From break point to empathy

The tussle over the Naremburn tennis courts between the Northern Suburbs Tennis Association and the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (“Game, set, match: Players face eviction in tennis stoush”, August 30) has provided Willoughby MP Tim James with the opportunity to make perhaps the most ironic statement of all. James says it “doesn’t sit right” with him that local tennis players are being “forced out of a site it’s occupied for more than 40 years”. Mmmm … Margie Christowski, Roseville

The irony of an Aboriginal Land Council evicting a group of white upper-middle-class tennis players from their stolen lands has been worth living 73 years to see. Wow. “It’s not just about the social interaction.” Really? Now you might understand just a fraction of the pain that the first six generations of European Australians inflicted so casually and criminally on Indigenous Australians when stealing their lands. Suck it up, Northern Suburbs Tennis Association, and move on like you expected Indigenous Australians to do, and know this, as the census will reveal: the number of Indigenous Australians continues now to grow decade after decade, in their country. They are back. Jim Pearce, Oak Flats

“It doesn’t sit right with me that a community asset that has served generations of local families is being forced out of a site it’s occupied for more than 40 years,” says Willoughby MP Tim James. I totally understand and agree with those sentiments, Mr James. Hang on – 40 years? Now I’m confused. Obviously, you must have said 60,000 years, but were misquoted. Susan Newman, Mona Vale

Love and marriage

Your correspondent (Letters, August 30) is unwittingly victim blaming. Most families have two parents, and rather than blaming a “submissive” wife who has been coerced by society into valuing beauty and money, look to her partner with “inappropriate behaviour” who chose her. It’s time that men took responsibility for their actions and attitudes, and those of their associates. Not “look what you made me do”. And while mothers do greatly influence their children’s behaviour, they need to do so in an environment of respect and equality, while fathers need to be good role models. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

PM’s hot mess

Paul Sakkal (“PM pivots to positivity to counter Hanson”, August 30) failed to mention that the major reason that Labor supporters are disappointed with Anthony Albanese is the continual approval of new coal mines that are worsening the future of the world, despite warnings from scientists and the obvious effects on food supply of the heating of the oceans, melting ice in the Himalayas and Antarctica. Much of the press seems to be collaborating with political leaders everywhere in highlighting distractions – immigration, tariffs, etc – rather than the most important issue of counteracting global warming. Colin Sutton, Newtown

All shoulders to weal

At a time when the Labor government is under fire for inaction, I have a suggestion that may be helpful. Why don’t we use the Bathla debacle (“‘Contagion’ fears after $3.3b Bathla collapse”, August 30) as an opportunity for our very wealthy, secure national superannuation industry to intervene and ensure the completion of all properties and payment of debts? Their members would become shareholders in the interest of public security and future support. What an excellent example of government action in full view of voters. People before profits. Public funding, as investors, replacing private greed and failure. There has been so much bragging about billion-dollar profit results, at a time when Australians are battling cost-of-living pressures, that one wonders why more of the wealth could not have been shared with customers and suppliers rather than shareholders and chief executives. Come on, Albo, here’s your chance to shine. John Robertson, Springwood

The collapse of the Bathla group will probably give rise to criticism of Labor’s changes to the property market. The real problem is that rational first home buyers can’t afford to get into the property market. They will just have to pay the maximum rent that property investors can gather. There goes first home buyers’ capacity to save for a mortgage. A correction is needed. John Rome, Mount Lawley

Given the housing shortage and the work partially completed by Bathla group, isn’t it in the interest of the state, the country, the people investing in partly finished homes and the workers involved that either state or federal governments, or both, take over and get the jobs finished? It would be a win-win for all involved. Don Leayr, Albury

Salivating media

A republic, Pete (“Harry and Meghan return to splendour”, August 30)? That’s as pointless as royalty. The quaint notion that we need a head of state has no governance imperatives of any great merit. Just scrap the old-fashioned concept. Though, on second thoughts, everyone loves showbusiness, so why not keep the monarchy going for its entertainment value. (And remember, it’s far cheaper if we time-share the Pommy version.) Brian Haisman, Winmalee

Britain is doubly honoured by the return of the royal darlings, Sarah Ferguson as well as Harry and Meghan, to home shores (“Ferguson readies for return to Britain”, August 30). Imagine the competition. Who can be the most outrageous/demanding/whinging? I expect the British press is salivating about the wealth of print these misunderstood (?) publicity hunters will bring. “Entitlement is us”. Perhaps, however, I am wrong, and they will quietly devote their time and money to good works. We shall see. Nola Tucker, Kiama

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