Be grateful and not selfish
Remember when the hair salons were closed due to COVID, and all the out-of-work hairdressers attacked the police? Yeah, me neither. Remember when the retail outlets and cafes were closed due to COVID and all the out-of-work cashiers attacked the police? Yeah, me neither.
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Remember when the AFL, motorsport, childcare, restaurants, pubs and clubs were closed due to COVID and all those out-of-work attacked the police? Yeah, me neither.
A big shout out to all of the high-vis year 10 drop-outs attacking our Victoria Police members in Melbourne.
Thank you for colour-coding the definition of precious with your lovely yellow and orange vests. I know it's hard when there is a global pandemic and you have to think about those vulnerable people who cohabit your community. I know it's hard when you are so used to being on the receiving end of billions of dollars in stimulus during literally every financial or other crisis.
Try to be strong, and if you cannot be strong, then at least be grateful for the reserve and quarter being afforded to you by our brave men and women in blue.
They don't have the luxury of being precious, of being weak, of being emotional or having a tantrum like you.
Samuel Ridley, Warrnambool
WHAT DO YOU THINK? HAVE YOUR SAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ARTICLE
No JobKeeper payments here
Peter Martina, in his letter "Questions over fee changes" (The Standard, September 18) questions whether independent schools - including Emmanuel College, King's College and Mercy College - received JobKeeper.
He goes on to recommend the repayment of JobKeeper money unless recipients meet the criteria for payments. We write to reassure Peter Martina and readers of The Standard that none of the schools named in his letter were recipients of JobKeeper.
The principals of Emmanuel College, Kings College, Mercy College.
Plea for compassion
When the situation erupted in Afghanistan, we were astounded.
Even Dan Tehan and
Scott Morrison commented about our need to show compassion and help. Yet unlike
other countries who have made places available, we are yet to show our
generosity.
Tonight, I - along with more than 600 Australians - listened to people living in
Australia for up to 10 years on temporary visas with no certainty or future,
having family members remaining in Afghanistan relaying the reality of women
and girls being denied access to work and education, human rights workers being
shot in the street.
We have done it before, we can do it again. It is time for us to show some
generosity and compassion again. We have welcomed refugees from many countries
in the past and they have become great citizens of Australia contributing much.
I desperately hope we can do it again but I have written to Mr Tehan many
times, made representations to him and government leaders - and nothing changes.
We still lock people in detention even though we know the reality of the
countries they have fled from. We still lock children up and remove families
who are well-integrated into Australian communities.
I support the four requests made by the many agencies, churches and Australians. We can be compassionate again. Help make it happen.
Lynne Carter, Warrnambool
Take action and have your say
If you thought this coalition government could not stoop any lower, well, think again. What is the point in not granting bridging visas to the whole Sri Lankan family? There is none at all. After watching Australian Story on ABC on Monday, I thought surely it is time to release this family from their punishment, back into the Biloela community, a town that sees them as a part of their community, a town that wants them.
It is certainly not difficult to think this is the most inhumane government we have seen. I am embarrassed to say 'I am an Australian'.
Immigration minister Alex Hawke, a professed christian, has said 'no, think again you illegal people. We will keep on punishing you until you succumb to our wishes'. He can quite easily fix this embarrassing situation. Yet, he will not.
People of Warrnambool: write to your local member and tell Dan Tehan it is time to 'let our people go" - after all the two children are Australians. Yes they have gone even lower.
Glenn Brotchie, Warrnambool
Difficult to understand
I was nonplussed reading the letter of MP Bev McArthur (The Standard, September 18). For an MP to utilise false parallels to posit a position directly challenging the rationale of directions issued by the Chief Health Officer (a qualified medical professional) is difficult to understand.
The CHO's directions are designed to contain and curtail the spread of COVID and address the serious health risk posed to all Victorians and protect the limited finite and precious resources of the hospital system during a once-in-a-century pandemic.
The CHO's directions are not implemented to slight anyone. For an MP to equate COVID with heart attacks, cancer, dementia et al (obviously none are viral nor transmissible) is an embarrassment to the public office she holds.
I am also disappointed regional agricultural shows have been cancelled or postponed but it won't be forever.
Lynn Hudson, Warrnambool
Time to prepare now
As people continue to suffer the mental health effects of the pandemic, Red Cross is reminding readers there are things they can do now to regain a sense of control, and prepare for the inevitable disasters ahead. New Australian Red Cross research has found two in five Australians' mental health has been hit by COVID, and a similar number say they feel less hopeful about the future. Some 37 per cent feel less secure and safe.
This week is our annual campaign to encourage people to prepare for disasters, as the better prepared people are, the better their experience when a disaster hits. Better preparation also leads to a better recovery.
There are excellent resources on the Red Cross website www.redcross.org.au/prepare. With disaster season almost upon us, we strongly encourage people to start thinking now about how they will manage. Your mental health will be better for it.
Sue Cunningham, Victoria director, Australian Red Cross
HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW