Worse than a gaffe
Some things are a lot worse than a "gaffe". For example:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
- ignoring key recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission including very low rates of pay, chronic understaffing leading in many cases to lack of basic care
- such as toileting and showering ,clean bedding, poor food and nutrition, and a litany of other dreadful issues in our care of our cherished elders.
- callous persistence with Robodebt, found by the court to be illegal
- lack of serious action to address climate change thus exposing our kids and future generations to calamitous consequences
- rort after rort called out by the Auditor General in grants programs heavily biased to favour Lib/Nats reaching nearly $1 billion.
- breaking promises for an independent and effective anti-corruption integrity body thereby avoiding scrutiny of actions and a means of calling those involved to account
There are a lot of other issues you could reasonably judge to be much more serious and of far greater consequence than a "gaffe", but throughout the past week this was the major election issue for media. What hope is there for a decent and caring society if this is the level of our election discourse.
George Thompson
Deafening silence on issues that count
We are already well into the current Federal election campaign, yet despite the noise coming from all parties, there is a deafening silence on the issues that really count.
Issues such as climate and the environment, housing affordability, health and tax reform, even systemic corruption in public life.
These are all drowned out by mindless economic "gotcha" attempts to attract media attention.
The economic reality we all face is that on a macro-economic basis political parties have little power to effectively manage the economy, and therefore no real basis to claim that they are long term "better" managers of the economy.
Pandemics and commodity prices dictate macro responses and both parties are in lock step in their responses to those. Where they can make a big difference is in micro-economic reform in areas such as tax reform, investment incentives, public education etc.
But, perhaps apart from the Greens, none of the main parties have anything much to offer here. An election without vision and we will all pay a long term price.
Barry Tomkinson
Bring forth 'best climate policies'
Federal election campaign is in full swing; hot topics such as border protection, employment rates, and Medicare being highlighted and lobbied around. But have both major parties forgotten about the existential threat that threatens our very existence?
They may have conveniently forgotten about the catastrophic bushfires in 2019 and recent devastating floods in NSW and Queensland, but we have not.
When will they bring forth their best climate policies and emissions reduction targets; clear and bold plans to safeguard Australians from future catastrophic climate disasters?
Ching Ang
- Do you have something on your mind that you want to share? Why not get your message across in the Goulburn Post Letters to the Editor? Publishing consideration is given to all letters, with preference given to those that are 250 words or less. Please include name and contact details. Contact details will not be published. Letters may be edited for space, clarity or legal reasons and will be published online. Submit your letters through the website at http://www.goulburnpost.com.au/, community, send us your news.
