Letters To The Editor

Bird behaviour

On October 8, sitting outside my office, I heard the sounds of a baby magpie squawking for food. Putting down my cuppa I looked around the corner and to my amazement saw a female butcherbird making those sounds. To your reader, the question is - has anyone come across this before? Is it usual or a warning of things to come?

PJ Lake
Ballina

Thanks everyone

The Alstonville Plateau Historical Society would like to thank all those organisations and people who have made possible the conversion of Crawford House, Alstonville, as a museum and community facility.

A special thank you to Ian Kirkland, Fred Willoughby, anthem vocalist Drucilla Templeton and the Alstonville Primary School Band, as well as Alstonville Primary folkdance group, Rous Primary dancing and poetry recital groups, St Joseph's Primary clarinet band and poetry recital group, "Voices in the Roar", Bill Mason - the old-time musical saw player, Frank Williams Jazz Band and Ballina Shire Concert Band. The performers, workers, exhibitors and community service clubs were all excellent during the open day.

The magnificently worked quilt donated by the Duck Creek Quilters Club for our raffle was won by the Crawford House tiler Eion Johston of Rous Road, Alstonville. Thank you Eion and the Quilters.

Congratulations to all the children who dressed up in period costume on the day. Well done.

The house is open to the public on Fridays from 10am-4pm or for appointments phone 6628 3925. For Function Room bookings phone 6628 0700. Opening and house DVD's and photos are available by phoning 6687 8335.

Margaret Kennedy
APHS Inc, Crawford House
Alstonville

Thanks for care

Recently hospitalised at Lismore Base Hospital with a suspected heart attack after travelling from Tasmania to visit family, I have nothing but praise for the treatment empathy and care I received from the dedicated doctors (Jane and David), the nurses and other staff.

Having been in hospitals throughout the state, the treatment and care I received was of the highest calibre, and the people of Lismore have reason to be proud of their hospital and its dedicated staff.

Yvonne Boraso
Campbell Town, Tasmania

Power plays

George Scott, Nimbin's own song man, has been playing in the park for a long time.

To hear his voice brings soul into the town - the atmosphere it creates is badly needed in this place that has its share of suffering people. It opens our hearts and lifts our spirits.

When I asked him why he wasn't doing it anyone he said that the Nimbin Neighbourhood centre denied him access to the power he needs for his PA. Would you believe it? Is this how small minded our 'community' organisation is? So please, give him the electricity so we can sing along with George again.

Paula Hout
Nimbin

Good move

Well done to the people of the Northern Rivers for helping to make this week's decision to ban smoking in pubs and clubs a reality. It is certainly welcome news that from mid-2007 we will all be able to enjoy clear air in pubs and clubs in NSW.

When my husband, Slim Dusty, died of cancer, I vowed to continue his fight for a safe and healthy workplace for Australian artists.

As patron of the Cancer Council's 'Go Smoke Free' campaign, I want to thank the 26,000 people throughout NSW for throwing their weight behind the campaign and making their voices heard so strongly. Without the enormous public support, the ban may not have happened.

Congratulations NSW.

Joy McKean
Sydney

Nest needed

The endangered species of bird, the black-necked stork, called the Jabiru in Australia, found conditions at Lismore Lake just right for a good feed for several days of last week. I saw it on the Thursday, but the manager of the Caravan Park said it was there for two days before that, and has been seen again for a few more days since then. An endangered species means just that - it is threatened with extinction, which would be a sad happening for such a magnificent bird.

What a rich stock of fish, frogs and other aquatic foods for bird life there has been, and apparently still is, in our little Lismore Lake. There are nearly always pelicans, at least 14, sometimes 16, feeding there on fish. An increasing number of migrant waders have been turning up, birds such as black-tailed godwits, sharp-tailed sandpipers and Latham snipe, returning now to Australia after breeding in the northern hemisphere.

It is to be hoped that our Council will agree to take advantage of the dry conditions and have the island, or islands, created that will not only beautify the appearance of the lake, but benefit the bird life by making safe places for them to rest and to nest.

Molly Crawford
Lismore

Don't blame me

I would request, in the interests of fair play and balance and a chance for me to answer Mr Murdoch's scurrilous remarks, that you waive your ban on post-election correspondence.

Mr Murdoch, Goebbels-like in his mendacious use of your valuable newsprint, shows that Howard's followers are a bunch of rusted on scape-goating apprentice Nazis of the worst kind. The idea that I and Cloud of Kyogle are to blame for Howard's re-election on the local level is similar to Hitler blaming the Jews for his ascendancy to power. Mr Murdoch's attempt at rhetoric would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic. Just to remind Howard's conga-line, the Coalition only got 40.63% of the primary vote, with the rest of their "win" being from preferences, which reasserts my earlier claims that the Australian voting system is corrupt and Mr Murdoch and his ilk are still, nationally, part of a minority.

