Vicious attack on people in distress based on myths

In my 45 years as a social worker,robo-debt has stood out as the cruellest and most vicious attack on people in distress I have seen (“Ministers not in the clear:Shorten”,July 11). Contrary to the “welfare cheats” mythology,many of the poor,distressed,vulnerable people I have dealt with in that time did not know their rights,were surprised to hear they might be eligible for something,often feared the application process,or needed considerable help to begin it and often just gave up. If they did apply,and assistance was granted (on pretty strict criteria,believe me),they then lived in an atmosphere of suspense and constant alarm that the assistance would be decreased,or cut altogether,and then where would they be? They were not cheating,they were just desperate. And we failed them.Darryl Cloonan,Ballarat (Vic)

Amid the avalanche of disapproval of Scott Morrison and his merry band as well as their public service enablers,can we please not lose sight of who else is accountable? That would be us. We voted for John Howard’s refugee punishment regime,where this all started. We elected Coalition governments repeatedly despite clear signals of what they were capable of doing to vulnerable people. In fact,we proved that the Coalition’s populist inhumanity was a vote winner.Chris McGregor,Cabarita

My breakfasts are being spoiled by all this talk of a “sealed section” (“Jail threat for abuse of office,lying to royal commission”,July 11). My head immediately fills with unfortunate images of the sealed sections in magazines of old such asPenthouse andCleo,but featuring certain Australian ministers. Once seen,never forgotten. I am forever scarred.Judy Hungerford,North Curl Curl

I see a lot of letter writers are concerned about Morrison’s employment prospects (Letters,July 10). As a former CES officer at Sutherland I’ve given Morrison’s situation some thought,and come to the conclusion he needs a job with very little responsibility. Stop/go person comes to mind,the problem being of course that he just won’t go.Colin Hesse,Marrickville

Morrison,as prime minister,proposed to drug test welfare recipients and provided them with an encouraging insight by famously asserting “the best form of welfare is a job”. However,until he finds a job,luckily Morrison has an alternative:the very best form of welfare,being a taxpayer-funded $230,000 backbencher’s salary. Best of all,he doesn’t have to do anything to earn it,or always turn up.Carlo Ursida,Kensington

He may leave parliament but Morrison’s style of politics will linger under the present Liberal leadership. Witness first the referendum discourse where Dutton’s posturing for a No vote is to be interpreted as a vote for him and therefore against the government. Second,a campaign of misinformation and disinformation is well under way,much of it by implication rather than by bold (contestable) statement. It’s the sort of thing that worked for Donald Trump.William Forbes,Medowie

Keating’s criticism out of step

The world is changing,and America is slipping from its position as the dominant power (“Paul Keating brands NATO boss a ‘supreme fool’ for deepening Asia ties”,July 10). There may never be another dominant power as countries become more entwined. During COVID we saw how interdependent countries have become. While NATO was once focused on one part of the world,it can no longer just look through a single lens,and all alliances must become global. I have great respect for Paul Keating but I don’t understand his opposition.Neville Turbit,Russell Lea

I think it’s time Keating got himself another hobby apart from criticising Australia’s foreign policy activities and the Labor government. The world is a very different place from the time of his political primacy. His ranting feeds into the hands of the current ideas-starved opposition. By all means have an opinion,but share it with Anthony Albanese and the government,rather than just what seems to be headline-seeking and dangerous pot-stirring.Kerry Giuffre,Daceyville

Neither Keating’s opinion piece nor the comments on it have shown much depth. In the northern hemisphere particularly,there is a growing emphasis on nationalism and ethnicity and the concept of the “state” with borders is being questioned. Since the deep oceans have a very fragile protection from international law,we have all the conditions for an arms race and worse. For tiny Australia,a much stronger commitment to the existing United Nations and to bilateral relations with Indonesia has to be at the heart of everything we do. Genuine action on climate change would be a good place to start,and that requires an understanding of the power of widely distributed generation,from Perth to Sydney,which only the government has a real interest in.Noel Thompson,Riverview

Keating is a voice of experience and reason and is perfectly entitled to discuss NATO or anything else (“Fury and falsehood:Keating’s not entitled to his own version of history”,July 11). To compare the Keating comments to Chinese Communist Party propaganda is disrespectful and paranoid.Michael Fox,Pacific Palms

Unfortunately,it appears that former PM Paul Keating may be becoming a confabulator.David Vale,Cremorne Point

Peter Hartcher launches an aggressive attack on Keating over their contrasting views on world affairs. Keating had a political career spanning 27 years,including eight years as treasurer and five years as prime minister. His views are frequently at odds with journalists and other leaders,particularly those who prefer mild-mannered,middle-of-the-road personalities. Given Keating’s decisiveness and level of experience,however,it is no surprise that he still maintains a small but strong band of supporters. I’m pleased to be counted as one of them.Harry Polley,Dural

Leaving aside Keating’s language,he has a point about NATO poking its nose into the Pacific. If any NATO country could really help ease relations with China,there might be some point to it. But it’s a military alliance and if I were Xi,I would be suspicious. I can only see further complications – NATO should stick to and improve on its knitting. So Paul,I’m with you on this one.Paul Everingham,Hamilton

Developing a complex about buildings

I would walk past this development nearly every day during its construction and always wondered how such a tall complex could be built so close to the river (“Patrick’s apartment block has defects. He has nightmares of being buried beneath rubble”,July 11). The entire area sits on clay and every house built in the surrounding area develops cracks of varying degrees. Before this construction was even finished you could see cracks big enough to put your hand through. These were quickly patched with filler when it was obvious the problems required more than a Band-Aid approach. I really feel for the residents who must feel like they are sleeping on a ticking time bomb,waiting to go off. The NSW government must tighten the loopholes that allow developers to go bust only to start trading again under a new name.Peter Miniutti,Ashbury

