On which island was the TV show Magnum PI set?

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Confounded by confusion

THERE appears to be some confusion between duck shooting, recreational fishing and it would seem ... golf. Here are just a few differences to help clarify. Recreational fishing and golf does not scare landholders stock through fences onto roadways endangering lives. Recreational fishing and golf does not subject children and pets to mental anguish. Recreational fishing and golf does not kill threatened species and anything else that gets in the way. Recreational fishing and golf does not create noise pollution. Recreational fishing and golf is a peaceful activity that can allow other recreational activities to continue in harmony. Recreational fishing and golf does not destroy already fragile ecological systems. Recreational fishing and golf is easily monitored and managed by the authorities. If you enjoy roast duck for dinner perhaps you could make enquires with your local delicatessen.

AFTER a visit to a local doctor it was decided that I needed to go to Melbourne to see the specialist who had done my procedure. Transport was arranged for that day by the Flying Doctors and I was flown to Melbourne to a major hospital. Once there, I was put in a wheelchair and sat in the emergency department for eight hours without food or drink. I was lonely and afraid, as there were security guards everywhere, not a smile to be seen. I was eventually moved to short stay where I got some sandwiches. The doctor came and I was moved again, to the transition ward where it was decided to send me home without any treatment. I left the hospital at 9.30pm, arrived in Stratford at 1.30am, exhausted and furious at such a waste of time. I’m so glad we have such a caring hospital as our local Sale hospital.

JO McCubbin’s letter proposal identifying the need for local and national comprehensive disaster response plans (Gippsland Times, 15/3/22) is timely given the inadequate national government responses to the recent spate of disasters. However, a coordinated local response is far more feasible than a coordinated national response. This is because the Australian Constitution has no reference to the environment on the basis the states were accountable for the environment at the time of Federation. Although over the years, the High Court has ruled that the Commonwealth has the power to invoke other heads of constitutional power to protect the environment. For example, the Whitlam and Hawke governments invoked the Federal accountability for external affairs to protect Australian sites classified as World Heritage. However, the lack of specific accountability for the environment has contributed to the lack of national leadership by successive federal governments. This is despite the Senate Committee on Commonwealth Environment Powers (1999), recommending that the Commonwealth “exercise a leadership role in the protection and improvement of the Australian environment” until the Constitution is amended. Due to federal governments failing to display the national leadership on the environment, including national disaster management governance, each event is treated as “unprecedented” or a one in a hundred-year event. This is despite pleas from state-based bush fire and flood experts concerning the need for national planning and resourcing of disaster management due to the frequency and intensity of mega bushfires and floods. Furthermore, a recommendation from the 2020 Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements that a national disaster advisory body be established has not been implemented. As a result of the steering from a distance or the “I don’t hold a hose” approach adopted by federal governments, local organisations and volunteers are now dealing with mega natural disasters which are clearly well beyond their capacity. Given historically there has been a failure from both major parties to tackle the issue of constitutional reform necessary to adequately manage climate change, citizens should vote for the party in the forthcoming election which they consider is far more likely to rise to this challenge.

IS there any enlightened person out there who can justify why we must pay approximately 10 per cent Stamp Duty - in addition to 10 per cent GST - as part of any vehicle comprehensive insurance renewal? Also, I’d like to learn to what purpose, or purposes, is Stamp Duty factually assigned?

ON behalf of the Sale Music Festival Committee, I'd like to personally thank all who contributed to making the Ninth Sale Music Festival held at the most picturesque Sale Botanic Gardens on March 13 a great success. An estimated 3000 in attendance, first-class music plus glorious weather in a beautiful environment, helped make the day a wonderful event for the whole community. So many people and local businesses and service groups contributed to the day. Sincere thanks to the Rotary Club of Sale, Sale Scout Group, Bundalaguah CWA and The Dock Expresso Bar for the provision of refreshments, as well as the Sale Girl Guides and staff from the Sale Library for the wonderful creative activities for children. Many thanks as well to the local St. John Ambulance for their attendance on the day. These were all acknowledged publicly on the day on the signage at the event, as well as by our wonderful Master of Ceremonies, Mat Cummins from Gold 1242 and TRFM. We say thank you to them all. It is such a delight to see so many families, both local and from far and wide, coming to the festival to enjoy a wonderful free event during which wonderful local talent is showcased to all in attendance. To see groups enjoying their own picnics, or purchasing refreshments provided by local service groups, whilst enjoying the wide variety of musical genres, or the activities for children, is certainly a highlight for the organising committee. Planning will soon be taking place in preparation for the 10th Sale Music Festival/Picnic On The Green on March 12, 2023.

MEDIA reports indicate that this week's federal budget funding for gas related projects will be of considerable magnitude. It is now widely recognised that renewables are significantly undercutting fossil fuels as the world’s cheapest source of energy. The price of solar power has dropped by more than 80 per cent since 2010. Using fossil fuels to produce energy is also a prime cause of climate change. Therefore the question needs to be asked—why are the federal government still promoting using fossil fuels - coal and gas - to produce energy, and why are they pouring huge sums of money into fossil fuels? In my opinion, the answer can perhaps be found by looking at the partnership structure that exists between the Liberals and the Nationals. It is common knowledge that the Nationals have strong reasons to favour the fossil fuel industry—Barnaby Joyce has publicly made this well-known many times. Surely the federal government should be considering the wellbeing and financial health of all Australians before continuing to promote the use of expensive and climate damaging fossil fuels for energy production, and also attempting to put aside internal political aspirations that may exist within their partnership structure concerning fossil fuel use to produce energy. A federal election is due to be held in May.

IS there any comparison between a golf club designed to strike an inanimate object and a shotgun designed to kill the living? Victorians could be forgiven for wondering what kind of person leads their incumbent government because Premier Andrews says he sees little difference between the two. They might also be wondering what kind of leader puts a recreational activity involving lethal weapons ahead of the wider community's right to safety and mental health. One in four Victorians are now living in regional areas and more folks than ever are interested in enjoying our natural assets for peaceful pursuits. Less than half of one per cent of the population shoot ducks, but they have access to do so at so many thousands of public lakes, streams, creeks, rivers, reservoirs and wetlands around Victoria (often near homes and other recreational users) that no government authority has been able to estimate their number, let alone signpost or monitor them. The concern for safety around duck shooters is legitimate. Two walkers were shot by them in New Zealand just last year. So, back to the Premier’s inability to distinguish what is acceptable from unacceptable to most. We are not aware of any public polls wanting golf to be banned, or for the need for vets to be on hand to euthanise wounded golf balls. Nor are we aware of residents needing to call police for illegal golfing causing angst to local community or destroying precious indigenous culture. And we have never heard of other recreational users finding themselves trapped unawares on a golf course due to lack of signage, and fearing for their lives. But we are aware (thanks to planning.vic.gov. au) there are 300,000 golfers sharing about 374 golf courses, a ratio which if applied to duck shooters means there would be 31 shooting waterways, not thousands. We are also aware that golfers typically fund their own recreation as opposed to being funded by unwitting taxpayers. The Premier needs to understand his birdies, and his voters, a lot more.

VICTORIA’S agriculture sector is a vibrant and thriving industry, resilient to the challenges that are thrown at it, whether that be fire, floods, storms or the impacts of a global pandemic. Agriculture is worth $17.8 billion to the Victorian economy and almost one third of Australia’s total agricultural value. It is more than numbers on a spreadsheet – the more we produce and sell, the more jobs are created in local communities. The Andrews Labor government is proud to support our hard-working farmers and agribusinesses with almost $30 billion of investment in rural and regional Victoria since 2015 - four times more than the former Liberal National government. Our $115 million Agriculture Strategy identifies key projects to help the agriculture sector remain strong, innovative and sustainable now and into the future. This includes our Agriculture Energy Investment Plan supporting farmers to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. We are also promoting Ag tech with $15 million to establish an AgTech innovation network, using our smart farms to translate cutting edge research into useful methods on farm. We are investing in agriculture colleges to support upgrades of teaching spaces and accommodation offerings so they have state-ofthe-art facilities to upskill the next generation of agriculture workers. It’s been a difficult few years for the sector – and it’s extremely disappointing that the National Party has no plan to stand up for farmers. It’s very similar to Peter Walsh’s legacy as Agriculture Minister which was one of inaction, cuts and neglect. Sadly, the latest Liberal National policy document shows nothing has changed and the Nationals are beholden to the Liberal’s agenda of cuts and privatisation. While the Opposition has produced a 40 page glossy pamphlet which fails to mention agriculture even once, we have been delivering new projects, more investment and creating opportunities for farmers to grow their businesses and expand into new markets. This year, rural and regional Victorians have a choice between a National Party that continues to neglect their interests at the expense of the Liberals’ agenda, or the Andrews Labor government, which is working side by side with regional Victorians to ensure our state remains the agricultural powerhouse of the nation.

(FORMERLY DENTAL CARE FOR YOU HEYFIELD)