Male anger problem needs radical action

To fix this largely male anger and violence problem,we need to establish short,mid and long-term goals (Editorial,April 26). The police need to be at the forefront of driving the change;they know what needs to be done to protect victims,by preventing known offenders from accessing them. Magistrates need to be involved because they know what needs to be done to remove the obstacles to safety. The premier seems to have the will to fix this. It is pretty obvious people get bail who shouldn’t. Stop them getting bail. Continually review bail conditions of those on bail for these offences. Domestic violence offenders need to be monitored more closely. That can be done,but it takes resources and possibly changes to the law. A royal commission is a good idea,but only if the government commits to implementing the recommendations. This needs to be a whole of community approach,not just whole of government. How many times do you hear the statement,“why didn’t they see this coming?”. Often someone did. Give people avenues to report genuine concerns and police the power to act on them.Geoff Nilon,Mascot

A case I am familiar with:a marriage ends because of coercive control by the male partner. It is acknowledged that he is potentially violent,so we leave him in the family home to continue his normal life while the woman and her two young children have to uproot their lives,leave the family home and move to a new location,which will be kept a secret from the potentially dangerous ex-spouse. So the fact that the inadequate male is agreed to be potentially dangerous becomes the woman’s problem;she has to move and hide. But the presumption of innocence of the ex is protected. So in this case,the alleged perpetrator receives the full protection of the law;the alleged victim is left to her own devices. Meanwhile,we can have another inquiry and we Old White Men can continue to focus on important issues like keeping girls out of Newington College.Michael McMullan,Avoca Beach

With all the current talk of violence against women and the public wondering why,you only have to look at the photo of Nathan Cleary smashing Jarome Luai’s face out of shape in what is supposed to be a friendly “toughening up” session. (“Make or break:Brutal training designed to push players to limit”,April 26). Replace the boxing glove with a bare fist and you have another dead woman. Even a photo like this can promote violence against women by showing how “tough” a man should be.Peter Skrzynecki,Eastwood

Among the complex underlying social drivers of violence against women is what Tim Winton refers to as toxic masculinity. Lacking a sense of purpose and self-worth,some young men seek the respect they crave from those they can dominate. This is exacerbated by society’s insistence that an individual’s value is measured by their possessions. Mix this with the persistent objectification of women and they become trophies to possess. Education has a part to play but changing attitudes requires a concerted effort by men and women in all parts of society.Philip Cooney,Wentworth Falls

Equality in all things,from responsibilities and punishments to rewards and accolades,would help reduce the violence against women crisis.Joy Cooksey,Harrington

Emotional piques and troughs

Thank you Peter FitzSimons for putting into words those emotions that I (and no doubt many others) feel on Anzac Day (“The missing emotion that needs to be articulated on Anzac Day – rage”,April 25). While we must honour the memory of those who sacrificed everything to fight for our freedom,we need to be regularly reminded why and how it was that so many thousands of our young men were ordered out of the trenches,straight into machine gun fire,knowing their impending death was a certainty. Lest we forget.Jan Robins,Alstonville

No one could not feel sadness and sorrow about what happened at Fromelles. Everyone should learn from this,particularly military leaders who should look at the ground that they are committing soldiers under their command to cross. But that does not mean that 108 years later we should be raging about what happened. Remembrance and understanding are good,but Australia will not be made a better place by encouraging rage,of which there is too much in the world.Bill Windeyer,Longueville

It was a great day for Australia yesterday. The weather was great and the public rituals were uplifting. Australia,and in particular Sydney,badly needed this outlet to repair the damage done by recent serious incidents. I found one note of sadness. Among the myriad cultures marching there was no specific Indigenous voice commemorating the Frontier Wars,and hence no public commentary that would further our combined knowledge of this. It is a fact that our Indigenous community became suspicious of the British when they began to clear land and fish. They took up arms and the Frontier Wars started. No treaty ensued. This is the truth. And truth matters.Michael Kennedy,West Pymble

After seeing the news footage of solemn Anzac Day services in the morning,I saw disturbing views of behaviour in the afternoon. If people want to wait in queues to get into pub two-up games,that’s their prerogative. However,to block off local streets to accommodate pub crowd spillover and to witness twenty-something-year-old folk urinating in public is not OK,and a sad indictment of our contemporary society. But why do so many Australians have to get drunk to “celebrate” Anzac and Australia Days?Anne Elliott,Balmain

Morrison syndrome

Anxiety and mental distress in the workplace is no laughing matter,be it a retail casual or the holder of the highest office in the land (“Morrison reveals decision to take anti-depressants during premiers’ ‘pile on’,AUKUS decision”,smh.com.au,April 26). I can’t help but wonder which of the extra dozen portfolios he bestowed upon himself tipped him over the edge?Jeremy Brender,West Richmond (SA)

Australia also suffered from acute anxiety while Morrison was PM. What would be his next gaffe,stumble orfaux pas? Would he remain in the country when the next crisis hit,or would he jet off to Hawaii? Was it his anxiety that rendered him incapable of empathy with those affected by natural disasters? This list isn’t exhaustive.David Gordon,Cranebrook

The stress and strain of pulling the AUKUS deal together,without leaks,while lying to your French counterpart,must have been considerable.John Christie,Oatley

Scott Morrison says he suffered from acute anxiety while prime minister. Well,so did the other 27 million of us.Bill Gillis,Hallidays Point

I suffered from anxiety while Scott Morrison was PM too. I’m now symptom-free.Denise Woods,Orange

Well,he often gave the nation acute anxiety too.Martin Lewis,Baulkham Hills

Impost and impact

So Australia has been slammed with the highest increase in average tax rates in the developed world (“Australians slugged with world’s biggest average tax increases”,April 26). As if that isn’t bad enough,let’s look at how we are being taxed. Over the past decade the amount of revenue earned by the government from HECS has been steadily outpacing the amount of tax gathered from the APetroleum and Resource Rent Tax.According to ATO figures,in 2022 this had ballooned out to $4.9 billion dollars collected from HECS students,as opposed to nearly $2.3 billion from the PRRT. What an appalling lack of priorities from successive governments. Is it any wonder that young people are fed up with all sides of politics?Leslie Rozsnyoi,Russell Lea

Why is it appalling that Australia has the world’s biggest average tax increases? Those countries deemed to be the most liveable and happy are high-taxing countries where those high taxes are spent on services to the nations’ people. If we see our taxes working for us by providing better infrastructure – roads,public transport,good public education,hospitals – then surely the price we pay is justified.Genevieve Milton,Dulwich Hill

Support the staff

I go to Bondi Junction every Wednesday to volunteer at an op shop in the mall (“Businesses suffering as shoppers shun Bondi Junction”,April 26). I always stop to get a coffee at one of the cafes in Westfield on street level beforehand. It is confronting to come back to the centre and that’s just at street level. It’s very easy to visualise what took place on that Saturday and where. So I can only imagine what it must be like for those that work there. As hard as it might be,we need to come back and support the businesses. I noticed many mental health response workers walking around the Junction and know they would only be too willing to chat to any customers coming back to offer support.Lisa Clarke,Watsons Bay

Marine must-read

Books and reading can be life-changing (“I may never eat fish again after reading this new book”,April 26). I gave up eating sea creatures in the ’90s after reading an article about over fishing,so-called by-catch,the horrible deaths and injuries we humans inflict on marine animals,and the environmental destruction we cause in the process. I understand that killing for food is necessary for some,but it should never be done for sport,adventure,greed or the lust for new culinary experiences. Careful management and moderation in marine harvesting are made all the more urgent by the environmental imperatives presented by Bradley in his must-read work.Meredith Williams,Baulkham Hills

Upper yet lower

“I am certain that the Liberal voters who put him into the (NSW Legislative Council) do not approve of his behaviour”,writes Lorraine Hickey about Taylor Martin,expelled from the Liberal Party but still sitting in the upper house (Letters,April 26). Lorraine,I fear you attribute too much decency and intellectual prowess to the average Liberal voter.Ian Usman Lewis,Kentucky

Realistic spin

Your Anzac Day article included a photo of three coins on a two-up kip,a latter-day variation used to speed up the game by obviating an “odds” non-result (“Commemoration just the tonic Sydney needed”,April 26). I prefer playing the traditional two-coin game. Not only does it poignantly demonstrate that,like war,either side can win but often nobody does,it is my annual reminder that,contrary to the popular adage,tails often fails in New South Wales.Col Burns,Lugarno

