Readers of the Newcastle Herald have voiced strong opinions on a range of local and national issues, from the spending habits of federal politicians to the perceived failures of Newcastle's CBD revitalisation strategy.
Politician Allowances Fail the 'Pub Test'
One letter from Michael Stevenson of Warners Bay took aim at the $322 daily entitlement federal politicians receive for accommodation and meals while in Canberra. Stevenson highlighted a practice where some MPs purchase property in the capital and use the allowance to pay the mortgage, rather than for its intended temporary living costs.
The greater injustice, he argues, is visible during parliamentary broadcasts. "The real injustice comes into play when we see vision from Parliament House and it shows many, many empty chairs," Stevenson wrote. This suggests politicians can claim the allowance without actively participating in sittings.
He pointed to official figures showing a One Nation politician was present for only 53% of sitting days in 2025, suggesting the issue likely spans across all parties. "Surely, this would not pass the pub test?" he concluded.
Newcastle's CBD Strategy Labelled a Failure
Peter Sansom from Kahibah delivered a scathing assessment of Newcastle's city centre renewal after a recent visit. He observed that while areas like Honeysuckle and the foreshore were busy, Hunter Street remained largely devoid of people, leading him to declare the revitalisation plan a failure.
Sansom questioned a series of council decisions: closing the heavy rail line, forcing commuters onto buses and later light rail; stopping right-hand turns from Stewart Avenue; and removing numerous parking spaces. "How was this supposed to bring people back to the city?" he asked.
The letter-writer referenced local rumours that the light rail was deliberately not placed in the existing rail corridor to justify the line's closure, and that the railway was shut prematurely to prevent high patronage. "If they are true, it may go some way to explain why these decisions were made," Sansom stated. "In any case, the revitalisation strategy didn't work."
Festival Controversy Sparks Debate on Censorship
Garry P Dalrymple of Earlwood weighed in on a controversy surrounding a writer's festival, where an author was reportedly dropped over fears her views were too contentious, prompting a walkout by other writers.
Dalrymple noted the irony that cancelling the writer had sparked more discussion about her opinions than if she had appeared. He suggested her supporters hire a separate venue nearby to host her, which would be "a bit more productive" than other authors withdrawing.
He also critiqued the festival circuit broadly, arguing it often features established local authors and opinionated international writers over emerging local talent. "And what is it about featuring writers with less imagination than an Aldi catalogue?" he quipped, taking a swipe at sports writers and former public figures promoting autobiographies.
Other letters published on January 13, 2026, included:
- Bondi Royal Commission: John Cooper of Charlestown criticised Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for initially resisting a royal commission into the Bondi massacre, claiming his "lost moral compass has been found."
- Population Growth: Don Owers of Whitebridge argued Australia's population growth rate of 1.8% per year is unsustainable and a key driver of the housing crisis.
- Affordable Housing: Christine Everingham of Newcastle East questioned a councilor's push for affordable housing, citing the council's failure to restore green space lost to the Supercars event.
- Consumer Gripe: Garry Robinson of Manning Point lamented the shrinking thickness of toilet paper, joking about "paying more for less."
The Newcastle Herald continues to publish reader letters at letters@newcastleherald.com.au or via text to 0427 154 176.
