YOUR SAY: ‘A person they believe had the most influence’

‘Greta Thunberg has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year 2019.’

(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 9, 2019 Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg holds a press conference with other young activists to discuss the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference COP25 at the 'IFEMA - Feria de Madrid' exhibition centre, in Madrid. - Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who became the voice of conscience for a generation facing the climate change emergency, was named December 11, 2019 as Time magazine's 2019 Person of the Year. The 16-year-old first made headlines with her solo strike against global warming outside Sweden's parliament in August 2018."We can't just continue living as if there was no tomorrow, because there is a tomorrow. That is all we are saying," Thunberg told Time. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

Time will tell

SWEDISH teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year 2019.

The award is given to a person they believe had the most influence on things that happened throughout the year, be they for good or bad reasons.

The renowned civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jnr was a recipient of the award, as were ruthless dictators Hitler and Stalin.

While Greta doesn't fall into the class of the latter two, the choice will no doubt be controversial.

Rob Richards, Walkerston

Battling bureaucracy

JUST last week, David Littleproud announced another Federal inquiry into land management and bushfires.

He has a history of grandstanding and announcing inquiries that are quickly forgotten the moment he touches down in Canberra.

This inquiry will probably be no different, but perhaps it might provide answers to why the Morrison Government has refused to support Queensland's request for a large, firefighting air tanker.

I have already tasked Queensland's independent Inspector-General of Emergency Management to review the state's emergency preparation and response to the current fire crisis.

I too want to hear where our efforts were most effective and where improvement may be needed.

In their own words, the LNP set up IGEM to ensure our firefighters spent "more time on the frontline rather than battling bureaucracy".

By their own party's admission, the IGEM review will "ensure all emergency responses meet high standards".

Yet here we are.

The Palaszczuk Government will continue to work closely with QFES and IGEM to ensure our preparations and responses are in line with best practice.

Craig Crawford, Minister for Fire and Emergency Services

Centenary of Ubobo

ON APRIL 25-27, 2020 the Boyne Valley Historical Society Inc. will be celebrating the Centenary of the Ubobo Soldier Settlement and birth of Ubobo.

We invite all descendants and family of these settlers and interested others, to make contact with the Boyne Valley Historical Society Inc, via the website: boynevalley.org.au

Kathy McLachlan, Boyne Valley

Eyebrows raised

EYEBROWS will surely be raised with the news that the Federal Government has cleared the way for Adani's Carmichael Coal venture to potentially drain 12.5 billion litres of river water annually.

This water would be drained from the Suttor River, a wet season reliant system that feeds the Burdekin catchment.

The present drought that is causing so much suffering to our farmers highlights the surreal nature of such a display of largesse to an international mining corporation.

The amount of fresh water allocated to Adani annually will roughly equate to the annual water usage of Mackay.

Adani seems to have the happy knack of receiving alms from the poor. The company has been allowed, seemingly, a licence to bypass what would be the usual restraints on ordinary citizens.

With Queensland farming communities reeling from years of low rainfall they must feel a sense of wonder that fossil fuel companies like Adani receive such a wonderful gift from our government.

Stephen Bulloch, West Mackay

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