Commenting on the story: Hutt St Centre “frustrated” at being blamed for crime

It seems to me that the Hutt Street Centre is actually proposing to do what the Hutt Street traders want – to assist their people to move inside and not stay on the street.

The traders’ complaint looks like grandstanding – that any publicity is good publicity. It is hard to credit a spate of “crime” that has not been reported. 

The trader members might like to think whether their association is making itself to look ungenerously negative and uncooperative. And whether that is what they want potential shoppers to think about their businesses.

Personally, I have been in Hutt Street quite often, shopping and eating and library and medical attending. It is anecdotal, just like the association’s “crimes”, but I have never met anything worse than the Connector bus being a bit erratic as to times. – David Donaldson

It is the Hutt Street Traders who are trashing the “Hutt Street brand” through their selfishness and total lack of compassion for those less fortunate than themselves.

I will certainly avoid patronising any of their businesses, while applauding the work of the Hutt Street Centre. – Sue Henry-Edwards

It is interesting that many of the Hutt Street Traders Association members are probably quite happily taking money from the so-called Hutt St Centre clients, including providing them with liquor.  

Given the hours that the centre operates, it seems that the issue of poor behaviour probably better relates to the inaction of the Adelaide city council about the homeless and less fortunate, and the profiteering by certain businesses in the area in providing alcohol. – Christopher Millington

Commenting on the story: SA private schools fear for future as pandemic fee pain bites

I have zero sympathy for private schools struggling during this time and think this would be a great opportunity to get rid of the two tier system we have in Australia.

Private schools with extraordinary resources (gyms, swimming pools, performance centres and the like) receive generous federal government support while public schools in low socio economic areas make do with demountable buildings. – Jane Copeland

Commenting on the story: Will extra staff help Centrelink cope with virus demand?

There needs to be a royal commission into the operations of Centrelink: it’s lack of transparency and apparent lack of accountability. – Louise Hollingbery

I receive a disability support pension from Centrelink. It was recently cut off due to me not returning some information on time.

I have since returned the paperwork via Services SA, and also posted it in.

It has not been reinstated and it has been over a month since the information has been given to them. The phone calls I make are always busy.

I am one of the lucky ones that have a DVA pension to try and live off until it gets sorted, but the staffing numbers are inadequate. – Steve Truin

I’m a domestic support worker for a not-for-profit organisation who are not eligible for JobKeeper allowance subsidy.

However, my hours have been reduced as many social support/transport/shopping clients appointments have been cancelled, and as I am a casual I don’t have sick leave/annual leave accrued.

I am down about $700 a fortnight which has taken a great toll on our financial situation. We are homeowners with a mortgage and not entitled to government entitlements even though we are low income earners.

We desperately need financial assistance as my husband is not earning his usual income either. Who and where do we go to for help before we completely drown and lose everything we have achieved over the last 15 years? – Julie Day

Commenting on the opinion piece: Hasty crisis lawmaking leaves landlords in the lurch

I’m a landlord who owns 11 properties.

I have a mortgage on my own property and overall am negatively geared to the tune of $50k per year.

As of last month both my wife and I were out of a job, but as we don’t meet welfare test requirements no stimulus for us.

So far I have been asked by one tenant for rent relief which we agreed, to because lets face it we are all in this together – except that is for our local councils, it seems.

I received all of my rate notices recently (about $8k worth) and each included a little statement along the lines of “we understand Covid-19 is putting people under financial hardship, if that’s you give us a call so we can put you on a payment plan”.

Thanks local council, I’d love to go on a payment plan with zero income, or should I say negative $50k per annum income.

If we are truly all in this together, then why aren’t we able to negotiate to not pay our rates at all? Like I said, neither my wife or I have a job, we don’t qualify for welfare, earn negative $50k per annum, agree to provide rent assistance to our less fortunate tenants but because we are supposedly super rich landlords have to pay our rates in full.

Give me a break. – Ari Kalamotos

Landlords should be renamed “landrent slaves”.

Well done, Morry. Keep up the pressure on Governments.

If we are in this together why aren’t all politicians  – federal, state, local taking a 50% pay cut until the economy gets back on  its feet?

Or better still, cut down on over government. Think of all the savings that can be made! – Charles Baullo

Want to comment?

Send us an email, making it clear which story you’re commenting on and including your full name (required for publication) and phone number (only for verification purposes). Please put “Reader views” in the subject.

We’ll publish the best comments in a regular “Reader Views” post. Your comments can be brief, or we can accept up to 350 words, or thereabouts.