Both public and Catholic school teachers will strike over pay and conditions.
No one denies that teachers need more pay but Jenny Gore and Nicole Mockler are right in saying that systemic failure is the main reason teachers are leaving. Even a few informal chats with ex-teachers quickly reveal the two main points of failure. The first is the large and growing burden of administrative form-filling and general “accountability”,much of it to little purpose. The second is the fast-growing trend to hold teachers responsible for aspects of child growth and development that are the responsibility of parents. If it wanted to,the government could easily slash the former and belt the latter straight back to the parents. No doubt politically difficult,but no amount of money will fix the system unless those two issues are tackled head on.Greg McCarry,Epping
Two additional aspects in the education debate. Firstly,the home environment is a crucial determinant of school success. This is out of the teacher’s hands. Secondly,teachers,desperate for change,are quite able to build a profile of each child without having to record every minutia of their progress. Planning,delivering and evaluating should be allowed to become the priority.Laurie Le Claire, Epping
Many former public school teachers are also haunted by the memories of Terry Metherell’s political attacks on them during his time as education minister (“”,June 23). His denigration of the professionalism and status of teachers at that time began the downgrading of respect and support for teachers. That inevitably led to today’s shortage of teachers.Caroline Davies,Annandale
Illustration:Alan Moir
Too many jobs,too little trade
A crucial point made in the editorial is that there is no evidence that the six trade commissioner jobs created by John Barilaro represent value for money (“”,June 24). The Australian Trade Commission (AUSTRADE),with more than a thousand staff,has federal responsibility for promoting trade,investment and education for all states,so what is the need to duplicate part of its role at state level? If the positions created by Barilaro were present in all states,we could have the situation where the six states were competing against each other as well as against AUSTRADE for the same investment dollars. Surely this money could be better spent elsewhere.Peter Nash,Fairlight
It is extraordinary that NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and his government would not foresee the public stink that Barilaro’s appointment to a highly paid trade job would cause (“Cabinet talks on trade roles ‘mistake’:premier”,June 24). Whether,as the premier says,Barilaro “will do a brilliant job” is beside the point. I dare say so could others who have the skills and the added advantage of being totally at arm’s length. The Liberals have already taken a monumental battering at the polls recently. It beggars belief that they appear to have learned nothing from that,and their only talent is having a tin ear.Adrian Connelly,Springwood
It strikes me as absurd,no matter how fast a learner they are,that someone who worked in Queanbeyan in a local firm before serving as the minister for regional development,the minister for skills and the minister for small business,is deemed the best candidate for an extremely well-paid job that would involve dealing with international trade at a high level and who would have appropriate connections,particularly in the USA.Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West
The general lack of transparency in appointing Barilaro smacks of jobs for the boys and the manic secrecy that defined the Morrison government. To restore some credibility,Perrottet would do well to also undertake a full-cost benefit study of the multimillion-dollar trade commissioner scheme and terminate it if it does not stack up.Tony Simons, Balmain
The more important question should be:Why were all these high-paying positions created in the first place? Were they necessary at all? This is taxpayers’ money and we have a right to know. How many other positions are hastily created as jobs for the boys/girls?Rosemary Embery,Haberfield
On your bike
I’m sick of people having a sook about cyclists on shared paths (,June 24). I ride on a shared path quite a bit and I’ve found that no amount of dinging will ever get through walkers’ AirPods. Why do they want to divorce themselves so perilously from the world around them?Brendan O’Keefe,Bowral
Cyclists regularly speed along footpaths unchecked and even if caught are unlikely to be penalised,as they are not obliged to register their bikes or carry identification. Footpaths should not be shared until coexistence rules and penalties are in place.Greg Hildebrand,Mosman
Catch my disease
Illustration:Vintage John Shakespeare
As someone who has always regarded hand shaking as a risky business from a disease transmission point of view,I thought I had seen the end of it (,June 24). But it has returned and,if our politicians are to be seen as examples,even close face-to-unmasked face bear hugs are the order of the day.Ruth Ratner,Northbridge
To correspondents urging the government to do more to address the pandemic,what about people taking responsibility for their own wellbeing? Endless parroting of the same message by the government is a waste of time and money.Brooke Broughton,Leura
Inflation,aid to Ukraine all worthwhile if Russia loses
It is indeed gratifying to know that Australia’s resolute attitude in assisting victims of oppression is being recognised (“”,June 24). And although,because of the Ukraine-Russia conflict,our cost of living has escalated,it will all be worthwhile if our support has assisted,if only in some small way,to the defeat of the aggressor. Otherwise,next time it could be others nearer to home who are targeted.Derrick Mason,Boorowa
Travel bugged
Our new PM needs to be careful he does not get the “where the bloody hell are you” tag when things at home need leadership and focus (“,June 24).
Ed Gaykema,Kiama
Making cents of local manufacturing
Manufacturing anything depends on how much value you add,from inputs of capital,labor,energy,and knowledge (“”,June 24). If Australia wants to return to manufacturing a wider range of products,then either it needs to see more value or it needs to have lower costs. Every businessman chooses each day between volume and margin. Our test will be,can we manufacture renewables from renewables here in Australia,especially solar panels and batteries. Probably with a Chinese partner,or two.Noel Thompson,Riverview
Illustration:Matt Golding
Same mistakes on renewables
Unfortunately,the lack of energy leadership of the past decade is appearing again under the new federal government,with the renewables industry calling for a nationally consistent capacity mechanism so that fossil fuels fade quickly from the energy mix (“”,June 24). The new energy minister,like his predecessor,is intent on helping fossil fuel corporations to prolong their existence by using public money. The states will not be under national control when they make the decisions about which kinds of power generation they will subsidise,so they are free to decide on coal and gas,which would critically delay the inevitable need to go renewable. National leadership is what the recent election result called for,not a sidestepping of responsibility to reduce our emissions,nor subservience to fossil fuel political donors.Barry Laing,Castle Cove
Savings punished
When will prudent savers be rewarded with the same increase in interest rates that financial institutions have so quickly passed on to borrowers (“”,June 24). Being constantly screwed in this fashion means looking for a better deal rather than showing loyalty.
It has become an interesting game over the past few years. Notice how saving rates fell some time ago just prior to interest rates beginning to rise – another ruse by financial institutions so they could keep savers accounts on lower rates. This approach will eventually mean financial institutions will have to go to the open market and pay more for their funds.Bruce Clydsdale,Bathurst
Tax seller,not home buyer
Your correspondent does not want to be taxed on after-tax income spent on the family home (,June 24). Residential tenants also spend after-tax income,in their case on rent,but they receive no tax benefit,unlike owner occupiers who receive tax-free capital gains on sale.
A small land tax on owner occupiers would raise revenue for the greater good,including much-needed public housing.Geoffrey Williamson,Woollahra
Your correspondent must be applauded for pointing out the obvious;that taxing the family home (via stamp duty) works against the best interests of families. We live in a country where landlords actually save tax by investing in property and where rich superannuates (who pay no tax) get tax refunds,which makes taxing the family home look even more insane. Inflated stamp duty on real estate only distorts the real estate market. If you want to tax something,tax landlords.Tom Orren,Wamberal Heights
The obvious disadvantage of the proposed change from stamp duty to land tax,which all commentators seem to have ignored,is it will encourage speculators. Those wanting to own a property for a few years and then “flip” it,will no longer have the deterrent of finding stamp duty up front. Do we really want to encourage speculative investment when property prices are already at a damagingly high level?John Croker,Woonona
There seems to be little attention paid to the obvious alternative to stamp duty imposed on home buyers:stamp duty applied to the seller of the property. After all,the seller has ready cash on hand. This avoids all the convoluted conditions being applied to land tax,and is revenue neutral to the government.Darrall Cutting,Forestville
If I can avoid paying,say,$30,000 in stamp duty,doesn’t that mean I can afford to pay $30,000 more for my purchase,so increasing the cost of housing,not reducing it?Alister Sharp Hunters Hill,
Homeless truths
Please excuse me for being totally underwhelmed by yet another CEO mid-winter sleepout (“”,June 24). Has the level of homelessness decreased in the past 17 years? No,in fact,it has become worse. Raising $72 million in 17 years works out to $4.25m per year,better than nothing,but when the NSW government was planning to spend $25 million on a third flag pole it looks like loose change. Does it raise awareness in the community? We,in the community,are very much aware of homelessness. It’s just as effective as the 40-hour famines.Nicholas Triggs,Katoomba
Mainstream not for all
What a wonderful - and exciting - outcome for Mia and Lara (“”,June 24). Youth Off The Streets is to be congratulated. Maybe other schools can copy what YOTS is doing. Clearly,one size fits all doesn’t work.David Gordon,Cranebrook
One flag,free
Politicians,the Aboriginal flag can be up on the harbour bridge tomorrow for no cost (,June 24). The people of NSW would be happy to forgo the NSW flag flying,for the year it takes to build and the cost of a new flagpole. Let’s be generous,positive and make the statement. Let’s do it today.Jane Waddy,Boronia Park
Solution:more guns
Has America gone completely bonkers (“”,smh.com.au,June 24)? I guess the well-regulated militias with front-loading blunderbusses will be happy.John Burman,Port Macquarie
Diego’s doctors
Illustration:Matt Golding
Sounds like they forced the hand of God (“”,June 24).Mustafa Erem,Terrigal
Let’s leaf it there
I believe the titanic “lettuce to the editor” puns have hit the iceberg (,June 24).Peter Fyfe,Enmore
Postscript
There were plenty of news stories that fired up letter writers this week. Julian Assange’s plight was one. Was the whistleblower’s possible extradition to the US a “vengeful witch-hunt” or a justified action for someone who illegally obtained and distributed classified information? Should the federal government intervene? Letter writers were divided in their responses.
The $25 million cost of building a flagpole on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was described as a “scandalous waste of money”. Many agreed with Max Press of North Sydney that “the solution is simple:leave the Australian flag flying and replace the NSW flag with the Aboriginal flag”. Some suggested all the flags should be taken down:“It was built as a bridge,not a flagpole”.
There were no disagreements about John Barilaro’s controversial appointment as US trade commissioner – all agreed with theHerald‘s editorial published on Friday that sending the former deputy premier to New York could not be justified,at this stage.
And there was no contention about teachers’ decision to strike. “The teachers’ cause for pay increases is justified. The state government has shown its ongoing meanness for our police,nurses and teachers,all of whom worked so hard during the pandemic and deserve to be paid as professionals,” wrote Eira Battaglia of Seaforth.
Many expressed frustration at the state government’s seeming inability to recognise the crucial and increasingly difficult work of teachers. Adrian Clayton of Neutral Bay offered this insight:“I have long held the view that there is an inverse relationship in the social merit between one’s career and what one gets paid. Regrettably,this seems to be ‘the Australian way’“.Pat Stringa,letters editor