Newcastle Herald letters to the editor, December 8, 2021

Life at the top of the NRL tree is hard and he will become a target as long as he plays. As a long time Knights supporter, I didn't ever think I would wave goodbye to one of my all time favourite players. Kalyn, like all sports persons, has a short time to make his future. I don't want to see him go but, if he does I for one will wish him well.

JOHN Ure ('Community outweighs conscience', Letters 6/12) writes that I said the VAD bill will be enabling state-assisted murder. This is incorrect. If Mr Ure were to have read my speech regarding the bill, he would see his comments are completely indecorous. He may also be interested to read that I stated there have been strong advocates for the legislation in my electorate, and there have been passionate opponents. Further, I said "I cannot come to the House with a thorough knowledge of where my electorate stands on the position because it has been so varied. The reasons for that are so varied as well".

The opportunity for so many to contribute to a conscious bill, let alone one which is so heavily driven by varied personal experiences, is one for which I thank both the Premier and Leader of the Opposition. Whilst I acknowledge this topic invokes great emotion for most of us it should be a respectful debate, not one of unfounded slander.

I THINK it is misleading for Chris Marley, ("The fact is, the vaccines have softened blow", Letters, 6/12), to call COVID-19 "an illness of the unvaccinated". Writing in Quadrant in October, Professor Robert Clancy said most COVID deaths in England over the seven months until the end of that month had been in vaccinated subjects.

A recent report in The Lancet concludes "it appears to be grossly negligent to ignore the vaccinated population as a possible and relevant source of transmission when deciding about public health control measures". The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies four of the top five counties in the US with the highest percentage of fully vaccinated population as "high" transmission counties.

As for our finite ICU resources, firstly, the impact of COVID-19 has been substantially offset by the sudden and almost total disappearance of influenza in Australia. Secondly, not just COVID but adverse reactions to vaccines also impact on health resources. Finally, according to a Spectator Australia analysis ("Just the facts: coronavirus in Australia by the numbers - updated", 8 Nov 2021), while NSW data does indicate that the vaccine reduces the likelihood of contracting COVID-19, nevertheless, if you are vaccinated but later contract COVID-19, you are only slightly less likely to be hospitalised or admitted to ICU than those who aren't vaccinated. Interestingly those who received either one or two COVID-19 vaccine doses but contracted COVID-19 anyway, had almost double the case fatality rate (CFR) of those who were unvaccinated.

I AM excited to announce that the Stroke Foundation's annual physical activity fundraiser Stride4Stroke has raised a record of more than $453,000 this year.

I wish to thank the 1393 participants from right around Australia for this incredible achievement. Every step, every minute of activity and every dollar raised will make a difference to survivors of stroke and their families. By getting involved in Stride4Stroke, our 'Striders' also helped raise awareness of stroke in their local communities and took steps towards reducing their own stroke risk by being active. Together, they clocked up almost 1 million moving minutes. I also wish to thank the people who supported Striders with well-wishes, encouragement, and generous donations. We are truly grateful.

Stride4Stroke's beauty is its flexibility. You choose your own physical activity and set a personal movement goal to complete anytime during November. I have loved seeing the images of participants on social media running, walking, doing yoga and all sorts of other activities while proudly wearing their green Stride4Stroke tank tops. Although it is a virtual campaign, the passion and dedication displayed was an incredibly united effort. Stroke strikes the brain. It is one of Australia's biggest killers and a leading cause of disability. It's estimated more than 27,400 people will have a stroke for the first time this year, including children, young adults and seniors. Every dollar raised through Stride4Stroke will help Stroke Foundation prevent stroke, fund research and support survivors and their families at all stages of the recovery journey. This includes the operation of Stroke Foundation's free telephone service StrokeLine (1800 787 653).

There's no doubt 2021 has been another challenging year for so many people in our community due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's never too late to focus on your health. When you get active, like our Striders, you will feel the physical and mental benefits. I look forward to welcoming everyone to join in the fun next year.

IN 1965 Sir John Kerr sacked a democratically elected Gough Whitlam Labor government, installing the Liberal opposition leader Malcolm Fraser amidst great uproar. This is a great case for a republic.

It's my opinion Fraser wasted no time designing a system to please the capitalists and push out unionists from the workforce; that is, people who refused to become slaves and fought hard for a decent wage and a good standard of living. I believe the plan was to push people onto the dole, and then dub them dole bludgers. It was the beginning of the underclass.

After 50 years, poverty grew into low self esteem, homelessness, alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence, poor education and more. It's been reported NSW Liberal Premier Dominic Perottet wants more cheap skilled migrants for Australia.

I believe he wants our kids sidelined, falling through the cracks and joining the underclass. I think Perottett's actions are anti Australian workers.

I believe the Liberal Coalition won't be happy until the unionist working class are down and out. The Liberal plan is inhumane and supported by their religious front. I believe Australia needs politicians who will work for equality and a secular society.

THE generosity of the NSW Electoral Commission in excusing electors, who could not access the iVote system on Saturday, of paying a $55 fine ('No fines if tech hampered ballot', Newcastle Herald 6/12) is breathtaking in its arrogance and is politically tone deaf". I believe this "lack of access" can be laid at the feet of the commission - an organisation that, through a mixture of incompetence and lack of resources, effectively removed the democratic rights of effected citizens to vote.

INTERESTING that the state government has allegedly come up with a plan for Newcastle that will get us out of our cars. That's interesting. They closed the railway into the city, pushing many back into their cars. They privatised buses, which in my opinion resulted in a timetable that also pushed people back to their cars. Is it any wonder some of our civic leaders are so concerned? Clearly any decisions concerning the future of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter region must be made locally. Our local leaders have a better idea about what needs to be done than those in Macquarie Street.

WELL said, Ray Peck, (Letters, 2/12). Furthermore, in the event of a national emergency, under the Social Security Act (1991), the federal government can provide income support for firefighters. Paul Keating used this law in 1994, as did John Howard in 2001. Incidentally, Scott Morrison did not provide any income support for firefighters until well after his Hawaiian holiday.

WITH more than 50 per cent of Australians entitled to vote being female, and the abysmal record of the Morrison-led Coalition government when it comes to the question of women's rights in terms of wage and salary equity, safety in the home and workplace and equal opportunity, is it any wonder that many Liberals and Nationals politicians are looking greener around their gills as a federal election draws nearer?

SO much is wrong with the behaviours reported inside Parliament House ('Parliament asked to acknowledge staff harm', Herald 30/11). I believe our Prime Minister has, in his term, made so many attempts to excuse his ministers. In my opinion he has encouraged a culture of denial by effectively refusing an integrity commission. Why has it taken reports from brave young women to bring on the Standards Report, and why were its recommendations not adopted immediately? Maybe this attitude of 'we didn't notice" will be the end of a government that I think has failed to keep its house in order.

IN reply to Michael Hinchey, (Short Takes, 6/12), is my pointing out that many of the historical facts in the musical Hamilton were wrong nitpicking? True, you don't go to a musical for historical accuracy but equally you do expect some attempt to be truthful about historical figures. And it's entirely up to the director who the actors represent on stage. Correct, the musical wasn't a state dinner. That's more a public performance by politicians, not a factual debate.