Coalition mess a mere sideshow compared to bigger issues

Look, I get it. Journalism is voyeurism, and it’s hard for political tragics to take their eyes off hapless politicians who are not in government (“Littleproud’s big gamble on Ley has backfired”, January 29). Let me save you some ink with some hard truths. There is no path for Pauline Hanson to become prime minister. Ever. And it doesn’t matter who is opposition leader or even if there is a coalition. The next election is in the bag for Labor, so isn’t it time to just leave the clowns to squabble among themselves? Instead, perhaps the media could concentrate on the issue closest to readers’ hearts: Australia’s relationship with the fractured United States. We know Anthony Albanese is punting on normal transmission resuming soon. But what if it doesn’t? What are plans B, C and D? What is the AUKUS tipping point? Is there a safe exit strategy? Are we witnessing civil war in the US? If so, how will we respond? And what pressure is being placed on our economy and relationships with other countries? We’re living in volatile times and can ill afford to be distracted by trivial bickering. Rob Mills, Riverview

Shaun Carney is right to say the Liberals’ and Nationals’ divisive sniping in the weeks after the Bondi massacre is a self-inflicted wound (“The problem at the heart of this Coalition shambles? These are not serious people”, January 29). But it has, I’m afraid, done more than damage one political party. In recent weeks, a surprisingly large number of my friends and acquaintances have told me they are no longer following the news. Instead, they are turning to network streaming services, watching anything to avoid another screeching politician spewing hate. Unfortunately, turning away from bad political behaviour may give short-term comfort, but I don’t know that mass disengagement is in the country’s long-term interests. Joanna Mendelssohn, Dulwich Hill

David Littleproud has the politician’s enviable skill of being to be able to talk under wet cement. After watching him at the National Press Club last year, I confess I was impressed as he banged on for a solid 40 minutes without notes. But by the end of it, together with an additional 20 minutes of free-flowing Q&A, I realised I was none the wiser as to what he stood for. Was he leading a farmers party? A mining party? An anti-urban party? An anti-environment party? A anti-Liberal party? A anti-woke party? Who is this bloke, and what does he and the mob he leads stand for? You can talk all you like and it might sound impressive, but unless it tells a cogent story, you may as well be chatting to yourself in the bathroom mirror. Bill Young, Killcare Heights

Could the federal government please place advertisements and make announcements to clarify that Scotty “from marketing” Morrison , Tony “the suppository of all wisdom” Abbott, and John “children overboard” Howard do not speak for the Australian government, the Australian people, their old political party or their old electorates. They are simply individual citizens, expressing their private opinions, which are as fixed and stale as when they were rejected by the voters of Australia. Their comments and lectures are unhelpful, outdated, often inflammatory, divisive and factually incorrect. Abbott’s 2017 lecture explaining how higher temperatures due to global warming would reduce the number of elderly people dying in winter is a prime example. Why are their private ramblings so often reported? Can we please stop promoting their need for self-relevance? Alan Marel, North Curl Curl

Morrison tongues-tied

Are there nationally consistent standards and a disciplinary authority for the governing councils of non-mainstream pentecostal churches such as the Horizon Church, which former PM Scott Morrison attends, as well as a recognised accreditation framework for their pastors? In calling for regulation for Islamic churches (“Muslim leaders slam Morrisoin as ‘reckless, irresponsible’ after Islam speech”, January 28), Morrison has also called for the translation of imams’ sermons into English. Aside from the complexities of translation involving theological exegesis, which over centuries has led to multiple interpretations of sacred texts and teachings and therefore schisms, this smacks of paternalism and erasure. One of Horizon Church’s practices is glossolalia (speaking in tongues): could this possibly be translated into English? Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park

New blue

I agree that we could use a new flag (Letters, January 29). Years ago, a flag design competition was held which produced a version with a gorgeous royal blue background, the southern cross and the federation star. Unfortunately, it was never taken up. As for the national anthem, I’m fine with the first verse but often wonder whether members of the Coalition, One Nation and other anti-immigration politicians ever sing the line in the second verse: “For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless plains to share.” If they do, all I can say is they are hypocrites. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

At a cricket match between England and Australia a while back, I noticed that an otherwise vociferous crowd of Aussie male supporters had fallen silent. Not because of the cricket – one of their number was tearing the Union Jack out of the corner of a giant Australian flag with his teeth. Once his job was complete, the newly chewed flag was waved energetically at every Aussie achievement on the field thereafter, to ear-shattering cheers from all around. Megan Brock, Croydon

Adrian Connelly, I don’t know what an 18th-century minuet sounds like (Letters, January 29), but not only does the current anthem sound like a funeral dirge, its lyrics are positively archaic. Who still uses the word “girt” in this day and age? C’mon, Aussie: we are Australian. Dave Horsfall, North Gosford

Apartment apartheid

Megan Gorrey’s article on “apartment apartheid” highlights a missed opportunity for building social cohesion and enabling diversity at a time where unity is in short supply (“‘Apartment apartheid’: Is Sydney ready for ‘poor doors’?” January 29). People of all backgrounds deserve dignity, and a front door that quite literally separates residents from one another works against this goal. These arrangements don’t build stronger communities, they undermine them. Affordable housing like this example is designed to support the key workers – the nurses, the teachers, the emergency service staff that we as a society need in every community. If we are serious about inclusion, mixed-tenure developments must be genuinely mixed, not divided by a door saying “no entry”. Rob Stokes, Anglicare Sydney and former NSW Planning Minister

What a shame it would be if the very well-off had to rub shoulders with all those people who make their wealth and wellbeing possible. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

