SO much for the bulldust and hype from the Knights ('Parra-lysed', Newcastle Herald 25/4). Based on Sunday's performance they can't, won't, or don't know how to tackle. They run one-off all and concede possession because of stupid, schoolboy errors . If Ponga is worth $1 million, I reckon Gagai is worth $30 million.
If the coach is half fair dinkum I say we concede the rest of the season, put tackling and positional training on seven days a week, 24 hours a day and just maybe we will not be on the bottom of the table constantly. I bet Wayne Bennett was on his knees thanking the almighty for missing Ponga. In my whole life I have never seem such a miserable, lacklustre team who only deserve third grade junior status. I am embarrassed to say that I am a supporter.
Knights management, take a long hard look at this side. What is being dished up, week after week , is in my opinion at the very best pathetic and disgraceful. The members should get a refund as they are not getting value for their hard-earned dollar
Dennis Crampton, Swansea
Balance of power requires finesse
JENNA Price presents an interesting case for minority government ("Why aren't Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese mature enough to talk about minority government?", Opinion 22/4). The research she cites dispels any concerns that a minority government will be ineffective, tardy or excessively costly. She cites Glenn Kefford, a politics researcher at the University of Queensland, who has confirmed what most of us already know: the minority government led by Julia Gillard was a "resounding success", "was able to pass significant amounts of legislation" and "was generally perceived to have operated in Parliament in a way more in line with what voters expect from their governments".
Anthony Albanese was a minister in the Gillard government (as well as in both Rudd governments), so he brings the experience of successfully operating in a minority government to this election. By contrast, it seems that Scott Morrison's comparable experience is limited to allegedly using an expletive against respected Independent Tony Windsor when he didn't get his own way. Mr Windsor offered the view that if Morrison had to form a minority government he would "go off like a frog in a sock". And of course he would have somebody to blame when he messed things up, when things didn't go the government's way or when they failed to deliver.
If there is to be a minority government, I believe it must be led by Labor because they have the experience, temperament and policies that will take this country forward, policies generally aligned with those of the main Independent candidates.
John Ure, Mount Hutton
Climate isn't most pressing threat
TO all of those protesters in another irresponsible event to disrupt people with their antics against global warming ('Protesters: big parties failing Hunter', Herald 25/4): instead of stopping ships and trains, why don't you go and stop the greatest threat in the world right now? I'm referring to that megalomaniac sitting behind the protected walls of the Kremlin with his finger on a red button and not afraid to push it. It's all good to say global warming is bleaching coral, causing bushfires and floods, rising sea levels. I agree, and I agree you have a right to have your opinion and a right to protest if you do it responsibly, but this bloke does not care one iota about global warming.
All he cares about is his ideals and his ego. He is a billionaire butcher who kills innocent people. He threatens and brainwashes his people and feeds them a totally false reality. Your concerns about global warming in the near future is a candle in the wind to what will happen if he pushes that button and starts off a chain of events that will warm your globe in an instant. Then none of us will be left to protest. Remember the first Planet of the Apes movie when Taylor discovers the broken Statue of Liberty sticking out of the sand. "You damn fools ". Think about that.
Allan Crosdale, Cessnock
Hydrogen hub will be a test case
AS someone who is usually opposed to the manufacture of hydrogen, because it uses more energy to manufacture than saved when being used, I am pleased to hear government investment is forthcoming for a hydrogen hub in the Hunter to be run on solar energy. This investment will finally bring to a head whether solar energy will power a hydrogen hub, plus be a test case. Using a roof top solar system as a scale of reference, that on average produces 40 kilowatts over a 24-hour period, against a hydrogen hub electrolyser that will use 250,000 kilowatts every hour or six million kilowatts over a 24-hour period. Keeping in mind hydrogen hubs will have many electrolysers, it will be an interesting test.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
Newcastle shouldn't shuffle boxes
INTERESTING letter by Greg Cameron about port ownership and rail freight, ("Super way to please all parties on Port", Letters, 21/4). The Port of Newcastle should not be a freight base for Sydney. A new freight rail line would not be viable, warranted or of economic benefit to NSW or Australia. There is little benefit for Newcastle to build another grossly inefficient box shuffling container terminal like Port Botany.
