Rules of law dictates that no-one is above it

While women (and I will be one of them) are demonstrating outside Parliament House on March 15 I am hoping that the women who work inside Parliament House go on strike for the duration of the March4Justice protest. That would send a real message to the PM and his mates. – Heather Forbes, Erskineville

Why would any sensible woman want to become a member of parliament? They should leave the ‘swinging dicks’ to themselves and get on with their lives. Look at how many in the Coalition treated our first female prime minister: the dreadful hounding, humiliating of her by Tony Abbott with sexist signs will be forever remembered. If Julie Bishop couldn’t make it to the top, then what hope is there for other intelligent, hard working women in this misogynist government. – Eira Battaglia, Seaforth

Change to assault culture urgently needed

Julia Baird suggests one in 10 women report being sexually assaulted, with a 7 per cent conviction rate, but 90 per cent of women who have been raped choose to remain silent (“Too many of us think women lie about rape”, March 6). Chanel Contos has already been overwhelmed with a list of 5000 sexual assault victims. One can only imagine the real depth of this problem and how detrimental it is not just to those who have suffered, but society as a whole. I am so grateful to these brave women who are prepared to share their harrowing experiences to try to evoke a change so desperately and urgently needed. – Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick

Thanks to Julia Baird for her crystal-clear analysis and sharp reminder of our entrenched bigotry, sexism and double-standards, built around decades and centuries of white male privilege and unaccountability, enabling discrimination, violence and crimes. Thank goodness for all the smart, brave and outspoken women like you out there, taking flak all their lives and finally creating and experiencing the wave of support, change and justice women so rightly deserve. – Ulf Steinvorth, Dunoon

Kings’ headmaster Tony George appears to place the blame on the cause of sexual assault firmly on porn and parties (“Plea to girls: report assaults”, March 6-7). Whilst I agree these are not positive influences, where is the expectation of personal responsibility? I am a mother of two teenage sons at another all-boys private school in Sydney and I fully expect them to know right from wrong, regardless of the environment they find themselves in. As for the inference that if politicians and footballers can’t recall what consent means when they have been drinking alcohol, how can we expect teenage boys to? – Amanda Smythe, Naremburn

After reading the testimonies on Chanel Contos’ petition, I am too horrified to remain silent. What is glaringly obvious is that the majority of the deplorable acts occurred while, as the young women stated, they were “drunk”. Young women, for heaven’s sake! Stand up for yourselves and say no to that drink/drug that renders you helpless and robs you of your dignity, of your right to make your own decisions. – Susan Newman, Mona Vale

In all the current valid concerns about consent and respect regarding issues of sexual assault, I hear little advice to young people about the possible consequences of becoming absolutely “legless” drunk and incapable of any sort of control of a situation. It deserves a mention. – Marie Duffy, Waverton

What a stark contrast between our LGBTIQ community celebrating their annual Mardi Gras with joy and overt sexuality, and the miserable stories of numerous politicians and teenage boys imposing themselves and their warped views of sexuality upon young women in private. What is the opposite of a rainbow flag? – Eva Elbourne, Pennant Hills

Why should young women shut their laptops? (“#MeToo and the Law: Bridging the Gap”, March 6). Hasn’t the use of social media finally given countless sexual assault victims a voice and opened the debate? Contrary to Rachel Doyle’s words targeting the “millennials” approach to change, as someone over 50, I say keep your laptops open, whatever your age. – Louise Ross, Newtown

Vaccinate sicker nations first

I agree with Italy and France’s blocking of Australian vaccine supplies (“Italy and France threaten more vaccine bans following Australia blockade”, March 6-7). At the moment, the greater risk of death and sickness from COVID-19 lies in the northern hemisphere. The sooner these countries get vaccinated, the sooner borders and the global economy can rebound and the whole world benefits. – Daniela Catalano, Haberfield

While Italy has over 300 COVID-19 deaths a day and Australia has none, it is extremely selfish for us to demand what is, in effect, only one and a half days’ production of the vaccines. Even as a 79- year-old, I am quite happy to wait an extra day and a half to get my jab. – Winston Etingoff-Lourie, Murwillumbah

While I agree that there are some countries that need access to vaccines more than us right now, it is not Italy or the EU, who are in their situation because of their own incompetence (“Why it’s OK for Australia to miss out on vaccines for now”, March 6-7). – Michele Sharp, Queens Park

Perrottet pirouettes away

It was astounding to read Adele Ferguson’s article about the current unsatisfactory situation with icare and its continued failure to implement an effective remediation program for its underpayment of deserved compensation (“Injured workers left high and dry by icare”, March 6-7). NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet – whose baby icare was – has carefully slithered out of public view and
still seems to be missing in action. This is yet another example of why the general public has such low trust in politicians and their refusal to accept any accountability. Surely the day of reckoning must be approaching: time to hold them all to account at the ballot box. – Jan Kent, Farmborough Heights

