2023:And what a year it’s been. Thanks,readers and letter writers.John Shakespeare
1.Pam Timms,Suffolk Park
Shane Wright is right (“”,October 24). As well as costing us all,dual-cab super-utes are little more than statements of macho indulgence and folly. Regrettably,misguided tax breaks from vote-chasing politicians have fed into this foolishness. Remember Michaelia Cash’s impassioned plea to “stand by our tradies” and “save their utes”? Spare me.
The trouble is,the utes we’re saving are actually pretty ute-less. Many tradies need to add a trailer to the back to carry their tools,as the ute’s tray section is not big enough. And tellingly,the biggest tool in the box is often stored right up front in the driver’s seat.
Illustration:John Shakespeare
2.Brian Haisman,Winmalee
God? You there? Look,sorry to trouble you but those Australian Christian Lobby people are again entering dangerous territory (“”,October 5). Their boasting is irritating but their current promotion of “gay conversion therapy” crosses the line into bearing false witness. (Commandment #8,if I remember right.) The problem is obvious. ACL continues to fall into the trap of Bible literalism,a misbegotten belief that surfaced in America (where else?) back in the 1800s. When the scriptural narratives were being crafted and edited during the first couple of centuries after Christ,you got leading church father Origen Adamantius to warn against the errors of literalism. Literal exegesis misses the point entirely,as he sagely noted. Well,here’s a humble suggestion. ACL are trashing the brand. Would it be possible,God,to exert once more your copyright on the title “Christian”? Lead ACL back into the haven of facts and reality. Please. Before they do any more harm.
3.Tim Parker,Balmain
How exciting for us Balmainians to hear of the plans to turn our grim stretch of Victoria Road into a continental-style boulevard (“”,August 7). We denizens of the diamond of the inner west are thrilled at the prospect of promenading in our finery on balmy summer evenings. Perhaps hopping between simple but elegant bars and enotecas,while meeting (perhaps for the first time) the good folk of Rozelle,talk of whom we have heard whispered. Truly a thrill only to be matched by gazing in wonder at our magnificent new sculpture:The Exhaust Stack. What a time to be alive.
Illustration:John Shakespeare
4.Steve Fortey,Avoca Beach
Five wealthy people die tragically at the bottom of the ocean (“”,June 23). It’s catastrophic. Hundreds of desperate,penniless refugees perish at the bottom of the Mediterranean (“,June 20). That’s unfortunate.
5. Alicia Dawson,Balmain
Service providers requesting feedback is like someone plaintively asking “Do you still love me?” My favourite comeback:“I’m with you,aren’t I?” (,March 31).
6. David Gunter,Sydney
The growing calls for more detail on the referendum is breaking my heart. The referendum is a vote on the fair go (“”,March 9). The details of a fair go:everyone,everywhere,all the time,without a grudge,without a frown. There is no other detail to speak of. It is not about the number of payroll clerks,the colour scheme in the waiting room,the music in the lift,the water views from some posh office block. We have been invited by the wronged to live the best tomorrow. The only other detail we need is the collapse date for the Coalition given their savage addiction to irrelevance.
7. Steve Cornelius,Brookvale
If I had said “I am the boss” to my wife or any former girlfriend since 1963,the relationship would have been kaputski in about 10 seconds (“‘,June 29). Besides,what kind of subservient cupcake has responded to “I am the boss” with “Yes,I know” in the last 60 years?
If Liberals are worried about losing votes,I suggest they try hauling themselves out of their Howard-Abbott 1950s mindset and embrace life in the 21st century.
8.Bruce Johnson,Lakewood
Britannia rules the waves. Britannia waives the rules (“”,July 5).
Illustration:John Shakespeare
9.Tony Judge,Woolgoolga
What if we lived our lives by the principle the No case so enthusiastically espouses (“”,July 19)? “If you don’t know,vote No” means we wouldn’t commit to marriage,have children or ever change jobs. We definitely wouldn’t risk pulling someone from a burning car or dragging them out of a rip.
Each of those commitments requires a step into the unknown. We often take them on with misgivings and uncertainty,but with the best information and a sense of hope,knowing that the rewards outweigh our concerns. That’s the key to a good life,the triumph of hope and positivity that lets us do what’s right.
Our country’s future depends on hope,positivity and the courage to do the right thing. Say Yes to a better future.
Illustration:John Shakespeare
10. Robyn Dalziell,Kellyville
I agree that Gladys Berejiklian’s was “no tragic love story”. In terms of public representation of women,this sorry episode is offensively regressive.
Gladys Berejiklian was the second only female premier of NSW,an exceptional privilege given the persistent paucity of women representing roughly half of the population. That Berejiklian forgot this notable privilege under pathetic acquiescence to someone of character,who many would assume she had the intelligence and insight to have assessed,is inexcusable. Did Berejiklian ever consider her impact as a role model on the respect,perceptions and aspirations for women in politics?
It’s depressing that Matt Kean and Mark Speakman make excuses for Berejiklian’s behaviour when conservative politics has a problem with female representation. Or is it that conservatives only want to attract similarly submissive women who will endorse male incompetence and corruption?
This is a not a tragedy,but rather a cheap,tacky insult to the concept of the “love story”.
11. Rob Siebert,Skennars Head
In the discussions at COP28 it has probably emerged that although the climate change catastrophe may be inevitable if the world does nothing,the opportunity for profit in the period immediately before the catastrophe is limitless (“”,December 13). Some would aim not to waste a good catastrophe.
Illustration:John Shakespeare
12. Frederika Steen,Chapel Hill (Qld)
Your editorial barely lifts the scab on the abscess that is “administrative immigration detention”,a cover for systemic dehumanising and unlawful,sadistic punishment of men and women who have fallen foul of immigration visa regulations and law (“”,November 25). The High Court has finally,after 20 years of suffering,righted the wrong of indefinite detention. A courageous minister and government must dismantle a system and a culture that has tortured asylum seekers and others without valid visas,imprisoning them alongside “foreign” non-citizen criminals ejected from state-run penitentiaries on completion of their sentences. Many witnesses to this unholy mix of refugee status claimants and convicted criminals in the corrupt cesspit that was and is Villawood have reported to successive ministers and countless public servants these crimes against humanity,have shouted and documented their outrage at the deaths in custody,the attempted murder of non-criminal inmates,the unravelling of mental health. The very concept of immigration detention centres is rotten. There are other ways to deal with visa regulation transgressions and people exiting prisons. An Albanese government must set out to find lawful and humane ways.