Next thing you know Cloud and I will be blamed for Tampa, children overboard, terrorists targeting Australians, the Bali bombing, paedophile priests, John Howard's baldness and his bald-faced lies.

So Tom, it's fine by me if you want to follow a murdering liar like Howard and his cronies, but don't blame me for the stupidity of the Australian public - they voted for Howard long before Cloud and I started writing letters.

And as far as any letter from Causley's office goes, I tear them up and throw them in the compost as a matter of course. But I am sure if Causley needs a new spindoctor - you're the man for the job, Tom.

M Mizzi
Tabulam

Promise kept?

During campaign 2004, Federal National Party leader, John Anderson, solemnly promised to resign as leader, "if a single National seat was lost".

With Richmond and the Anthony dynasty looking increasingly shaky by the day, no doubt the 'Dear John' letter is already printed, awaiting his signature.

John X Berlin
Maclean

Council sell off

It has come to my attention through a confidential source that the Old Council Chambers have been sold to an undisclosed person for an undisclosed amount for an undisclosed purpose. I have been advised that the announcement of the sale will not be made until the sale is finalised.

It would appear that once again the Richmond Valley Council is totally ignoring the requests of the public to have some say into the outcome of a public asset. Why is Council refusing to make the details of the sale public until after the sale is finalised? Could it be that they know the public will not accept it?

Mind you it could turn out to be a very good decision but I still stand by the belief that Casino's residents should have a say in the matter before the completion of the sale. After all it does belong to the people.

I urge the public to write to council and register their disapproval of the way this matter has been handled. The secrecy surrounding this transaction seems to me a little excessive.

I am demanding that the Council answers the following questions and allow a reasonable amount of time for public comments to be received before the sale is finalised:

1. Who is the purchaser?
2. What is the selling price?
3. What will the site be used for?
4. What is the reason for the secrecy?
5. What will the proceeds of the sale be used for?
6. Will the public toilets still be available?
7. Will the heritage sections of the building be preserved?
8. Exactly what is being sold?
9. Why did Council bother to ask for public submissions when they had no intention of listening to the people's views?

I wish to also remind the residents about the old EL Gronda. It's gone and now we are lamenting its demise. This mistake must be prevented from being repeated, and please remember that there is no protection on the portions of the building that have heritage value. Remember, without roots a mighty oak will no longer grow and will eventually die.

Surely if the sale were in the town's best interest Council would be more than happy to face the residents.

I say that there has been too much secrecy surrounding this project for it to be in the town's best interest and so I ask the public to write to the Richmond Valley Council demanding full disclosure before the sale or write to me at 76 North Street Casino, NSW 2470 and I will pass them on. I can also be contacted on 6662 7325.

Peter Gallo
Casino

Not a dirty word

Fellow Australians, here we are all enjoying the lifestyle of one of the per capita richest nations on earth. We have wealth, we have economic growth, we have budget surpluses and low interest rates.

We have unemployment at more than double what we're told - when you count part time work, casuals, work for the dole, harassed people giving up the dole etc.

We have continuing falls in real wages, job security, living standards for all but the wealthy and declining home affordability. We have continuing destruction of the environment for profits.

We have capitalism. A marvellous system that is based on the ability of industry to get back more than it pays out. Profits attained by paying out to the multitude less than they get back, which will lead to a fall in living standards of the multitude, as is happening. The capitalistic "bust" that follows the "boom".

Capitalism is stupid. Ownership of industry by the profiteers is the problem. The only solution - ownership of industry by the people, for the people, not for profit for a few. Sound good? Well, I believe it is good, it is possible in a democracy, and it is needed now more than ever.

My beliefs make me a (shock, horror - I'd better whisper) socialist. A socialist will always aim for the ideal of communal ownership of production, but in the meantime will seek a fair distribution of wealth and living standards for all, by taxing the wealthy to pay for enhancement of living standards for the less privileged, and by fighting for workers' rights to decent pay and conditions.

Socialists seek fairness for the disadvantaged, the refugees, the aborigines, the victims of discrimination. Socialists seek to protect and rehabilitate the environment after the ravages of capitalism.

Socialism is for fairness. Capitalism isn't, it's for the suffering of many for the wealth of a few. Socialism is not a dirty word. Capitalism is.

