I WAS impressed with Tony Morley's letter ("No excuse to waste Queens Wharf's potential", Letters, 2/11), so much so I have a vision for Queens Wharf building that I wish to share. Newcastle needs a real cruise terminal, and that is possible with utilisation of the Queens Wharf building, extend the wharf and maybe deepen the harbour where needed.
This area is perfect for our cruise liner wharf and could welcome passengers to Newcastle in style. Nearby to Honeysuckle and all that it offers, Nobbys Lighthouse, our local beaches and, hopefully, in the future a mall and Hunter Street that we can be proud of. We also offer coaches to our vineyards and our super sand dunes for the adventurous. I draw a comparison to the Sydney ocean liner berth at Circular Quay with passengers arriving at a fabulous place full of great cafes and the Opera House. And the ships berth within "spitting distance" for people walking by.
But a short time ago NSW Premier Minns said Newcastle was not on the list for a future cruise liner berth. On the list are many more berths for Sydney because of the money Sydney greedily wants to keep. Port Kembla and Wollongong came in well before Newcastle as future homes of cruise terminals.
Newcastle has been a safe Labor seat for many years and we don't count. What will it take for Newcastle to be recognised by Sydney state governments?
John Freund, Adamstown Heights
The real inner-city vandals
IT'S been reported vandalism is happening in Newcastle inner-city. I don't condone anti-social behaviour. I think for example, we should look at the anti-social behaviour of both political parties and council when they privatised CBD by displacing the working class from their city of social interaction and relaxation.
I believe we should look at the big picture. Politicians have set the scene of vandalism in Newcastle inner-city by not taking any responsibility for society as a whole by their destructive behaviour by ripping up the rail to Newcastle station and privatising our public buses with limited bus routes into the city.
I think Newcastle council has shown no respect for people's concerns as they have bent over backwards for developers and their wrecking ball. I have found Newcastle inner-city as a cold place and full of sighs. To me Newcastle East has turned into the latest design of no-noise convent.
I have a question; who are the recent vandals? Are they part of the displaced people that have been cast out of their city? Are their families living out of their cars or tents? Are they living in domestic violence due to the financial crises? Are they one step away from eviction, homelessness, poverty and living on the streets and nowhere to go because no public housing is being built for the poor, disadvantaged from underfunding public schools and public hospitals?
I think when people are disadvantaged they mirror the destructive nature of the system that has been dished out to them, not understanding why they should be treated so badly, their only course is to lash out. So who are the real vandals?
Maureen O'Sullivan Davidson, Swansea
Perfect enemy of the good
NICE try, Colin Rowlatt, repeating Labor's facile trope that the Greens are blocking good housing legislation ('Perfect can't be enemy of good, Letters, 4/11). Colin claims the Greens' election result in Queensland was dismal when their vote actually remained steady even as Labor saved some of the furniture by adopting a bunch of Greens policies like subsidised public transport. Meanwhile, wanting to negotiate over Labor's flawed Help to Buy bill, which would funnel taxpayers' money into pushing up home prices, is not blocking. Perhaps Labor should replace their 'perfect the enemy of the good' slogan with a more accurate one: 'Making the effective the enemy of the defective'.
Michael Gormly, Islington
A few things Albo's done
WELL John Arnold, since you asked ('Here's the nothing PM has done', Letters, 4/11), here's just a few things the prime minister has done for Australians.
He wasted $450 million on a referendum that only divided us. He let over 150 hardened criminals loose on our streets. He promised $275 less on our power bills which will never arrive. His renewables-only fantasy is ripping up our land. He has failed to do anything to stop rampant anti-Semitism: so much for his multiculturalism. That'll do for starters. He seems to only care about the perks of the job and not about the people he's supposed to represent. No wonder the previously "unelectable" Peter Dutton is now considered a viable choice for PM.
Greg Hunt, Newcastle West
If only climate change would just go away
IF only the climate crisis would just go away. Wouldn't it be lovely? We wouldn't need to tolerate protesters disrupting our everyday lives. We wouldn't need to be concerned about the power fossil fuel industries have over our governments and the media. We wouldn't need to stay awake at night worrying about the destruction of nature, our planet, our future. Wouldn't it be lovely?
Alan Newbery, Stockton
How do we stop the tyranny?
MARTIN Frohlich ("Diplomacy has come up short", Letters, 5/11), well said. So how would you stop the tyranny? It's easy to say it must stop, but how?
Graeme Bennett, Warners Bay
Fond memories of old church
I NOTICE Waratah Uniting Church is up for sale. What memories. I spent the happiest years of my childhood in and around that church. Met lifelong friends there, met my wife there, married there, church concerts, Sunday school picnics by train to Maitland baths, 'washing down' the hall after OKs on a Friday night. A childhood of a bygone era. A host of experiences the current generation will never have. Shame!
Jim Wilson, Toronto
Barking over Trump win
TRUMP'S call on the cats and dogs under threat during the US election. I expect they will be barking given Trump's win.
Grahame Danaher, Coal Point
Problems with your point
COLIN Rowlatt ("Perfect can't be enemy of good", Letters, 4/11), would've had a point if 1) the Greens didn't consistently seek to negotiate on legislation, and 2) Labor Government policy was good.
Thomas Levick, Elermore Vale
A few things overlooked
JOHN Arnold forgot to mention Albo outlawing wage theft, raising the minimum wage, improving security for casuals, labour hire workers and those who work in the gig economy ("Here's the 'nothing" PM has done", Letters, 4/11). Oh and big pay rises for nurses and aged care workers. I'm scratching my head to recall anything the LNP did during a near-decade in government to improve our working lives.
Mac Maguire, Charlestown
Front page news
STEVE Barnett ("Sorry Steve, the boss says no", Letters, 5/11), sounds like you are wanting the same treatment as conservative commentators as 2GB? And other conservative media outlets who are peddling irrelevant news front and centre for no other reason to throw mud where it is not deserved. Why aren't you criticising Dutton or McKenzie for their lurks from relationships with the rich and famous? Sounds like you like the Abott style of opposition - all mudslinging.
