We're happy to cheer migrants on sporting field, so why the blame off it?

SHARE YOUR OPINION

Email letters@newcastleherald.com.au or send a text to 0427 154 176 (include name and suburb). Letters should be fewer than 200 words. Short Takes should be fewer than 50 words. Disclose political party roles or affiliations. Correspondence may be edited in any form.

Some cheer migrants when they score goals for Australia and then blame them when Australia has problems.

Both can't be true.

The Socceroos have eight players born overseas. More than half of Australia's doctors and GPs were born overseas. Between 40 and 45 per cent of Australia's pharmacists and nurses were born overseas. Almost half of Australians have at least one parent born overseas. Migrants are treating patients, dispensing medicines, caring for our elderly, building businesses, teaching our children, driving our economy and helping Australia succeed. Some politicians build careers blaming them and some media outlets spread fear about them. Migrants are not a side story in Australia, we are Australia.

David Green, Killara

NSW needs Bedsy, Joey for Origin decider

Here's how to repair the NSW men's origin team. Recall or include Edwards, Mitchell, Tom Trbojevic, Strange, Luai, Koroisau, Crossland, Martin, Crichton, Olakau'atu, and Jacob Saifiti. Some of Daley's choices are not up to it, and frankly I am not sure he is. Bring back Brad Fittler with assistant coaches Johns (only because he does not seek the top job, apparently) and Buderus.

Marvyn Smith, Heddon Greta

Pauline tells me how it is for me

I'm an Aussie woman and I'm fed up to the back teeth of being ripped off by foreigners speaking their lingo, taking our houses and way of life (not that I can spot any but I know they are there). I'm as mad as a hornet cause the average person is getting ripped off. If Pauline tells me I am, I must be.

Julie Robinson, Cardiff

Don't ignore political records

Jenna Price's column ("Let's speak some truth to Pauline", Opinion, 19/6), shows just how far Hanson can skew the truth. But most supporters will disagree because Hanson said so.

Wayne Grant, Waratah

Nothing to fear in diversity

Why is Pauline Hanson so terrified of difference?

Michael Hinchey, New Lambton

Little faith in Middle East peace

We are hearing how the deal is being done with the USA and Iran over the war. It's hard to see how any deal has been done. Why would Iran forego their nuclear program while Israel maintains nuclear weapons? Sounds like a fake deal to me.

Grahame Danaher, Coal Point

Horse shooting a fine tactic

I believe the shooting of the brumbies from a helicopter in the Snowy Mountain National Park ("Brumbies deserve better than cull", Letters, 17/6) could be an excellent training exercise for tagging unregistered trail bike riders and e-bikers causing mayhem. Though the numbers appear to be dwindling.

Bryn Roberts, New Lambton

Don't judge passengers so lightly

Steve Barnett's letter ("Police blitz on city buses is well overdue", Letters, 19/6), wrote about his partner's trip on the 14 bus route to Charlestown recently. The letter said that "the number of feral people on the bus had her on edge. She said she actually feared for her safety". He wrote she didn't want to "take the risk of being on the 14 again as a lady by herself". Why was this? I catch that bus often so I had to wonder, was it swearing, verbal abuse or threats that got your partner upset, or did a few passengers just look "feral", whatever that means?

I hope nothing anti-social happened.

It's a bus.

It has all kinds of people on it just getting from A to B.

Why describe some bus passengers you don't know as "useless types" who should be "locked up"?

That sounds dehumanising to me.

Kerry Vernon, New Lambton

Nation's brumbies deserve better

I have been following the debate over the culling of wild horses, or brumbies, in our national parks.

Like many Australians, I find the existing practice of shooting them from helicopters deeply disturbing.

I understand there are environmental concerns and that authorities believe horse numbers need to be controlled to protect fragile ecosystems. However, the method being used raises serious animal welfare questions.

Reports suggest that some horses do not die instantly and may require multiple shots before succumbing to their injuries.

If it is true that a horse can sometimes take several bullets to bring down, then surely we have a moral obligation to examine whether this is the most humane approach available.

Regardless of where people stand on the issue of brumbies themselves, most Australians would agree that any animal deserves a quick and painless death if culling is deemed necessary. The possibility of horses suffering prolonged pain while being pursued and shot from the air is difficult to accept.

If aerial culling is to continue, authorities should be investigating ways to make the process more humane, whether through improved equipment, larger calibre ammunition, enhanced training, or stricter operational standards to ensure a swift kill. Alternatively, greater consideration should be given to rounding up horses for rehoming, relocation, fertility control programs, or other management options where practical.

This is not simply an environmental issue. It is also an animal welfare issue. I believe Australians have always valued fair treatment of animals, and we should expect the same standards to apply to brumbies.

Michael D. Lowing, North Rothbury

Cautious optimism at world first

It was good to read about MCi Carbon's world-first Myrtle facility at Kooragang Island, which transforms carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, and low-value mineral feedstocks into carbon-embodied materials used in everyday products ("World-first carbon refinery to open at Kooragang Island", Newcastle Herald 17/6). Compared with underground injection in geological storage, mineral carbonation has minimal risk of CO2 escaping because the gas is chemically bound. However, it is energy-intensive and, unless renewables are used, the process is self-defeating. So, if the process is to be economically and environmentally effective, it must use renewable energy and feedstock transported by electric trucks. Mineral carbonation is one of the most durable forms of carbon storage available, but it is constrained by energy use, scale, and cost. Here's hoping the MCi Carbon facility helps hard-to-abate industries such as cement and concrete effectively reduce their emissions rather than simply offsetting them.

Ray Peck, Hawthorn

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