It would seem that the decision

24.10.12

Letter to the Editor

It would seem that the decision to mine uranium is the latest in a long line of decisions made by the LNP Queensland government to sacrifice the health and wellbeing of ordinary North Queensland residents to increase revenue to the Brisbane centric government for use to expand and refresh infrastructure in the great South East at the expense of we North Queenslanders.

Mining uranium is a dangerous business, dangerous to the workers who mine it, dangerous to water sources that North Queensland communities rely upon for drinking purposes as the tailing dams overflow into and contaminate in the abundant wet seasons that we in the North enjoy and dangerous because even if used for peaceful purposes i.e. the generation of power, the waste cannot be stored safely. Perhaps the Premier will sell the uranium on the condition that he will be prepared to take the waste and store it, in North Queensland, of course.

One wonders if Premier Newman would be so enthusiastic if the deposits were located in his back yard in the S-E of the State. It seems that the LNP are using North Queensland as the engine room for revenue with little care for our welfare when decisions are made concerning biosecurity or health initiatives two name just two items that this government has either removed or lessened the quality of since March. Conservative seems to mean to go backward (1956) into the past with uranium, instead of forward with renewable energy which does no harm.

This seems to be a government who puts profits ahead of people’s welfare, goodness knows the Bligh government was bad enough, what; may I ask did we do to deserve the Newman government?

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

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One would have to agree

23.10.12

Letter to the Editor

One would have to agree with Marie Coleman from the National Foundation for Australian Women when she described the cuts to the baby bonus as “not unreasonable” in fact the baby bonus payments remain very generous. The federal government has worked hard to target these payments far better than they were when first introduced however in my humble opinion they should cease after the birth of the third child as world finance remains in a tight situation.

The general public should be rewarded for taking responsibility and limiting their family to what Peter Costello eluded to when he introduced the benefit, that is one (baby) for Mum, one for Dad and one for the country, any more is irresponsible in this day and age. The reduction of payment to $3,000 for the second child has sound reasoning behind it and should be applauded especially in these hard times.

Many thanks to the Gillard government for continuing the payment to the battlers who really need a helping hand I am sure this and other measures taken by the government will allow the Reserve Bank to lower interest rates again this year and in so doing save those battling families even more money in mortgage repayments as they have done over the life of this government.

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

It is to be hoped

14.10.12

Letter to the Editor

It is to be hoped that Premiers from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland in particular but also Opposition Leader Abbott will take note of IMF Chief Christine Lagarde’s advice given last week concerning the dangers of pure austerity posed, she made the point that if governments continued to treat austerity as the solution the whole world economy would be in jeopardy.

We understand that the Opposition Leader has a problem accepting advice from powerful women however watching the L&NP, LNP economic policy in practice in the States seems to completely rely upon austerity without a stimulus or any positive economic measures and needs urgent correction. In Queensland for example we have seen the sacking of 14,000 people by the government leading to Queensland pulling the rest of Australia down. . As Ms Lagarde clearly points out structural reforms need to be undertaken which seems absent from conservative policy, yet the Australian government keenly undertakes these measures on almost a daily basis.

It seems that other conservative (L&NP) Premiers have followed the Queensland Premier down the slippery slope for a race to the bottom with both NSW and Victoria following suit albeit sacking less people than the Queensland Premier. It is rudimentary economics to realize that the fewer people working and paying taxes the worse the country or state will be. Relying on out dated ideology to crush working people will only lead to tears.

The IMF has factored in a 3.3% figure for global growth, with the negative approach taken to economics by the L&NP, LNP our only comfort is the fact we continue to have a federal Labor government who are good managers of the economy, especially in tough times, and not the LNP.

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

So, it’s official

12.10.12

Letter to the Editor

So, it’s official We’re the jobless capital – And little hope on the horizon for state Townsville Bulletin 12.10.12 it has become clear that the Newman government mantra is flawed, and that the sacking of 14,000 public servants has bought the Queensland economy tumbling down with private employers also jittery about hiring in the face of these massive job cuts. This has led our unemployment rate to explode.

