All work stops for two hours nationally and effectively for two days in Victoria – just to celebrate a cruel and violent event.

Ever since Archer became famous for winning the first Melbourne Cup while already injured, a race in which two other horses died, countless other horses have suffered catastrophic injuries on the racetrack after being whipped mercilessly and pushed past their limits. 

Last year, Red Cadeaux was killed after breaking a leg during the race.

Researchers at the University of Melbourne have discovered that half the racehorses they studied had blood in the windpipe, and nearly all of them had blood deeper in the lungs (close to 90 per cent). 

Apart from trauma to the respiratory system, most horses suffer from stomach ulcers. Studies both in Sydney and the US have discovered over 85 per cent had lesions in the stomach lining. 

Sick and injured horses may also be given steroids, which can mask pain or make a horse run faster.

Most broken-down horses don’t make headlines; they’re just quietly shipped interstate where they’re slaughtered for human consumption.

There’s nothing “sporting” about a pastime in which animals routinely suffer and die. It's time for the nation to stop the race that stops the nation.

ON JULY 8, I wrote to the Premier on the subject of the council amalgamations and the prospect of huge rate rises because of the forced amalgamation, contrary to assurances of no rate rises for four years given by the Premier.

Apparently, rate rises are still on the agenda.

Why has Baird gone back on his word to the people of NSW on no rate rises for four years after amalgamations?

No mention was made of this previously and it appears to be only recently concocted.

Baird has become infamous for his backflips lately and this appears to be yet another one of these ridiculous backflips. 

What a joke.

I READ just recently that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are massively over-represented in the criminal justice system. 

Aboriginal people represent only 3 per cent of the total population, yet more than 28 per cent of Australia’s prison population are Aboriginal. 

The juvenile justice system in the Northern Territory has also come under fire because of the way Aboriginal children are being treated. 

They make up 96 per cent of the juveniles that are incarcerated there. 

But why is this so?  

Most of these children come from homes where unemployment, drugs, alcohol and domestic violence is the norm.  

Drastic action is needed now otherwise these kids can only look forward to a very bleak future or, maybe, no future at all.

IN REGARDS to the Ford Motor Company closing car manufacturing in Australia this month, the cause as we all know is “globalisation”.

Free trade, too many cheap imports, low traffic on inputs etc.

They don’t want us to make anything anymore and export technology and transfer jobs off shore and import unemployment – Australia’s gone.