Transport: We need sensible, viable infrastructure projects

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The state government argues the North East Link is "too big to fail" (The Age, 27/5). Clearly, it should have stopped at "too big". A 14 to 20-lane Eastern Freeway, as part of the link, at a cost "guesstimate" of $16billion, is far too big and unnecessary. Post-pandemic, the traffic guesstimates should be reviewed on the basis of staggered working hours and a proportion of employees working from home several days a week.

I agree we need infrastructure projects to kick-start the economy. However, these should be sensible and viable, such as duplicating parts of the suburban rail network that are single track, electrification, upgrading signalling at North Melbourne station and purchasing more trains.

Des Grogan, Sorrento

Give us sustainable, accessible public transport

Whilst we hurdle towards a recession, $16billion is set to be wasted on a toll road that will cut though communities, destroy parklands and lock Melbourne into a future of car-dependency. The Andrews government says the North East Link will be good for the economy. Melbourne Metro 2 rail tunnel and/or making Victoria's public transport accessible for people living with disabilities would create just as many jobs, and contribute to a healthy and prosperous society. Communities want sustainable and accessible public transport, not toll roads.

Claudia Gallois, Brunswick

Let's reduce our emissions, not increase them

Mega-roads induce traffic and the damage to the environment and the amenity of Watsonia and Bulleen will be massive. There are many ways to spend $16billion that employ people and have real, permanent benefits to the community. One example is Beyond Zero Emission's renewable energy plan which would dwarf the North East Link in job creation and economic returns, and drop our emissions to zero. Public housing, schools, hospitals and public transport would be better value than this mega-mistake.

Don Stokes, Heidelberg

We're still dreaming of better regional services

Marion Terrill from the Grattan Institute (Comment, 25/5) should not be so quick to dismiss the need for fast regional trains. She has forgotten one vital element in the equation, and that is the commuters. Here in the state's north-east, our dismal rail service to Melbourne continues, hardly improved in the 14 years that I have lived in Benalla. What I, and many others need, are reliable, clean, comfortable, and frequent services, preferably without change-overs to buses in Seymour.

Helen Scheller, Benalla

In support of high-speed trains between cities

Marion Terrill dismisses fast trains from regional centres on the grounds of a small commuter market. The market for fast trains between Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney is completely different. These trains would be competing with air travel, and would make a significant difference to Australia's CO2 emissions, transport forming 15per cent of total emissions.

In Japan, Europe and China, fast trains have become the preferred form of travel in many cases. Space per passenger is equal to business class, but emissions are around 20per cent of an aircraft. Are we going to deny Australians the same travel opportunities? Can we afford to ignore a significant means of lowering emissions?

Robin Spragg, Donvale

Taking the train, not a plane, to Sydney

The Grattan Institute's report does not include a detailed examination of the case for a Melbourne-Sydney, high-speed train, although it mentions that 500kilometres is the optimal distance for a high-speed link which is to compete with air travel. I have read that the highly profitable, Melbourne-Sydney air corridor is the second busiest in the world, with 9million passengers a year. Could a fast train compete with this short and usually expensive flight, at least for passengers whose eventual destination is central Sydney or Melbourne or for whom airports are relatively inconvenient arrival and departure points?

David Weir, Northcote

THE FORUM

Making a safe arrest

With mental health issues escalating in our society, surely there are many situations where the fire brigade can assist police officers, from a safe distance, to knock an offender to the ground with a high-pressure hose.

In circumstances such as the tragic confrontation on the Monash Freeway (The Age, 29/5), where there is space and access, why don't the police use this option? To stop a knife-wielding, distressed person without risk of death to them, the public, the emergency services or the offender.

To bring the situation under control without so many people witnessing a violent death. If the offender is not carrying a gun, we need to help the police make a safe arrest that does not end with a death.

Meg Danby, Mornington

Shoot below the waist

Once more the police have shot a man in the chest and killed him. Why don't they shoot below the waist to bring him down, so that he still lives and is available for questioning? Are the police trained in accuracy? Two shots, centimetres apart, could also target the knees or thigh bone.

Kenneth Fernandes, Altona

Stopping, not killing

Here it is again: a man with a knife is shot dead by a group of highly gun-trained police officers. Well, I have never touched a gun, but I am confident that at a distance of two metres, safely out of knife's reach, I could put a bullet into the man that would stop him without killing him. Police, please explain.

Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West

Community resources

One of the worst features of capitalist conglomerates is their ability to make supposed profitability decisions that can devastate communities. News Corp's decision to close regional newspapers (The Age, 29/5) has no thought for the role they play in the fabric of regional areas.

Historically these newspapers go into details that are never found in the larger papers, and this is a mine of information for following generations to find out what really happened in their district. Currently they supply a link between people that allows discussion of local issues, which is integral to the well-being of the community as a whole. These issues cannot be quantified on a financial balance sheet. Local papers hold a community together. News Corp should be responsible for the devastation its decision will cause.

Spencer Leighton, Torquay

More than just papers

I grew up with The Rupanyup Spectator, The Portland Observer, The Horsham Times, The St Arnaud Mercury, The Sunraysia Daily, all great papers supplying residents with information and comment on local matters.

The kids loved to see their successes at sport, as did the seniors with golf and bowls. Controversial community decision making, small local business advertising and school results were compared, and all this done in a literate and responsible style. Publications were vetted by local editors, many of whom were influential people in their community.

Even now when we travel to these areas, we often bring home the latest edition of these papers just to see how our old towns are going. I fear the next generation's research will be impeded by the lack of rational and responsible comment.

