Australia!
This great nation was built on Judeo-Christian values; specifically, Australia and most of the “Western” nations were formed around the Bible. Sure, we have had our share of problems, injustice, corruption; but biblical principles work! The 10 commandments are a solid foundation for justice & mercy that is unrivalled in ancient literature. I will throw in the Beatitudes spoken by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, often described as the most significant and transformative discourse in all of history! They are a key to a fulfilled life and a just & fair society.
Sadly much of Aussie culture has deviated from these principles in recent years and we are bearing the consequences. Homelessness, poverty, deprivation of freedom, devaluation of human life, factions, anger & hatred to name but a few of the issues that plague us as a society.
Paul of Tarsus puts it succinctly in his ancient letter to Timothy:
People will be self-centered lovers of them-selves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly.They will become addicted to hateful and malicious slander. Slaves to their desires, they will be ferocious, belligerent haters of what is good and right. With brutal treachery, they will act without restraint, bigoted and wrapped in clouds of their conceit. They will find their delight in the pleasures of this world more than the pleasures of the loving God.
The answer? Turn back to our Christian roots; love God & lover our neighbour!
Respectfully submitted, John Phelps, House of Hope.
Fascinating animals
I find cat’s to be fascinating animals. They are wonderful companions, and have engaging and often eccentric personalities. However , unlike humans, they do have some downsides. I do think though, that the wrath-filled tirades of anger directed against cats for the claimed existential amount of wildlife they kill, should properly be levelled at the true culprits skulking in the background: the contemptible people who do not care responsibly for these beautiful creatures, don’t get them de-sexed, and dump them in the bush. Once there, by no fault of their own, cats do what every other creature on this planet does, including us, attempts to stay alive as best it can. Take a cold shower, everyone.
Yours Sincerely, Peter Dingle
Habitat vs. Affordable Homes
As a Urunga resident since 2012, I am writing to express my strong rejection to lot 1 Ferry St Urunga being recommended as a site for affordable housing by the waterfall way community land trust (WWCLT). While the desire to alleviate the housing crisis is very pressing, I have issues with this proposal:
Lot one Ferry street is a parcel of native bushland with magnificent old tress and a natural habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. It is one of the few bits of natural bushland left in Urunga. It has value in just existing. I’m incredulous that the WWCLT project views this green space as under-utilised, (via their web page) and appropriate for housing. Have they just arrived with the first fleet! It is now over 200 years since the british colonisers arrived with an attitude of turning this vast “under-utilised” land into “something useful” for white settlement. Today, we see the results of this unfettered ‘progress’. Since colonisation, huge tracts of Australia’s rainforests have been destroyed. We have lost more mammals than any other country in the world with more species at risk of extinction in the next 20 years. I am flabbergasted that this group who purport to be environmentally conscious, are prepared to continue with rampant destruction of native land.
The WWCLT also describe their project as grass roots. None of the residents bordering this land were involved in the decision making. There was no consultation process or discussion apart from a meeting in Urunga held by the WWCLT where the decision had already been made. Not a grassroots community approach in my view.
Graeme Mooney, Urunga
Is playing Politics more Important than Facts
Pat Conaghan Federal Member for Cowper was highly critical of Labour’s 62 – 70% by 2035 emission targets.
I have endeavour to answer some of his statements with facts.
• Pat stated: Average Australian paying 30% more for power.
• Facts:
• When the Lib/Nat Gov voted out 2022 inflation was over 6%, it is now 3%.
• Coal prices increased dramatically between 2021/2023 due to the disruption supply and Russia’s war on Ukrainian.
• Australia Coal Power Stations are aging, 128 failures last summer, maintenance/repairs costs have and will continue to increase electricity prices.
• Pat stated: Supermarket spend has increased significantly due to power prices.
• Facts:
• See the details above.
• Pandemic plus war on Ukraine caused chaos with supply chains in the world. Eg: Fertiliser costs for Aussie farmers increased 180% in couple years.
• Extreme weather events caused by climate change contribute to food shortages and higher prices.
• In 2024 we saw the CEO of Woolworths step down due over allegations by ABC 4 Corners of price gouging.
• Lib/Nat and Labour shared the period between March 2021 and September 2023, total price of staple shopping basket rose 15.2 %. Same period, price cheese rose 27.3 %, bread 24.1 %, milk 22.7 %, dairy 22.5 %, eggs 19.7 %.
• A core challenge lies in companies’ unfettered ability to price items as they wish. The Australia Institute found that corporate profits significantly contributed to inflation between 2019-22
• Pat Stated: Without an immediately reliable grid and affordable power.
