Dutton’s apology for not apologising a feeble ploy

Peter Dutton admits he was in the wrong when he failed to endorse the national apology to the stolen generations (“Dutton sorry,again,for shunning stolen generations apology in 2008”,February 14). Lets all hope this man has learnt from his mistake,stops playing inane political games,and gets onboard with the Voice. To paraphrase Oscar Wilde - to be on the wrong side of history once may be regarded as misfortune,twice would be carelessness.
Bill Young,Killcare Heights

The story about Peter Dutton simply highlights just how tone-deaf he is without the protections of government office. On a more serious note,invoking his police service as the reason for his tin ear in 2008 is simply disingenuous. It taints the service of all police as it suggests that those who swear an oath to serve all the community are somehow incapable of differentiating the societal/cultural effects of generational systemic government neglect,poverty,land theft,genocide,inequitable access to health,work and education suffered by our Indigenous people. I’d argue,given his various controversial remarks over the years concerning immigrants,refugees,asylum seekers,African gangs in Melbourne,South African farmers and so on,his musings in parliament demonstrated a less than serious reversal of his thinking. A feeble,self-serving attempt seeking forgiveness for political reasons.Bernard Stever,Richmond

Peter Dutton must surely understand why it will neither be forgiven nor forgotten that he boycotted Kevin Rudd’s sorry speech to Indigenous Australians and that he voted No in the same-sex marriage plebiscite. Both were acts of political bastardry and will remain ever thus. His appeal for redemption based on the argument he was merely using symbolism to make his point will go unheard. It’s likely his current support of the No vote on the Voice will prove another grave error of judgment that will also be neither forgiven nor forgotten. Will this man ever learn?Donna Wiemann,Balmain

Fifteen years ago,the likes of Dutton was part of the problem about which Kevin Rudd offered a gracious apology to our Indigenous people. Fast-forward to 2023 and as part of a strategy to not only remain Liberal leader but perhaps return his party to power,Dutton offers a cringing excuse of an apology for being away during Rudd’s 2008 speech. This is no act of redemption;rather desperation at how the tide has turned and regret at having walked out. Genuine redemption would entail Dutton’s own apology to the stolen generations and support for the Voice to parliament.Fred Jansohn,Rose Bay

Sorry for not being sorry? How does that work? Without a reparative gesture,will they become just another set of meaningless words? Time to put your money where your mouth is,Peter Dutton.Anna Searls,Randwick

Rather than doubting the veracity of Dutton’s apology,I would focus on the principles that guided his decision. Seeking the good of others,without counting the cost,should be at the forefront. Practical help and recompense are needed,but compassion and truth are equally,if not more,important in redressing wrong and building reconciliation.Philip Cooney,Wentworth Falls

Children will pay the price for poor urban planning

I am one of the many residents who have objected to the light industrial site on Lords Road,Leichhardt changing into yet another series of high-rise residential buildings (“Development sagas show why planning is broken”,February 14). Importantly,this site abuts the Lambert Park sports field,where elevated lighting allows for soccer to be played at all hours,both day and night. The approval for residential buildings next to the sports ground would be devastating to the thousands of kids who play there.Karen Eldridge,Leichhardt

My stepson is in the top 4 per cent of earners and cannot afford a house in Sydney. Yet our government is putting 85,000 more people a year into this mess it created. Now,out of our five children,three live hundreds of kilometres out of Sydney while the other two pay exorbitant rents to stay here. Most of our politicians have a conflict of interest over negative gearing,while none have a clue of how to fix the situation.Duncan Cameron,Lane Cove

Instead of continuing to approve monstrous developments that by necessity must rise into the clouds to justify Sydney’s outrageous property prices,can we not address the cause? If governments could make the brave decision to view home ownership as a human need,not an investment,and tighten rules that allow foreign investors to park money in Australia’s residential property,more homes would become available and prices should ease. This could accompany increased investment in social and low-income housing and preference people-friendly,low-rise townhouse developments with accompanying infrastructure.Alison Stewart,Riverview

Overdevelopment has become a big problem in rural NSW. Our area has had proposals for three solar farms in recent times but,to date,no approvals granted. However,approvals for housing estates and a multi-storey building have huge support. Those against solar farms claim they are taking up agricultural land but are more than happy to build homes there. Solar farms can be run with sheep farming,still making good use of agricultural land.Robyn Lewis,Raglan

A total lack of planning is obvious when sites like those in Leichhardt and Balmain are left unused for up to 25 years. Imagine if five-storey residential blocks had been built back then,with 30 per cent dedicated social housing,public gardens,commercial or art spaces. We would have been reaping those rewards for decades,but instead we have failed. Shameful.Helen Lewin,Tumbi Umbi

Banks must pass on $20b windfall

Shane Wright argues that many fixed-rate mortgages will tip over a cliff as a consequence of interest rate rises (“Fixed mortgage holders face $16,500 repayment shock,” February 14). Further,that this could punch a $20 billion hole in the economy. So,where does this $20 billion in extra interest payments go? To the banks,yes,but why does this mean that it is now dead to the economy? Will the banks spend or invest it,give some to shareholders to spend,pay bigger bonuses to executives to spend? Could someone help with tracking down the path of the money that falls off the cliff? If it goes to fat cats to spend while punishing new home owners,it is a nasty kind of strategy.Alan Russell,Netherby (SA)

