Peter Gleeson’s (Courier Mail, 20 Dec) recent reference to “Putinesque behaviour” when it comes to hospital authorities, is like George Christensen likening COVID restrictions to the Nazi holocaust. Both comparisons are ridiculous and shows an ignorance by one of Putin the man and a complete failure by the other to comprehend one the most horrific events in history.

Their mindless utterings are only equalled by the cluelessness of Donald Trump.  

Vladimir Putin has a litany of ways of dealing with dissidents and/or those who subject him to personal criticism. If Gleeson gave the Russian leader a smidgen of the criticism that he pours incessantly on the Queensland government he would well have been a target for poisoning by polonium-210, imprisonment, or simply wiped off the face of the earth by other clandestine means.

He can regard himself as most fortunate that he lives in Australia, where he is given a front seat to attack his nemesis, Annastacia Palaszczuk, no matter how ludicrous the criticism, knowing that there will be no repercussions.

Morrison’s pork barrel a threat

When Paul Williams (Courier Mail, 27 Dec) weighs up Scott Morrison’s chances at the next election, he overlooks important issues that may well have provoked a mood for change. The PM will be hoping his “quiet Australians” will forget the inadequate response to gender issues when his party tried to “neutralise” Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins’ cry for justice.

Polls show that the female vote has moved significantly away from the Coalition since 2019.  He will also hope they forget the massive misuse of taxpayer’s money to ensure victory in closely-contested seats at the last election.

Meanwhile, Morrison continues to resist a transparent Independent Commission Against Corruption. He has put forward a threadbare alternative, one that top constitutional legal expert Anne Twomey has described as deliberately written to spare politicians. Geoffrey Watson, SC, asserts that neither the “sports rorts” nor the selective commuter car parks handouts would be able to be investigated under his plan.

With no substantive federal ICAC in place, the dangers of a gross misuse of the public purse remain. Despite this, Morrison will not be easy to shift. He has the incumbency, the purse strings and often enjoys sympathetic media coverage.

Change urged on NDIS age discrimination

Currently, Australians who become disabled over the age of 65 find themselves ineligible for funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). This unfortunate and unacceptable anomaly has come under severe criticism by many community and social service sector organisations over the years, which are now campaigning for critical change.

To add its support to this campaign, the Annerley Branch has recently adopted a resolution outlining that this ‘form of age discrimination is unacceptable and requires urgent remediation’.

The resolution, which has been conveyed to Federal Shadow Minister, Bill Shorten MP, calls for the adoption of several urgent measures, which include:

1. repealing the 2013 amendment to the Age Discrimination Act that allowed the NDIS to legally exclude people over the age of 65 who become disabled;
2. amending existing NDIS legislation to ensure all Australians are eligible, regardless of their age;
3. implementing key recommendations from the 2021 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety; and
4. conducting an independent and transparent review of the National Disability Strategy, if the Strategy fails to end age discrimination.

Disability advocacy groups have stated that they will target marginal seats across Australia in relation to the issue at the next federal election. The Annerley Branch will continue to publicly support this campaign to encourage Federal Labor to remove the age barrier.

End to battery cages welcomed

The Annerley Branch has applauded the Queensland Labor Government for supporting plans to phase out the use of battery wire cages in Australia’s poultry industry.

Voicing it support for the RSPCA campaign to introduce nationally consistent animal welfare standards that aim to end the use of these cruel cages, the Branch has written to the Queensland Agriculture Minister, Hon Mark Furner, regarding the issue.

Although the current plan looks at phasing out the cages by 2032, the Annerley Branch has voiced its support for these changes to be introduced ‘as soon as practicable’.

To date, only NSW has held out against supporting the national change.

Members get behind Christmas hamper appeal

Annerley Branch members have dug deep and donated food and money to this year’s annual Christmas hamper appea,l which is again being organised by southside community organisation, Micah Projects.

Every year, Micah Projects provide Christmas hampers for individuals and families who are marginalised and facing adversity and poverty across Brisbane. The challenges of living below the poverty line are often felt most over the Christmas period, as people try to pay bills and have money to celebrate with their families. Each hamper includes pantry staples as well as Christmas treats and fresh fruit.

For many years, the Annerley Branch has keenly supported this important initiative, by organising a collection of food items and money, with this year’s donation recently handed over to Annabelle from Micah Projects (pictured with Gabrielle Henry, Annerley Branch).