Schools’ inequity

The underfunding of our state schools while at the same time overfunding many private schools is a problem that no government seems able to fix (“States unite in $12b demand”,April 26). Public schools are there for all children;those from disadvantaged backgrounds,with disabilities,trauma affected and with behavioural issues. These children are not catered for within the private system and yet the costs to the state are overwhelming. Surely it is in all our interests to remedy the inequity of the current funding model. Our future depends on a well-funded,robust public education system that still educates the majority of our children.Robyn Thomas,Wahroonga

That’s entertainment

Cathy Wilcox’s comprehensive list of annoying impediments for theatre and concertgoers omitted another such frustrating problem for which my husband and I had no immediate fix (Cartoon,April 26). For one annual Messiah concert in Sydney’s Town Hall,we booked seats near the front of the hall,only to find that we were sitting immediately behind an incredibly tall couple. The hall was full,and yes,the music was wonderful. We even got an occasional snatched side view of the stage,but the conductor and soloists remained a visual mystery until the final beat. As the applause began,Gough Whitlam jumped up quickly from his seat and said to Margaret,“Come on,let’s go”.Corin Fairburn,Bass

Brava Cathy Wilcox. Perhaps you haven’t yet experienced the now-ubiquitous standing ovation where one’s view of cast and stage is obliterated by the backs and bums of those in front of you. Yes,Patrick White was correct when describing Australian audiences as “suffering from the clap”.Ralph Lane,Marrickville

At the Manly Fig,a long-running monthly music gig run by volunteers,the chattering ceases as soon as each of the three acts begins. Newcomers occasionally forget,but the penny drops when a gently admonishing volunteer approaches with whip and duct tape.Margaret Hogge,North Curl Curl

Trumpeter

Among the litany of very depressing articles in theHerald today,a little light relief with a report on Donald Trump’s flatulence issues (“Whether Trump did or didn’t let loose,there’s a whiff of defeat about him”,April 26). Why was I not surprised;just a big,very unattractive bag of offensive smelling wind.
Elizabeth Kroon,Randwick

Despite the proven social benefits of deodorants,some men believe not using them will keep their “animal magnetism” intact.Mustafa Erem,Terrigal

Best that Jo Malone steers clear of Donald Trump’s courtroom (“Second whiff makes good scents”,April 26).Peter Miniutti,Ashbury

As a casual or a committed viewer of American network news channels such as CNN or MSNBC,one can easily get the impression that you have a box seat to observe the death throes of the much-Trumpeted greatest nation in history,the United States of America.Kevin Farrell,Beelbangera

Living in the past

I too attended a Jethro Tull concert but waited until 1974 to hear them at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall (Letters,April 26). Must have been a more sophisticated audience – no babies.Simon Staines,Mudgee

Postscript

This week,the violent death of 27-year-old Molly Ticehurst has put the spotlight on the topic of female homicide. Three weeks ago,her former partner Daniel Billings was allowed out on bail after being charged with sexual assault,stalking and intimidation. Last Monday he allegedly killed her.Drummoyne’sPauline McGinley,said that “the best indicator we have for predicting future behaviour is looking closely at pertinent past behaviour. Ignoring these huge red flags,in this case,was catastrophic.”

The Herald is now calling fortwo royal commissions - one into all aspects of laws and policies in this area and another into the underlying causes driving male attitudes towards women.

Paul Sakkal’s story about the split in the Coalition ranks over nuclear energy generated a big reaction (“Coalition rift emerges over Dutton’s nuclear plans”,April 22). It turns out that while the National Party MPs support nuclear energy,they don’t want reactors in their backyards.Colin Stokes fromCamperdown said that “sadly for the Liberals,they are electorally dead in the water without their conservative fellow travellers,so remain uncomfortably tethered to the Nationals’ singular brand of agrarian socialism.”

But not everyone is a nuclear Nimby.Rooty Hill’s Peter Juocys said that “we at Blacktown municipality would be proud to host Peter Dutton’s first nuclear reactor. Already we have a 24-hour international airport,two tollways,two massive tips,motor racing arena,drag strip,steel mill,methadone clinics and a private jail. As a bonus,we can also accommodate a nuclear waste dump”.

To all the readers,especially the residents of Blacktown,have a marvellous weekend.

Margot Saville,deputy letters editor