Commenting on the story: Fireworks over councillor’s Australia Day move

I note with interest the excuse Councillor Moran is using in an attempt to stop fireworks on Australia Day, saying that they traumatise recent immigrants by reminding them about wars.

Is she also going to suggest banning the ANZAC Day parades and memorial services, because they do the same thing?

Perhaps she could start by having the War Memorial on North Terrace covered by tarpaulin in case some migrants might be traumatised as it may remind them of wars? – Carl Cooke

Commenting on the story: PM orders minister probe in sports grants scandal

Talk about pots and kettles and calling each other black.

Rightly or wrongly, the Senator did exactly what countless others have done before her, and not just in Federal parliament.

Every Government in my memory of elections over 50 years has channeled money to seats that they wanted to improve their chances in.

Liberal/National or Labor, no difference.

As to the Minister just rubber-stamping proposals put forward by departments, the Minister was elected to make those decisions, not the public servants.

In many years of committee activity in sporting clubs, I have seen plenty of grants go to less deserving clubs at the recommendation of the bureaucrats, and some happily overruled by the Minister.

What readers of all this should also take into account is the lobbying by local members, as this very frequently influences the Minister at least as much as recommendations from departmental staff.

My own local member has successfully helped a number of clubs and community organisations get grants, and is not a Lib/Nat.

Storm in a teacup, get over it! – Greg Dodd

The subject matter of the still evolving Bridget McKenzie saga, where 73 per cent of projects not recommended by Sport Australia were subsequently then approved by the Minister (this in itself begs the question, why have Sports Australia?), was beautifully covered in a fictional story no less by South Australian journalist and author Peter Gill is his wonderful book The Politics of Betrayal (Seaview Press, 2007). 

The subject matter concerns ministerial intervention not to award a regional development grant to a departmental approved applicant, but to transfer the grant to less worthy but politically connected applicant. 

The promotion of the book describes the story as “An ambitious politician will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Two journalists race to expose a scandal that reaches out from Far North Queensland to ensnare the highest political office in the land”.

A wonderful read over the summer recess. Pure fiction of course. 

I have ordered several copies of the book from the journalist and will post to the Speakers of the House, the Senate and the Attorney-General and the National Audit Office. – Michael O’Neil

Commenting on the story: Morrison “misleading” Australia on climate change: Turnbull

Why is Malcolm Turnbull still interfering in politics?

Malcolm, if you were so good and knowledgeable you would still be Prime Minister.

Instead, you were put out by your peers, and that should tell you something.

Wake up Australia, lets get rid of these past politicians.

Stop the perks, as they made enough off us in the past. – Trent Jenkins

Commenting on the story: Burnoffs more important than cutting emissions: Morrison

Before anyone calls him a marketer, please think again.

I was in marketing for 25 years and to lump Morrison in with myself and other good marketers would offend them, as it does me.

Morrison is all about PR spin, and bad PR spin at that.

To quote from the article “The boss of the NSW Rural Fire Service has previously said hazard reduction is important but not a panacea for bush fire risk and has “very little effect at all” on the spread of fire in severe or extreme weather.”

So why does Morrison continue to thrash this dead horse?

By deflecting away from the real issues and blaming lack of hazard reduction and poor management by the states as the reason for the fires and their intensities, it allows him and his government to get away with doing nothing and hoping it will all go away.

I suppose it will, when there is nothing left to burn.

Whilst the PM is studiously pointing the blame elsewhere (what’s new?) he may want to ponder on how voters will react if we have a leafy capital city suburb go up in flames next season. – Geoff Moore

There is no doubt that drought and bushfires are distressing. Dust storms and smoke have reached our big cities and fire warnings include outer suburbs.

As developments often have gutter to gutter housing and much infill extends to boundaries, how will fire services find access should a firestorm go metropolitan?

What happens to very tall buildings if MFS can only fight fire up to 18 storeys?

Research online and in SA’s proposed new Planning Code has not found any answers.

Perhaps your contacts and experts could help. – Virginia Ward

Commenting on the story: Fire devastation must not burn out conservation efforts

Thank you for your excellent article reminding us not to give up on our conservation efforts after these catastrophic fires.

But why would the SA Government proceed immediately to remove hundreds of trees for road widening in Golden Grove?

I understand some red gums were over 100 years old and would provide excellent habitat for our disappearing species, mammals and birds. 

Irresponsible actions like this do cause despair. We desperately need good leadership, not ongoing destruction of our native flora and fauna for more roads. – Margaret Brown

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