A benign dictator?
In The Daily Advertiser on August 7, a letter from Tim Whitehead suggests a benign dictator for Australia. This makes a welcome change from others who preach the inevitability of a republic.
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Dictators all think they are benign. Presidents everywhere have a sorry track record as well.
If there is to be a change from the present arrangements it seems to me that a monarch of Australia would be a much better way to go than either of those choices.
These days, kings and queens have a lifetime in their job and all that I know of do it well and take it seriously. Prince Harry could be a more than acceptable candidate. He seems to have much of the Australian character and the necessary understanding to do the job in the manner of his grandmother.
A hereditary monarch would provide stability to a system of government that neither a benign dictator, an elected president, nor even our present system of regular elections does. What do you think?
Graeme Smith, Wagga
Let’s be water wise
The best thing the government and the Murray Darling Basin Authority can do for the drought-affected areas is put aside the Basin Plan for 12 to 18 months. Providing environmental water to our farmers so they can grow fodder and food to get us through this dry period.
The Murray and its tributaries have had many environmental flows over the past several years and are designed to go years without flooding .
So, use the water put aside for the next years environmental flows towards farmers who are prepared to grow fodder and food to get us through this drought.
The need to do this is more important than ever. If you are willing to gamble on the drought breaking in the next few months then you are happy to gamble with Australians lives and mental health.
Allocating some environmental water to farmers to grow fodder and food, without paybacks and financial gain will really show that social, economic and environmental outcomes are on equal footing.
You have the power to do something.
Luke Harrington, Deniliquin
More nurses needed
In every part of the state, I hear from nurses and midwives doing extraordinary work but who are under severe pressure.
It is frankly scandalous that our regional hospitals have fewer nurses per patient than in the big Sydney hospitals.
Understaffing affects every nurse, patient and family. In our regional areas it means less time with patients, higher staff turnover and worse patient outcomes.
That is why I recently joined hundreds of nurses to announce Labor's Regional Nurse Ratios policy - to bring regional hospitals to the same staffing levels as in Sydney.
It means hundreds more nurses and better care in dozens of hospitals from Lismore to Broken Hill to Wagga Wagga.
And it means when your loved ones are sick, the care you receive in a regional hospital will be at the same standard as the big Sydney hospitals.
We should never accept a lesser level of care based on where you live. After eight long years of the Liberals and Nationals, and a $2 billion Sydney stadium splurge, it is time to make a change.