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This will get my vote
I’ll vote for whichever party commits to holding an inquiry into VicForests and suspending its operations until the findings are publicly released.
Time and time again, VicForests has been exposed as breaching laws and regulations aimed at protecting our native forests and wildlife (“Loggers failed to protect possums”, The Age, 5/11).
Clearly, VicForests is a recidivist lawbreaker and needs to be treated as such.
Premier Dan Andrews’ response to the organisation’s unlawful destruction of our native forests is to introduce draconian laws to prosecute protesters fighting to protect native forests and wildlife. This will only embolden VicForests to increase their illegal destruction of native forests with the knowledge no one is watching.
Rohan Wightman, McKenzie Hill
No basis for the future
Because our natural resources are finite, we cannot, in the long term, satisfy the exponential growth in demand for natural gas with more supply (“Basic economics says the treasurer’s plan will fail”, Letters, 4/11) . That’s economics 101.
Graham Parkes, Halls Gap
Rehabilitation is the key
Sarah Schwartz writes of the poor standard of for-profit healthcare in prisons, especially for First Nations people (“Inmates pay price when profit rules healthcare”, Comment, 4/11). She provides terrible examples of neglect.
The most vulnerable people in our community seem to attract the least attention and outcry at injustices perpetrated against them. This concerns not just healthcare in prisons but basic safety. Look what happened in Don Dale in the Northern Territory and Ashley in Tasmania, both juvenile prisons.
What is going to make a difference? Providing rehabilitation is key to stop recidivism and yet this seems to be a low priority. To enable rehabilitation, healthcare is essential. To provide neither is false economy. Most prisoners have a history of some trauma, whether it’s drug issues, sexual assault or acquired brain injury.
We will be judged as to how we treat our most vulnerable.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
A jarring sensation
The picture Dr David Berger paints (“We’re kidding ourselves on COVID”, Comment, 3/11) captures the jarring sensation I have when I hear people speaking of COVID-19 in the past tense.
COVID-19 is still with us, and like the tides, the waves recede and return, and we just hope the next will not be in the form of a tsunami.
Claire Merry, Wantirna
The tip of the iceberg
Re “Bus drivers advised on dealing with rise in student misbehaviour”, The Sunday Age, 30/10: Bus drivers are only experiencing what teachers are expected to cope with all day long.
For all the talk of funding increases being the panacea to fixing slipping educational outcomes, very little is spoken about when it comes to what to do about increasing numbers of disengaged, antisocial and sometimes even psychotic kids disrupting classrooms with behaviours that schools are not capable of dealing with, and which would be profoundly disturbing to society if they were more widely known.
Name withheld by request
It worked for them …
I read with interest Qantas chairman Richard Goyder’s concerns regarding the proposed changes to the industrial relations bill which, in his words, effectively dismantle the enterprise bargaining system that has served Australia well for decades (“Qantas chair hits out at IR overhaul”, Business, 5/11).
Perhaps he meant to say, “served Australian business” well for decades because apparently the workers over at Qantas aren’t happy with their lot. But I am neither a Qantas executive nor a worker, I am a customer. In June, I waited in the airport for 12 hours because of flight delays; on my next Qantas flight in August, my luggage was lost. On Friday, I was supposed to be in Hobart with my daughter for the weekend, but my flight was cancelled and I’m still in Melbourne.
How about a bit more focus on customer service, please?
Gary Homewood, Rosebud
Just ban it
Gambling is an addiction that not only affects the addict but also those around him or her. For every addict, there could be five to 10 other people who are also affected, such as family members.
Isn’t it time we ranked gambling in the same category as cigarettes and banned advertising of this potentially destructive product?
Doug Springall, Yarragon
Why do they have a say?
One wonders why the federal health minister can only appoint the head of Medicare’s watchdog, the Professional Services Review, if the Australian Medical Association approves (“Minister orders Medicare probe”, The Age, 5/11).
The health minister has been elected by the people to oversee services provided with taxpayer’s money, not by the AMA.
Joan Segrave, Healesville
Thank you, Melbourne
Recently, I had a few days in Melbourne reuniting with friends and seeing shows and galleries.
I was moved to write to say how delighted I was with the friendliness of every one I encountered. This included shop assistants and volunteers at the Botanic Gardens, but particularly fellow tram and train passengers (a special thanks to the lady in pink on the St Kilda line).
I know your city had a difficult time with the pandemic but you have emerged showing much enthusiasm and kindness. Thank you sincerely.
Cindy Growden, Clare, SA
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