Surely it’s time for state intervention that puts the NSW Building Commissioner in the shoes of the owners’ corporation. The state can and must go after any culpable parties and some defective buildings should be abandoned. The state is in a position to pursue people however long it takes,including individual directors. This story once again highlights the grossly unfair burden shouldered by innocent people. Buyers have contributed billions in stamp duty,aren’t they entitled to something better in such cases? It is grossly unfair for ordinary people to shoulder this burden.
Jane Hearn,Wollstonecraft

Shadow of the Crown

What a beautiful,visionary plan this is,to fill in the final stage on the Barangaroo strip (“First look at the park that will transform the final stage of Barangaroo”,July 10). More trees,ponds and lawns will surely be welcomed at last,compared to what has been realised on the southern end of this project. It’s a pity that the Crown Casino building should sadly tower over it all. Let’s hope that the planned trees soon grow high and thick enough to give one a more relaxing,shaded outlook towards the northern end of the site. It will bring a much-needed balance to all the concrete and steel that has been prioritised in the area up till now. Maybe a bird or two will find the leafy rebirth equally as welcoming.Greg Vale,Kiama

Donation nation

I applaud PwC’s decision to stop making political donations. It’s a pity our major parties are not taking the lead instead. Often portrayed by the big donors as a means of democratic participation,the system is akin to legal bribery that acts as an impediment to good governance. Just look at health spending – the Pharmacy Guild is the largest health-related donor,while the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association do not donate to political parties. It might go some way to explain why there’s an abundance of chemists but a reducing number of GPs,small practices and a lack of bulk-billing among those left.Marie Healy,Redfern

Spin the wheel

The court may indeed have ruled,based on a legal foundation,that the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority exceeded its authority when taking action against hoteliers (“Court ruling snookers pokie approvals”,July 11). However,one cannot help but find it perplexing that pubs allow the presence of poker machines at all. The combination of alcohol and gambling creates a paradoxical situation wherein intoxicated punters are almost certain to incur greater losses. This parallels the dynamics observed in financial markets where,under Australian Financial Markets Authority regulations,dealing in financial instruments while under the influence of alcohol is a dismissable offence. It is evident that measures should be taken to prevent the convergence of alcohol and gambling,considering the potential adverse impact they can have on individuals and society as a whole.John Kempler,Rose Bay

Left right out

George Brandis has some things right about working-class politics today (Letters,July 11). I grew up in a working-class family in a working-class suburb,with Labor members of parliament;I now live in a middle-class suburb with Liberal members of parliament,but I am a third-generation Labor supporter. I don’t recognise the party I grew up in,nor many of the people who belong to it,and the issues they are passionate about seem to me to be peripheral to the traditional values of the party. Many of the people I grew up with now support the Liberals because they have retained traditional social values. My values are traditional and Christian;I find it difficult to align myself with those who are progressive – their term – and increasingly intolerant of other views. This country is becoming less tolerant and less inclusive by the day.Vivienne Parsons,Thornleigh

On the roads again

Bruce Clysdale (Letters,July 11),I sympathise with your concerns about slow roadworks in the Central West. On the NSW Central Coast we have experienced four years of traffic mayhem while one kilometre of the Pacific Highway has been widened at Lisarow. As with your situation,once finally completed this will simply move the peak hour traffic snarl one kilometre further down the road. I suspect these slow upgrades to regional roads are a result of the state government stretching funding out over increasingly longer periods of time so they can have more projects on the go and appear to be doing something for regional areas.Greg Frohlich,Narara

Speaking of NSW road projects starved of funds,Wakehurst Parkway opened in 1946,but despite dealing with huge amounts of traffic to and from the northern beaches,it remains at two lanes. Currently $13 million has been allocated for “Band-Aid” flood mitigation. This may go some way to preventing closure quite so often,as at present any time there is a prolonged heavy shower of rain it has to close. Formerly a “blue ribbon” Liberal seat,now it is represented by Zali Steggall who is doing what she can but without a controlling vote in parliament it’s unlikely this situation will change any time soon.Judith Rostron,Killarney Heights

Job well done

I was going through old photo albums on the weekend (Letters,July 11). I came across two beautiful handwritten cards with drawings by our sons when they were young. Their words of love and thanks for being supportive,wonderful parents made us tear up. Now that we are empty-nesters and our sons are adults,we know we have done a good job in raising them.Angie Miller,Bondi Junction

Dying for liver

Many years ago,while working in the far south-west of Queensland,I called into the Toompine pub. “What’s for lunch?” I asked. “Lambs fry,but you’ll have to kill the sheep first,” was the reply.Neil Nicoll,Waverton

Blustery Sky

Sky News launching a dedicated channel on the Voice referendum is a bit like having the big bad wolf holding an inquiry into why two of the little pigs’ houses blew down (“Watch out,middle Australia – the Voice is about to be blown Sky high”,June 25).Robert Hickey,Green Point

Seat of Knowledge

A quick solution,pin a large poster of tables on the inside of the toilet door (“‘Struggle to add,subtract,multiply’:One high school principal’s plea to fix students’ maths skills”,July 8)
Kate Fraser,Scone

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted most reader feedback yesterday onsmh.com.au.

Fury and falsehood:Keating’s not entitled to his own version of history

FromEric Olthwaite:“Keating is still worth listening to. He was 100% right on AUKUS and this time he’s simply warning us that warmongering only leads to one thing,war.”