Lettersto the editor

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Youth crime hits home for Katter

I AM frustrated with the “revolving door” of youth crime policy, sympathising with Queensland’s juvenile offenders caught up in the system, following an alleged break into my Mount Isa electorate office late Sunday night.

My office at Simpson St was allegedly targeted just before midnight with the alleged offenders triggering the alarm and causing minimal damage inside.

I had been informed four young males had allegedly attempted to break into the building and all four had been taken into custody.

I spoke on “revolving door” of youth crime during a 90-second statement in Federal Parliament on Monday, highlighting the need to break the cycle of sending kids to prison, only for them to return as “harden criminals.”

There are little kids being thrown in a steel cage like an animal when they really haven’t done anything wrong. Their older brother tells him to get in the car he’s stolen, or he gets a bashing. In the past, those kids would have been given a good kick up the backside and a clip under the ears by the local copper and that would have been the end of it, but now they are costing us close to $1m a year to be kept in juvenile detention centres.

In the old days, before the white fellas came, the black fellas had ‘Buj-e-ka’ and it means banishment. If you played up in those days, they didn’t need prisons. You’d be sent out into the bush to live by yourself until you behaved like a civilised human being, and then and only then you’d be allowed back into the camp.

Bob Katter, Federal MP for Kennedy

Take the kidney health check

KIDNEY Health Australia is urging adults to take a simple two-minute online test to determine if they are at risk of developing kidney disease.

Of the two million – or one in 10 – Australian adults affected by kidney disease, 1.8 million are completely unaware of it, likely due to the lack of symptoms. However, an easy online test during Kidney Health Week this week could be the reality check they need.

The online test developed by Kidney Health Australia can be taken anywhere, any time, and includes nine questions that help identify your risk of kidney disease.

The test will determine whether a follow-up appointment with your GP for a Kidney Health Check is recommended – a simple check that could save your life.

Three in four Australians are at risk of kidney disease with the highest contributing factors being diabetes and high blood pressure.

Kidney disease has no symptoms and 90 per cent of kidney function can be lost without warning, meaning diagnosis is often too late and little can be done at that late stage to avoid kidney failure.

However, early detection can slow or even stop the progression of this insidious, incurable, and deadly disease.

For more information visit www.kidney.org.au/atrisk

Chris

Forbes, Kidney Health Australia CEO

The Voice special to the Indigenous

RICHARD Holme (letters, May 19) continues to make the spurious claim that a ‘Second Voice Referendum’ –nobody I know remembers a first one – will introduce race-based divisions into Australia.

Well, Section 51 (xxvi) of our Constitution already allows racebased laws and it was used as the basis for the military intervention into dysfunctional Aboriginal communities in the NT.

Nothing similar was done about white cults abusing white children in other parts of Australia.

So, what are the special circumstances which justify recognising the original inhabitants of this continent and giving them a voice?

Well, they are the oldest civilisation in the world which makes them special in most people’s minds.

And 250 years of not listening to them has created poor health, education and life expectancy. It is time we tried something differentlistening.

Other countries in the Americas and Scandinavia have tried recognition and a voice and it has produced improvements in health, educa-

Last week we asked the question: What needs to be done to provide more GPs in our communities?

Here are some of your comments.

Open the borders to qualified GPs who want to come and work here.

But they must first work in a regional or remote community where doctors are desperately needed for at least two years. That will mean providing incentives such as housing etc.

John, Manoora

Open state-owned and run community health centres staffed with salaried GPs, nurses, optometrists, podiatrists, for all basic healthcare needs. Require all relevant medical professionals to work full-time in such centres for a percentage of their careers in order to retain their Medicare provider status, in a location determined by need. Gradually replace all ‘fee for service’ medicine with salaried tion,and life expectancy for their Indigenous peoples.

For 100 years we have accepted the RSL’s voice on behalf of old Diggers. Australians don’t have a problem with the RSL telling off the Department of Veterans Affairs and other parts of the executive government when they fail.

Why the panic about an ATSI Voice doing the same?

Sean McGinn, Clifton Beach

Awarding mental health heroes

THE well-being and mental health of Australians have been significantly impacted by the mounting pressures they have faced in recent years. It is crucial that we acknowledge and address the hardships our communities are enduring.

Amidst these challenges, there is a dedicated army of individuals working tirelessly to improve mental well-being.

The Australian Mental Health Prize, established by UNSW Syd-

Council is offering 20 free dog registrations for the 2023/24 rego period.

All you have to do is take a selfie with one of our Proactive Patrol officers and your pooch and post to your Facebook or Instagram page, tagging @CairnsPets. Make sure your post is ‘public’ otherwise we won’t be able to find it.

Council officers patrol popular dog walking spots throughout the region, every morning and afternoon, including beaches and foreshores, sporting precincts, popular parks such as Goomboora, and key cycle and walking tracks. Five employees in a state-owned health service. Eventually take all medical services, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, aged care etc into public ownership, funded by taxation, with local management boards.

Doug Pollard, Clifton Beach

Vocal Local join our online debate be a THIS

The new health minister Shannon Fentiman must ensure the workforce plan, covers not just Queensland Health staff, but private hospitals, GPs and other private specialists, and allied health including pharmacists and physios. The workforce plan, recruitment and retention must be the key priorities and the new minister must hold the senior bureaucrats accountable.

Dr Maria Boulton, AMA Queensland ney, aims to honour those making ground-breaking contributions in advocacy, research, and community service.

Nominations are now open, and we strongly encourage individuals from every corner of Australia to join us in paying tribute to the mental health heroes in their communities. Whether it be a researcher shedding light on innovative treatments, an advocate fighting for policy change, or a community service provider making a tangible impact, their efforts deserve recognition.

To nominate someone for the Australian Mental Health Prize, visit www.australianmentalhealthprize. org.au. Submissions close on July 17.

Let us unite as a nation to honour those making a profound difference in the lives of others. Together, we can foster a society that values mental health and provides support to those in need.

Lucy Brogden and Allan Fels co-chairwoman and chairman of the Australian Mental Health Prize

Advisory Groups

Improvement works

Dexter Rd, Gordonvale: Shoulder widening and culvert repairs between Crossland Rd and Littles Rd. Temporary lane closures.

English St, Manunda: Kerb and channel renewal on the eastern side, between Hoare St and Card Ave from Monday 29 May.

Evans St, Yorkeys Knob: Pavement rehabilitation between Varley St and Sims Esplanade. Detours and traffic control as required.

Graham St, Edmonton: Kerb and channel works on the north western side between Jubilee St and Wiseman Road East. Lane closures and traffic control.

Macilwraith St, Manoora: Water main upgrade on the southern side between Pease St and Enmore St. Traffic control as required.

For a full list of works visit our website.