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As another former Shell executive, I strongly support Idris Jala’s suggestion that a windfall profits tax should be imposed on our LNG exports (“Ex-Shell executive says it’s time for Australia to tax windfall profits on energy”, April 21). During his recent overseas fuel diplomacy trip, the prime minister ruled this out for our Asian trading partners. Why so? Any such tax, properly designed, would have no impact on the international price our partners pay. It would be paid by the producing gas companies like Shell, Woodside and Santos from the excess profits they are now making as a result of the Israel/US war on Iran, which has pushed international prices through the roof. Their profits would remain substantial, but the community would gain at least some recompense for the pain it is enduring. Without the courage to confront war profiteering, the government will fail the national interest yet again. Ian Dunlop, Gordon
The list of unexpected people urging the government to apply a 25 per cent tax to our gas exports keeps expanding. This morning I received a petition from Dale Park, a WA beef farmer and a former president of the Western Australian Farmers Federation making the same call. Surely when the ACTU, former gas company executives, outspoken Labor and Liberal MPs and most of the very diverse crossbench, as well as farmers, are on the same page, it’s time to act. Linda Marks, Thornbury (Vic)
Protest arrests
Maybe Premier Chris Minns should show some forgiveness to the protesters who demonstrated against Isaac Herzog’s visit and instead blame the PM for his foolish decision to invite him here (“Premier speaks out as police review protest charges”, April 21). Albo should have known it would cause rancour and disharmony. The protest was about Benjamin Netanyahu committing alleged war crimes against Palestinians, as cited by the United Nations Criminal Court. The same Netanyahu who attacked Iran and is now flattening Lebanon. This has had knock-on effects for consumers as far away as NSW, thanks to the oil blockade. Perhaps the world is just a bit more complex than Minns would have us believe. John Rome, Mt Lawley
I’m no constitutional lawyer, no lawyer at all in fact, but I was pretty certain that the NSW government’s beefed-up protest laws were unconstitutional (“Protest charges in doubt after court strikes down Minns restrictions”, April 18). Did the premier take advice on this? If he had, surely he would have been told not to proceed. Then why did it happen? I hope some deep digging will reveal more. Mark Kilminster, Castle Hill
Funding the future
Shane Wright correctly observes the upcoming budget will be a challenge for both the treasurer and prime minister (“Chalmers says overhaul of unaffordable NDIS key to budget savings in grim times”, April 21). CGT and negative gearing changes could be on the table. Higher taxes on gas and oil producers could follow. But intergenerational inequity will never be addressed until governments establish sovereign wealth funds to capture and invest today’s taxes for the benefit of future generations. Unfortunately, in reality they are likely to be squandered during the term in which they are generated by those whose vision extends no further than the next election. Brian Barrett, Padstow
The federal government set up and proposed to fully fund the NDIS. Now that they are in serious financial trouble, they propose that the states and territories take on the task of reducing the NDIS system and allow the federal government to take a step back. Clearly the government is using its normal cost-shifting approach. It’s a tactic that’s embedded in its DNA. Keith Askew, Hornsby Heights
Cash comeback
A couple of years ago, visiting a gallery in England, I caused the man at the ticket office a momentary problem by presenting him with a £20 note for admission. Clearly, he’d have preferred me using a card. I inflicted on him my set piece little speech about the reasons why we needed to keep cash alive, many of which are mentioned in Shane Wright’s article (“Cash is king again as electronic systems crash”, April 21). He listened to me politely and then replied: “It’s a lonely hill to die on mate.” Since then, it’s been getting harder to pay with cash, as more businesses display Card Only signs by their tills. However, the news that cash is making a comeback doesn’t come as a surprise. With climate change bringing more extreme weather events, and more power outages, there are days when cash is still very much king, which those businesses still accepting cash have long understood. Nick Franklin, Katoomba