Mortgage holders may well lose $20 billion in spending power due to a significant interest rate spike after their fixed interest rate period expires,but others will benefit from this. Bank deposit rates should be increased,if only the banks could be a bit more generous,providing more income for depositors. Furthermore,needless to say,bank profits will soar. The latter should be passed on in share dividends,which will provide more spending power to fortunate shareholders.Geoff Harding,Chatswood

All the squawking about interest rates settings is more about consumers’ need for instant gratification and their “buy now,pay later” lifestyle than anything else. This can be easily fixed. People need to adjust their expectations and spending habits,just as past generations did to survive. As a certain prime minister once said,“Life wasn’t meant to be easy.”Bruce Clydsdale,Bathurst

Smart tax

I like your correspondent’s idea (Letters,February 14) of making the RBA the agency for adjusting the mix and levels of tax to meet the government’s spending requirements,but think this might be a few levers too far. How about just giving the RBA a “GST adjustment” lever,allowing it to apply an increase or decrease of up to,say,1 per cent to GST? This would give an immediate brake (or acceleration) to spending,which would be much more effective and much fairer than the “interest rate” lever,which only affects the one-third of the population with mortgages,and which takes months to show an impact on the economy.Dick Pollitt,Mosman

Tough tactics

Endeavour Group controls 300 poker machine venues across the state (“Cashless is an evolution:Endeavour boss”,February 14). The group’s head honcho,Steve Donohue,does not fear the state government’s introduction of a cashless gaming card,describing it as an “evolution”. Maybe Donohue doesn’t fear the card,as it would help,rather than hinder,habitual pokie players. If the NSW public really wants an end to the scourge of the poker machine,it could look to Australia’s successful anti-smoking campaign. Big lurid warnings could be displayed on every machine and prices increased. The latter could be achieved by reducing poker machine payouts and increasing state pokies taxes. Clubs and pubs would be forced to reinvent themselves and patrons could pay more for meals and other subsidised club services.Geoff Black,Caves Beach

Question of power

The article about Israeli’s Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plan to limit the country’s Supreme Court’s authority to strike down legislation (“Israelis warned powder keg may explode”,February 14) gives us pause. Namely,where does the power to legislate (or strike down legislation) come from?
Netanyahu argues that it is only the duly elected representatives (of the people) who have that right. This is a similar argument to that by US president Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his bid to stack the US Supreme Court to overcome the perceived intransigence to his New Deal legislation during the Depression in the 1930s. That bid failed. But the question remains,from where does this power derive? Some US states recognise this by electing their judges. But is that the answer?Pasquale Vartuli,Wahroonga

Glass v plastic

Your correspondent (Letters,February 14) seemingly oversimplifies the elimination of plastic packaging. She wishes to replace plastic bottles for liquids with another material. Before the invention of plastics,most small holders for liquids were made of glass. It was cheap,readily available and did not contaminate the product. The same applies to plastic bottles. Your correspondent ignores glass’s limitations:easy to break,hazardous when broken and heavy,especially compared with polyethylene and polypropylene,which greatly increases transport costs and fuel use. The manufacture of glass bottles requires far more energy than plastic bottles. Both glass and plastics are recyclable,but most plastics do not blend successfully with similar but different plastics,so sorting is far harder.Dave Williams,Port Macquarie

Campaign funding

The Coalition has demanded equal funding for the Yes and No Voice campaigns (“Dutton abstained from apology due to fears of compensation”,February 14). Imagine if Moses had to give equal funding for Yes and No responses for each of the Ten Commandments. Some things are so obvious that the thought of there being two opposing views of equal merit is risible.Penelope Graham,Kensington

So long,earthlings

Isn’t it obvious (“New cold war or plain hot air?”,February 14)? The aliens controlling the four UFOs shot down by America are manipulating America and China so that the two superpowers start a nuclear war,which wipes out our civilisation so that our world is a blank canvas for alien settlement. What else could it be?Rob Phillips,North Epping

Share the love

Really? $150 for 12 red roses (“The Valentine’s rose has wilted”,February 14)? If your gift just has to be red,then why not donate to the Red Cross? Then you’ll know the show of love will last a lot longer.Heather Lindsay,Woonona

West’s long memory

Your correspondent (Letters,February 14) thinks that the northern beaches is envious of western Sydney due to the election focus. How do you think we felt during lockdown? We have not forgotten.Todd Hillsley,Homebush

Online beats landline

Your correspondent (Letters,February 14) begins by claiming she doesn’t “need” a mobile phone,then goes on to disprove her own assertion by describing how it’s essential to her daily life. “Need”,indeed.Angus McLeod,Cremorne (Vic)

Multitasking mums

I regularly walk for pleasure. What I have deduced is that young women with a child and a dog will need to evolve with two extra arms. One to push the stroller,one to hold the dog’s lead,one to hold the mobile and one to hold the coffee.Terry Orme,Beacon Hill

Inflation talk hot air?

If there were no economists,would we still have inflation?Bob Atchison,Quirindi

The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday onsmh.com.au
‘May as well do nothing’:Buyback of 2000 pokie machines ‘won’t cut it’
FromFlorence from Firenze:″⁣What started as a good idea is now so tangled up that nothing will happen until after the election,no matter who wins.″⁣

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