Commenting on the story: SA risks ‘failing’ children if it lifts criminal age from 10

The Attorney-General argues that South Australia needs to provide better protection and support programs to young offenders before it legislates to raise the criminal age from 10 to 14.

The only responsible response is to do both.

A punitive bias for prolonging a policy of incarceration of youth at a critical stage in their development, well before they are entitled to vote, is not acceptable. – Jim Allen

Vicki Chapman’s views are untenable. If it is up to each state to legislate on a specific issue, then why would you wait for agreement from other states?

It is pure laziness that this Liberal government has not acted to increase the criminal age to 14 and to create alternative supervision and support. What is preventing them from acting, especially when this issue is positively Victorian? – Paul Davies

Commenting on the story: City beach volleyball sell-off looms despite opposition

Can it really be called a ‘consultation’ when 95% of the public responses are in opposition and yet the plan still goes ahead? 

I’m pleased that Volleyball SA may get the opportunity to set up fresh elsewhere, but what are those of us that live and work in the CBD going to get in return for losing our beach volleyball courts? Are we going to get the opportunity to enjoy the space in some other fashion? No, we will just be hemmed in by more concrete blocks.

Ah, but those concrete blocks will be housing “advanced economy businesses”. Oh, well, if only that had been clear from the start! How dare we want to play sport and be fit and healthy in the open air when instead we could be spending our lunch breaks with our noses pressed up against the tinted windows of ‘advanced economy businesses’.

I hope the Port Road car park will be good for Volleyball SA (assuming they get their funding) but it won’t be any good for the CBD workers who, for years, have been enjoying their volleyball leagues during their lunch hours, competing with and getting to know our neighbours. 

This will go down as a small but shameful incident in the history of the City Council and the State Government at a time when the City needs to improve lifestyle conditions for its workers, but, instead, is choosing to snuff out one of its shining lights. – Paul Miller

Commenting on the story: Why Adelaide should become a ProtoCity

As quick background, my partner lives in Adelaide -a city I love and consider a second home – and we’ve not seen one another since March of 2020 with no real promise of being together for the foreseeable future, a fact that definitely colours my comment here.

Honestly, how can Adelaide (or any Australian city) keep a straight face when referring to a ProtoCity that “invites the world to come and play?” No business or equivalent global entity is going to take seriously any invitation from Australia to witness innovation or inspiration no matter how compelling it is.

The past 15 months have served as a jarring reminder that Australia really doesn’t want to be part of a global community, and that’s their right as a nation, but you don’t get to have it both ways.

Major Australian cities, Adelaide included, have established themselves as the antithesis of  “inviting”. – Carolyn Smuts

Commenting on the opinion piece and Your views, Monday July 12:

I seem to be noting an increasing number of comments from presumably the “ bicycle brigade” advocating further restrictions, licensing etc of motor vehicle drivers and cars.

In reading these comments you are led to the conclusion that it is motorists who are entirely to blame for accidents. No mention is made of the numerous transgressions by bicycle riders who are able to hide behind their absolute anonymity.

I see many instances of cyclists disobeying traffic signals, speeding, taking up all of the road etc yet there is no means of reporting the incidents whether caught on camera or not. How about a registration system for bikes/bicyclists with clearly visible identification plates. And why is there not a licensing test for bicyclists before being allowed on the open road. Good enough for the vehicle driver, good enough for the biker. – Peter Hart