Letters To The Editor

Missing the point on abortion

In reply to Mungo McCallum's Political Corrections column 'The great abortion debate (that's not a debate)' (Echo, Feb 10).

Good Goddess Mungo! I do believe you've missed the point completely on the abortion debate.

Adam did you and the rest of mankind a disservice when he asked God to use his rib to re-create woman (Eve) in his own image, because it was the last feminist bone in the masculine body. Let's get it straight, Lillith was Adam's first wife created from the same dust as Adam. Adam had no control over Lillith and she left him. To prevent this happening again woman was re-created again from Adam's rib so he'd have control over her. This religious myth reflects current politics by symbolising patriarchal dominance over women and women's bodies.

Your nervousness around John Howard's deplorable track record with the truth, his ability to use political furor to rationalise his own personal and political beliefs to a manipulated public and his total disregard for the public point of view are not the problem, just the symptoms of a bigger disease.

Drowning the abortion debate in the political crock pot with other issues such as; Mamdouh Habib, declining university enrolments and Brendan Nelson in drag loses sight of the abortion debate altogether.

The abortion debate is the government testing feminism and the women's movement. Feminism and women's rights groups were strong and powerful during the 60s and 70s. Three decades later it seems feminism has been subdued by the tireless pursuit of the beauty myth and placated by retail therapy. Challenging an issue that women fought so hard for is an obvious attempt to incite rage, giving the government an indication of women's responses to the abortion debate. Will women take this lying down? I certainly hope not.

But why stir up such an old issue? How does the old abortion debate fit in with new issues such as paternity testing? My guess is that as a nation we are a bit low on human resources. We have an aging population; fewer women are having fewer children. Not so long ago John Howard was attacking lesbian couples who were parents. What's John Howard up to now?

Frances Jones
Lismore

Park land classification

Laurie Axtens (Echo, Feb 10) has written a passionate letter on Lismore Council's decision to amend the Local Environment Plan and change the classification of Lismore Park (Crozier Field and Oaks Oval) from 'community' to 'operational' land.

As one councillor who objected to the recommendation for reclassification of Lismore Park, which was dedicated to the public in 1887, I feel compelled to provide some additional information to Echo readers.

Firstly, Laurie seems to indicate that all councillors meekly accepted the recommendation. The item relating to Lismore Park, number 17 of 20 miscellaneous amendments to the LEP, was not acceptable to several councillors. Some considered that the recommendation warranted its own much more comprehensive report. Cr Irwin, citing community interest, argued to exclude it from the list, I seconded and other councillors supported her amendment but, unfortunately, it was defeated.

Secondly, despite the recommendation being carried, the resolution does not automatically mean that the amendment will become part of the LEP. The process now is to advise the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR), consult with various government agencies and then, most importantly, advertise the draft LEP for 28 days.

During that time, I would urge Laurie and all other concerned citizens to lodge their submissions

Thirdly, while I agree that only 'community' land classification ensures protection of our public parklands, Council has a duty to ensure that any reclassified land is not locked up and public access restricted.

Lismore Park is a wonderful community asset in the heart of our city. We must all ensure it remains that way for future generations.

Jenny Dowell
Goonellabah

Just rubbish

User pays? What sort of right wing think tank did you crawl out of Diana Roberts? Any notion of 'user pays' must be underpinned by a concept of 'producer profits' but produces don't profit do they because owners such as Murdock and Packer skim off the so-called 'surplus value' of workers production to maintain their nauseating billionaire status.

We live in a community, Diana, and like a family where the adults care for the children, those with more power and money share some of their extra wealth so that we can live in a less violent and more just society.

My neighbours who have eight children and only one bin are already cash strapped - they can't afford another bin and another collection, as it is they fork out to dump their extra waste once a month. Their friends help them with this, as they don't own a car. Do you think everybody owns a car, Diana?

You're self righteous advice did nothing but reinforce my belief that the garbage collection agencies at council have been usurped by the prissy anal middle classes.

You will however be happy to note that I wrapped your reply around my own meagre vegetable scraps and deposited it in my organics bin. It's easy for me; I only have a husband and two cats to care for, not three dogs and eight children.

Please policy makers, have a heart and change your garbage collection facilities policy to per capita basis and not on a household basis for the sake of cleaner streets and a more just society.

Loretta Mackay
Lismore

Bad mouth

At the commencement of her new job as Secretary of State, Condaleeza Rice proclaimed that diplomacy was to be the American way forward in world affairs.

Really!? Now we have North Korea cutting off planned talks with six nations, including America, because of Rice's derogatory remarks about North Korea. While her remarks may have had some semblance of truth, they were hardly designed to get North Korea to the negotiating table. And, of course, our government said nothing about this, despite Australia being within range of any nuclear missile North Korea may want to launch. Perhaps North Korea is "bluffing", but can the world afford to have a bad mouth like Rice shooting off all over the place? Also, her comments on Iran are hardly designed to inspire confidence in her diplomacy or, even, plain common sense. But, then, as a strident echo of her master and mentor, Bush, I guess we can expect no less from her. 

