ROUGH IS TOUGH
SLEEPING rough is tough. Imagine being homeless, outside in the rain and wind. Surely, a warm bed and a roof over your head isn't a lot to ask.
The cost of accommodation is beyond many single people let alone those on welfare. They rely on charity and live on the streets. Add to this mental problems and addictions. Governments ignore the escalating homelessness in Australia. Parliament is on winter break. Politicians want to give themselves a $200 a week increase in their salary. It must be nice to call the tune without public input.
This would not pass the pub test. Many politicians are already very wealthy, living the life to which they are accustomed, at the taxpayers' expense, the great divide between reality and their privileged lifestyles, is inestimable. They don't work a lifetime at their positions, but walk away with perks and superannuation payouts. They give no thought for the homeless and those struggling on welfare and charity-dependent.
Australia is not adept at playing the good Samaritan. Our refugee policies fall short. Thankfully, we have people among us who care for such struggling homeless. Charities and compassionate volunteers provide blankets, suitable clothes and food for those exposed to our winter weather. Churches and charities provide meals for the hungry.
Empathy is short in a narcissistic world. Don't expect our three-tiered governments to address homelessness or affordable housing soon. They feather their own nests and reputations. It is time to remember society is judged on how it treats its most vulnerable.
- E. Rowe, Marcoola
QUIT PARIS TREATY
TONY Abbott is right. Australia should quit the Paris Climate Treaty. China, India, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia will ignore Paris. USA has already quit and Japan even withdrew from the Kyoto Treaty. Germany will fail to meet its obligations and Poland will not try very hard. France relies heavily on nuclear power and naturally supports imposing Paris handicaps on competitors. Australia has huge coal, gas, oil and uranium resources. To export these, while we hobble our industries with windmill power, is insane.
- V. Forbes, Washpool
NEW SEWAGE PLANT
IT should be part of the master plan and not the problem of the neighbouring suburb to deal with ...
- D. Collier via Facebook
DO not put it among acreage properties that don't use sewerage facilities.
- C. Wallis via Facebook
