Why Panthers, not Crossland, should shoulder blame for Cleary injury

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What a great game of football. Sandon Smith was outstanding. While the injury to Nathan Cleary was bad, I believe the Panthers should shoulder the larger part of his injury by allowing him to play in the first place. The Panthers knew the risk of playing him was great, and to me it shows disregard to the welfare of their players.

Phoenix Crossland appeared to grab Cleary as Cleary was changing direction and already going down. I am sure that at the hearing it will show he should be available for the final. Having said all of that, I wish Nathan all the best with his treatment and recovery.

Greg Lowe, New Lambton

Selective does not equal insincere

I found Garry Linnell's recent column full of cynicism ("Selective Sermons? Please drop the mic", Opinion, 26/9). He pounds the reader about the audacity of big name artists making political statements from the stage or withdrawing from a concert to do similar. Why do they choose one cause over and above other injustices, he complains, which implies that if you don't draw equal attention to other causes, you should keep your public mouth shut. It's like flogging the familiar dead horse that they paddle their canoes to stop coal, yet they own multiple appliances that need electricity or are using up too many police resources. In other words, whether you are Macklemore, Bruce Springsteen or an ordinary everyday Joe or Mary Blow, by all means have an opinion, protest but do it at home and make sure you don't hit the scene with a paddle or wearing a keffiyeh scarf.

Julie Robinson, Cardiff

Sad situation needs addressing

How tragic it is to read about the case of Kayla Hodge whose actions caused the death of 81-year-old Eric Wilson while she was suffering an acute psychotic episode. People with severe mental illness issues are wandering and sleeping homeless on the streets without being monitored and managed properly. Of course the rot set in with the implementation of the Richmond report in 1983, which saw these people taken out of institutions and managed in the community. Unfortunately, this has not worked. Why? The funding was never appropriate. Whether we like it or not, people were looked after better before the Richmond report was implemented. And the streets were a safer place.

Colin Rowlatt, Newcastle

Sea-level rise, it's not that simple

Your correspondent ("Coal and the climate", Letters, 23/9), asserts that "The Pacific coral islands are not at risk of sea inundation". While this statement may be superficially correct, in the short term at least, it obscures the reality facing Pacific Islanders right now - that their towns and villages may become uninhabitable as a direct result of sea-level rises and they may have to relocate to higher ground or abandon their island entirely.

The area of a few islands has increased or island shapes have changed as sand, gravel and coral reef debris that make up the surface areas has been redistributed by the actions of the ocean. However, some islands have flattened during this process, making them more vulnerable to wave damage. Rising sea levels have already caused inundation of low-level residential and agricultural areas, with high tides and storm waves reaching further inland. Salinisation of agricultural land and scarce drinking water is a major problem.

Pacific Islands that have already been forced to either relocate entire villages or take extreme defensive measures include Fiji, PNG, Kiribati and Tuvalu. This is an existential crisis for Pacific Island countries, as highlighted by the IPCC, NASA, the World Meteorological Organisation, Geoscience Australia and other credible organisations. It cannot be dismissed or ignored simply because the islands may not suffer the extreme of "inundation".

John Ure, Mount Hutton

High price of big business

The Reserve Bank of Australia is looking to inflict more pain on mortgage holders with another rate rise. It wasn't ordinary people who pushed up the price of groceries, electricity, insurance and more, that was big corporations. It is their profiteering driving inflation, look no further than Coles and Woolies with $1.1 billion profit each last year.

Almost 40,000 households are under mortgage stress in the Hunter (Herald, 28/6). We deserve real action on the cost-of-living crisis. The government could legislate price caps or re-nationalise essential services, but they are too beholden to their big business mates.

Kate Doherty, North Lambton (NSW Socialists candidate for Wallsend)

City's jubilance coming across loud and clear

Knights! Grit and raw masters. League at its best, exclamation marked by Sandon Smith, igniting the team's and fans' soaring jubilance. Loved the fans' well-known roaring chorus, at Accor, coming over loud and clear, on the coverage, "New-cas-tle". Thrilled at the result, but not surprised. Seven downs one! More fun to come, for everyone. Bring it on.

Graeme Tychsen, Toronto

Crowd should back Crossland

According to statistics, there have been 11 sin bins (ten minutes in the bin), this season, but no one sent off. That is until yesterday, when Phoenix Crossland was sent from the field. I am wondering if this is because Nathan Cleary is a protected species. It's a shame a young man has to try to fight this charge so he can play in the grand final. He has been a standout player of the year for the Knights. Let's hope the Newcastle crowd backs his fight to play.

John Matthews, Belmont North

Time to act is now

Who will be made to walk the plank if another murder occurs before CCTV cameras are installed on Beaumont Street? Tim Crakanthorp should lobby victims services for help with CCTV to ultimately reduce the number of victims that seem to be growing in numbers these days.

Bryn Roberts, New Lambton

Be careful what you wish for

A working person supporting One Nation is like a chicken supporting Colonel Sanders.

Richard Ryan, Summerland Point

Let's be clear

Over the weekend, tax-payer-funded ABC aired a story about how the tightening of the immigration system will affect rural Australia, especially in areas that rely on overseas doctors. However, the truth is that no party, including One Nation, has ever mentioned any cut to skilled immigration. Why do they continue to misrepresent issues like this to the public?

Shane Tull, Redhead