Cherie Imlah
Mongogarie

Bypass derailed

The rail issue is still a hot topic in our society and the new Minister for Transport, Mr John Watkins MP, has an arduous task before him.

The former Minister for Transport, Mr Michael Costa, has now been given the Roads portfolio. Within days of his appointment the Alstonville bypass has been delayed for another year, and a question mark has been placed over the Ballina bypass.

This small region of NSW has a rapidly growing population at around 2.2 per cent, the fastest growing region outside Sydney, yet we have a virtually non-existent public transport system. Yet your tax dollars are still paying for one.

Meanwhile your railway line is deteriorating and our roads are being damaged by the extra bus traffic on them, most of which are running empty.

If there are any people in the Northern Rivers region who have had a negative experience on these Countrylink buses then I would like to ask them to contact me in writing or email. For the failings of such services to our communities must be brought to the attention of the Minister and the population at large. Privacy to these letters and emails will be of utmost importance if the sender so wishes.

Post to 106 Rous Rd, Goonellabah, 2480 or email b7el@austarnet.com.au.

As well as this I would like to inform you of two very interesting websites - mirrabookrailservice.com.au and carrwatch.com.au.

The organising and fight for rail services on the Casino to Murwillumbah line is far from over.

Neale Battersby
Rail Consultant and
Locomotive Engineman
Lismore

Bigger picture

The Alstonville bypass - moaning again! Well, it was decided in 1975 that it was necessary - that was before B Doubles were invented. We are entitled to moan - anyone who has been forced to hold his car stationery as a big B Double bears down the hill towards him will understand. But feeling sorry for ourselves will not get us very far.

What we need is to gather the statistics and show the rest of the State and Australia that they stand to lose too. If they drive through Alstonville they use more fuel, have more risk of accident and raise the blood pressure more than if there was a completed bypass. Another Semi or B Double crashes and burns - so what? Some city slickers (who may not even know where Alstonville is) have shares in the vehicle owning organisation or in the business waiting in vain for the urgently needed goods burning beside the road at Alstonville. Gather these statistics - show that the losers are not just us rural Alstonville nobodies and we just might be able to get the government to understand that it is in the national interest to finish the Alstonville bypass without delay.

Nat B Wheatley
Alstonville

The search is over

You recently published a letter that I wrote to you concerning my search for members of the Montgomery family. My search for them was that I could return a WWI memorial plaque awarded to the family to commemorate the death of a family member in France.

I'm happy to report that as a direct result of you publishing my letter I have been contacted by a relative of the solider in question. The memorial plaque will be returned to the family shortly.

Thank you very much for assisting me in this matter.

Lieutenant Colonel Glyn Llanwarne

Covering up

As an Australian citizen I am truly appalled by the treatment Ms Cornelia Rau has received at the hands of the Queensland prison system and at Baxter Detention Centre.

It must be stated that Ms Amanda Vanstone's call and decision to have a private inquiry and not a public one is deplorable. The Rau family has been very graceful under horrendous circumstances. My own feeling is that if it happened to one of my relatives I would probably sue those responsible for wrongful incarceration!

We the Australian public and the Rau family deserve an open, honest and thorough inquiry into this matter and not a closed one.

Those who did nothing to help Ms Rau in her fragile mental state must be forced to front a public inquiry and answer for their actions publicly. They do not deserve the option of deciding whether they would like to come forward at a private inquiry.

Questions need to be asked, like:

• Why did the authorities first take notice that something was seriously wrong with Ms Rau when the interpreter said she was talking gibberish?
• Why did the government mental health doctor say that despite being a bit odd that she was sane, particularly since it had been proven that prior to her escaping from the SA mental institution she was being treated for schizophrenia? This doctor's decision, and the lack of medical follow up through the Queensland prison system and at Baxter, must have greatly impeded Ms Rau's health.
• Why was there a breakdown in communication between the states over her?
• If Ms Rau had killed herself what would the chances be of us hearing about it if she had done it in detention?

There are many other asylum seekers in detention who need help like Ms Rau but aren't getting the care they need either. I am a disabled pensioner and I have a dissociative disorder, a slight learning disability, low stress threshold and post traumatic stress disorder, and I can't help but think, there but for the grace of God go I.I'm not an activist; I just think all people are entitled to decent medical care.

Amanda Vanstone I feel is just trying to cover her own as well as other people's backs in having this private inquiry. Heads must roll over this utter stuff up! This is why we need a public inquiry!

If Peter Beattie - the Queensland Premier - can say "I apologise," why can't other senior government people say it? Because they don't want it exposed how the mentally ill are treated in this country.

