More time can be saved
It is all well and good that a change in timetabling will result in approximately 14 minutes saved on the Bendigo train line.
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But if Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll would take on board comments being made and complete the promised designated line from Sunshine to Sunbury instead of still having to share that section of line with the Metro service, the same amount of time could be saved.
Also passengers wishing to exit the train at suburban stations could exit at Sunbury and use the Metro service to their destination, allowing the Bendigo train to run express to Southern Cross.
It's interesting that services to Ballarat and Geelong don't have to share a line out of Melbourne like the Bendigo/Swan Hill and Echuca services do.
Ivan Kitt, Bendigo
ALP's China fail
ALP leadership comments and Patrick Hockey's letter (Saturday, December 5) confirms that the ALP will enter the next election with a policy of appeasement towards China as its centrepiece.
By condemning Scott Morrison for the rift between Australia and China, it has relinquished its moral duty to defend Australia against Chinese insults and propaganda.
I understood there were two sides to every argument, but by declaring China innocent the ALP has declared that internationally held belief obsolete. You do not stop a schoolyard bully by handing over your lunch money and you do not stop the biggest bully on the world's stage by capitulating and handing over your sovereignty.
The ALP demands government ministers open up a dialogue with China to sort out these differences, but fails to explain how this happens when the Chinese refuse to answer the phone. Tugging the forelock was a disparaging expression Paul Keating used a lot, but I don't think even he imagined seeing his beloved party "tugging the forelock" to China.
Anthony Albanese has gone from wanting to be a national leader and player on the world stage to becoming the 21st century's version of Neville Chamberlain, that great exponent of appeasement.
The ALP should consider replacing the A for Australia in its logo, for C for China. With the Andrews Belt and Road agreement, it's already seen as the CLP in Victoria.
David Arscott, Kangaroo Flat
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