With COP 21 commencing in Glasgow in November,Morrison has come up with an ultimate “look over here” moment. For a government not so good at walking and chewing gum,this is an obvious ploy to neglect the need for climate action.Cheryl Kay,Miranda

What sort of nation have we become that we can spend over $90 billion on nuclear submarines in a blink but not commit to action on climate change?Wendy Varney,Leura

I thought ditching the ludicrously expensive pie in the sky French submarines for a more ludicrously expensive UK/US version was part of a Monty Python sketch. But it is a splendid diversion from JobKeeper rorts,pork barrelling,ministerial responsibility,virus mismanagement and general lack of policy.Peter Bourke,Rockdale

What a comforting announcement during the pandemic and the interminable Sydney lockdown:nuclear-powered submarines to keep us all safe.Megan Brock,Summer Hill

Bad mix

AUKUS sounds like a shameful amalgam of “awkward” and “raucous”.Ray Alexander,Moss Vale

Say it right

“Nuculear”? PM,didn’t someone brief you on the correct way to pronounce a technology that will cost us billions of dollars in our new nuclear-powered submarine program?Tristan Parry,Cremorne

Why do I have misgivings about the PM committing billions to a technology he can’t pronounce?Michael Britt,MacMasters Beach

That bloke

If I was buying billions of dollars of submarines,the least I would expect is for the vendor to remember my name.Denny Linker,North Sydney

Waste not want not

Instead of writing off billions on cancelled submarines,why not divert it to a new TGV high-speed rail link between Melbourne,Canberra and Sydney and join the future.Chester Meurant,Keiraville

Perhaps we could buy a fleet of water bombing aircraft to fight bush fires.Bob Doepel,Greenway (ACT)

Made in China

The Chinese do a fairly good line in nuclear subs. Why don’t we buy some of theirs? Win/win.Peter Riley,Penrith

Big boys’ toys

It looks like our PM has succeeded in painting a huge red,white and blue bullseye in the middle of the nation’s forehead– and he thinks he’s done a great job.Peter Bower,Naremburn

Boys with their toys. Definitely suboptimal.Alison Orme,Marrickville

Push for Everest crowd is peak of inequity

Money always talks with the NSW government (“Push for 15,000 fans at Everest”,September 17). The racing industry is pushing for 15,000 people at a horse race. How can Everest go ahead when nursing homes are still closed to families and art galleries and libraries are closed. You can’t even get a haircut or have more than 50 at a wedding.Helen Simpson,Curl Curl

A crisis cabinet has met to decide if 15,000 people can attend a horse race. In a regional NSW area a snap lockdown has been declared. Many families have had to cancel their school holiday plans. One of those families is my son’s. He and his wife are dedicated nurses. They accept the lockdown. What I can’t reconcile is the inequity.Mary Dunne,Ocean Shores

No place for misogyny

Anne Summers holds a mirror to show us an unacceptable face of our nation (“‘Ugly Australia’ can’t hack female leaders”,September 17). It is important that we not forget what Julia Gillard was subjected to as PM. But when Summers,of all people,says “it remains unexplained – if not inexplicable” we obviously still have lessons to learn. Gillard knew precisely what it was,that day in Parliament when she hurled the word in the face of a smirking Tony Abbott:misogyny. Apparently we haven’t digested what the word actually means,nor the hurdles it places in the path of female leaders. Until we are prepared to prise misogyny out of the depths of the Australian psyche and dissect it in bright sunlight,we will continue to have an almost insurmountable problem. True,it’s not unique to Australia. But as a nation we are the poorer because of the female talent we waste.Margaret Johnston,Paddington

More torture for family

The Murugappan family is now subjected to a further torment for another three months by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke (“Biloela family members to be granted three-month visa”,September 17). All the policies drafted by his highly paid bureaucrats in his department are obviously not being fairly applied. And the Liberal Party MPs who are Christians,please practice what you are being preached.Peng Ee,Castle Cove

Time of their lives

What a shame the NSW Department of Education views playground supervision and extra-curricular activities a “waste of teacher time” (“Plan to free up teachers from ‘wasteful’ tasks”,September 17). This shows little understanding of the many roles of a teacher. These are times when a teacher gets to meet and chat with students and their friends across the whole school;times when many social skills can be guided. Who doesn’t remember the choir,band,team sport practice,dance classes,Duke of Edinburgh activities and art clubs? Teachers volunteer their time to give these and many other opportunities to their students. Now especially,our students need these social connections. These are not “waste of time” activities.Penny Steel,Goulburn

King coal wins again

First,our Environment Minister Sussan Ley was successful in “proving” that our struggling Great Barrier Reef was actually quite healthy and now she is happy to push through an extension to the Whitehaven Vickery mine,producing an extra 10 million tonnes of coal each year (“Mine extension allowed despite legal action”,September 17). The arrogance is breathtaking.Lorraine Hickey,Green Point

