Letters to the Editor

Mateship is an integral part of the Australian identity. It’s an ideal that defines our nation’s character, this idea of looking out for each other, through the good times and the bad.

The Salvos have served alongside Australian troops in both World Wars and has supported them on deployments in Korea and Vietnam. Today, we are present in military bases across the country.

We’ve been there providing support to our troops in their times of need, giving them a hand up and a listening ear in their darkest times. 

As we enter these uncertain times, I encourage all Australians to reflect on the Anzac spirit and the strength and hope it brings, and remember why mateship is an ideal still worth fighting for.

It is good to know that Australian Government is planning to tighten the requirements for Australian citizenship. The new requirements may include a stand-alone English test and a commitment to embrace Australian values.

Australian history is a living testimony of the hard work and sacrifices of migrants from all over the world. Surely, some of them could not speak English very well, but they had the much needed skills to build Australia.  

Afghan cameleers played a great role in exploring and mapping the northern outback and rural Australia. They were a key to infrastructure projects. Lebanese settlements established restaurants, retail and warehousing businesses. Indians, Pacific Islanders, and Chinese supported the gold rush, sugar and banana industries. Italians, Greeks, Poles, Maltese, Russians and French settlers established the wine industry.

Let’s remember diversity is our biggest strength and a key to our great success.

Interesting that Angus Taylor, MP for Hume and Assistant Minister for Cities, has apparently backflipped over base load power stations especially when it comes to Dalton.

He has long argued that renewable energy like wind is too expensive, but when it comes to his electorate he can’t find a rational way out of the conundrum of gas base load and our nation’s requirement for cleaner energy base load that can support renewable energy targets.

Unlike the Greens, I support gas as a cleaner alternative to coal and think that a 100 per cent renewable target is basically pie in the sky fantasy. Yes, something needs to be done to reduce greenhouse gases and base load gas power plants like the one at Dalton go a long way to achieving the aims of carbon dioxide reduction.

We were also told recently on every available Australian news service that our energy security is at perilous risk and Mr Taylor toys with ideas of stonewalling energy security for electoral nimbyist advantage.

I can understand the people of Dalton being upset and concerned that their rural slice of paradise may be impacted negatively. I truly hope that the people of Dalton are consulted thoroughly and every need met if the project is to go ahead, which is not guaranteed.

What however are we rejecting, if the Dalton power plant does not proceed? Hundreds of construction jobs and millions of dollars into the local economy, quite a few sustainable power plant jobs, not to mention the reliance on coal in the Hunter to produce base load power, putting the planet ecology at risk.

Mr Taylor needs to get his story straight, not just for a few voters in his electorate; so does Ms Goward, spitting in the eye of investment like this in our region.