Matt GoldingCredit: .
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A wake-up call
It is rather unfair to headline the article on Alberta withdrawing its Commonwealth Games bid as being all due to Daniel Andrews (″Canada axes Games, blames Victoria″, 5/8).
Victoria’s government should be appreciated for pointing out the fundamental problems with a Commonwealth Games. The least of these is that Alberta realises that it would be in a similar position – it was also to share its venues across three locations.
The decision of Victoria is a good one. The Games Committee, who breathed a sigh of relief when Victoria offered to host it, should use the withdrawals to have a good, hard look at what the
Games mean.
This is a wake-up call, and some positives might come out of it if everyone analyses the situation, rather than trying to extract a large sum of money from a state that had good intentions.
John Pinniger,
Fairfield
Next stop, Trump
Enough is enough. Daniel Andrews is blamed for Canada axing Games bid. Next, Donald Trump will cite him as the cause of his troubles.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill
Too expensive
So Canada has also pulled out of the Commonwealth Games. Will there be the same outcry from the shock jocks and others? It is obvious that these Games are just too expensive to run.
Ross Beale, Moonee Ponds
Hands off super
It’s ironic that super became compulsory to ease the burden on the welfare-pension system, so that retirees would be financially independent. We’ve been encouraged to work longer, and to salary sacrifice, to ensure we have funds to cover all scenarios during retirement. Now the government wants to dip into these hard-earned savings to pay for aged care. I say hands off our super, and beware the grey-haired voters at the next election.
Jacqui Smith,
Murrumbeena
Move if you’re worried
I live on the same block as the proposed sobering-up centre in Collingwood (″State’s first sobering-up centre in Collingwood″, 4/8) and I am grateful my community will have this life-saving facility.
These centres are essential to preventing deaths in custody and are long overdue. Anyone who can afford to live in a million-dollar house on Cambridge Street can also afford to move, if their property prices really concern them more than saving
people’s lives.
Sasha McPavian, Collingwood
Centre welcomed
Would the residents of the Collingwood street where the much-needed sobering-up centre (″Residents fume over sobering-up centre″, 5/8) prefer those with alcohol and often a host of other issues be wandering around their street without the assistance so desperately needed, or in a police cell? Hopefully, this is just their initial response and not a reflection of their lack of heart.
My family would welcome such a centre in my neighbourhood
if proposed.
Teresa Chandley, Seddon
Fair-go precedent
The marriage equality vote in 2017 achieved just over 60 per cent result in favour. This augurs well for the approaching Voice referendum. The fair go for all that clearly prevailed then should apply again with justice at last for our Indigenous Australians.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Sky still there
A previous state Liberal government negotiated a Recognition and Settlement Agreement with the Dja Dja Wurrung Corporation in central Victoria, covering Crown land in the region.
It’s the closest thing you can get to a treaty when continuous connection to land has been severed. The sky hasn’t fallen in.
Bill Forrest, Princes Hill
Blokey nuisance
Having just returned from the United States, I can see the unfortunate trend of pointless “Auto-besity” (The Age, 5/8) in both countries.
In the US, while outsized sedans have all but disappeared, the extra-large pick-up truck continues to be ubiquitous, usually for no apparent practical reason.
In Australia, the equivalent is the four-wheel- drive ute or wagon, also generally without a clear purpose. I can certainly respect those who tow boats or caravans and others with a passion for camping in inaccessibly rugged bushland, but the lucrative 4WD vehicle and accessory industry outgrew this intended usage long ago.
It’s a paradoxical blokey fashion we can ill-afford, considering both safety and rapidly escalating environmental concerns.
Marish Mackowiak, Ormond
It’s intimidation
We didn’t need a report to tell us what any pedestrian or cyclist has known for years. A proportion of drivers in bigger vehicles use the size of the vehicle to intimidate. A lack of self-esteem or perceived lack of relevance is the root cause – not the size of the vehicle.
Chris Wallis, Albert Park
High pedestal, indeed
Donald Trump told his followers: “It is a great honour because I am being arrested for you.″ He is making a similar statement to that of Christianity that Christ died for our sins. He has put himself on a high pedestal and perhaps his followers will start a tax-exempt religion called Trumpers.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
ABC of common sense
ABC TV news has scrapped its planned Sunday night national bulletin: common sense occasionally prevails.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
A Golding gem
AI rescues the human race from global warming — such an elegant solution to an intractable problem. Another Matt Golding gem (30/7).
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills