There was a time when the parking bays at Wollongong TAFE were overflowing; now the empty bays are being leased out en masse.

This sends out a message to future job-seekers in the region that the State Government has scant empathy with their situation.

TAFE is only one of the government services being cut as pressure is directed everywhere to enable Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull to keep their jobs by balancing the obscene $50 Billion tax gift to business people with cuts to health, education, pensions, welfare and working conditions such as penalty rates and safety and the sale of assets owned by the people.

The minor parties -Xenophons and Hansonites  and others- that supported the first half of the Coalition program a month ago have exposed themselves to be no more than coalition members in disguise.

Now Morrison and Turnbull are challenging Labor and the Greens to try and unscramble this messy egg mix when the Federal Budget hits the floor in May.

At a meeting of retired workers in Port Kembla on April 4 the following inequities were pointed out:

Firstly, no business tax cuts should proceed until all the cuts to services mentioned above have been re-instated.

Secondly, no tax cuts should be allowed where the bulk of the profits from a company go to Wall St or any other entity overseas.

Thirdly, no tax cuts should be given to any company that operates with a tax haven like the notorious Cayman Islands operations.

Fourthly, no tax cuts should be allowed for companies whose principles engage in other tax-dodging schemes like family trusts, capital gains or negative gearing.

Fifthly, no business, large or small' should receive tax cuts while it refuses to pay penalty rates to its workers or engages in other campaigns that threaten the livelihood and safety of its employees.

For a closing point these double-dippers should be pursued with all the vigour recently enacted on young unemployed and pensioners.

Never mind unscrambling a bad egg!

Australia needs a brand new recipe that provides both a social and economic future for our youth - and that does not require the Coalition and their acolytes anywhere near the kitchen.

Wal Pritchard, Secretary, Maritime Union Veterans, Mount Kembla NSW

Has Rugby Union got a future.? In Australia, in NSW, or at home here in Wollongong? You have to wonder.

This week, a developmental  day camp for juniors was meant to be delivered here in the Illawarra.

The Waratahs web site promoted it as "a wonderful opportunity for the junior players to get some great coaching, but it’s also good for the Waratah players who deliver the programs."

Alas, It had to be cancelled due to lack of interest!

Rugby Union in this district is seriously ill.

The number of local teams have diminished over the years.

The district appears to be run by a bunch of well meaning but tired old fogeys who cannot even control their games effectively (e.g. The extra players fiasco in last years Grand Final), and the referees are mostly slow old gentlemen  struggling to keep pace with the game and unable to attract younger participants.

Is there any wonder there were not enough junior players interested in this camp. It does not bode well for this struggling code.

Micheal Traynor, Bellambi