The people who tried to help Cornelia Rau have nothing to apologise for. But those who were entrusted with her care have a lot to answer for and must be made accountable! From law enforcement and upwards!

Helen Coyle
South Lismore

Valued input

It is with alarm that I have viewed the proposal put forward by the management of Lismore City Council regarding the reconstitution of the Citizen Advisory Committee system.

The changes have been described by management as being essential to the implementation of the Council's Strategic Plan.

This plan is aimed, in part, at the introduction into Council of what have been described as "innovate practices in governance". One wonders if that means that more decisions, which might reasonably be expected to be made by our elected representatives, are made by management?

Having spent 38 years in Local Government as an Alderman of the Lismore City Council, I know and appreciate the work that has been done by Citizen Committees. They have comprised people imbued with enthusiasm, local knowledge and a sense of vision who provided our elected representatives with suggestions and ideas that helped make Lismore the place it is.

I am of the opinion, however, that all this could change if the suggested amendments to the committee system are implemented. These would see nominees having to meet a certain level of knowledge and skills. Their thinking on community matters would also have to remain within a certain "scope".

To me that means that the spirit of the community committee system would be lost. Fortunately some councillors have insisted that the views of the committees themselves be sought on this matter.

Already the sporting community, at a well attended public meeting, has indicated to Lismore City Council that there should be no change made to its Sports Association in either its operation or make up. This point received scant regard in the report sent to Council on this matter of community committees. For the good of community consultation then we must hope that all other committees send a similar message to Council.

Indeed, it would be pleasing to see our elected representatives rescind the motion they adopted on this matter and replace it with one to the effect "That the report be received and no action taken."

Habib P Habib
South Lismore

Questioning abortion

Re Mungo McCallum's article on the abortion debate (Echo, Feb 10).

I agree we do have some fanatical people in the world trying to influence others to support their agendas. However, I find his opinion, regarding pro-life people, quite offensive.

We don't believe in killing unborn babies as a good solution to a problem.

Some of the questions that need to be debated:

• For every pregnancy there is a male involved. Do men really understand what is involved in a woman having an abortion?
• Are both men and women aware of the emotional cost to women?
• Why do women resort to abortion? Is it mainly due to economic reasons or is it a lack of confidence of support from the father of the child? Or have we been brainwashed into thinking there are too many people already in Australia?
• Has the abortion industry become a huge money making business for doctors?

Surely in this day and age we can encourage debate on how we can help rather than kill. There has to be a better way. Choose life.

M Salkeld
Goonellabah

What an idiot

Recently I was reversing from my driveway and observed a late model blue Commodore sedan overtake three motor vehicles on North Creek Road, Ballina, at high speeds.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at North Creek Road and Southern Cross Drive and failed to indicate when turning left.

The driver was at the Ballina Road BP service station and I spoke to the driving regarding his driving etc.

I said 'it's drivers like you that kill people' and I further told him that I would report him to the Ballina Police. He replied: "I don't care. I know someone at Ballina Police Station and it won't go any further."

My response is that I don't care who you know, if it be civilian staff or constables up to inspectors. If you want to drive like an idiot, you will be treated like an idiot and rest assured, police will act on complaints and I will ensure that police will speak to you shortly.

Allan O'Neill
Ballina

Horsing around

William Shakespeare: Richard III: Act 5, Scene IV has King Richard uttering those wonderful lines: "A Horse, a horse, My Kingdom for a horse."

Perhaps Prince Charles, the celebrity serial adulterer and would be "born again tampon", has been taking the bard and his 'horsey' a little too seriously!

John X Berlin
Maclean

Left, right, left, right...

Recent ministerial changes in the Carr Government highlighted yet again ongoing tension between the right and left in the NSW ALP. The dominant faction, the right, obviously believes that might is right and that it alone has the right to decide major issues. So it leaves the left right out of decision making. Meantime the left is convinced that it's right and that it has a right to be consulted instead of being left out. Now, politics being a numbers game, the right is perhaps right. It has the numbers, so it alone has the right to decide issues. Hopefully that means the right is always right. The left appears to base its arguments on more righteous grounds. It believes that all citizens of NSW have a right to be heard. That means that every right decision reflects both right and left factional views. Right though they might be, at least in principle, that means nothing to the right, which continues to assert its personal right to decide what's right, meaning that it's absolutely right in leaving the left out of government decision making. I don't profess to know who's right, but it seems to me that might isn't always right and that the left is right in arguing that it has a right to be consulted. If I'm wrong and the left isn't right, then maybe the right has the right to decide what's rightly in NSW's interest, despite the principled stand of the left. One thing's certain. If the brawling continues, then, after the next state election, nothing will be left for the right and the left to argue over. In such a case neither the right nor the left could claim to be right. Serves them right, I say. They'd be left to fight over what little would be left. Right?

Tom Henderson
Urunga