Credit: Alan Moir
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HEALTH
The closure of three longstanding quality community-based Cohealth general practice clinics is both shocking and disappointing. These clinics are all located near public housing estates and provide wraparound bulk-billing healthcare in areas of need. (″Inner-north clinics axe free medical checks and services for thousands″, 17/10).
This patient group has high levels of social disadvantage and complex physical and mental health issues. The care these people receive prevents costly presentations to state-funded hospitals. Additionally, these clinics are integral hubs in the local community, sources of support and referral to social programs.
Their loss will come at great social and economic cost to our community, impacting the most vulnerable. The state government must step in and provide adequate funding to ensure these vital services continue.
Dr Natasha Rabbidge, St Kilda East
Don’t cut essential community services
I was proudly employed for many years at Collingwood CHC, (now part of CoHealth). I marvelled at its inclusive, respectful, non-judgmental, holistic approach and the dedication of many of its staff. My colleagues and I witnessed time and again remarkable health outcomes, both physical and mental, for patients from a range of cultural, economic and social backgrounds; and not only the most vulnerable.
Collingwood’s waiting room sometimes housed a mixture of comfortably well-off patients and clients, along with recently arrived refugees, students and homeless people. Friendly conversations were common.
Collingwood CHC is, and has been, a home away from home for many thousands and has undoubtedly and still does save many lives. Please, state and federal governments, do the decent thing and work out a sustainable plan to fix the old building and adequately and continuously fund this essential service.
Annie Mullarvey, Brunswick East
Society’s priorities are confused
As the federal government prepares to hand over another billion dollars to the US government for tools of war – nuclear submarines that will be obsolete by the time they are delivered – thousands of vulnerable Melburnians are about to be cut off from bulk-billed medical care, with clinics to close in Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington.
Our society’s priorities are completely messed up. Surely, the state and federal governments can come up with a solution to keep these services open.
Josh Meadows, Castlemaine
Spare some change for health, education, arts
Wouldn’t it be amazing if some of the $2 billion earmarked for yet another facelift to the MCG were to be diverted to alleviating some of the shortfalls in aged care nutrition, or indeed any other cause in healthcare, education or the arts that needs crucial funding (instead of cutbacks)? Funding for sports seems to know no bounds in this country – what about everybody else?
Anita Xhafer, Fitzroy North
THE FORUM
Hospital waits
Twice in the past two weeks, I called an ambulance (once from my workplace and the other from my home). On both occasions, the paramedics swiftly arrived and provided outstanding medical care.
Unfortunately, in both cases the system then collapsed upon arrival at the emergency department of a major public hospital. My husband was moved from the ambulance to a corridor. but with no treatment bays free and a backlog of patients, he was moved to the waiting room.
After eight hours’ wait, we were told that there was only one doctor on duty and there was no estimate as to how many more hours we would be waiting. My husband requested the removal of cannula in his hand the paramedics had set up. We left at 1.30am.
While tunnels are dug, and railways built, our hospital system continues to crumble and members of our community are suffering. Every Victorian should be outraged by this.
Margaret Hirth, Rosanna
Don’t blame Beer
It is a sad indictment on all of us for leaving it to one person to feed our elderly with nutritious and palatable food in a setting with ambience. That aged care residences are incapable is a cause for shame. And now we are critical of the crusader in Maggie Beer (“Critics question taxpayer millions for Maggie Beer Foundation to improve food in aged care”, 17/10). Why don’t we all take responsibility and make enjoyable meals a norm for those in care.
Kerry Walker, Natimuk
Providers cut corners
We must improve the quality of food in aged care. The only way is to get rid of the private for-profit operators. It has been shown in child and aged care that if they can improve the bottom line by cutting corners, they will.
Barry Lizmore, Ocean Grove
Foundational issues
I won’t hear a bad word said about Maggie Beer, but history shows the word ″Foundation″ can ring alarm bells.
Paul Custance, Highett
Private schools get real
I have little sympathy for private schools complaining about payroll tax when you consider the money many have spent, or plan to spend, on grandiose pools, learning centres and playing fields.
Having to redirect some of their funds to payroll tax might be a dent in their plans but it’s quite fair to have to pay what government schools have always had to. It’s a bit rich to hear their bleating about the injustice when government schools make do with what they have, and it’s about time taxpayer subsidies for these building programs came to an end.
The problem, in my view, is that private schools are addicted to building ever grander facilities in order to outcompete the competition. But that’s a First World problem in their already privileged world. They need to adjust to reality and move on.
Michael Cormick, Carnegie
A fine mess
You can understand why the Victorian government would want to increase late fees for fines, to bring in an extra $40 million a year. To keep solvent it needs all the revenue it can get (“State plan to hike fine fees a tone-deaf cash grab”, 17/10). Mind you, $40 million is less than two days’ worth of interest payments on the state’s debt. The interest currently runs at about $25 million a day and the net debt is estimated to reach approximately $194 billion by 2028-29.
Lawrie Bradly, Surry Hills
Hard left
The old adage of when socialist governments run out of money, they come after yours, has never been more true than under our current Victorian government (″State plan to hike fine fees”, 17/10). Two consecutive hard left regimes (and I use the word advisedly), are more interested in befriending China than trying to get our once thriving state back on track.