Inconveniently cheaper

The article detailing the rise in use of renewable energy (“Record rise in renewables send power prices tumbling”, January 29) and its ability to lower wholesale (and we hope, retail) prices is yet another inconvenient truth for the Nationals, One Nation and the usual lovers of coal. Such a transition was never going to be easy, quick or cheap, but it is happening. It would be a revelation if those noted above just got over their obsessions and inability to accept change and did some constructive thinking that does not include constructing nuclear power plants. Tony Sullivan, Islington

Double-edged sword

Phil Rodwell and others blame the introduction of television and the internet for the loss of what they call “Australian culture” (Letters, January 29). But TV and the internet, despite their undoubted faults, have allowed us to shine culturally. Before the 1960s, there was a culture, but a fledgling one. Australia was rebuilding after a gruelling war. Most Australians were concerned with establishing families and finding jobs. We had some parochial poets and authors such as Banjo Patterson, Dorothea Mackellar, Aeneas Gunn, Henry Lawson and C. J. Dennis. The great soprano, Nellie Melba, loaned her name to a weird dessert, but we had no notably unique cuisine. Our few movies featured rough-voiced actors like Chips Rafferty. A small university system had evolved. Patrick White published Voss in 1957. Arguably, it was only after television provided a platform by which ordinary Aussies could see what existed in other places that our now truly international cultural identity could form. TV allowed Australian performers opportunities to show and develop their talents and the internet allowed a means by which we could make other nations aware of our still-growing culture. Brian O’Donnell, Burradoo

Pitched battles

Geoff Goodfellow’s memory of traditional hatreds spilling onto the soccer pitch during the 1970s is spot-on (Letters, January 29). My mate Graham and I would often attend the games at Woonona Park to watch Wollongong United take on the Sydney sides, but we always made sure to leave 10 minutes before full-time, after which the pitch would frequently become a boxing ring and even a battleground. Trevor Wootten, Petersham

Lesson in values

While it is undoubtedly a step forward for Newington to welcome girls to their student ranks (“After the culture wars, Ruby and 51 other girls start at Newington”, January 28), the irony of looking for a private school that “focused on service and building good humans” leapt out at me. Families spend a small fortune, which could be used in the service of others, to ensure that their children have a superior experience to the children of the less financially fortunate, and hope that the experience of corralling them into an elite system will turn them into better human beings. It’s a bit like valuing healthy eating but wanting to get there by taking vitamins instead of eating vegetables. Good human beings are more effectively made by teaching them the value of equality and inclusivity, not elitism and privilege. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point

Reading about Newington College’s first intake of girls filled me with pleasure and pride. As an ex-teacher at the college, I congratulate the council and headmaster Michael Parker on their vision. Co-educational institutions help create gender equality and encourage mutual respect between males and females, which will lead to less of the ugly misogyny that we sadly see in society today. Congratulations. Michael Davis, Balmain East

I read Christopher Harris’ article about the parents who found a co-ed private school so that their daughter could attend with her brother. Like these children, my granddaughter starts in year 7 with her brother, who is in year 9. Their school provides the same outcome with its high academic standard and focus on service and producing “good humans”. Thankfully their parents, who have limited income, still have the option of a good-quality public education for their children. John Cotterill, Kingsford

Thirsty data centres

It must be remembered that a data centre is a state significant development, so don’t think you will have much input should one be built near you, as approvals bypass council altogether (“Data centres are popping up all over Sydney. But what impact do they have on our suburbs?” January 29). They are enormous buildings that displace local businesses and hundreds of employees, who must find other premises. Once built, they require few people to run but are a massive impost to local water and electricity needs. I live near one that now requires more water, and so our local roads have been blocked by construction for more than 18 months as hundreds of metres of water pipes are improved – not to my home, but to the centre. I’m sure it’s profitable for someone, however, don’t expect them to add anything to your community. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Trump’s smoke and mirrors

Does this strike you as yet another distraction by the US president (“Trump says massive US armada is ready to strike Iran”, January 29)? A distraction from the killings in Minneapolis, and the reaction to them? A distraction from the activities of ICE and CBP generally? A distraction from the tariffs and how the Supreme Court might view them? A distraction from the disintegration of NATO and the rupture of relationships with other allies? A distraction from the failure to release most of the Epstein files as required by law? A distraction from the testimony of Jack Smith, which has been hidden and little reported on? A distraction from what has happened to Maduro and what is happening in Venezuela? The list is endless. If something you do isn’t popular, try to get attention with something that is. David Rush, Lawson

Childless generation

Millie Muroi admits that it’s easier to import people than produce them as babies here (“Immigration’s a fix, not a panacea”, January 28), so when she mentions the growing pool of grandparents, perhaps she means the growing pool of old people – those old people who are not grandparents because they are the parents of non-home owners, who can’t afford to have children. Stephen Westgarth, Darlington

Don’t rely on AI

I would be interested to know how your correspondent K. John Hughes’ AI review process would assess any inconsistencies or errors in the police records and statements fed into it (Letters, January 29). A robo-debt approach to managing domestic violence and risk assessment is not a solution. Judith Fleming, Sawtell

Rambling on

England in spring? Oh yes, I’m with Anglophile Martin Player, not Julie Robinson (Letters, January 29). Some years back on April 1, I set off with some mates on the coast-to-coast walk across England. Over the next 12 days we experienced snow, wind, hail, fog, rain and sunshine while hiking through magnificent scenery and quaint villages. Beds, breakfasts, dinners, ales and wines in atmospheric pubs in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Moors. You don’t need a UK passport, just a couple of walking poles and sense of adventure. Robert Hickey, Green Point

I will see Julie Robinson’s “bog hole of a country” and raise her Paul Keating’s description of Australia – “the arse-end of the world”. John Christie, Oatley

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