Fear before hatred
Ken Price (Bendigo Advertiser 23 July), it may feel like we are currently unloved, but people in the other states do not hate Victorians.
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They are simply afraid, and having eliminated or never had community transmission of COVID-19, they have much to lose from visits by infected Victorians. And the fact is, that is a real risk.
If we were in their fortunate position we would surely close our borders too.
Nor are we entirely innocent ourselves: some weeks ago, a major TV channel broadcast a segment on their evening news devoted to mocking South Australians, including footage of Adelaide from the sixties.
All because they had closed their border.
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Within a few days case numbers in Victoria surged, proving how myopic and parochial these journalists had been.
Recently, we had a former Victorian premier stating how he longed to give the finger to other states; surely a childish response?
Bluster from NSW or Queensland politicians about taking sporting events may be concerning, but best not mention the Grand Prix to the South Australians.
Other states cannot lock themselves away indefinitely from us and they need us to succeed.
And outbreaks could have, and may still, run out of control interstate too.
All states were underprepared for this pandemic and, not surprisingly, systems have been found wanting and mistakes have occurred in all.
Gregory Walker,White Hills
Pension age increase mystery
I am a 62 year-old woman who works full-time and has done so since leaving school at 17.
I could not understand the decision by the government years ago to increase the pension age.
We went through life, never receiving any baby bonus, first home buyer grant, and have never had any handout from the government.
It flawed me to think I had paid all of my taxes all of my life, that I have to work an additional 6.5 years to obtain the pension.
Wouldn't you think a great idea to bring that age down to what it was and that would create thousands of jobs.
Welfare is going to be given out to JobSeekers, so I cannot see why this wouldn't be a great idea.
People such as myself would then be available to look after grandchildren who attend childcare centres; thus giving the younger adults more to put into the economy.
Would be a great idea to create jobs for the younger generation, a win-win all around.
Karen Williams, Bendigo
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