• Facts:
• The Liberal and Nationals started the Snowy 2.0, costs est $2 billion, great initiate but poor research, planning as now $12 billion and behind schedule.
• The LNP in gov for 9, opposition for 3 years and still do not have an energy plan.
• Renewables like wind can be up and running in 12 to 15 months, coal fire power stations between 5 – 10 years, cost between $2.2 and $5 billion.
• LNP invested $600,000 in Kurri Kurri Power Station (Hunter Power Project) now cost $1billion, was a backup facility to operate 2% of time and due run gas, diesel and possibly hydrogen. Only runs 6 hours on gas, tank is empty and 48 hours to refill.” Every megawatt of capacity provided by Kurri Kurri enables three megawatts of renewable wind and solar to come online and replace increasingly unreliable coal generation,” Mr Barnes (CEO Snowy 2.00) said. The former chair of the Energy Security Board, Kerry Schott, has said the project makes little commercial sense and an analysis by Victoria University’s energy policy centre found the project had no prospect of generating enough revenue to justify its cost.
• Pat stated: Where sitting on the world’s largest reserves of coal but refuse to use them for cheap and reliable energy for the sake of a maximum .8%.
• Facts:
• Australia is the second largest exporter of coal in the world.
• Australia’s coal is used to generate 3/4 of domestic electricity, its use has come down 1%.
• Gas usage has come down a fraction but is projected to increase slightly.
• Renewables are taking up more of the supply of electricity and is the cheapest and quickest way to introduce more capacity.
• Pat Stated: Australia’s Global Emissions 1.3% majority is due to our export market.
• Facts:
• About 1/5 of Australia’s emissions come from exports fossil fuels.
• Australia’s export emissions 4.5% global emissions.
• Australia’s emissions are 1.30%, about 30% of countries in Paris agreement with small emissions, if all those countries do not work on reducing their emissions, then the world is 30% worse off.
• As with LNP and Labour emissions have fluctuated, first quarter emission are down all sectors.
• It appears no government has a plan base line energy, at least the roll out of renewables in making power cheaper for households and shoring up supply.
• Pat stated: Australia sitting on world largest reserves of coal and gas refuse to use it for cheap and reliable energy for a saving of .80% over 10 years.
• Facts
• Australia has shown many times it can be innovative and develop new technologies, if we are not spending money in this area we are left behind and must buy from elsewhere. Eg: BP Solar and University NSW developed and made solar panels for Sydney 2000 Olympic village, within 10 years the factory had closed, the team and design moved and set up the first large scale solar factory in China.
• Pat stated: Sovereignty is at risk from China becoming more competitive.
• Facts:
• China has beaten us on price for decades and we have accepted the cheaper prices. Liberal/Nationals and Labour used different tactics to further relationship, 2013 Tony Abbott was PM his first actions was invite Tse Jinping address parliament, 2017 Lib/Nat and the NT CLP allowed Chinese company to lease Port of Darwin, about 2018 the Lib/Nat were asleep when Soloman Island sign a security agreement with China.
Pat Conaghan’s message is clear: Politics is more Important that Facts.
Colin Hutton Thora
THE BELLINGER RIVER AND THE GREAT KOALA NATIONAL PARK
I am surprised that someone who has lived here since the 1960s does not
know the sad history of the Bellinger River. The Bellinger Valley has always
been a very flood prone valley & the big floods will come again. The
Gumbaynggirr people who originally lived here could always move quickly to
high safe ground.
When the British invasion began in 1841 it was a heavily wooded valley with
large trees growing right to the river banks, which allowed the river to run
deep & clean as the trees slowed down the flood water on the banks.
But the British found ‘the finest cedar and rosewood ever seen’ and very
extensive logging began. The riverbanks were soon cleared of trees and
were used for crops and cattle. From then on the floods would be dangerous
to the river and the people. Even so, it takes some time to kill a river. Large
ships could once travel up the river to Bellingen – originally called Boat
Harbour. The Gumbaynggirr people were hunted and driven off their land as
it was fenced. Cats, dogs & foxes killed the quolls, koalas, kangaroos and
wallabies. The logging continued and the weeds arrived – lantana, madeira
vine, groundsel etc etc.The cattle with their hard hoofs stayed on the
riverbanks and the banks collapsed into the river and the floods washed the
banks away. In the middle of the 20thC the river was extensively mined for
gravel until someone had, at last, the sense to stop it.
The Great Koala National Park is a wonderful initiative. Just 100 years too late for this valley.
Jann Simmonds
Bellingen.