Opinion

Patrick Hockey, Castlemaine Climate change denial is a complex belief system grounded in a mistrust of authority and a tendency to believe in conspiracy theories, but it is of little importance to this unfolding crisis. The fact is polling has shown now for more than a decade that the public has accepted the science that…

Christine Pruneau, secretary, Macedon Ranges Residents Association In response to the letter from Mary-Anne Thomas MP, State member for Macedon (‘Scaremongering on planning’, Opinions, August 28), it is critical for residents to be clear that Macedon Ranges is NOT yet protected, but still in the process of being protected. First: The Distinctive Areas and Landscapes…

Wendy Hebbard, New Gisborne Recently, the local Liberal candidate for the upcoming State Election wrote to local papers criticising the Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas. As I have said before, instead of denigrating one’s opponent, it would be much better to hear alternative policies put forward by other parties. We could then make an informed…

Andrew McLaren, Woodend North I am writing about the appalling behaviour of our power retailers. At the moment, virtually anyone who calls their retailer for a better deal gets one. Anyone who switches providers is then immediately approached by the former provider with a much better deal than the one they left. Where does this…

Len Millar, Newstead I read with interest Donna Thomas’s article regarding the risks to motor vehicles and trains along the Victorian Goldfields Railway line between Castlemaine and Maldon. VGR spokesman Andrew Reynolds made some telling points – especially regarding the heightened risk to motorists crossing open level crossings when trains run at night. There have…

Hans Paas, Castlemaine Safety concerns regarding ‘crossing risks real’ (Express, August 28) need to be addressed urgently. Anyone travelling south from Lockwood to Maldon has zero visibility for trains travelling from Castlemaine towards Maldon. Last time I drove that way I realised that it was tantamount to playing ‘Russian roulette’ as a safe crossing of…

Christine King, Castlemaine I write re the article on the steam train near-miss (Midland Express, August 7). It does sound as if safety upgrades are urgently needed at the Bendigo/Maldon railway crossing. Some people’s hearts must have missed a few beats that night. I’m curious about Mr Reynolds’ choice of words when he says motorists…

Gregory Clark, Woodend One meaning of ‘a fair go’ is that it can be used to ask for leniency for some trivial infraction. Isn’t it time after five years of detention that our asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus be given a fair go? Their ‘crime’ was the temerity to jump a ‘fence’ to save…

Hal Curwen-Walker, Castlemaine I write in response to Patrick Hockey’s letter (‘Sad sideshow’, Opinions, August 21). His reliance upon the Californian bushfires as purported evidence of climate change is, like so many scandalous and unfounded assertions by climate alarmists, not based in fact. Total area destroyed globally by bushfire has decreased by approximately 50 per…

Keith Altmann, Woodend Ray Brindle’s response to Messrs Clarke, Scoles et al is unduly gentle at a time when the most recent science, based on actual events as well as improved understanding of the risks of climate change, is that life on Earth now faces an existential risk. Some say why should Australia act as…

Dino Cevolatti, Castlemaine In regards to ‘Who can we trust?’ (Opinions, August 14), while you are right to be sceptical of sources of data and to provide more accurate values, it would help to provide your own sources for others to review. For example, the data show a trend from 1910 to 2017 of at…

Ali Holborn, Riddells Creek To assist motorists in remembering the ‘slowing to 40 when passing an emergency vehicle’ rule, could service teams carry a portable speed sign? This could include police, fire, ambulance, SES and tow trucks. The sign could be erected near the emergency scene and state ’40 – Emergency Ahead’. A visual reminder…