tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post2736789430105601112..comments2024-03-29T12:36:41.063+11:00Comments on New England, Australia: Round the New England media 4 May 10Jim Belshawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post-10207606820169377592010-05-07T12:23:09.299+10:002010-05-07T12:23:09.299+10:00Absolutely!Absolutely!Peter Firmingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16349189271386434918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post-11094747738991420792010-05-05T21:20:54.772+10:002010-05-05T21:20:54.772+10:00That's interesting, Greg.
While I know Newca...That's interesting, Greg. <br /><br />While I know Newcastle reasonably well, it's difficult for someone who does not live in the city to get a proper feel for the pulse. Certainly the number and vigour of comments on some stories is remarkable.<br /><br />Well, if Newcastle would now vote yes for new states, we need to find a way to give the city this choice!Jim Belshawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075614280789984767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25637657.post-16176239682124369412010-05-05T18:29:17.537+10:002010-05-05T18:29:17.537+10:00Hi again Jim,
I am continuing to follow your post...Hi again Jim,<br /><br />I am continuing to follow your posts with great interest.<br /><br />Just a brief comment on your observation of the anger in Newcastle. The anger is indeed palpable. Nobody truly believes that the state has the interests of the Hunter at heart other than as a source coal royalties. Every announcement by the state government, whether positive or not, is greeted with derision and scepticism of the highest order. Barely a day goes by when there isn't a negative story in "The Herald" and page after page of contributors venting their anger towards the state government in online comments.<br /><br />Now the Commonwealth now wants to get it's snout in the mining trough via the mining super profits tax. It is all depressingly familiar. A once fertile and stunningly beautiful valley gets turned into a moonscape and the proceeds will be spent elsewhere. The Junction public school still can't even get permanent replacements for classrooms destroyed in the 1989 earthquake.<br /><br />If the 1967 new state referendum were held today, Newcastle and the Hunter would return a landslide YES.Gregnoreply@blogger.com