Carmel Dunstone, Newtown

Please end the cruelty

Detaining refugees indefinitely is a form of abuse. Now the Auditor-General reports that Australia has spent $7.1billion to process asylum seekers in Nauru and Papua New Guinea (The Age, 29/5). What is the purpose of this "out of sight, out of mind" form of cruelty? The boats have been stopped, so why is this travesty of justice continuing, and why are 1400 men, women and yes, children, who have fled violence in their own countries, still being scapegoated for their bravery and courage by our government?

Mary Williams, Camberwell

Our shameful treatment

The Auditor-General describes Australia's $7.1billion expenditure on offshore detention as having failed to achieve value for money. Surely that is the understatement of the decade. I would describe offshore detention as a stain on nation's conscience and a permanent blot on Australia's human rights record. Surely it is time to reform Australia's treatment of refugees.

Judy Bissland, Hampton

Only the dollar matters

Can we really expect Rio Tinto to have any regard for cultural sensitivities when its raison d'etre is to maximise dividends for its shareholders?

The responsibility for this disgusting act of barbarism in the Pilbara sits squarely on the shoulders of the Western Australian and federal governments which allowed it to occur. Rio Tinto's insulting disregard for cultural sensitivity is further highlighted by its cruel sense of timing. Of all weeks it could have chosen, it chose National Reconciliation Week. I am so ashamed to be an Australian citizen.

Paul O'Kelly, Black Hill

Downfall of The Donald

Are we about to see the beginning of Donald Trump's downfall? With his scurrilous claims about the death of Lori Klausutis (World, 29/5), and his threats against Twitter, has he gone so far over the edge that his slightly more sensible supporters (if that is not an oxymoron) might finally see what is obvious to the rest of us? If he silences Twitter, how will he disseminate the nonsense he has been spouting for three years?

Russell Brown, Great Western

The US' tragic deaths

On Thursday, the number of deaths from COVID-19 ticked over to 100,000 in the United States (The Age, 27/5). More Americans have died from it than in the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq wars combined. It could be argued that one group gave their lives for their country while the other had their lives taken because of their country – nay, President.

Peter Harris, Preston

We must protect our city

Another Melbourne vista under threat, this time at the eastern end of the CBD – "Fears project will be 'Gold Coast stuff"" (The Age, 28/5). How horrible. This area should be kept low level, rather than become part of the disappearing skyline. Watch out railyards, you will be next.

Christine Hinton, Glen Huntly

Combating chronic pain

What a fantastic idea – "Painkillers downsized in opioid crackdown" (The Age, 28/5). Let's put yet another hurdle between those suffering from chronic pain and what is often the only effective treatment.

Gavin Marks, Moonee Ponds

Important life lessons

Reading "Double poverty rate for single mums" (The Age, 28/5) revived memories from an even more difficult time. In 1975,with a baby and no financial assistance at all, I worked full-time. There was no tax rebate on childcare and my flat had no furniture or telephone. I needed to earn more money. So, I took in boarders which enabled me to work at night as well.

I have never had any handouts but life improved, slowly, thanks to hard work, perseverance and the kindnesses of friends. Learning resilience is an important life skill – and so, too is appreciation of all that is good.

Evelyn Lawson, Karingal

Struggling to survive

Am I missing something? About 17,000 international students have applied for $200 food vouchers to be spent at the Victoria Market (The Age, 29/5). These vouchers were generously offered by Melbourne City Council (which expected 1000 applicants). This shows the desperate plight of these unfortunate students in the middle of this pandemic.

On the same page of The Age, we learn that the state opposition is lobbying for the government to fund a two-week quarantine period for even more international students to be brought to Victoria to help out our universities' coffers.

One would presume that these students have, as well as money for their hefty fees, at least $25,000 in their bank accounts to support themselves for a year. Otherwise will they, too, be joining the 17,000 students who are queuing for jobs and food vouchers?

Liz Harvey, Mount Eliza

AND ANOTHER THING

Rio Tinto

Imagine the outrage if the MCG was destroyed at the pleasure of a mining company.

Annie Wilson, Inverloch

The destruction of the 45,000 year-old Aboriginal caves isn't just vandalism. It's sacrilege.

John Walsh, Watsonia

I'm outraged, Rio Tinto. How dare you, and those who allowed you?

Raeleene Gregory, Ballarat East

If we can destroy Gough Whitlam's childhood home, what are two culturally insignificant rock shelters?

Ian Powell, Glen Waverley

Politics

Boris, you wanted to be the new Churchill but you've failed. Time for you and Dominic to go.

Tim Durbridge, Brunswick

Dutton demands transparency. Never thought I'd see that.

Liz Jovanovic, Moonee Ponds

It's called vision. Thank you, Steve Bracks (28/5). Wish you were still in the front lines.

Bill Cleveland, Kew

It's time to terminate Trump on Twitter.

Derek Wilson, Cheltenham

Trump got one thing right. Fact checking of his tweets is an attack on his freedom of speech.

Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

Furthermore

When will police officers be trained to disarm a mentally ill person without killing them?

Terry Baker, Orbost

Wouldn't tasering be a better option?

Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East

Will Daniel Andrews arm police with tape measures to enforce social distancing rules (29/5)?

Brian Sanaghan, West Preston

When you change media concentration laws, you shouldn't be surprised when you lose newspapers.

Barbara Joy, South Yarra

Re the study on stress and COVID-19 (29/5). Why didn't it include women aged 48 to 68? Am I invisible?

Alison Shelton Agar, Hawthorn

Our new brand of AFL: canned crowd noise, cut-out spectators. What's next? An inflatable stripper?

Neil McDonald, Berwick

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