Do we really need to add secrecy to Bondi attack trauma?

The Bondi Beach attack last December pierced Sydney’s Jewish community – and Australians around the country – to the heart (“‘Incubated in hatred’: Warnings, risks laid bare as Bondi royal commission zeroes in on security flaws”, smh.com.au, April 30). The call for a royal commission was urgent and necessary. The release of the commissioner’s interim report, and the recommendations it contains, is welcome, but I question why five recommendations must remain “confidential”. After what the victims and their community experienced, don’t they at least deserve truth, rather than hiding findings from them? If this is not possible, then clarity is needed as to why these five recommendations must remain confidential. The victims and survivors at least deserve that much.
Patrick McGrath, Potts Point

After the interim report into Bondi, Labor and the Coalition have lined up to either declare themselves exonerated, or the other guilty, in record time. Yet Virginia Bell seems to do neither, and instead turns the focus on the obvious failings by ASIO and NSW Police, and the state and federal government priorities that left the Hanukkah festival attendees so hopelessly vulnerable. An encouraging start to what will undoubtedly be a difficult inquiry.
Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

We shouldn’t have to wait for the final royal commission report for serious soul-searching over the rise of antisemitism in Australia. Even before ASIO’s increased alert, there were warning signals here. Australia isn’t isolated from worldwide trends, and in that context antisemitism is a very particular and historic scourge. But while the Jewish community here was being constantly triggered, the “Jewish lobby” was regularly demonised. Can we now accept that when any section of our community tells us repeatedly that they feel threatened, authorities should listen? Hopefully our security agencies have had their most sobering moment of reckoning and are galvanised into being more proactive. In the community at large, our courts have upheld the rights of pro-Palestine protesters; but blurring the line between the state of Israel and Jewish identity must be firmly disallowed. And the rest of us have to acknowledge social harmony is all our responsibility.
Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Letting the tax out of the bag

Waleed Aly has carefully layed out the reasons why a gas export tax is inevitable, but the tragedy is that our politicians have repeatedly botched the taxation of our resources ( “No gas tax for now, but it will happen”, May 1). At present, they claim we do not have sufficient revenue to support all of our policies, so we are having to curtail existing policies such as the NDIS. Former treasury boss Ken Henry has said that we could have had hundreds of billions of dollars of extra revenue if our resources had been properly taxed from the start of the mining boom. As with the inadequate taxation of our mineral resources, we are repeating this failure with the lack of will to tax our gas exports. As a result, Australia will never have a sovereign wealth fund like that of Norway to see us through when our natural resources have been expended.
Peter Nash, Fairlight

Waleed Aly reinforces the debate on what the Australian public is now open to regarding government policy. Politics is a funny business, and the party in power wants to stay there at all costs. Poor comments about the Albanese government’s successes and lack of boldness need to be seen against the backdrop of global catastrophes that have occurred over recent years. I am most impressed with him getting on a plane and going overseas to negotiate the fuel contracts and being successful. Fear of upsetting the voters is the driving force at the moment. If we, as a population, want this change, we need to tell our government representatives clearly that we support bold change. Introduce the gas tax and offer discounts to our trading partners for complementary trade exchange. To see how a country can deal successfully with resource ownership and management, look at Norway. A country successful in providing housing, education, health and other community services through effective resource management. It’s time for the Labor Party to be bold, and as with geese flying in formation, we all need to “honk” support for our leaders to follow through with what is good for all of us – not just our corporate giants.
Robert Mulas, Corlette

Like your correspondents, I lament that we have a Labor government with a super majority somehow unwilling to implement a tax on gas exports that would benefit Australian households. We’ve already missed out on an estimated $68 billion because the Albanese government declined to impose a 25 per cent tax on gas during the 2022 energy shock. Labor has a green light from voters to both enact this tax proposal and roll out the clean-energy and electrification solutions we so desperately need. With the opposition in the electoral wilderness, the government’s timidity is particularly galling. As commentators often note, one should never waste a good crisis. Policy and politics could be aligning right now.
Amy Hiller, Kew (Vic)

Medical fee stress

Doctors complaining that medical specialist fees don’t need regulating need a dose of reality (“Doctors accuse Butler of blame game over specialists”, May 1). I recently required some minor but necessary surgery. When I was quoted a $9000 fee by the specialist I saw, I decided to shop around. The next most expensive fee for the same procedure was $3000, while the surgeon I chose was one who required no fee above the Medicare rebate. Considering the fact that the first surgeon was a professor and the one chosen an equally qualified surgeon and professor, how could this disparity in fees possibly be justified?
Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills

As a senior citizen, I have had a number of operations over the past five years. I pay a Medicare levy of 2 per cent of my income. I also pay single private health insurance of $5208 a year, which increases by 4 per cent this month. Despite these contributions, all of my surgeries had substantial out-of-pocket expenses, with one requiring a further $17,000. Over the past 52 years, I have prioritised private health insurance ahead of other spending. Malcolm Fraser presided over the best health system. If you had private insurance, you were covered for 100 per cent of the cost. Medical care was free for those in need. With the government reducing the private health insurance rebate for the elderly, all that will do is transfer more people into the already strained public health system. Both specialists and the government share responsibility for today’s state of affairs.
Riley Brown, Bondi Beach

It tolls for thee

The gift of the gold bell given to Donald Trump by King Charles should have been accompanied by the words “ding a ling” (Letters, May 1).
Glenda Taylor, Stanwell Tops

Queen ’roos the day

Queen Camilla has delivered an object lesson in gift giving for us all (“Royal couple lay on charm in New York”, May 1). Her thoughtful gift of a reimagined Roo doll (once lost) to complete the original set of A. A. Milne Winnie the Pooh toys at the NYC Library, reminds us all that it is the thought that trumps the cost. A “class act”, with a little Aussie flavour.
Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Hanson flying high

Gina Rinehart’s gift of a plane to Pauline Hanson is accurately shown in Wilcox’s cartoon and letters (Letters, May 1). She thinks that “she has One Nation on a string”. Australians are too clever for that. They know it is just “Pie in the sky”. No policies for housing, economics leaves us holding a string of no hopes or dreams.
Bea Hodgson, Gerringong

Now it seems, just like the American Republican Party with high-profile donors, that One Nation has come up with its own high-profile donor in Gina Rinehart. It’s time to put a stop to such donations to political parties.
Rick Sharp, Belmont North

Model allies sit closer to home

Having watched Australians march alongside the US into a slew of fruitless wars, I’m happy to read that the government has so far resisted the sort of performative toadyism required to win Pete Hegseth’s new season of “America’s next top model ally” (“More to do for Australia to be ‘model ally’ for US”, May 1).
Colin Stokes, Camperdown

That the Iran-US conflict prompted Anthony Albanese’s recent dash to Asian neighbours to negotiate and secure fuel supplies says that Australia should, instead, focus on building closer ties with them. Trump’s MAGA aspiration is, seemingly, driven by Henry Kissinger’s practical mantra; America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.
Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

I can’t say that the US is a model ally for Australia either. It doesn’t seem to share our values any more and perhaps never did. Not to diminish the loss of American lives in the Pacific during WWII, but was Australia ever truly an ally, or was Australia a convenient staging point for the US to exact revenge on Japan for the humiliation of Pearl Harbour and the Philippines?
Neil Reckord, Gordon

So, 3.5 per cent on defence is becoming the new global standard. Another percentage relevant to global defence is that the world has passed the 80 per cent mark to reaching a consistent increase of 1.5 degrees in atmospheric temperatures. Not a standard that even the mightiest military could weather. The US is a model for political reprisals rather than environmental remediation.
Steve Dillon, Thirroul

Boomers OK with reform

James Massola (“Can PM hold his nerve as Boomers reel?”, May 1) seems to think that Baby Boomers will be angry if the budget takes from them to give to younger generations. However, I would disagree with this. Of course there are selfish people in all age groups but, as a Boomer myself, with many Boomer friends, many of us have been arguing for a long time for the government to take away some of the tax breaks that benefit the wealthier members of the population and instead help young people to get ahead and buy homes. Many of us want to see the world change for the better – for our children and grandchildren and all of their generation.
Judy Christian, The Ponds

I’m a Boomer and I can’t wait to see the measures to limit negative gearing and the CGT mooted to be in the coming budget. I’ve got Boomer friends, rich, poor and in between, who will be cheering too. Sure, there’ll be Boomers coming out of the woodwork whinging about how hard they worked to get what they’ve got, how high the interest rates were when they bought their first home, and how many avocado toasts they did without while they saved hard, blind to the fact that none of these changes are a criticism of Boomers. Yes, we’ve done well, and no, we’ve done nothing wrong to get here. We’re not being accused of anything and we’re not being punished. But it’s time to address intergenerational inequity and it’s time for us Boomers to show we’re not selfish and entitled and to get on board for the sake of the nation.
Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point

