Hypocritical PM is making a mockery of due process

Let’s face it, few believe that the PM and A-G haven’t read, or don’t know the content of, the dossier relating to the alleged rape in 1988. Their lack of curiosity is implausible. – Bruce Guthrie, Cowra

Our Prime Minister refers to “the mob”. Does he not know that the mob he refers to are the people of Australia? It is we, the people of Australia, who employ him and his fellow parliamentarians. – Michelle McDonald, Lilyfield

Broken system is failing to deliver justice

Amanda Vanstone (“Political witch-hunt is not justice”, March 8) says the criminal justice system “is being destroyed”. She says it’s ironic that “people saying they want justice are, in fact, undermining the judicial system”. Rather, I’d say instead there is an irony in Vanstone’s acknowledgement that the system is in fact broken, when she noted that as a sexual assault victim “your past, your use of alcohol, drugs and psychiatrists are all paraded out in court.” Why should a victim’s past with regards to any of these have any relevance aside from on the dates of assault, where they may reflect a victim having a changed mental state to the point of an inability to consent. After all, as Vanstone would have us remember, “evidence, not opinion” is what enables the administration of justice. To Vanstone I say: We need to rebuild the system, not maintain a system that is failing its duty to administer true justice. – Amelia Pitney, Pymble

The rules Vanstone holds dear have been subjected to amendments to embrace changes in, amongst other things, societal conditions. The greatest of these is the emergence of women. Addressing the allegations of a now dead woman, Vanstone argues that, “we’ve come very close to treating allegations as facts, to allow managed public opinion to take the place of a fair trial in court … people saying they want justice are in fact undermining the judicial system.” Or, Ms Vanstone, are they are heralding a new era of law where the quiet voice is heard over the clamouring of a male-dominated legal system and Parliament? – Annette Johnson, Brighton Le Sands

I wonder whether Vanstone would be so vocal in defence if the Attorney-General was a Labor minister. The rest of us just want to be assured that Porter is fit to hold high office. – Susan Connelly, Lakemba

There is a “nasty smell of politics” surrounding the allegations against Porter and the proposed independent inquiry, but not quite as Vanstone means. Under the guise of defending justice and “a system of rules”, Vanstone, as usual, showcases her deep political bias by intimating that Porter’s accuser would have been an unreliable witness in court. To add to this hurtful, unpleasant tone, she further suggests that the woman in question may have committed suicide because “she just couldn’t face the rigours of a criminal trial”. Not only is a nasty smell apparent in Vanstone’s article, it also leaves one with very bad taste! – Ross A Butler, Rodd Point

Wow, Leunig (Letters, March 8)! That is a vitriolic and extreme reaction to the media finally giving some time and space to women’s and girls’ voices and experiences. I guess it is what we should expect from rocking the boat. Speak a little louder, sisters! – Fiona Cameron, Summer Hill

If the identity of the alleged rapist of the now deceased South Australian woman was Joe Blow from Bondi Junction, we would be none the wiser that this sad tale might have ever happened. Leunig and Vanstone are correct that this unprecedented news event is all about Christian Porter – and not the poor, unfortunate victim of an alleged crime, or justice for her. – Peter Bower, Naremburn

Like Susan Newman (Letters, March 8), I too am so horrified I must speak out. My horror, however, is directed at the attitudes espoused by Ms Newman; attitudes which perpetuate the myth that women must act as guardians to protect men from their sexual urges. Where is the plea to young men to “stand up for yourselves” and not drink to excess? Where is the exhortation that a woman, drunk or sober, should not be assaulted? Attitudes such as Ms Newman’s do nothing to help eradicate our society’s rape culture, which suggests that men are powerless against their own base inclinations. – Toni Fatherley, Taree

Susan Newman (Letters, March 8), surely the aim is that women have the same right as men to make bad decisions without being assaulted? – Phil Armour, Yass

Gamblers’ digital wallet an empty threat

The lobby group representing clubs and hotels is being disingenuous in its push for a digital wallet (“Clubs dig for digital wallet as dirty cash is exposed”, March 8), knowing full well that voluntary use of a digital wallet will address neither money laundering nor problem gambling. I think it’s a national disgrace, more so that NSW should be second only to Nevada as the state with the most poker machines in the world. – Jack Dikian, Mosman

The NSW Liquor & Gambling Authority’s central monitoring of the state’s poker machines has unsurprisingly revealed substantial amounts of suspicious criminal activity: aka money laundering. But what have the Coalition government, Labor and the liquor and gambling authority ever seriously done about these reports? Digital wallets? Seriously? With both major parties reliant on federal and/or state political donations from the powerful alcohol/gambling lobby and a well-worn revolving door between political/industry jobs, the spectre of regulatory capture and possible systemic corruption looms ominously upon the horizon. – Tony Brown, Newcastle

Build for all

Meriton’s development Pagewood Green envisages 4000 units, of which just 45 are dedicated to affordable housing (“Next-door council objects to impact of Triguboff towers”, March 8). Outrageous! Development approval should be dependent on any residential plan of more than 20 units allocating one in every 20 for social use. – Sarah Seldon, Northbridge

