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Your views: on buses, borders, Channel 44 and Fumbles

Today, readers comment on the Marshall Government’s bus reform backdown, closed borders, community TV and our footy column.

Jul 01, 2020, updated Jul 01, 2020
Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Commenting on the story: State Government dumps bus route changes and Service SA cuts

Great job Mr Marshall. To get rid of bus stops is very short-sighted.

In fac, it should be the opposite. Increase the bus stops and the bus routes. People who cannot afford cars, youth, seniors, and the disabled need to have a safe way to travel.

When I have visited Adelaide and Murray Bridge I have been very aware of the quality of service compared to where I now live in Vancouver, Canada.

It was such a shame that renting a car was the only practical option to get around. – Pauline Barratt

Well blow me down, who would have thought providing a service to the community’s most vulnerable was a role for government.

Clearly not the boneheads who thought up this proposal in the first place. Public transport is mostly a community service and always has been. It is not a business.

People don’t choose to take public transport; they use it because there is no other affordable option for employment, for health, for tourism, for social inclusion.

It is a pity there are so many deluded parliamentary staff and senior bureaucrats, so intent on trying to run community services as a business, with penny pinching, cost cutting, rubbish proposals.

And before all the privileged elite jump up and down about their tax burden, try living in America, where they have low taxes and the population of a small country living in poverty. It’s going so well for them over there, isn’t it?

I find it very difficult to congratulate a government for not being stupid. Paul McKinnon

In regard to Rosslyn Werner’s suggestion (Your views 30/6) , I do hope our Premier doesn’t read it. We should have more buses more often, not less.

‘Faster’ travel that comes every thirty minutes instead of every fifteen is not what is needed (or, in non Go Zone areas, every hour instead of thirty minutes). 

As another commentator Matthew Buck suggested, perhaps Mr Knoll could reinstate the office for ticketing which was on King William St, as well as a number to call that isn’t 1300. 

But this brings to mind, what about the other aspects of his ‘plan’ for our public transport? Is Mr Knoll still going to take away timetables on the argument that we’d all be better off not knowing when our bus is to arrive?

Is he still dismantling our own Metro App in order to force us to use third party applications? Do they work for other people? They don’t work at all on my Android – will I have to buy a new phone?

Although the department advice is that they are free, one of them is only free for three stops and then you have to pay a monthly fee. One of them wasn’t available for Android at all. And then there are all the people who don’t want to use a mobile phone.

It would be great to have clarity regarding these aspects of the grand plan, so that we can understand whether we have to keep fighting them. Cathy Chua

Paul Anderson (Your views 30/6) observes that the consultation period for the Ovingham overpass has not finished and DPTI renderings of the overpass have been published, which he implies should not have happened before consultation was finished, and obviously this might allow alternatives to be taken into account.

However, he then proceeds to claim his own  view; best solution at Ovingham is lowering the commuter train line, not elevating the road traffic…

Has he never been held up by freight trains a kilometre and more in length on the interstate railway next to the commuter tracks?

This grade separation has been put off for over 50 years – it is time to get on with it, but at least get the facts right. Les Howard

Commenting on the story: SA-Victoria border to stay closed as cases spike

We understand that we are free to travel to Victoria but are required to self isolate on our return.

Now that Victoria has enacted stay at home orders for their hot spot suburbs, why can’t we have return travel to areas of Victoria, apart from Melbourne, allowed with appropriate safeguards such as certified Statutory Declarations attesting to certain conditions to allow us to return to SA without self-isolation? – Peter Vandepeer

Commenting on the story: Channel 44 wins last-minute lifeline instead of switch-off

Congratulations to Centre Alliance MP for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, for her unceasing advocacy for the retention of Channel 44 Adelaide.

Senator Marielle Smith advocated on behalf of Channel 44 as well.

Ch44 is an essential part of television in South Australia (as well as Ch31 in Victoria) for the local content which is gradually being removed by the large networks. 

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It also provides a wonderful training ground for anyone interested in the media as a career and many have gone on to such a career from beginnings at Ch44.

Community television provides essential programs for many ethnic groups in their own language, as well as religious programs in different religions for those who are unable to attend a service in person and this has been even more evident with the shut-down of churches during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the programs are available via the internet, there are many who simply cannot afford to pay for a monthly connection or neither own a computer nor know how to use one. 

There are also educational, 4×4 driving, fishing, sport, gardening, cooking and many other types of program – everyone should watch it as you may be surprised to find the excellent content.

This is not the first time the Federal Government has tried to shut down community television, as in 2015 Senator Nick Xenophon lobbied for its retention and it was granted. 

Then in 2017, a shut down was again proposed and it was granted an extension. Now, 2020, it has happened again! Just what does the Federal Government have against community television as it costs them nothing, absolutely nothing? 

So, once again, we have a reprieve and then have to start all over again. Unnecessary when it provides something unique for so many people who need and enjoy this form of the media. Maggie Richard

Commenting on the story: Touch Of The Fumbles: Silly season

While I am thoroughly  enjoying a touch of the fumbles this year, Tom Richardson’s missed one vital point in this Covid-afflicted AFL season.

Port Adelaide has been an innovator and leader in the AFL in an area he has had great delight in ridiculing for years, but has not mentioned this year.

Yes, Port Adelaide was years in front of all other clubs with the Tarps.

 It’s finally caught on and is being used by all clubs this year. Another first in our 150th year. – John Beauchamp 

I concur that this year/season is one with satanic overtures. 

This was confirmed when I saw on the ABC news that there is a plague of locusts in Delhi, India. – John Stimson

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