Well done for taking this tourism initiative
Rail trails have proven to be a great success in other states of Australia as well as overseas.
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All of the perceived issues regarding the establishment of rail trails have been sorted in the other states, and the many imagined problems have never arisen.
Communities that have rail trails value them greatly, as they now see how they increase tourism and inject money into the local economy.
Many of the local people use their trails on a regular basis for exercise and other activities such as fun runs.
Well done to Goulburn [Mulwaree] Council for taking this initiative.
Bring it on.
John O'Brien, Dubbo
Create a 'sanity' account in the Cayman Islands
The Australian Christian Lobby and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have called for increased powers to fire employees who don't conform to a 'Christian sexual ethic' (whatever they choose that to mean) at work and in private.
Exemption from anti-discrimination laws is given if the belief is reasonably held by the members of that faith group.
[Hume MP] Angus Taylor wants more taxpayer funds to continue and expand fossil fuel subsidies, and to force AGL to keep the Liddell power station open.
If religious beliefs of minority groups can override anti-discrimination law, surely scientific expertise and majority belief should override the government's professed 'agnosticism' about fuel sources for electricity generation.
No! 97 percent of climate scientists, the majority of Australians and an increasing proportion of businesses are ignored. Why? Keeping prices down? Renewable energy is cheaper. When the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine? Batteries. Jobs? A just transition to the renewables sector. So - why?
I would like [the] proportion of all my taxes funding subsidies to the fossil fuel sector and organisations that discriminate against fellow Australians [to] be removed from the government's control and placed in a 'sanity' account in the Cayman Islands.
Perhaps others will too and together we could do something for The Greater Good.
Meave Ramsay, Wiarborough
We urge people everywhere to reach out
I write on behalf of the not-for-profit Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) to urge readers to reach out for help if they or someone they know is facing mental health issues.
It is now estimated 3.8 million Australians live with a mental illness. There can be no question that people with any kind of mental illness, including severe mental illness, need as much support as they can.
People with severe mental illness can live successfully in the community and can recover if the correct support is there.
Obviously the last thing we want to see happen is people ending up in acute mental health care facilities. That is why we urge readers to reach out if they feel they need support.
Latest data suggests 65 percent of all GP presentations are for mental health issues. 690,000 people across the nation live with a severe mental illness.
We are most concerned that there are at least 225,000 people across Australia with a severe mental illness who are are at risk of getting no support because of the changes brought about by the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
We passionately believe all governments need to be held to account for the clear current inadequacies of our current mental health system.
If governments do not tackle the big issues, taxpayers end up funding bigger and bigger costs of mental health services, prisons and lost productivity.
We urge people everywhere to reach out.
- You can get free help by ringing Mi Networks on 1800 985 944 or visit minetworks.org.au
Tony Stevenson, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia chief executive officer (national)
