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Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Letters to Editor: hospital, Winston Peters and job satisfaction
Today's Letters to the Editor from readers cover topics including the new hospital, Winston Peters and getting people into jobs they love. I sympathise but turn your eyes to the north While I certainly sympathise with Dr Mac Gardner's frustration at the current government's total lack of progress on the new Dunedin hospital build (ODT 28.5.25), I do take issue with his suggestion that all the previous government contributed is a 'field of piles'. I would invite Dr Gardner to stand on the footpath adjacent to said piles and gaze northward. There he will see the finishing touches being put on the new hospital inpatient building - a testament to Labour's commitment, and always planned as stage 1 of the overall hospital campus development. The 'field of piles' on the other had, is both a factual and metaphorical testament to 18 months of the current government's complete (and costly) inaction. Max Reid Mornington Exhibit leadership Our Foreign Minister Winston Peters has, in his capacity as deputy prime minister, just days to exhibit leadership and convince his coalition colleagues to take a stronger and principled approach to the Gaza-Israel war. Having signed the 23-nation letter condemning the refusal of Israel to allow humanitarian aid to Gaza while over 14,000 babies and children face imminent death from starvation, New Zealand must continue to step forward and apply boycotts, sanctions and divest from Israeli companies. The genocide in Gaza is being televised. We are all witnesses. Our government must not continue to contract out of humanity and speak with a muffled voice. Gina Browne Caversham What to do Re Gaza, I have come to realise that I no longer know what to do with my outrage. Pete Hodgson Dunedin Extraordinary amounts Re the Otago Daily Times article on Winston Peters (21.5.25). I was disappointed that Mike Houlahan's piece failed to address Winston Peters' association with fringe groups and the anti-vaccination movement. Furthermore, there was no mention of his adoption of a divisive, Trumpian-style of politics. It seems Mr Peters is highly skilled at adapting his political stance to maintain relevance and garner votes. On a lighter note, I couldn't help but notice the similarity in colour between apple juice, reportedly his preferred drink on long flights, and whisky. Ann James Abbotsford Application pending In relation to Winston Peters' recent difference of opinion with an individual in Wellington, you quote employment law specialist Jennifer Mills asserting that a sacking offence had occurred. As a former union delegate for 20 years I would suggest that she remember the saying that ''it is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.'' She has done the employer no favours by prejudging the situation, thus making it impossible for that employer to conduct the unbiased investigation to which the employee is absolutely entitled. As advocate for him I would challenge any claim from the company that it was not influenced by her unsolicited comments and this would permanently taint its case should it choose to act on her advice. I feel an application to the Employment Tribunal coming on. Barry Salter Invercargill Life in the Soviet republic of New Zealand A sanction is the penalty for disobeying a law or rule. When we hear that word, we naturally think about the sanctions that are placed on Russia right now. Well, Russia, and New Zealanders on a government benefit. The obligations of a job seeker is that you are expected to work at least 30 hours a week, but say yes to any job of any number of hours anyway. You have to go to job interviews for jobs that Winz told you to go to, seminars about how to get a job and then update Winz as reasonably as they require, about your progress. You may also be told to do volunteer work or work experience. You also must make sure you do not neglect to care for your children while you are working or volunteering. You must meet all of these obligations, despite the 5.1% unemployment rate which is now up at the Covid 2020 levels. But if you do decide to not meet these obligations, we will put half of your money to make ends meet on to a payment card. The card will likely show anyone who sees it, your name, and the title of being someone who has been sanctioned. You know, like Russia. When you see someone with one of these cards, don't look directly at them, they're clearly the bottom of society's barrel. Alternatively, we could treat everyone like valued human beings and pursue opportunities to not only help people into a job but a job they love and are passionate about. Vickie Cross Mosgiel Train please Would you please do one good deed for us Southeners? We need our train service reinstated. It is so missed, and so much more comfortable for us of a good age. And will clear the crowded roads, which is a real bonus. Pauline Watts Forbury Address Letters to the Editor to: Otago Daily Times, PO Box 517, 52-56 Lower Stuart St, Dunedin. Email: editor@
The Age
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Age
This Liberal talk about aspiration is code for something else
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. POLITICS The repeated and predictable mea culpa of 'we need to listen more' from Liberal politicians during the ABC's Four Corners report Decimated on Monday night was wholly unconvincing. The Liberals had three years 'to listen more' after being rolled in 2022. Instead, they chose a cheap Trumpian-style campaign approach for the 2025 election, replete with the requisite display of political spin gymnastics. Despite the effort to paint Peter Dutton as a swell kind of guy, his heavily tattooed leopard spots of reputation preceded him in spades. So maybe here's some possible redeeming starting points. Get rid of the spin about being the party representing aspirational Australian values. This sounds like it's supporting dog-eat-dog self-interest where we know which aspirants in the socio-economic scale the Liberals will prioritise. Get out of the blokey right-wing echo chambers and start delivering policies that have evidence-based substance. Paul Miller, Box Hill South Values? We want vision On Four Corners assorted Liberal folk talked at length about 'our values' and 'what we stand for'. They don't get that the Enlightenment values, which are their core, are no longer their exclusive preserve. Voters would rather hear about the Liberal Party's ideas, vision, policies – values as action in the real world of our complex, multicultural society and environment under siege. They are not going to be moved by whingeing about wokeism, or unsupported guesses about what the 'quiet people' – whoever they are – might want. George Brandis seems to get it, but frankly many others don't. Michael Read, Carnegie Misleading names Liberal once meant being willing to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; to be open to new ideas. In a political sense, it meant favouring policies that were socially progressive and promoted social welfare. Conservative meant being averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values. In a political sense it meant favouring free enterprise, private ownership and socially traditional ideas. To this extent the current Australian Liberal Party is at best conservative rather than liberal. In recent years the Liberal Party seems to have adopted the approach whereby any proposal or policy suggestion put forward by the Labor Party – whether on electric vehicles, tax, or the Indigenous referendum – is automatically regarded as completely wrong and thus must be opposed with facile slogans and ridicule. I'll be watching with interest what comes of the current off again-on again discussions between that party and the equally quaintly misnamed National Party. John MacInnes, Warrnambool Climate wedge In Cathy Wilcox's cartoon (Letters, 27/5) the Nationals' David Littleproud checks the weather extremes of the climate crisis, finding no problem. Littleproud is wedged politically between the Liberals who believe in net zero, but do little about it, and the likes of Matt Canavan, who deny climate change with recent comments like, 'there's just not credible evidence that droughts or floods are getting worse in this country'. John Hughes, Mentone Nuclear dump Without exactly saying it and with little fanfair, the Nationals have dumped their nuclear policy. David Littleproud's announcement that a nuclear roll-out would not be contemplated unless it was financed by the private sector (' Liberals and Nationals closer on Coalition fix, spotlight moves to Littleproud leadership ', 23/5) is the death knoll for any future nuclear plans. Additionally, no Senate in its present makeup would lift the existing ban. THE FORUM