One of the reasons cash is regaining popularity might be that we’re all excited to find a coin bearing the King’s image after so many years of the late Queen’s. Those of us old enough to remember pre-decimal pennies might recall they came in four different varieties – Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI and King George V, and the occasional King Edward VII penny that had been in circulation several decades. Often the image was almost rubbed smooth. As a youngster, I spent ages shining my pennies with Brasso. After all, a penny used to be worth a lot at the lolly shop, and the shopkeeper would drop a few extra lollies into the bag if the coins were nice and shiny. Terry Charleston, Cootamundra
Fuel for renewables
It’s not often that the best news of the day is found in the middle of the business section, but that’s the case with Ambrose Evans-Pritchard’s upbeat analysis of the world energy situation (“Trump’s war has thrown a spanner into how petrodollar system works,” April 21). The joint American-Israeli attack on Iran is greatly accelerating the demise of the world’s fossil fuel compact and its replacement by networks of cheaper, healthier renewable energy. Nowhere is this more evident than in China, “already a post-oil, post-gas, electrostate economy, rolling out more wind, solar and electric vehicles each year than the rest of the world combined.” Admittedly, this global shift “has little to do with climate change and … net zero”, but in practice it will serve that critical purpose. It may be premature to toast “the irreversible collapse of the oil and gas industry” but perhaps it’s time to put the bubbly in the fridge. Tom Knowles, Parkville (Vic)
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard’s use of the phrase “the Hobbesian new world of America First and maritime anarchy” aptly, and terrifyingly, sums up what has been created in the world of Trump 2.0. There is no longer an international rules-based order. Instead, we have anarchy and lawlessness. Unilateral attacks on Iran, vessels destroyed in the Caribbean, heads of state kidnapped and threats to all and sundry from Greenland to Mexico to Cuba. Nations warned of being bombed back into the Stone Age and entire civilisations threatened with destruction. In these circumstances, only the CRINKS benefit (“Trump’s madcap folly emboldening this ‘axis of upheaval’”, April 21). Even the lapsed Catholics of the letters pages might be thinking “God help us”. Ken Webb, Coogee
Take charge
The greatest hurdle to electric vehicle adoption in Australia isn’t the cars themselves, but the “range anxiety” caused by our sparse charging network. To solve this, we should utilise the infrastructure that already exists throughout the road system: our petrol stations. The government should mandate that all existing service stations install a minimum number of EV charging bays, scaled to the site’s size and capacity. By subsidising this rollout and requiring completion within a 12-month time frame, we could create a comprehensive national charging network almost overnight. If we are serious about a rapid transition from fossil fuels, we must stop treating EV charging as an optional extra and start integrating it into the very bedrock of our transport network. Keith Tunnicliffe, Pyrmont
No room for dissent
As Catharine Lumby says, “The left of politics has become obsessed with identity politics” (“I was cancelled from a feminist rally. I think I know why”, April 21). Most progressives refuse to countenance other points of view. The pro-Palestine/anti-Israel demonstrations are just one issue. Energy transition, gender identity and immigration numbers are other examples. If you go against the progressive mantra on these topics you are labelled a climate change denier, a homophobe or a racist. The catch-all accusation of bigot is also popular because it covers the whole gambit of left-wing intolerance. Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
The ability of Australians to influence events in the Middle East is limited. On the other hand, there is a lot we can do to combat sexual assault in our own country, including by supporting the work of feminists active on this issue, such as Grace Tame and Catharine Lumby. Yet, shamefully, we have allowed the deplatforming of both women at the behest of one or other group of partisan barrackers for factions in the Israel/Palestine conflict. Paul Norton, Highgate Hill (Qld)
Bad manners
