PILL TESTING 
Dear editor,

Whatever your viewpoint on contraband substances, the principle of harm reduction is a higher order of morality. The Crisafulli Government’s decision to ban pill testing is outright negligence. Several studies around the world have proved beyond doubt that pill testing saves lives. So why wouldn’t the QLD Premier be interested in saving the lives of QLD people? Some have suggested he must appease the far right of his party. Others think that it’s a religious thing. But worst of all was the Premier’s comment that “he can’t condone illicit drug use.” If the police can’t stop people from obtaining these substances, then the Premier will not either! And that’s the point – it is not about what you perceive is right or wrong. It is about the good works you can achieve, and in this case, that is saving lives! I would have thought that is the essential “Christian” point here – to reduce harm to people!

Dylan White,
Coolum Beach.
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POLITICAL GAMES
Dear editor,

Football grand finals are not the only games in town. In our post-truth world, the big game in Canberra occurs where politicians play in a stadium to a crowd where many don’t believe in the objective truth.

The ground is fertile because voters have been trained to believe that their personal truth is the one that matters. They don’t want to be confused by the facts, allowing politicians to play on their fears. This sets the ground for conspiracy theories to thrive.
It is a sellout of science, expertise, and hard evidence. They have been replaced by the ‘what works is true’ if it achieves a favourable political outcome.

Rare leaders telling the objective truth are becoming revolutionaries in an era of deceit.
We live in a world where some international leaders don’t just lie, they don’t care, then double down.

Politicians telling lies is not new, but now they are judged not just by the falseness of what they say. The big political sin is getting caught by the media in a gotcha moment.
There are no winners in this game, as admitting the truth is demeaned as a backflip, followed by a resignation to predictably ‘spend more time with the family.’

When there is conflict within a party, the political fix rarely involves a diligent search for the objective truth.
When a member divulges the truth, backroom enforcers stifle any perception of disloyalty to the leader, just like the conga line of denials before a losing footy coach is moved on.

It will be left to us citizens to support an accountable democratic system and honest media outlets, to continue the pursuit of the absolute truth for the following generations.

Garry Reynolds,
Peregian Springs.
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ROAD SURFACES & CLIMATE  
Dear editor,

We are aware of changes to our climate and the effect that increased emissions will have on warming the planet.  The government appears not to be willing to act on those things it can fix within its own domain.

Cool road surfaces, including those with colour modifications to increase reflectivity, have been shown to reduce surface temperatures by about three to 15 degrees Celsius. Reflective coatings and lighter colours help lower solar heat absorption, thereby mitigating the urban heat island effect and reducing surface and ambient temperatures to some extent.

Changes to the way we change road surfaces in urban infill areas are deemed not to occur until after 2035.

Since 1990, our population growth has contributed to a rise of 49% in our emissions. Our net migration contributed just under 75% of our population increase.

Consequently, higher population growth and migration rates will make it harder to reach net zero by 2050 because emissions reductions must offset not only economic activity but also the increasing demand from a growing population.

When is the government going to act responsibly on population/net overseas migration and reduce our emissions and temperatures with better cooler road surfaces?

Colin Caudell,
Coolum Beach.
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YAROOMBA COM GARDEN 
Dear editor,

On behalf of the newly formed Yaroomba Community Garden, I would like to thank all the people and groups who have supported us in the early stages.

Firstly, Friends of Yaroomba Inc., for pushing for the formation of a local community garden and generously donating money towards getting it started.

Our local Councillor, Taylor Bunnag, who persevered in finding us a suitable place to set up, at Meadowlands Park, Jenyor St., and also organised a financial contribution from the Sunshine Coast Council.

Elliot Lacy, the S.C.C. Community Garden Coordinator, has been very helpful with his advice and his organisation of the materials for the garden beds. Coolum Community Native Nursery donated one of the garden beds and has offered support.

Paul Foley of Foleys Tanks at Woombye kindly delivered free of charge our first three garden beds, and Mitre 10 Coolum has also been generous with their support.

Hopefully, Yaroomba Community Garden continues to grow and flourish and helps to bring our wonderful community together.

All are welcome to join. Check out our Facebook page – Yaroomba Community Garden for more information.

Primrose Gamble,
Yaroomba.
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UNITY WATER  
Dear editor,

Once upon a time, in a country we all know, but have not much in common with now, life was honest and fair, from the government to your friendly neighbours. People paid their way with their hard-earned wages. Governments, both local, state and federal, ran their business efficiently, without enforcing their economic mismanagement upon their people, because they were open and accountable to their constituents for every penny.

But with the dawn of the third millennium, bureaucratic and political over-representation in all three levels of government had to be paid above the basic wages of the madding crowds footing the tax bill. There was never enough money to go round, and households and businesses were targets. Using their consumption of power and water, governments conjured up schemes to hit their constituents with newly created taxes, like never before!

At the turn of the new millennium, Queensland suffered a drought. People began to buy and install tanks to save rainwater and reduce consumption. When consumers reduced their consumption of water, due to reverting to using tank water, council rates suffered financial hardship. On this premise, the State Labor Government created the Government-owned invention of Unity Water.

Today, all power retailers and Unity Water administrators impose daily electricity and water supply charges and taxes on each account, easily subject to increased costs, without any recourse for consumers to reduce these taxes. Water or power consumption reduction has a minimal effect on the final bill!

The structure of Unity Water billing, as such, demonstrates how they continue to exploit consumers with these unconscionable taxes, subject to periodic increase, exposing the fiscal incompetence and desperation by successive State Governments.

E. Rowe

Marcoola
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LEGAL COLUMN PRAISE  
Dear editor,

I love Ray Barber reminiscing about Rumpole of the Bailey. The clever comedy of that show is hard to find these days on the box.

Ray makes a few other very pertinent points too, in particular about kindness, humour and how we treat each other. I get horrified at the stories I hear about how some customers treat our retail workers. They deserve kindness and humour in their workplace. They may be the frontline, but they are not responsible for shortages, price increases or the fact that you may have to wait in line to be served.

As Ray said, happiness can generally be found in every workplace if you look for it. As a customer/client, you can also contribute to the happiness of people at work.

Des Deighton,
Coolum Beach.
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POLITICAL MUSINGS  
Dear editor,

Straining at their leash, is anyone controlling the snarling, snapping, yapping, whining Dogs of War intent on attacking anything and everything near and far? Just asking who’s feeding these rabid animals?

Margaret Wilkie,
Peregian Beach.
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