Removing Butler as Labor’s climate change shadow minister will not help Albanese become PM. It’s the policy that is the problem, not the spokesperson. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
Illustration: Matt GoldingCredit:
Fitzgibbon, afraid of losing his seat, has pushed for returning coal mining to prominence at a time when customers for coal are falling away and investors are turning their backs on coal mining. Labor is in danger of opposing the mood of the electorate in favour of some members in the party. An innovative government could replace the presence of this dying industry, not with coal seam gas but with plants in the affected towns producing renewables for use here and overseas, retraining the local miners to operate them, thus allowing these coal towns to flourish. Penny Rosier, North Epping
This nation’s greatest wealth is not what is taken from beneath our feet but what is found in the innovative minds of our academics and entrepreneurs. Supporting sustainable research and development, corporate endeavours and retiring carbon based energy would put us in the world’s limelight. Steve Dillon, Thirroul
Congratulations to those who voiced displeasure
Many years ago, I received an OBE after having been a well-known singer both here and in England (Letters, January 28). When I told my mother about the honour being awarded to me she said, “Good heavens. Whatever for?” She was right. I loved singing, it was a joy to sing, a gift, and not really an achievement. However, I accepted with pleasure.
Sometime later, I was given an AM. I never felt it was quite right as I read the names of others who had been awarded. There were several times when I said I should give mine back, but I never did because it was too much trouble. Of course, I should have registered my displeasure at the way these decorations were awarded. My congratulations to all the people who have taken the trouble. I will be 90 this year. And I still can’t be bothered. But my most treasured honour is my honorary doctorate of music from Sydney University. Lauris Elms, Newington
The whole Australian award system is a tokenistic, archaic ritual not differing much from Tony Abbott’s farcical knighthoods, or from school award nights. Australia Day winners have already been frequently publicly acknowledged and many paid handsomely for displaying their talents and they really need no further recognition of their luck in inheriting a set of great genes. Trevor Somerville, Illawong
Your correspondent nominates January 1 because the former Australian colonies federated on that day: “we united as one”. In other words, “we” means those who forcibly occupied the land. The Indigenous people were not recognised for several decades – so January 1 is hardly unifying. Besides, it’s already a public holiday. David Gordon, Cranebrook
By making it January 1 many people will miss it completely, and with it the division and angst this national anniversary is generating. John Kingsmill, Fairlight
Your correspondent says “mistakes have been made in the last 233 years”. Indigenous people were pushed off their land, massacred, raped and had their children stolen. They now face significantly shorter life expectancy, greater incarceration rates and poorer education outcomes. The word “mistakes” hardly covers it. Judy Copeland, Willoughby
The trouble with Wattle Day becoming our national day, should it be adopted, is we will spend the next 200 years arguing over whether it should be August 1 or September 1. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell
And still the submissions come rolling in. I’ve probably read them all, if not this year, last year or the year before. Here’s a suggestion: why not change it to February 29 so that we have this same discussion just once in four years rather than every year. Peter Bridgwood, Leichhardt
Jobs lost but ProfitKeepers doing well
Just like the “system errors” which caused many employers to “accidentally” underpay their workers, a number of wealthy companies have manipulated the JobKeeper scheme to boost their profits and even pay huge bonuses to chief executives (“Shame on firms using JobKeeper to pay bonuses”, January 28).
As is so often the case, these rorters claim they have “complied with the rules”. True integrity means doing the right thing even if no-one is watching. These companies have again undermined the great Australian belief (myth?) in a “fair go”. Rob Phillips, North Epping
I am noting the firms returning payment and will choose to purchase their products over those profiting from JobKeeper. Marguerite Sander, Normanhurst
Master race baiters
The photo of neo-Nazis illustrates perfectly why, since the Cronulla riots, I have refused to display our current flag (“Neo-Nazis’ Australia Day rampage stuns town”, January 28). It has been appropriated as a symbol of faux patriotism by thugs, racists and bigots. A new flag with a strong Aboriginal theme would appeal to me as it would be unacceptable to these racist losers. Steve Bright, North Avoca
It is good to know Australia’s intelligence agency ASIO is now directing 40 per cent of its resources towards right-wing extremist groups. That is as it should be, even if it’s done belatedly. Better late than not doing what needs to be done – that’s the mistake America made and the white supremacists raised their ugly heads to threaten America’s democracy on January 6. We don’t want that to happen in our great country. Rajend Naidu, Glenfield
So this group, having a little sing-a-long while camping in the Grampians, reckon they’re the master race? Martin Lewis, Baulkham Hills
The neo-Nazis gathering at Halls Gap are such brave fellows. Aggressively roaming around town scaring the locals and tourists alike, but not courageous enough to show their faces in a group photo full of Nazi salutes and swastikas. Typical bully boys. Tim Overland, Castle Hill
Can’t mask incredulity
Why on earth has the NSW government relaxed the rules on mask wearing in shopping centres because of an apparent drop in COVID cases (“Masks off in shops, but pubs, eateries under wraps”, January 28)? Close contact in a crowded supermarket would surely be the ideal location for the spread of an aerosol-borne virus.
