Commenting on the story: Australia Day painful for many people, says federal minister

The minister ought to be representing First People’s point of view and agitating for a date change. Celebrating the raising of the invaders’ flag seems less Australian than, say, the date of federation. – Jeremy Bryce

Let us all white Australians acknowledge we are beneficiaries of European invasion of Australia. – David Rivett

The federal minister, in explaining that we can feel pain on the 26 January and ‘that’s ok’ goes on to say: ‘We have not only survived, but thrived’.

Given that many First Nations people on this continent have not even survived, let alone thrived, it’s an odd choice by the minister. – Cathy Chua

I have reflected on the idea of a date change and the meaning of Australia Day to me for a while.

Being a new addition to our list of public holidays it holds no real significance to me. I was 44 when it first became a holiday, I am now 70. The holiday has only been around since 1994.

Of course it will affect the younger generation a lot more, but I think that there is a strong case for the date to be changed so as to not be offensive to anyone in our community.

My thoughts on Australia Day are that we could consider changing it to something that possibly reflects more of who we are as a nation, and make it Culture Day. On that day all Australians both new and old can celebrate their culture and we can all celebrate our diversity. It could be a day of celebrating food, music, national dress, customs, art, sport and so on.

All Australians could come together to not celebrate the landing of shiploads of convicts, but celebrate their love of this country that we all love so much and reflect on where many of us have come from, and how and why we are here. – Jack Mann

The media uses every Australia Day to debate the date. Surveys have shown that more than two thirds of pollsters want the date retained. So please stop regurgitating this years old topic every time 26th January approaches. Let’s promote peace and harmony together rather than division and hatred! – Eldert Hoebee

Commenting on the story: “The noise is like a freight train coming towards you”

Very good article. Prepare, prepare, prepare for a bushfire.

Preparation and education can usually minimise devastation. CFS run courses. – Susan Smith

Our CFS crews are just so brave. We all need to help the CFS and fellow residents by reducing underbrush in fire-prone areas.

My father was in the CFS in the 60s and they were frustrated by lack of land management back then. Last winter I was horrified at the build up of undergrowth especially after the 2020 summer we experienced across Australia. Now we are more aware of First Australian’s land management, we should be practicing it.

For tens of thousands of years Indigenous Australians have been using fire to manage the land. This practice is called cool burning, often referred to as cultural burning, small blazes are set alight to clear the underbrush.

This process generates patchy habitats preferred by small animals and helps prevent bushfires from consuming the land. I urge all levels of government to enact their ancient policies. – Philip Hopkins

Commenting on the story: Houses engulfed, blaze still uncontrolled as authorities investigate

Another large bushfire on the outskirts of Adelaide and once again we hear that our water bombers have stopped operations because the sun has gone down. Pity the fire didn’t stop as well. Next morning the planes couldn’t go into operation for several hours due to cloud, smoke, and gusty winds.

It is 30 years since a purpose-built aerial firefighting aircraft that could fly in bad weather conditions was demonstrated in Adelaide, but the CFS management were not interested. That aircraft’s successor the CL515, being equipped with night vision and able to fly in extremely adverse conditions, would have continued through the night and early morning at Cherry Gardens.

The aircraft would have scooped from Mt Bold Reservoir with a round trip to the fire of one or two minutes. Only needing to land every 4-6 hours to refuel with a drop rate of 7000l every 4 minutes, one CL515 potentially could have delivered 1,000,000 litres whilst our planes were grounded.

In addition, the CL515 can drop at a height of 35m, well below that of the current craft, giving it and much higher degree of accuracy hence effectiveness. – Adrian Dormer

Commenting on the story: Official concerns on Central Market Arcade development ahead of key meeting

If they are committed to some cheaper units as their version of affordable housing but want the subsidies of the actual Affordable Housing program, the developers need to sign on formally and meet the requirements. 

It’s disingenuous to claim that a $419,000 price tag with their conditions meets the spirit of, let alone actual intent of the ‘Affordable Housing ‘ program. That kind of money is affordable to people with means. 

It would seem the Affordable Housing scheme has loopholes aplenty and should be reviewed with more strictly defined critieria, and not pay subsidies for these seemingly very, very limited conditional arrangements. Sign on for real, or fund yourself. – Anna Sweeting

Commenting on the story: United vanquishes biggest foe – but tougher tests await

Hi Spiro, yes, there’s tough games to come and I was hoping you would have some news about an experienced midfield signing to replace Troisi; perhaps one of the names you mentioned, especially as the wage bill has just about halved.

Not sure dismantling a coach’s reputation makes for good reading, and not really relevant to the overall subject. Every coach deserves a fresh start and can learn from past mistakes.

On Adelaide’s performances this year, the squad is largely its former youth team, so it’s expected to have off days with inconsistencies. I’m sure we will agree that it’s a great start, when you think Adelaide lost two star midfielders and an accomplished keeper and more in the space of a few months, so Spiro please have a word with your mate Piet and tell him to loosen the purse strings.

Adelaide desperately need some more experienced  heads for a long season ahead where injuries are sure to come. – Robert Scott