How we can help Japan
Illawarra Mercury
Monday March 21, 2011
How we can help JapanWe are all shocked at the devastation in Japan and wonder how we can assist.I propose, through the Australian immigration department, and with government assistance, that we could take on a family - two adults, two children.They could come and live at our place in Australia until the Japanese Government can repair and reconstruct their home, which has endured such catastrophic change.I am sure many other Australian families would offer assistance and be prepared to take on either a family or children to ease their pain and suffering.I know we have had our flood damage in Queensland and Victoria, plus fires in Western Australia, but the sheer magnitude of this tsunami and its effects are so upsetting.So, come on Australia and let's start contacting the immigration department and see what we can all do.Show the world why we are the best country in the world.Tony Dunn, West Wollongong.Thin edge of the wedgeThat Pauline Hanson, in declaring her intention to once again run for political office in NSW, can command the attention of the media to the extent that she has, points up the very bib versus bub nature of the upcoming election.Both major parties are claiming they will restore Paradise Lost for the people of this state. In reality there is not a struck match between the ideology of NSW Labor and the Coalition.Both have a history of privatisation at any cost. Both are subject to blatant manipulation in terms of policy setting by non-elected forces. If indeed there is any difference in ideology, it is that the Coalition is more up-front on its intention to introduce even wider privatisation of publicly owned assets, along with a wholesale outsourcing of activities provided to the people of NSW by the public service.Barry Swan, Balgownie.Driving jobs offshoreIn response to a Reg Wilding, (Mercury, March 2), this hideous carbon tax will destroy Australia's economical future by forcing firms like BlueScope overseas.That's jobs and investments gone, our skilled workforce gone. Jobs for our kids gone. And it won't do a damn for the environment.Just put thousands of people on the dole. If that is what you, Julia Gillard and the Greens want, then you're crazy. Taxing Australian- made goods, while imports get off scot-free, is just a bad idea.Just phase out coal-fired power stations, replace them with gas-fired ones. Make and import more efficient cars. That would do more to reduce carbon than taxing us.Victor Grech, Mt Warrigal.The real poll questionsElection day is nearly here and I have not yet decided who deserves my vote. We hear the promises from all the candidates about fixing the hospitals, transport, jobs and living costs. Yes, all are important and need attention.My vote will be decided on who best addresses two other issues that I believe are vital:1. Fix the bad law that gives absolute power to a minister to sack the head of a department for no reason. That action forces bureaucrats to kowtow to whatever the minister wishes or run the risk of dismissal. This is a bad situation that allows poor governance and even corruption.2. The protection of water supplies and farming lands from exploration and exploitation by the mining and coal seam gas industries. There needs to be a complete ban on "fracking".We cannot afford to risk cracking or contaminating our aquifers, dams, rivers and lakes.Please ask more questions of the candidates and think carefully before you vote.Olive Rodwell, Port Kembla.Send the rioters homeSince when did we accept bad behaviour?Every single one of the Christmas Island asylum seekers who behaved badly should not be processed, but sent back.We should send delegates to detention centres overseas and only process a certain number from those centres.It is time to say: zero tolerance for bad behaviour.Judi Harrington, Warilla.
© 2011 Illawarra Mercury