Unity is the true strength of Socceroos, not diversity alone
by Letters to the Editor · Newcastle HeraldTo a lot of people the Socceroos prove that unity is strength, not diversity.
Diversity is everybody pulling in their own direction, unity is everybody pulling in the same direction.
Social cohesion relies on unity of purpose, not diversity as your editorial opines.
Kevin White, Lambton
It's about solidarity, not just sporting spectacle
Thank you, Chloe Linstrom, for your article ("It's one nation, one jersey, and nothing else matters", Opinion, 20/6). You expressed just what so many of us are thinking and did so extremely well. I'm not much of a sports fan, but through one sports game you defined our Australian culture. You said what I wanted to say, but you said it so much better.
Bruce Woodley wrote the song We are Australian and some of his words are these: "We are one but we are many and from all the lands on earth we come, we'll share a dream and sing with one voice, I am, you are, we are Australian." What a sentiment.
Denise Lindus Trummel, Newcastle
Cup may be going home at last
Will it be England's FIFA World Cup 2026? If so, then Harry Kane for PM of the United Kingdom.
Dennis Petrovic, Rutherford
Political parallels in scorelines
The Socceroos couldn't kick a goal. Maybe they should be called the Alboroos.
Steve Barnett, Fingal Bay
Murals make a partial graffiti fix
Here's a short-term band-aid solution regarding the graffiti issue in Newcastle ("Graffiti can't be allowed to linger", Letters, 24/6).
We have many amazing large murals on the sides of buildings in Newcastle and other suburbs. What a wonderful way to showcase the talents of local artists, and not so local, as well as transforming unsightly masses of brick and concrete.
I believe that City of Newcastle council has an Art Reference Group ensuring that public artworks are of a high standard and appropriate. Events such as the three-day Hit the Bricks Festival would have contributed to some of these murals.
Fortunately, these murals seem to be untouched by random graffiti attacks.
The west end of Hunter Street has many empty and unsightly shop fronts. However, in some cases, their first floors show beautiful and often ornate architectural features from dates such as 1884 and the 1920s. This end of Hunter Street would certainly benefit from the installation of more ground floor murals highlighting artists' talents, brightening an unattractive space and encouraging locals and visitors to follow self-guided walking trails of the creative and quality artworks.
Christine O'Mara, Elermore Vale
Spending sparks budget concern
Carl Stevenson highlights Labor's claim about their NSW budget figures: "NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey proudly claimed that the Labor government has controlled government spending more than any other government in Australia since 2023." ("Spending comparison not useful", Letters, 30/6).
In fact, Labor's spending is ballooning further out of control, saddling NSW residents with a record high $178.5 billion gross state debt, after three years in power. In comparison, in 2023, NSW Coalition government's all-time highest gross debt was lower at $154.3 billion. Simple arithmetic shows Labor increasing gross debt by $24.2 billion since 2023 (or 15.6 per cent). However, the more important figure is actually net debt, as this determines our yearly interest bill. Net debt is the bigger horror story, with an enormous 11.6 per cent increase in just one year from $105.2 billion last year to $117.4 billion now. Debt interest has been surging from $5.1 billion in the 2022-23 financial year to $9 billion this coming 2026-27 financial year. Contrary to the NSW Treasurer's claim, Labor has done nothing to bring spending and debt under control during their term. Labor in NSW is mimicking their federal Labor counterpart: all smoke and mirrors, and no economic solutions for future generations.
Barry Reed, former One Nation Shortland candidate
Crying foul doesn't just make it so
Peter Dolan ("Anti-Zionism is 'a convenient lie'", Letters, 16/6) thinks that because someone told the Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Social Cohesion that discussing the validity of Zionism and Israel is a "genocidal impulse" that it must be true. I admire his ability to believe such an eye-watering statement. He quotes from the same source, that distinguishing Judaism from Zionism and Israel is a "false narrative" and a "convenient lie" for people who want to throw slurs. I cannot imagine the commission could accept such a sweeping statement.
Mr Dolan, with all due respect, both of these statements illustrate how Zionism works. It takes whatever it can to parade itself as the victim. It denies the genocide it is conducting, argues the land it grabs belongs to itself, and justifies its attacks on its neighbours by claiming it is the victim. Studies of domestic abuse reveal a pattern: deny, argue, reverse victim and offender. I believe we are witnessing that writ large. I restate the conclusion I reached in my opinion piece, that Zionism is trying to use Judaism as its shield. We need an independent inquiry into the nature and influence of Zionism.
Niko Leka, Mayfield
We pay up for former pollies
John Arnold ("Beanies brilliant, cures are better", Letters, 27/6), the government could raise funds for research for all cancers by cutting out the benefits of ex-politicians like the enormous amount they receive in retirement: free travel for life, an office, and all the other stuff they gouge from the taxpayers trough. It could be billions.
Ken Stead, Lambton
Does Sydney metro need billions?
Once again we miss out north of the Hawkesbury. About $9.2 billion looks to have been given to the Sydney metro rail, with $2.1 billion for reliability upgrades. The Newcastle to Sydney line is the most unreliable. I'd argue the Maitland line must also be a frontrunner. Why not improve the rail system in one of NSW's fastest-growing regions?
Matt McAlary, Waratah
The power's in your hands
I advise Graeme Kime if he bought a battery the power charges are immaterial ("Mixed messages on solar systems", Letters, 27/6). If he adopts a three-hours-free power plan, his account would be zero, with a probable refund and his battery purchase would return 20 per cent per annum. This would not be possible if we only had coal.