Queensland is now beginning to drag the Australian economy down with our unemployment rate increasing to 6.3% and subsequently dragging the Australian rate with it, the federal government has managed to keep the Australian rate at 5.4%. Even more alarming is that Federal Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey approves and endorses this situation saying the position is “difficult but necessary” which only confirms that the same economic dogma being used by the LNP Queensland government would be used by a federal L&NP government, heaven forbid, they seem to have no idea.

The conservative dogma is unrealistic and seems to not cater for those of us who live in the real world, they have a theory that when put into practice results in calamity instead of calm. To add insult to injury the Queensland Treasurer still says he has ambitions to see a 4% unemployment rate? I have an ambition to climb Mt Kosciusko it seems my ambition will be fulfilled before his.

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

Earlier this year

11.10.12

Letter to the Editor

Earlier this year I wrote many letters to the newspaper Editor’s as I could see impending doom for Queensland at the 2012 election. Many of my letters were not published as is the newspapers right, however having lived through the Joh regime I could see what lay ahead for Queensland under an LNP government.

I could not however foresee the extent of the damage that would be done and continues to be done. Had I written a letter to the Editor claiming that 14,000plus public servants would lose their jobs, in the process reducing services to ordinary Queenslanders, the only biosecurity laboratory in Northern Australia would be closed and not replaced with the planned $18 million facility at James Cook University, that police resources would be further stretched Don’t stretch our blue line too thinly – Townsville Bulletin 11.10.12 that electricity prices would dramatically increase (not due to the carbon tax) that state school concerts would end, that those of us rely on emergency services would see their numbers so cruelly slashed to our detriment the letter would not have been published as it would have been thought to be too unbelievable, however it has taken place only 6 months into the Newman regime.

I have no time for Queensland Labor as it remains impotent, due to it being controlled by two of the weakest unions in Queensland, however I advocated for votes to flow to other parties and trustworthy independent politicians, hopefully the Queensland public having been badly burned this time will opt for a different option in future.

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

Senator fires parting shots

08.10.12

Letter to the Editor

Re: Senator fires parting shots at own party – Townsville Bulletin 08.10.12.

In a parting shot at her party Senator Sue Boyce LNP Senator for Queensland has warned the LNP and the federal conservatives in general that they need to find ways of attracting more women and small business people to the State and Federal parliaments.

Senator Boyce suggested creating a target of 30% female candidates within 10 years, it seems that it is not only Tony Abbott who has a problem with women, Senator Boyce seems to be suggesting that the whole organization of conservative politics in Australia has a problem with women, so much so that she sees a danger that the Queensland LNP were in danger of being taken over by social conservatives.

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

taking three Australian men

07.10.12

Letter to the Editor

Taking three Australian men, Tony Abbott, Leader of the federal Opposition, Alan Jones, Sydney radio announcer and Alan Joyce, CEO QANTAS Airlines, all of which it seems believe in radical conservative politics.

The first advocates the adoption of right wing conservative politics through policy though his policies are kept secret from the public, the second advocates’ right wing conservative ideas through his radio show and the last uses right wing conservative policies such as locking out its workforce while taking a multimillion dollar salary package for himself.

All three of these men are well known or friendly with the other two men mentioned and I would be interested to know if there were any other similarities that these three men shared?

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au

The defence

01.10.12

Letter to the Editor

The defence of the grubby comment made by Alan Jones concerning the Prime Minister’s father ‘s death by the Liberal Party Senator Abetz demonstrates that Alan Jones is highly valued within the Liberal Party.

Alan Jones should be condemned for his outrageous statements however Sen Abetz says after his halfhearted apology Mr. Jones is again welcome to speak at Liberal Party functions. The Liberal’s don’t seem to realize that they are judged by the company that they keep.

Regards,

Shaun Newman

13 Laura Court

Deeragun, Townsville

North Queensland, 4818

Ph: 0747516184

Email – sne35565@westnet.com.au