Letter of the week
The disturbing pictures from the US of a mob inspired by inflammatory comments of a political leader trashing their congress sends an important message.
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All political leaders need to be very careful when making inflammatory comments designed to gain political publicity.
A case in point is Anthony Albanese demanding the immediate roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine just because other countries are doing it.
It was a statement obviously not based on medical advice or knowledge of difficulties experienced by those countries in rushing the vaccination process.
In Germany poorly trained staff have given out wrong doses, France has only managed 530 vaccinations in one week.
The UK, despite the manufacturers recommendations of a 21-day cap between doses, is now putting that time out to 90 days to speed up the process.
Even a suggestion that those who had their first shot of Pfizer get their second shot of the Oxford vaccine is that the sort of chaos the leader of the opposition wants?
We must also take into account these countries are in their winter. Rushing the process here will see health services trying to keep a vaccine at minus 70 degrees in sparsely regions where the temp is regularly 35 degrees and often over 40.
Unfortunately ALP governments have a history of rushing policy roll outs, sometimes with devastating effects.
Let's just take the time to do it once and do it properly.
David Arscott, Kangaroo Flat
Other news
Democracy being tested
Great leadership is seldom about telling people what they want to hear. It's more often about saying no.
The dilemma this sets up is the danger hidden at the heart of a democracy: the citizen must elect someone, who by good judgement and access to good information, will tell them what they can't have or should not do.
At its core there lies a great humility on the part of the voter. By contrast, the social media age has fuelled the idea that a good leader is someone who creates opportunities to do what you want to and would like to do.
The autocrat capitalises on this and gains power by exploiting this weakness. Donald Trump may well pass into history, but the challenge for democracy will remain.
Patrick Hockey, Castlemaine
Project gone wrong
When I bought my home in Carisbrook I was not in a flood zone. I am now right in the middle as they have built my street up so far to meet the height of the Pyrenees Highway.
It is an environmental disaster - there is a power pole that has been dug around, and if we got a huge downpour quite likely it could fall over.
I don't know anyone that can get water to flow uphill - that's what it is like out the front of my home. My driveway is so high if you were towing anything the towbar would drop to the ground.
Why did they not stick to the original plan, and where is that money that was granted 10 years ago for flood relief? Now we wait to get little grants to finish this major project that has gone totally wrong.
Annemarie Stephen, Carisbrook
Protect local wildlife
The Game Management Authority, that governs the hunting of animals, both native and introduced, under the heading: Hunter Knowledge Survey, shows the following in relation to duck shooting in Victoria:
- 0.2% of Victorians duck shoot.
- 37% of duck shooters could correctly answer a two-part question on wounding rates.
- 13% of duck shooters could answer a detailed question on the humane killing of downed birds.
- 20% of duck/quail shooters were able to answer a three-part question on identifying games species.
Is this enough evidence for Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, to call for a permanent ban on duck shooting in this State for good?
Related story: Why some want Victoria's duck shooting season banned
I personally invite Mr Andrews to come up to Kerang where I will show him Victoria's Kakadu and he can see his Government sanctioned cruelty and barbarity to Victoria's beautiful native waterbird species.
Kate Bossence, Kerang
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