Status quo must go

Jan Kent opines (Letters, March 8) that the day of reckoning approaches “to hold them all to account at the ballot box”. If only that were true. The Liberal/National Coalition government has ascended to the summit of venality previously occupied by the former Labor government. At neither state nor federal levels are there any competent, or at least viable, alternatives. The Labor-Liberal/Coalition flip-flop is hopeless and no longer serves us well. Perhaps what is needed is a major recalibration of the whole process. New Zealand has shown that this is possible. – Graham Cochrane, Balmain

It’s a super rort

As correspondent Barry O’Connell points out; superannuation is a long-term plan (Letters, March 8). There is no instant gratification. I am sure that the wealthy politicians who are campaigning for workers to access their super savings now are au fait with all the tax deductibility advantages. These benefits are available to everyone in the know or who will be in a situation to have extra funds to utilise the benefit. Superannuation and all its perks definitely benefit those with money. – Bernadette Scadden, Earlwood

Very old school ties

Returning to the “Class of 1980” (Letters, March 8). When, in 1981, I arrived in Australia from Scotland to take up a post as a junior doctor in the then new Westmead Hospital, some of my Australian colleagues were particularly interested in where I lived, what sort of car I drove and where I had gone to school. I failed the first two questions; I lived in Parramatta and I drove a $1000 second-hand Valiant. On the subject of my education, however, I did somewhat better. I was able to tell them I went to Inverness Royal Academy (founded by royal charter in 1792). As far as my medical education was concerned, they learnt that I went to the University of Aberdeen, which had been teaching medicine since its foundation in 1494. We never discussed that again. – David MacKintosh, Berkeley Vale

Helen Wright (Letters, March 8), I remember before 1960 applying for a position as an articled clerk with a small city law firm. I, too, was asked “where did you go to school?” . I later found out the real reason for this question. If I went to a public school, it was a good bet I was not of a certain religious faith. I went to a public school and got the position. – Geoffrey Williamson, Woollahra

Wright’s story reminded me of my introduction to my chosen career. In 1971, at the Melbourne University School of Architecture, I was one of the 10 young women out of 100 freshers being welcomed into the course with a speech by the Dean. His advice for progressing through the profession? “Marry the boss’ daughter.” Almost needless to say that I eventually hit the glass ceiling. – Phyllis Agam, Vincentia

Back in the 1950’s, having left the great but now closed North Sydney Technical High School, all I wanted to be was a jackeroo. I door-knocked at all of the great traditional pastoral companies – Dalgety, AML & F, Winchombe Carson, Pitt Sons, Country Producers – and the first question I was asked at every interview was, “which school did you go to?“. My public school response resulted in a hasty exit and disillusionment as to why this precluded me from employment in my chosen career. By other means I went on to have a successful career in the wool industry. It is interesting to note that over the decades, all of those great pastoral company names have fallen by the wayside. – Tony Blake, Gunnedah

Gus Plater’s lament about the sole public school representative in a team of aspiring lawyers (Letters, March 6-7) caused me to reflect on the observation of a university vice-chancellor some 36 years ago: “The person on either side of you will not be here in three years.” Those words were truly prophetic and from observation, those two-thirds were overwhelmingly from private schools.
Sometimes, the universe demonstrates a little balance. – Wayne Eade, Mudgee

Pay gap nothing new

I am 84 years old and am shocked , but not surprised, to read that nothing has changed since I was a young high school teacher 60 years ago (“Pay equity ‘fatigue’ stalling pace of change”, March 8). I realised then that the young men, with whom I had studied and who had not received higher grades, were receiving considerably higher wages. Surely it is time for this to be addressed in all sectors. – Susie Klein, Bellevue Hill

Say what?

Regarding being corrected on pronunciation, many years ago a senior manager in the CBA put me right when I said that a person was being “obstropoulos”. (Wasn’t that Greek for angry? Apparently not.) He said “you mean obstreperous?“. I appreciated his correcting me for my ignorance. And have never forgotten it. – Stewart Copper, Maroubra

Losing streak

So far this year, an under-strength India beat us in the Test match series, New Zealand beat us in the netball and T20, and the Waratahs haven’t won a game. I can’t see any relief in the coming months as I follow Manly in the NRL. – John Truman, St Leonards

Write priority

International Women’s Day, and letters from women outnumber those from men by 23 to 7 (Letters, March 8). Is this a record? Also, 17 of the 30 are about men behaving badly. Is this also a record? I’m asking for a friend. – Steve Cornelius, Brookvale

Real data, fake news

I’m very disappointed by the latest COVID-19 vaccination data (“The first real-world data for COVID vaccines is in – and it’s really good news”, smh.com.au, March 7). It seems that in spite of what I read on Facebook, I won’t be transmuting into a lizard overlord after all. – Glenn Wood, Bardon (QLD)

The digital view

Online comment from the story that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
“Push for federal budget to have a female focus”
From Jamieson Lee: I’m university educated with two young kids (4 and 2). I’ve started my own business like a lot of women I know because it’s impossible to get a decent part-time job (paying more than $20 an hour) that fits in with family commitments. The system doesn’t support women so we are creating our own