Fix leaks to fund aged care

As a 77-year-old, I am very concerned about the disgraceful findings regarding aged care (“Does the government have what it takes to fix aged care”, March 6-7). I am seriously worried about the lack of debate and the nonchalant way some members of the government, including the Prime Minister, regard this subject (note his overbearing treatment of the ABC’s Anne Connolly who asked very reasonable questions regarding the Aged Care report, which journalists had very little time to read.) We do not need a levy or extra tax – the government needs to reset its priorities. A few simple examples: our war memorial is already more than adequate; our defence expenditure borders on obscene; and a ridiculous amount is spent on outside consultants and endless reports, advertising, political rorts. The list is endless. – Jens Skovgaard, Lucknow

Our government’s care for the elderly is evident by the $550 million spent each year on retired politicians’ pensions, perks and privileges. And some of these retired “politician pensioners” are only in their 50s and many have a big income off a second executive job. – Paul Brennan, Woollahra

Wilson’s folly

Amid speculation that interest rates may tighten and as Treasury pressures banks to lift credit standards, Tim Wilson, chair of the “influential House economics committee” seems wholly out of step, spruiking the release of super contributions for home buyers (“Super funds under pressure to reveal real estate assets in housing stoush”, March 6-7). Downsides to his simplistic nonsense include fuelling already stratospheric home prices, bolstering increasingly disproportionate home loan debt, diverting national savings into non-income-generating assets and leaving many still scrambling to provide for self-funded retirement. Mr Wilson’s clout would be better directed to debating the tax-free status of the home market, which, even if electorally unpopular, would illuminate the root cause for the long term rather than perpetuating unaffordable, tax-free, zillion dollar houses. – Russell Murphy, Bayview

For anyone to retire comfortably, ownership of a house and a large superannuation balance is required to provide adequate income drawdowns. Those on low salaries will never achieve this and releasing superannuation will only make matters worse. Superannuation requires regular contributions and allowing the compound effect to grow the balance. If politicians are sincere in supporting the public, they need to ensure everyone has secure well-paid full-time employment. There are too many tax loopholes for the very wealthy to avoid paying their share: negative gearing, capital gains discounts, payment by way of shares in lieu of cash. There is definitely a time for a change to fairness. – Barry O’Connell, Old Toongabbie

Look to Britain on climate

As the host of this year’s G7 and the COP26 UN Climate Summit, Britain is within its right to push for more action from the Australian government on climate change (“Britain tells Kean Australia should improve climate goals”, March 5). Britain also legislated a target of net zero emissions by 2050. Funnily enough, strong climate policy has not sent a “wrecking ball” through its economy but rather, it has improved competitiveness and encouraged greater innovation and efficiency. Methinks there are lessons to be learnt if we are prepared to listen. – Emilie Nuck, Wagga Wagga

For someone over the age of 50, as both our Prime Minister and our Emissions Reduction Minister are, the most devastating effects of climate change belong to a theoretical future they will never have to see. For the teenagers taking their case to the courts, this future is the one they will have to live through (“The teens’ gambit: taking on old king coal”, March 6-7). We are now seeing, through the repeated misogyny and cover-ups, how a culture of self-interest and a lack of empathy have come to define the Canberra bubble. On the issue of climate change, it is manifested as a disinterest in any ethical issue that will affect those too young to sit in Parliament or vote. – Emma Storey, Campsie

Class of 1980

Gus Plater (Letters, March 6-7), you are not alone in holding onto disturbing memories. Many first-year solicitors from 1980 will remember the story of the senior partner at a certain Sydney law firm greeting the new intake of solicitors (all boys, of course). The greeting consisted of “where did you go to school, and what does your father do?” . At the end of the line, the answer was “Sydney High – grocer” (or something similar). The response: “Oh dear, you must be the medallist.” – Helen Wright, Paddington

Pronounced bias

At least David Harvey was humiliated by only his father about pronunciation (Letters, March 6-7). I was informed by a QC in conference that “schedule” is pronounced “skedule”, to which I promptly replied: “They didn’t teach me that in shool.” At least he was amused. – Eva Elbourne, Pennant Hills

Tongue-tied

Mrs Kerfoops lived three doors down from us and used to polish her concreted backyard. She lived next door to the Rests (“Whatsit in cahoots with Mrs Kerfoops”, March 6-7). Many years later, I taught Mrs Rest’s grandson, only to realise that Rest was our typical abbreviation for European names we couldn’t get our tongue around. – Tony Butler, North Sydney