The fact that there has been large compliance among the public in the last month to wearing face masks in public suggests that many can see the logic of this inexpensive, commonsense measure to help combat the virus.
We are now once again, much more reliant on the “after the event” approach of contract tracing, periodic lockdowns and purported vaccines which may or may not protect or even reach our shores. Angela Thompson, Waverley
Taught wallets
There is no guarantee that a child will receive an adequate education at a private school (“‘Scary’ costs of a private education revealed”, January 28). Parents and caregivers need to realise a holistic approach is necessary for a child’s development. It is not enough to drive away from the student drop-off and think your job is done. Jenny Stephenson, Wollongong
News of the world
Google and Facebook dumb down the news and reduce the number of opinions and ideas to which people are exposed (“Businesses would survive if Google cut off search: experts”, January 28). This is unhealthy in a democracy.
We need to encourage news services and professional journalists by paying them properly. A sovereign democratic nation like Australia should not kowtow to the digital gurus in Silicon Valley. But Australia cannot go it alone in confronting Google. We need a significant number of other nations of the world to join us. Otherwise, Australia will end up with a lame deal with Google. Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Keel of fortune
The only way this myopic state government will save the Manly ferries is by privatising them and selling them off to a political donor/mate to be re-fitted as coal-burning floating casinos (“Sydney’s ferrytale need not end”, January 28). Philip Bell, Bronte
Low-life government
Now that major differences in life expectancy have been exposed across Greater Sydney, will we take reducing inequality seriously (“A shame on our city: Sydney’s growing longevity gap”, January 27)? Nineteen years less life for Bidwill residents compared to those in Cherrybrook is an appalling outcome. Governments know that wealth inequality in Australia is dramatic and COVID impacts will have stoked income inequality. To now see evidence of people now living considerably fewer years through the combined impacts of avoidable social and economic policies is inexcusable. Gary Moore, Blackheath
History repeats
Your correspondent has the wrong end of the stick (Letters, January 28). Those who support the cancel culture do so because they remember history and want to stop the normalisation of racism, discrimination and bigotry under the guise of free speech from leading us down the same path as led to the Holocaust. Graeme Finn, St Peters
Early words
One of the more amusing openings came from Bill Bryson’s The Lost Continent: “I come from Des Moines. Somebody had to” (Letters, January 28). Ron Sinclair, Bathurst
“Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was 18, she was 16, and I was three”: Lady sings the blues by Billie Holiday with William Dufty. John Buchanan, Belrose
Pub special
Great idea, Mia David, to be vaccinated in a stress-free environment (Letters, January 28). I nominate that other place of worship, my local pub, with a foaming glass of cold ale ready to ease any apprehension. Robert Hickey, Green Point
Roast mortem
A word of caution to those writing of death and its euphemisms: have you considered the effect of your writings on that young group who haven’t yet read the fine print where it says that no one gets out of the game alive (Letters, January 28)? Bob Macfarlane, Mirrabooka
When I hear that a family has lost someone, I’m really tempted to say how careless they were. Margaret Grove, Abbotsford
A more pleasant-sounding demise could be Hamlet’s “when we have shuffled off this mortal coil”. Jack Munro, Concord West
I want to “pass away”. One insurance company in their TV ad promises my family “up to $1 million” if I do. Garrett Naumann, Cammeray
How many of us will simply kick the bucket? Phil Moffat, Allawah
I’m not planning anything too dramatic. I’ll probably just drop off the twig. Terry McGee, Malua Bay
Unlike others, I don’t intend to pass peacefully. Rather, I imagine being dragged kicking and screaming down the primrose path to eternal damnation. Terry O’Brien, Mollymook Beach
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Albanese drops Butler from climate in reshuffle restart on emissions
From Lynette Chamas: ″After a lifetime of voting Labor, I’m out. With the right-wing of the party now in charge of climate change – and a lack of action on it – there’s no difference between them and the coal-hugging Morrison. If I wanted to vote for a party living in the past I’d vote Liberal, but since I have grandkids and fear for their future, I’ll go Green. Labor has just rendered itself irrelevant. What a shame. And what a left-down.″
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