THE Labor government is progressing a plan to increase tax on superannuation balances over $3 million – but is it fair? The government’s mounting issue is the massive amount of debt it and previous governments have racked up in past years. This number is only projected to increase substantially over the next ten budgets. As […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, It’s Normine B again. It was so much worse than you imagined. As my brother in law was ripping down the driveway, he knocked over my prize geraniums, breaking the pot and my heart while he was at it. The dog thankfully came away unscathed, but the cat wasn’t so lucky. He now […]
Camouflage
Letter to the Editor: Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country
DEAR News Of The Area, I WRITE this during National Reconciliation Week. This is the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum which finally recognised the First Peoples who have lived here for millennia and meant that they were included in the National Census as people and permitted to vote. It is also the reminder of Mabo. […]
Letters to the Editor: Actually, no voice should be silenced
DEAR News Of The Area, MS Sandra Bourke (Letters, NOTA, 15 May) sees a letter from Justin Page, spokesperson for Hunter Jobs Alliance in the previous issue as an attempt to silence the powerful and well-funded organisation Advance Australia for which she is the spokesperson. Both organisations have the right to use every legal means […]
‘On the couch’ with Jasminda
DEAR Jasminda, MY new girlfriend sleeps with her dog (Brutus) in the bed. I really like her, but I find this behaviour bizarre and, frankly, a relationship breaker. How do I navigate this? Gerard P. Dear Gerard, The early phase of a relationship is often marked by constant affection, but this should not include waking […]
The Big Screen
NOSTALGIA reigns this week with the release of Karate Kid: Legends. Following the unexpected success of the legacy television (or “streaming”) series Cobra Kai, producers have realised there is a great deal of possibility in this franchise which first came to screens more than 40 years ago. The premise remains familiar: a recently uprooted youth, […]
FLOODS
The Write Direction: Election correction
THE nation decided to stick with the devil they knew in early May, and did so in very clear fashion. Since then, the former Coalition has been cleaning up after the loss. Opposition leader Peter Dutton lost his seat, just like John Howard suffered when his Liberal Government was voted out. Leadership battles for the […]
Letter to the Editor: Worrying signs
DEAR News Of The Area, LIKE many of us, our attention has been recently focused on America and this has raised our attention on its beliefs and culture. I am worrying over the development of legal processes that have been developed by religious groups that are also trying to maintain a financial foothold in various […]