Short Takes

Short Takes

Newcastle Herald

Wednesday December 31, 2008

GR

As a Lake Macquarie resident I would like to propose that the Newcastle "card" not be acceptable in the Lake Macquarie City Council area. Also, those without a Lake Macquarie "card" should pay for the privilege of using our great lake and its facilities.
Ray Scott, Blacksmiths
Taxpayers will pay $6 million for Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks. Am I the only one who thinks that is an expensive evening? It's not that I don't like a party, but while the NSW health system is in the critical ward, is this the best use of $6 million? I'm not sure my bank would be too excited at my throwing a lavish party for my mates while my company was in the red, with no rescue plan. One day we may see leadership that says this is not the time to party. Good luck getting a train home.
Kevin Coffey, Cooks Hill
Why give the baby bonus to couples earning less than $75,000? It should be the other way around as far as I can see. We should be encouraging couples who can afford to look after their offspring, not creating a nation of cretins by encouraging those who depend on the welfare system to have children they can't afford to look after. Pensioners just got a $1400 bonus, while self-funded retirees, who have to watch every cent in these financially perilous times, missed out. It seems to me the wrong end of society gets the rewards.
Angela Brown, New Lambton
I agree with Leanne Rankin ("Family unit before profits" Letters 29/12), although I think she is a little naive on the reasons behind the move to open stores on Boxing Day. It was to inject some much-needed cash into our economy. If the shoppers had not turned out, her young relative would more than likely not have a job at the end of this fiscal year. While it would be great to have everyone with their families at Christmas, sometimes people need to make sacrifices for the greater good, including emergency services personnel and the armed forces.
Cameron Ford, Newcastle
A message to both the Seven and Nine TV networks: your new year's resolution should be "We will run on time with all our programs".
John Adamson, Rankin Park
Australian cricket is in a bit of bother and people are calling for heads to roll. Short memories seem to forget Chappell's poultry farm. Hayden will prove the knockers wrong and Hussey will get some correct decisions from the umpires.
John Ferris, Muswellbrook
SMS your say
For the short, sweet and textsavvy. SMS your opinion to 0427154176.
Please include your name, suburb and a landline.
Cr Buman, what better way 2 discourage tourism 2 Ncle ("Citizen card" Herald 29/12).
Wendy Ditton, Beresfield
As a lake mac ratepayer and resident i move the motion for council to install toll booths to make cr buman and other outsiders pay to use our beautiful assets like the lake and speers point park.
Dean Robertson, Glendale

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