BUSINESS ACCOUNTABILITY  
Dear editor,

It’s no coincidence that the same big players – tech giants, banks, supermarket chains, airlines and telcos – keep turning up as repeat offenders in consumer scandals. If they keep breaking the rules, we have to ask whether our fines are doing their job.

For corporations of this scale, a fine isn’t a deterrent. It’s a rounding error.

When the penalty is smaller than the profit, the behaviour isn’t “illegal” – it’s simply legal for a price. Once the cheque is written, the wrongdoing can even look “settled”.

Some companies openly calculate that paying a fine is cheaper than fixing the underlying problem. In big tech, especially, redesigning systems or improving safety can cost millions; a fine costs far less.

Even when regulators act, multinationals outside our jurisdiction can shrug off local penalties without blinking.

As long as “move fast and fix it later” and offer a token apology extracted reluctantly remain the business model, fines alone will never keep them honest.

Australians deserve a marketplace where the law has teeth — not one where deep pockets buy endless second chances.

Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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SALVOS EASTER MESSAGE 
Dear editor,

As Easter approaches, we are reminded of an eternally important message that has echoed across centuries and continues to speak powerfully into our lives today. A message of hope, freedom and unconditional love. For us at The Salvation Army, Easter is not simply a date on a calendar; it is an invitation.

It is an invitation to discover or rediscover the profound truth at the heart of the Easter story: that every person is of worth, cherished and deeply loved. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ represent the ultimate gift of freedom. Freedom from fear, from shame, and from the burdens that weigh us down.

In a world that feels increasingly uncertain, where many Australians are facing financial pressures, social isolation and anxiety about the future, this message matters more than ever. Too often, people hesitate to seek help or connection because they believe someone else might need it more. We want to encourage you to reach out and connect with us. We want you to know you matter, your struggles are real, and you are not alone.

This Easter, we invite you to join us at one of our 400 locations across the nation. Whether you are in a city, a regional town, or a remote community, there is a place for you. This Easter is not about having everything figured out, it’s about coming together, sharing in hope, and encountering a message that has the power to renew, restore and give you freedom.

Please know our doors are always open. Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus in action, doing all we can to give support, compassion, and connection to anyone who needs it. Whether it is through one of our local community programs, sharing a cuppa and a listening ear, or simply connecting with us in a safe space, we are here to walk alongside you.

The freedom Jesus came to bring is not reserved for a select few. It is for all who seek it. And in that freedom, there is the hope for new beginnings, renewed strength and joy for the future.

So, this Easter, we extend an invitation to you. Come as you are and join us in celebrating a message that has transformed lives for generations and continues to bring light into even the darkest places.

Commissioner Miriam Gluyas,
The Salvation Army.
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OIL PRICES
Dear editor,

Experience warns the unwary that if you poke the hornets’ nest, you are likely to come off second best!

It’s a lesson you learn from childhood; however, those who like to prove the experienced wrong continue to push the boundaries. Trump has to learn that what you instigate usually has a consequence, often not ending the way he predicted.

Consequences are not always in the control of the actor. In the case of war, as history tells us, many are sacrificed to careless planning by those in authority! History also tells us that the winner of any war is a myth. There are no winners in wartime!

World oil is now over $100 a barrel, from $70 prior to Trump’s rash move.  Americans are paying $1.05 per litre [sold in gallons there], while Australians are now paying $2.50 per litre for fuel and $3 a litre for diesel.  Trump is now publishing ‘fake news’ to cover his recklessness and underestimation of the “perceived” enemy. He is the master of his own consequences, blaming everyone but himself.

E. Rowe,
Marcoola.
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HISTORY REPEATS? 
Dear editor,

How many times must the Sheppard drive the sheep to the edge of the cliff and say, “It’s fine, just a short amble downwards, and the promised land will be there upon arrival”  Baaaaa – off we go!

The only way modern capitalist systems keep going is that every 70 years or so, there has to be a disaster. Usually, this comes in the form of war, but sometimes others. When this happens, people suffer immeasurably, but stock market speculators and oligarchs make money… lots. If you believe in nations, you are in a dreamworld. People need to wake up to themselves. Political parties and their representatives are not a solution to our problems. The system makes money out of the proliferation of problems.

Dylan White,
Coolum Beach.
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ENERGY  
Dear editor,
Is it true that “nostalgia is not a strategy”, said by a progressive PM, as opponents want to hark back to the good ‘ol days of horsepower? Can Oz have this century with cheap wind and solar energy, free from interference? Just asking.

Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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