Frankie Johnston is to be commended for opening a discussion about the decline in good manners (“Frankie’s message is that manners matter”, April 21). As anyone who has sat next to a fellow commuter watching a loud video on their phone will testify, behaviour that once would have been considered antisocial now seems to be the norm. Why, however, is Johnston singled out as a “private schoolgirl”? Is the elitist and undoubtedly impolite implication here that only students who are privately educated are capable of being courteous? I have been very impressed by the Positive Behaviour for Learning initiative at my child’s public school, which emphasises and rewards personal responsibility and safe, respectful behaviour towards all. I’m proud to see these values embedded in the school’s culture, leading the way in teaching young people the principles which not only form the basis of good manners, but of good citizenship. Camille Scaysbrook, Tempe
Great work by Frankie Johnston in emphasising the importance of manners to her school-going cohort. As parents, we do teach the importance of manners, but the need to comply with schoolyard behaviour can negate that at times. Social media norms don’t help either. The importance of manners becomes more clear when teenagers step out on their own into the workplace and everyday life. Bad manners are quickly shot down, friends and opportunities can be lost and you may find yourself excluded. Skills and training will only take you so far. Courtesy is essential, forget it and you will be quickly forgotten. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy
Frankie Johnston’s push for young people to improve their manners is worthy of support. The expression “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice” comes to mind. Eric Sekula, Turramurra
Prince reigned supreme
Well said, George Palathingal (“Prince was my first musical obsession. Ten years after his death, I still mourn his extraordinary talent”, April 21). I was equally enthralled when Prince filled the Entertainment Centre in 1992, although I did spare a thought for his roadies. How the hell did they get that four-poster bed on and off the stage every night? Jeff Apter, Keiraville
Down memory lane
It’s sad indeed that Katoomba’s heritage is being lost (Letters, April 21). My great-grandfather owned the bakery in the arcade in Katoomba’s Lurline Street in the 1920s after he returned from World War I. He had two Model T Fords, one a panel van for deliveries and the other a saloon for church on Sundays. Only one was registered and he swapped the plates over on Sundays. The local sergeant eventually noticed and made him register both. That was when the sergeant’s free morning tea cake stopped. David Sayers, Gwandalan
Just adding to the letters reminiscing about the lovely old Paragon Cafe, established in Katoomba in 1916 (Letters, April 21). My great-aunt, a spinster, sometimes took my mother and her siblings there for tea around 1928, taking the long trip by steam train from Sydney as part of their Blue Mountains holiday. My mother continued the tradition with us, and I took it over with my family. It’s a terrible pity this venerable institution is in ruins. Lynne Zahra, Meadowbank
DIY mums
The Mother’s Day gift guide plays it safe with all the traditional ideas (“These mum’s have done your Mother’s Day shopping for you”, April 21). As well as stuff for the hobby/gardening/pampered mum, how about ideas for the tradie mum, the DIY mum or the STEM mum? Some women want more than a scarf, a scented candle or a recipe book. Jane Lieschke, Woonona
Nature restores
What an inspiring article on the regrowth of the environmentally important seaweed forests in Sydney Harbour and along the coast (“The underwater forests coming back to life off the Sydney coast”, April 21). Now all we need is the same program of care and protection for our forests above the water. Nola Tucker, Kiama
Unconditional love
Ben Hollands reminds us all to simply show love to those battling mental health issues (“Elijah Hollands’ dad posts heartfelt message”, April 21). It’s time to drop the judgment, scrutiny and hearsay, and simply wrap those facing challenges in love and support until they heal. For everyone with an opinion, just put a sock in it. Chris Andrew, Turramurra
Truckers pull over
The Herald’s stories on diesel shocks to our transport sector are confusing our truck drivers with their American counterparts. Truckers are found on US highways, in Australia we have truckies. Get the lingua franca right, fellas! Dick Clarke, Elanora Heights
Just desserts
After its dubious “discounts” program it is fitting that Woolworths is being hauled over the Coles (“Woolies claims it discounted 276 products; 96% of them cost more”, April 21). Maria Jurus, Castle Hill
Move a Hoover
I am thinking about selling my vacuum cleaner. It’s just gathering dust (Letters, April 21). Kenneth Smith, Orange.
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