A Newcastle container terminal should facilitate the export of products of rural and regional NSW and Australia using the bulk handling skill that exports coal and grain.
A key would be to have a double stacked container freight line between to the wharf at Newcastle and the Inland Port of Narrabri to facilitate the direct loading of containers of coal, grain, cotton, wool etc on to charter vessels. The competition cap that props up Port Botany would not apply.
Rick Banyard, Maryville
Gender disqualified in some sports
MATT Ophir, (Short Takes, 21/4), needs to inform himself before making sweeping statements about people being delusional. The three Olympic equestrian disciplines; dressage, showjumping and three-day eventing, have treated female and male competitors as equal for a long time. In the case of three-day eventing women were admitted to the sport in 1964. Probably the only handicap was the requirement of a minimum weight of 75 kilograms, but that was abandoned many years ago. Women have been very successful against men over the years and the gold medal winning Australian three-day eventing teams have included women members.
Missing out on team selection has nothing to do with gender and all to do with having a horse ready at the top of its game; not an easy task. I'm sure if a transgender woman turned up to compete, nobody would so much as raise an eyebrow.
Susan Simmonds, Aberdare
SHORT TAKES
EELS 39, Knights 2 ('Parra-lysed', Newcastle Herald 25/4). The Australian Army band at half time played really well.
Bill Slicer, Tighes Hill
I WONDER whether Andrew Johns gave away his job at the Knights after the second round . It would appear so, as since then the points have dried up and they have no idea in attack or defence. I don't know what happened on Sunday against the Eels. Another wooden spoon could be coming our way again if there is not a big reversal in form.
Allen Small, East Maitland
THE Jets' 2-4 scoreline ('Penha facing ban for blow-up', Herald 25/4) looks somewhat better when you look at the game played the following day at the same venue.
Eddie Boards, Kilaben Bay
ALBO only has to get COVID five more times to avoid the questions he can't answer and, hey presto, PM Albo.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
YET another Liberal candidate for the election has made a bizarre statement. You have got to hand it to them; they know which rock to move to dig up a candidate to stand for an election.
Darryl Tuckwell, Eleebana
RICHARD Devon asks for more data that might explain why scientists blame carbon dioxide, and other gasses, like methane and nitrogen dioxide, for global warming, (Letters, 21/4). There are heaps of resources available, from NASA to the Ladybird Book about Climate Change, written by the man who will be our king, Prince Charles. But Richard, I really encourage you to instead get yourself a copy of Dr Karl's Little Book of Climate Science by our own fabulous Karl Kruszelnicki. It even has a chapter on how the relationships between animals and plants are getting out of whack as temperatures change, and another on how we can "fix" the whole dreadful mess. It costs $15 and is worth every cent.
Lesley Walker, Northcote
WHEN is a flag not a flag? The "Aussie flag" on The Caledonian Hotel roof, ("Rally over 'Cali' flag status", Herald, 21/4), did anyone else notice that only 2 of the stars have the correct number of points?
Geraldine Allen, Charlestown
THANK for your opinion on my opinion Colin Fordham, I never once said it was a fact, it was my opinion just like everybody else's opinion. Everyone has got one, and everyone's entitled to one.
Tony Jones, Swansea
BILL Snow, (Short Takes, 22/4): well put. Something has to be done soon, otherwise other despots will take advantage and initiative to captilise on these inactions by these so-called world protectors. Perhaps NATO will end up really meaning no accountability towards offenders.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
THE best quote ever: a journalist said to Jack Newton, after his runner-up second in the British Open, "Bad luck, Jack, but to run second is a great achievement." Jack replies, "Who ran second last year?"