James Massola asserts that Boomers would dislike any measures that would disadvantage them. On the contrary, many Boomers would welcome the housing playing field being changed to advantage their grandchildren. The aspirations of Australians to be home-owners has long been tilted away from them and in favour of investors.
Penny Ransby Smith, Lane Cove

James Massola is mistaken in thinking that Boomers won’t be happy at Albanese siding with the kids. Many of us are not driven solely by self-interest and have “kids” ourselves. The current system is geared towards Boomers, who pay no tax on income from superannuation whereas our adult kids pay tax and a Medicare levy on the same income. Perks for investors are well overdue for reform. The kids, as Massola calls them, are the future.
Genevieve Kang, Glebe

What evidence is there that mythical “Boomers” will not accept tax reform if this fairly and sensibly includes capital gains? All of my ageing friends understand that this reform is long overdue, even if it means they’ll pay more tax. Anyone greedy enough to be concerned about this will not have voted Labor anyway, so what does it matter if a few wealthy old folk “reel” and squeal before they keel?
Philip Bell, Bronte

Nation in tears

If ever there were an example of superb photojournalism, it would have to be Sam Mooy’s images from Alice Springs (“In pictures: Alice Springs riot”, smh.com.au, May 1). His photo essay captures the frustration-driven grief as that community comes to terms with the utter tragedy of Kumanjayi Little Baby’s alleged abduction and death. The images stand too as a testament to the measured response police took in containing the situation. No doubt there will be much focus on the event at the hospital in coming days, especially on how community leaders on both sides respond to claims and counter-claims regarding the violence. Hopefully, such discourse will lead to meaningful solutions, rather than yet more time before the courts.
Bradley Wynne, Croydon

It is hard to speak as someone from a different community and place. However, while the grief and anger over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby is understandable, the violent response to the subsequent arrest of Jefferson Lewis is a far from fitting memorial for such a precious young life (“‘Absolute anarchy’: Riot erupts at Alice Springs Hospital after accused child killer arrested”, smh.com.au, May 1).
Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

All fine for Angus Taylor to criticise our Indigenous people and the government about the troubles in Alice Springs (“Government in denial about violence in Indigenous communities: Taylor”, smh.com.au, May 1). Apart from jailing everyone, what would he do to bring such problems to an end? He voted against the Voice, so what is his solution?
John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)

The buffoon in the room

Trump has gloated “Their economy is crashing, the blockade is incredible” (“Trump says blockade ‘incredible’, Iranian president says it’s intolerable”, smh.com.au, May 1). In our global village, he is doing this not just to Iran but to many economies and millions of innocent people across the globe. When the world’s fishermen, tuk-tuk drivers, truckies and farmers can no longer afford to buy fuel, crop yields fall through the unaffordability of fertiliser, industries and services suffer shortages of construction materials and medical supplies, families, whole communities and economies are affected by this “crash”. Trump doesn’t care. This is his unilateral war on the world.
Nell Knight, Avoca Beach

That ignorant buffoon, Donald Trump, has done it again. His cabinet were lined up to meet the King and Queen Camilla and managed to shake hands with two members before Trump walked straight in front of her to shake hands with his own cabinet, whom he sees every day, leaving her majesty standing there, palms out, unable to believe what just happened. King Charles at the same time turned around, hand outstretched, but gave up, confronted by Trump’s considerable bulk. The result: the royal guests didn’t get to meet the cabinet at all. Trump has previous form here. While reviewing soldiers with the late Queen Elizabeth II, he deliberately moved right in front of her and then stopped, leaving the poor woman trying to catch up. The man is an insufferable clown with no manners at all.
Martin Walton, Upper Kedron

We can only hope that our PM continues to have enough backbone to hold strong against any inducement or threat from the US to try and push us into being involved, in any way, in a totally unnecessary war of attrition that – with the US’s track record – would inevitably end up as yet another never-ending conflict until they’re forced to pull out, by which time, this time, the whole world would be in the throes of an appalling depression (“US seeks international help to reopen Strait”, May 1).
Anne Ring, Coogee

One for all

The fact that Jewish schools need security may well be a moral failure that belongs to us all but there are also many other moral failures to be seen (Letters, May 1). One is the consistent refusal of any mainstream Jewish lobby group, such as the Zionist Federation of Australia, to condemn the ongoing slaughter and persecution of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories. Individual Jews can’t be held accountable for what Israel does, but it would be a breath of fresh air if, just once, some compassion and balance was shown by these groups which purport to represent Australian Jewry.
Alexander Lane, Thornleigh

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