Letters to the Editor: 5 August 2021 Transport plan needs bold, futuristic vision

Mandurah needs a comprehensive and future proof transport plan. There are many options available in the 21st century. Mandurah is currently a car-reliant city. The time is right to consider futuristic transport options for Mandurah. The City of Stirling is conducting a federally-funded feasibility study for a trackless tram from the train station to Scarborough beach. Imagine a simple efficient tram system acting as an extension of the train line down to Falcon. Or a loop service connecting the foreshore, forum and train station. It would be nice to have a system that services Mandurah, rather than just providing transport to and from Perth. These concepts may be futuristic, but plans should be made now. More traffic lights is not a transport plan.

I wrote Minister Templeman a letter regarding The Perth Theatre Trust's discriminatory policy towards Taiwanese and Tibetans.

Their policy states that they 'reserve the right to refuse permission to people from disputed countries.' This was written in the policy after the Chinese consulate complained when a Taiwanese group used the theatre and flew the Taiwanese flag.

I made my displeasure known to Minister Templeman that in a free country they were writing the draconian one China policy into who can use their theatre. There is a community of Tibetans in Rockingham and there are Taiwanese in Perth and they have every right to use the theatre for performances without being judged for flying their flag.

PTT is trying to please the Chinese Communist Party and there is no place for this in a liberal democratic nation. Minister Templeman responded to my email but did not address the issue that I brought up. Instead, it was a generic email saying they were reviewing the policy. Not only did he fail to address the issue that I raised but he all CC'd his reply to the 500 recipients who wrote to his office complaining about discrimination towards the ACL and the Taiwanese group. This constitutes a major security breach. I hope going forth that Templeman realises that the PTT is not the property of the Chinese Communist Party but is for the people of WA. We have Taiwanese and Tibetans here who should not be treated as second class residents.

This was an unintentional administrative error and all correspondents will receive an apology.

A review of procedures will also take place to ensure stronger privacy protections in future.