In the space of a mere few days he has been assailed by enemies, not least of whom his gutless National partners, who for crass political motives, were like Sampson, prepared to self destruct.   

Labor's Foley, understandably opportunistic, supported dissenters, merely on the coward's premise, my enemy's enemy is my friend!   

It certainly was not exemplary moral rectitude!

The ABC exposed cruelty in the greyhound industry, convincingly confirmed by Baird's enquiry, conducted by Justice Michael McHugh.   

The commission of inquiry revealed that 68,000 greyhounds had been euthanised in 12 years, presumably under-reported.   

It also left no doubt that widespread cruelty, to many species, in the process of "blooding" greyhounds, was de rigour in the industry, rather than, as vested interests suggested, confined to the usual "few rotten apples".     

Adherents of greyhounds oriented their PR to plead it was a "poor man's sport", so banning it was a blow to the working man!   

This was a mendacious argument, but the immediacy of substantial fighting funds called into question how "ordinary" people might have such deep pockets!    

Why highly remunerated, eminent "shock-jocks" might embroil themselves in the argument, when they might well have remained aloof, is also a source of concern.     

The ballot box has been traduced, electors sidelined.   

Nationals have conspired to perpetuate cruelty.   

Baird's escutcheon is, irreparably, dented.   

The industry's reputation is in tatters and greyhound cruelty will, shamefully, continue unabated.  

Albert M. White, Queanbeyan

On Tuesday, 11 October, thousands of people across the country generously threw their support behind the inaugural headspace day.

This national day is to ensure that every young person has access to youth friendly mental health services, no matter where they live.

headspace day celebrated 10 years of innovation in youth mental health and was also triggered by alarming new research from Orygen and headspace that revealed over 50 per cent of young people were waiting six or more months before seeking help for mental health issues.

This period of waiting and worrying can have detrimental effects. From social isolation to relationship breakdowns, drug and alcohol abuse and in severe cases, incidents of self-harm or suicide.

The research also uncovered that close to 50 per cent of young people said financial cost was a barrier in preventing them from getting treatment.  Nearly half said they believed they could not be helped and more than 50 per cent said they were afraid of what others would think.  We need to change these perceptions.

Every year, a quarter of all young people in this country will experience mental health issues and we want them all to know headspace is here to help.

With 95 centres across Australia, integrated with a phone and online chat service eheadspace, over thepast decade headspace has enabled over 270,000 young people to access mental health care. We will soon expand to 110 headspace centres thanks to the Government’s election commitment and a ringing endorsement of headspace as its model for youth mental health care for the future. 

headspace has made outstanding progress over the past ten years but we still have a way to go. Access is crucial and help seeking is the first step that every young person must make and we need to continueto provide effective and easy pathways to make sure this can happen for everyone. We want to see every Australian community with a headspace centre. 

If you who would like to support headspace visit headspaceday.org.au to see how you and your local community can get involved or give a donation to support young people in need.

And finally thanks to everyone who took part in the first headspace day, we look forward to you all joining us again next year.

Professor Patrick McGorry AO, headspace founding board member