The abhorrent behaviour of many Aussies raiding Supermarket shelves leaving them bare and the "couldn't care less" attitude of those aggressive shoppers is embarrassing for the average Aussie. But how would you describe the average Aussie? If an author wanted to write a published profile about the Aussie character, the title of the book shouldn't be difficult. The Ugly Australian would be most apt. We have seen fighting in Supermarket aisles, toilet paper shelves almost permanently empty. Butchers running out of meat, Pharmacies shelves are also depleted of some medications (Panadol).
The regional centres have also been "invaded" by these gormless shoppers who have chartered coaches to make a foray on the Central West town of Parkes and many other towns. Using the same "modus operandi," the shelves were freed of stock and the local butcher ran out of meat and closed his shop in Parkes at 1 p.m
The well-known retail store Harvey Norman cannot keep up with the sale of freezers. We have been assured by the retailers that there is plenty of food etc. and there is no need to panic, but the Aussie ignores the advice. We have become a laughing stock!
The Aussies who fought in two World Wars and those who were born just after the Second World War had to exercise discipline and stoicism as life returned to a semblance of normality and regeneration of industry.
The current generation lacks self-discipline, manners and etiquette and in many cases, morality. That's a sweeping statement. However, the facts appear to be on my side.
W G Peters
A reliable, regulated and open repair industry needed
With the local motor vehicle industry extinct, more should be done by the ACCC to ensure that buyers and repairers have a reliable, regulated and open repair industry in place.
While warranty is something that buyers look at as a sign of a vehicle's longevity and repair surety, it is worthwhile noting that the independent auto repair industry in Australia is also approaching extinction due to secrecy and monopolisation by manufacturers and their agents, which consumer protection agencies have little control over, or are loath to address once warranties expire.
Because all manufacturers withhold technical data or charge exorbitant costs to access essential information and monopolise the usage of in-house tools, it is practically impossible for any privately-owned auto service centre to repair an imported modern vehicle in Australia, restricting repairs to big city centres and dealerships, and destroying all vestiges of competition.
While warranties ensure a short period of consumer protection, monopolisation of repairs ensures that consumers are kept in the dark and at arm's length, and are easier targets of scams, much fewer manufacturers conflicted by new car sales.
Is it any wonder that local employment, "innovation and agility" and education are falling behind.
R Piech, Sans Souci
UK pension is frozen for St George residents
More than 2000 retirees in St George and Sutherland Shire are provided with a UK pension, having worked in the UK and paid mandatory National Insurance contributions to the UK 's State pension scheme.
The good news ends there for these UK pensioners 'pensions are frozen here never to increase at the weekly rate first received in Australia.
Although this limited practice is blatant unfair discrimination, the UK Government, which boasts of British core values of democracy, fairness and non-discrimination, refuses to make any pension policy change, disingenuously claiming it cannot afford £600 Million to pay every pensioner fairly.
This is a dishonest claim for the UK's National Insurance Fund, from which UK pensions are paid, currently sports a credit balance in excess of £36 billion, forecast to soar to £72 billion by 2025!
One elderly British pensioner, who lives in the Prime Minister's Cook constituency, has had publicised in the Guardian, his fight to have his UK pension of £46/week [$92] increase, in his case, by £82/week. [$164].
He would be delighted if he could encourage the Prime Minister to use his example to bring this outrageous issue to the attention of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in June in Rwanda. For this appalling British pension policy, Britain is the only OECD nation with such a disgraceful approach to paying pensions, is applied to UK pensioners retired in 48 of the 54 Commonwealth nations and in which are retired 95% of the UK's frozen pensioners.
Jim Tilley https://www.bpia.org.au/
Biting the Hand That Feeds you
The Beverley Park Golf Club is about to take the Georges River Council to the Land and Environment Court. A very expensive process.
All to try to have a fence put around the golf course.
The Council has denied them.
The Local Planning Panel has denied them.
The community has denied them.
So now they hope to get the fence via the Land and Environment Court!
How shocking it is. This club has run at a loss for six of the past seven years. Their loss would have been much greater had they not had substantial monies from Kogarah Council and the Georges River Council. In the past three years, the club has received $193000 in Govt Grants/ subsidies ( as per President's report / annual report )
The Georges River Council will have to outlay more ratepayers money to defend their decisions in this matter. Their generosity forgotten!
As a ratepayer, I would rather not have any more of our money spent on the Beverley Park Golf Club. And they seem to be hoping that we will pay for their fence and the ridiculous enlarged shed.
We have all lived in this community harmoniously for eighty years, the club and the people. Suddenly, because of the fence, there is great discord and disharmony.
The Club Board should hang their heads in shame.
Suzanne O'Connor
HAVE YOUR SAY
Write to the editor at craig.thomson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