Out on a limb

St Vincent’s unvaccinated nurses should be immediately educated into the meaning of two words,“health” and “care” (“Unvaccinated nurses bring heart procedures to standstill in Sydney hospital”,September 17).Elizabeth Morgan,Manly

If nurses do not trust the science of vaccinations,then they have no place in the scientific field of medicine and nursing.Owen Torr,Redfern

Where truth goes to die

It has always appeared to me that Twitter is a dark place where its sewer-like tunnels and dark corners provide sanctuary and security for the faceless and anonymous contributors who haunt its spaces (“Ascendancy of the trolls”,September 17). It is a place devoid of rational discussion,a place where truth and factual reporting is a quaint notion. What I find surprising is that it has taken this long for any self-respecting person to think otherwise.James Laukka,Epping

If Twitter and other social media accounts could only be created using real names supported by proper identification (as in opening a bank account),would the word troll even exist in modern language?Peter Cassin,Roseville

Ignoring the experts

As Transport for NSW is building the Beaches Link Motorway with the approval of the Department of Planning,why should it listen to residents’ concerns (“Experts take aim at Beaches Link”,September 17)? In March 2020,in response to an EIS,I provided that department with the opinions of 18 experts who said the motorway should not be built. If the experts were ignored then,why should their views be recognised now?Kevin Eadie,Drummoyne

Porter’s gift backfires

It would seem those who gifted former attorney-general Christian Porter a large chunk of money could not have made his critics happier (“Christian Porter’s cabinet position in doubt as PM waits for advice”,September 17).Lindsay Foyle,Stanmore

Home and away

Your correspondent Peter Sutherland despairs for young people as they enter the workforce from home (Letters,September 17). Can we also spare a thought for their parents? With house prices and the cost of rentals both skyrocketing,the reality is that these young people will be working from their parents’ home. For those who may be looking forward to seeing their fledglings leave the nest it may well be time to begin hatching their own plans to run away from home.Maureen Tavener,Norfolk Island

Kudos to Qudos

I’d like to give a word of thanks to all those co-ordinating the flow of people and administering the jab at the Qudos Arena,Sydney Olympic Park. I went for my first jab and found the whole set-up to be highly efficient. The staff were all extremely polite and gave clear directions of the steps for me to follow. The whole operation seemed to be a well-oiled machine.Tina Butler,Bilgola Plateau

Joys of nature

Gardens are so varied and wonderful (“The secret to healthy dahlias”,September 17). During the pandemic,many of us have used our gardens to be absorbed into nature. I have loved the flowers on my magnolia with blue forget-me-nots,bluebells,and a hardenbergia vine in the undergrowth. Now I am watching tiny blossoms forming on a bare tree that will soon burst into glorious full bloom.
Bea Hodgson,Gerringong

Questionable answer

When the interviewee says:“That’s a really good question”,it’s either flattery in the hope of kinder treatment from the interviewer,or a stalling tactic while the interviewee thinks of either a plausible response or the pre-rehearsed party line (Letters,September 17).Michelle McCann,Maryville

Wilcox for PM

Cathy Wilcox for PM!Herald letter writers for cabinet! How good is that (Letters,September 17).Joy Nason,Mona Vale

Postscript

The week began with a mostly disappointed state of NSW,as the Premier called what was understood to be an end to the affectionately known “Glad wrap”. Elevenses with Gladys Berejiklian had become part of many correspondents’ daily routines,and although some rejoiced at being set free,most felt dropping the briefings at the same time we were warned COVID-19 cases could peak showed a lack of leadership.

Criticism of the Premier’s management of the pandemic continued as photos of crowded beaches on the weekend showed what was clearly a divided Sydney. Residents of the LGAs of concern could only despair as they watched other Sydneysiders enjoy seaside freedoms denied to them. “The segregation of Sydney during this lockdown has been as destructive,if not more,than the virus itself,” wrote Bernadette Scadden of Earlwood (a suburb in an LGA of concern).

The city’s differences appeared to be highlighted further in the discussion about the “problematic parachuting” of senator Kristina Keneally,from Sydney’s northern beaches,into the western Sydney seat of Fowler at the expense of local candidate Tu Le. Letter writers were divided on whether it was a good move for Keneally and the electorate or if it showed a lack of sensitivity and understanding by the party apparatchik.

While it appeared the Prime Minister had escaped the scrutiny of correspondents this week,there was a dramatic turnaround in that regard in Friday’s and today’s letters after the PM’s announcement about the “nuclear submarines of the Monumental Distraction class”,as described by Steve Bright of North Avoca. Keep writing and stay safe.Pat Stringa,Letters editor

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