Doug Burt
Kyogle

Lessons learnt

Here in the Richmond electorate, National Party MP Larry Anthony may be the first Australian casualty of the Iraq war. He was defeated by around 300 votes by Labor with 13% of preference votes coming from the Greens and some from me, with the slogan "Don't forget Iraq, Put Larry Last". At least here in Byron with our access to the truth via our independent media, internet networks and with a high level of activism, we didn't fall for John Howard's fear and lies campaign.

What were Australians thinking? Illegally invading a sovereign country under false pretences and brutally killing its people is not okay. 15,000 civilians have been murdered. Now, how many more will be killed? There never were any WMD's - it was always about oil, power, control and contracts for "The Boys". As UN chief Kofi Annan clearly said - the invasion was "illegal".

If you did vote for Howard, ponder this. If Australia were invaded or bombed and you had to helplessly watch your limbless child die in your arms, would you wonder where and why justice has gone? If you feel guilty and that vision infects your dreams then maybe in three years you will vote with your conscience and not your wallet.

Nuclear Disarmament Party Candidate for Richmond
Dean Jefferys

Rex future

In regard to recent coverage concerning Regional Express Airlines I thought it may allay your reader' concerns if Sydney Airport addresses some of the issues.

As the Chairman and Chief Executive of Sydney Airport Corporation Limited, Mr Moore-Witon, has stated publicly several times over times over the past week, Rex's move from a specific gate (39) at Terminal 2 (T2) to one potentially using various gates will allow for all of the service Rex currently has to be retained, ensuring Rex's passengers continue to be facilitated through T2.

Rex's insistence on maintaining access to a gate with an $800,000 aerobrige they do not require for their operation is impractical. The gate is required for jet operations as domestic jet operations continue to grow. This was always the rationale and understanding in rex signing a short (two year) lease in 2002. Jet operations getting priority over smaller aircraft is common practice worldwide and not at all unique to Sydney Airport.

In regards to sharing gates with other airlines this is a common practice at Sydney Airport and globally in relation to common user terminals. It is the very flexibility these arrangements provide which allow for the facility's optimal utilisation, promotes competition, and keeps costs down for the consumer. Rex passengers, like all passengers using T2, regardless of airlines, will be required to check the flight information screens to ascertain the gate from which they will be departing.

Sydney Airport Corporation is currently with Rex the provision of alternative facilities, including a premium lounge and office space.

It is a matter for regret and concern that Rex appears to believe that a politically focussed media campaign should override negotiations which are required due to the expiry of their current lease. At the end of the day I have no doubt that regional passengers will continue to have to a full range of facilities at Terminal T2 at Sydney Airport.

Rod Gimour
General Manager
Corporate Affairs & Human Resources
Sydney Airport Corporation Ltd.

Rex replies

Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL) has cleverly flown around the truth in their letter about SACL's attempt to downgrade facilities for regional air travellers using Sydney Airport.

SACL claims to have repeatedly guaranteed that Regional Express Airlines' 500,000 passengers will still be able to use the T2 terminal, but at no stage do they mention the quality of the facilities SACL is offering.

Quality is not a smaller gate shared by three other regional airlines with every Rex passenger boarding a bus to travel to their aircraft.

Considering our direct competitor QantasLink will as a result not be required to bus any of its passengers. Is this fair?

SACL says it needs Rex's correct gate because it has an aerobridge for large jet aircraft. There are gates at T2 without aerobridges.

Is it reasonable to move an entire airline as opposed to unbolting and moving an aerobridge?

SACL also tries to justify its plan by suggesting sharing gates "...is a common practice at Sydney Airport and globally in relation to common user terminals." They claim it 'promotes competition and keep costs down for the consumer'.

But SACL's actual practice of common use is to provide the major airlines, including our direct competitors, with long term dedicated access to almost all the gates in the terminal.

It seems there is one rule for 'the big guys' and one rule for regional airlines - all in the name of "commercial negotiation".

It is not only fair and reasonable but vital that a growing regional airlines like Rex has access to the terminal in line with our correct facilities and with what our competitors QantasLink, Virgin and soon Jetstar enjoy at Sydney Airport.

To not challenge what has been presented to Rex, as we have done, would to be sell out regional Australia. People in the bush are smart enough to see straight through the corporate spin doctors from the city. Everyone west or north of the great divide knows just how vital our air links are. We also know full well that SACL / Macquarie Bank's is out to maximise its profits just two years after paying well over $5 billion for the management rights for Sydney Airport.

The bush cannot afford to allow this to happen and lose its regional air links. The loophole in the legislation which allows SACL and the other privatised airport to use these sorts of measures to undermine the Government's clear commitment to access must to closed. The Regional Air Summit planned for early November will provide the solutions to this issue.

Geoff Breust
Managing director
Regional Express