Robyn Williams, Sale
Out of touch
″Tone Deaf Cash Grab″ 17/10 described how vulnerable people are being burdened by fines and penalties on overdue payments. A government spokesperson was quoted: ″There are multiple opportunities for people to ask for a review of their fine in addition to being able to take it to court.″
You have to wonder what world the spokesperson lives in to believe that a vulnerable person has the time, resources or emotional strength to go to the courts on the matter. This response is just an example of an out-of-touch, unresponsive bureaucrat, totally ignorant of how real people live.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds
Empires fall
There are surprisingly few examples of political courage left in the US, so I applaud the Pentagon press corps for standing up to ″censorious, anti-democratic and disturbing″ attempts by War Secretary Pete Hegseth to restrict press freedom (″Pentagon press corps walks out over new rules″, 17/10). Their actions should have led to mass demonstrations across America, condemning the US administration for its continuing moves away from democracy. Alas, hardly even a whimper.
The Pentagon press corps walkout reminds me of another walkout, 108 years ago, almost to the day on October 27, 1917: Lenin announced to the Congress of Soviets that the Bolshevik-led Soviet had seized power. Delegates from two political parties, the SRs and the Mensheviks, walked out, protesting that it had been a Bolshevik coup. Trotsky jeered after them that they had been ″consigned to the dustbin of history″ and Lenin proceeded to build his socialist society. That ″utopia″ lasted 73 years.
In years to come, we might look back on this moment and reflect that this was the moment when press freedom ceased in the US.
Pam Cupper, Dimboola
Cafe etiquette
I’m sure many readers like me enjoy reading The Age in their local cafe and have a ritual of coffee and newspaper time. It was astonished when I was recently asked by an audacious and brazen manager to get up and get the paper myself while seated as I politely asked a waitress if she could hand me the paper on an opposite table as not to inconvenience my fellow patrons.
Is there a special cafe etiquette I’m not familiar with that collecting a newspaper is not part of a waitress’s job description? I was left speechless and flabbergasted, especially for their elderly customers who may have difficulty in accessing newspapers now.
Panagiota Frangopoulos, Malvern
Minding manners
Christopher Bantick (“Transports of Delight?” 17/10) is right to highlight the behaviour of phone users speaking loudly on their mobile phones on public transport. An acquaintance of mine, with more chutzpah than me, when confronted with such noise merchants, would walk up to the phone user and request, “Ask your caller to speak up more so that we can all hear clearly”. It generally invoked the desired silence.
Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley
Life is short
Christopher Bantick must have got out of bed on the wrong side when he wrote yesterday’s article (17/10) about the misery of taking public transport.
I certainly don’t appreciate loud conversations and fare evaders but as an older person with a walker, I generally find people help me getting on and off the tram and I usually get a reserved seat. If the seat is not offered I’m not afraid to ask for it but this rarely happens.
Regarding bags on seats one only needs to politely ask for their removal, same goes for feet on seats as well. Yes, I’m an assertive old woman but life is short so why be intimidated by those who’ve forgotten their manners?
Megan Peniston-Bird, Kew
Carlton forever
I have been a Carlton supporter since l was a kid. My young aunt used to walk me to Princes Park (we lived in West Brunswick) when Carlton played at home. Nobody seems to care about spectators any more, with players like Charlie Curnow (who had four more years with Blues) being traded to play with Sydney and Stephen Silvagni playing for the Saints next year. What about the supporters’ feelings?
Max Waugh, Melbourne
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Liberal Party
Until the Liberals across this country wake up to the fact we are no longer British they are doomed. The British dumped their criminals here and that is where it ended. Accept the truth or remain in opposition forever.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
The federal Liberal Party is not just divided, but probably at war with itself. Their political, social, cultural, ideological and economic divisions are as deep and possibly deeper than they were since the federal election. Eric Palm, Gympie, Qld
Trump world
Donald’s halo may yet crumble.
Meg McPherson, Brighton
As we remember the horrific murders of the Balibo journalists, let us also spare a moment to reflect on over 200 journalists killed in Palestine.
Mary Mandanici, West Preston
Donald Trump won’t commit US troops in Gaza for peacekeeping – he needs them on home soil for his ″lawless″ cities and citizens.
George Djoneff, Mitcham
What a tragic irony that the very person who named the Middle East Trump Peace Agreement after himself is the very same person responsible for dismantling USAID and other major overseas aid relationships.
April von Moger, Ashburton
Furthermore
Australian gas – a gift to everyone, except Australians.
Bill Burns, Bendigo
As a result of increasing city violence, perhaps retail business will move back to the suburbs.
Paul Drakeford, Kew
“I’m 55 with no kids. How should I spend all my money before I die?” (Money, 15/10). George Best once said, ″I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I squandered.” I hope that helps.
John Fife, Box Hill South
Finally
Whilst I applaud the essence of Maggie Beer’s foundation’s attempts to improve the quality of food in aged care facilities, I find the amount of taxpayer funds spent, just a little distasteful.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
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