue” (“The Advertiser, Friday).
It beggars belief that Mr Cornes could make a case for the current downfall of the Adelaide Football Club was because it let Eddie Betts go back to the Carlton Football Club.
Crows football director Mark Ricciuto was absolutely correct in citing Betts’s age of 33 as the major factor in letting him go.
There is no argument concerning Betts’s football ability. But he has come under criticism for not performing in finals when his talent has been most needed.
Sure, Betts has collected the imagination and admiration of many supporters, but every player has an end date to a club winning a premiership. Betts’s end date had arrived.
DES KEMP, St Agnes
Sure Betts
CONSIDERING I am a football fan of nothing Port Adelaide, I, through gritted teeth, have to 100 per cent agree with everything Kane Cornes has said about the Crows recruiting.
And especially about Eddie Betts. It’s time to go Rob Chapman, Andrew Fagan, and the whole recruiting team. You are the weakest links.
COLIN NOTTLE, Booleroo Centre
Move on Adelaide
I AM getting sick of hearing about the Crows’ infamous camp. It’s history.
But, on the other hand, it would be interesting to hear about other camps such as Carlton’s nude-swimming one.
I say one in, all in.
ROD YATES, Hallett Cove
Enough of camp
I AM getting sick and tired of the time this Adelaide Crows camp matter is dragging on.
Is the football world so bereft that it cannot think of anything else to talk about? If you want to carry on, why not get the people who actually conducted the camp to explain? Or put the thing to bed, for God’s sake.
Scott Camporeale had a say about his first camp with Carlton. That did not sound very appropriate either. Is everyone going to go back and drag that over the coals now?
If they want to do it properly, perhaps they should look at every club and the pre-season camps that have been held.
Or grow up and give this one a rest. How many more years are they going to talk about this camp?
ROGER BATES, Paralowie