Mona Mona community
Good to see Jonathan Strauss writing about Mona Mona (GLW #779).
I live in the area and over the years I've come to learn some of the history of this area, including the extraordinary story of Mona Mona.
More than 10 years ago, promises were made by the Federal Government to help rebuild Mona Mona. This promise has not been kept. The betrayal of Mona Mona has actually accelerated under the Rudd Government.
In the Kuranda area, which less than 150 years ago was 100% Aboriginal land, Mona Mona is really the last small area that has the potential to be developed as an authentically Indigenous community.
It claims that Mona Mona is unworthy of housing funding because it's too remote from power, schools and medical facilities. All three arguments are spurious. I understand the Aboriginals don't want mains power and have expressed a preference for alternative energy.
Mona Mona is 45 minutes from a high school, junior school and medical centre — and just over an hours' drive from a major hospital and international airport.
If that's too remote to develop, we should close down most of Australia.
Syd Walker
Kuranda, Far North Queensland [Abridged.]
Government spending needed for jobs
Years ago, BHP upgraded their steel mill in Kwinana then closed it down. There will soon be a shortage of steel worldwide. Now is the time for the Federal Government to invest in opening up Kwinana steel and investing in Australia's steel industry again since most of the minerals are in WA. This will make it possible for big infrastructure projects to take place.
Government public spending should have long-term plans that will give workers jobs and hope for the future without our Government being forced to be beholden to corporations in China, Japan and the USA. The community doesn't want charity, it wants work and security for the future. We are fed up of greedy boom bust economy policies.
Mary Jenkins
Spearwood, WA [Abridged.]
Guantanamo Bay
In a parting comment in defence of Guantanamo Bay, former President George W Bush warned that those detained were "a bunch of cold blooded killers".
For any number of reasons ranging from the abuse of basic human rights to torture, it may be worth noting just how the majority of "enemy combatants" happened to end up in Bush's "Devils Island" prison.
In the early years of "the war on terror" the US air-dropped leaflets throughout Afghanistan offering $25,000 plus bounty's or rewards for information leading to the capture of al-Qaeda operatives and other such "enemy combatants".
Upon challenges to the US freedom of information act, the State Department has been obliged to make available intelligence reports that reveal 85% of Guantanamo detainees were captured and handed to the US military by regional Afghan warlords and Pakistani special forces.
Given that Australia supported the establishment and operation of an institution, which one assumes it now joins the new US administration in condemning and closing, it is only fitting that it also make reparation and agree to all requests to re-settle any victims.
Will Hardiker
Thornbury, Vic. [Abridged.]