It annoys me when Liberals say they are good money managers.
The most recent budget has:
- $55 Billion of new spending built into future budgets.
- No fiscal repair strategy.
- $1 Trillion in debt - FIVE times Labor's debt in the GFC.
But the Liberals and Nationals perpetuate the myth they are better money managers and the majority of the country believes them.
What mugs.
G Lewis, Jannali
Does the federal budget do enough to foster employment?
The recent budget (May 11 2021) of the Australian government is seeking recovery from the pandemic (coronavirus). The budget is seeking to stimulate economic development through increased infrastructure investment. The government is seeking to reduce unemployment from the present 5.6% (of the workforce) to hopefully 4% or lower by this investment.
But this budget will be thwarted until at least June or July 2022 as AUSTRALIA'S international borders are not opened. The borders, whether they be airports or ocean ports, are closed. This closure has caused both little or no tourism and immigration. No immigration means immigrants are not taking low paid or skilled jobs in the Australian economy. No tourism means no international expenditure in the Australian tourism sector and backpackers (young tourists) not taking fruit picking jobs.
There is fruit picking in every Australian state. This includes New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia. Fruits picked include apple, cherries, citrus fruits, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, kiwi fruit, watermelons and rockmelons. Fruit picking is unskilled work and is done in most regional areas of each state.
If the unemployed took fruit picking jobs. They would get experience in a job; accommodation is cheaper in regional areas (than in cities) and they would get their hands dirty.
Further, there are many job vacancies in fruit picking and by the unemployed taking this work. They would increase economic activity in this sector and the Australian economy.
David Sidney Harris
Heathcote
New mural depicts culture
AS per your article, New mural depicts culture (Leader page 9). It is lovely to see the young ladies being taught painting skills that give a sense of belonging, culture and empowerment to their aboriginal heritage. As these young ones are obviously not full aborigine, my hope is that they are also being taught about their other culture. Hopefully, if we see the good in both cultures, we will have a more harmonious society.
Carolyn James,
Como.
Annual Winter Wool Fair
Sutherland Shire Spinners & Weavers are holding its Annual Winter Wool Fair on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5 2021. There will be many beautiful things to see, including handspun and hand-dyed yarns, handmade garments and other items to buy for all the family. Traders will be selling spinning, weaving and knitting supplies.
Great morning tea and light lunches will be available. The scones and homemade slices and sandwiches are a real teat!!
On Saturday, an added bonus is the Sutherland Farmers Market being held in the carpark just near our Annual Winter Wool Fair. We will mind your market purchases whilst you visit the Wool Fair.
When: 9.30am-4.30pm Friday 4th and Saturday, June 5 2021
Where: Uniting Church Hall, Cnr Merton and Flora Sts, Sutherland
Information: Karen Severn 0419 273 193
Wattamolla Burn Off
I read the article in last week's LEADER re the Hazard Reduction Burn Wattamolla RNP with concern about the fate of the animals that inhabited the 760 Ha (7.6 km2), which was burnt recently.
While I'm not a fire expert, it seems obvious that creating an inferno like that at night would give the small animals that typically inhabit heaths no chance of escaping, e.g. just imagine a wren confronted with that. So, how many animals might have been caught up in this burn - a simple method would be to estimate how many animals per 100m x 100m (a hectare) and multiply by 760 - even the most conservative estimate would arrive at tens of thousands of creatures affected and probably killed. We obviously need to provide bushfire protection, but particularly when we're dealing with a national park, we need to protect the flora and fauna too.
Since the 2019 fires, we've heard a lot about the benefits of cultural burning, including minimal impact on animals and plants, while still providing bushfire hazard reduction (but not on this occasion). Why wouldn't cultural burning be used in a situation like Wattamolla?
Malcolm Stephen
Bangor
Skate park disgrace
This so-called skate park compromise proposal by Sutherland Councillors (Leader, May 5) is an absolute disgrace. Here we have a beautiful prime greenspace park and of the last in the area and they want to trash it with another concrete monstrosity. There are skate parks at Barden Ridge and Greenhills already. There are plenty of other spots available that can be used, in Sutherland, Woronora etc. This proposal is a total sell-out and any councillor supporting this should hold their head in shame. And we must question their suitability of their involvement for the whole electorate.
Bruce Reid
Kareela
Greenhills skate park
When I take my grandchildren to Greenhills Skate Park, it's upsetting to see people smoking and stubbing it out on the ground around young ones. This should be a non-smoking playground with signs and penalties applied.
Another alarming issue is watching adults skating without helmets around impressionable children. Let's face it. You are not cool. You are just boofheads showing off, so stop making fools of yourselves and instead be an example for safe skating.
Zuzu Burford
Heathcote