The premier’s “spit the dummy” approach to the transport dispute negotiations is possibly driven by political factors – a looming election and ministerial crises – as much as the need to resolve the crisis (“”,September 1). Public opinion is divided,with state employed professions such as nursing and teaching also needing to break the decades-long salary cap,while responding to the pandemic’s labour shortages and coping with unforgiving working conditions. Hitting the “detonate button” is a desperate amplification which could have dire consequences for the government at the ballot box next year.Vanessa Tennent,Oatley
In 2012 Gladys Berejiklian,the transport minister at the time,announced the axing of 450 rail maintenance jobs and stated that station staff could take up some of the slack (“”,September 1). The next transport minister oversaw the procurement of ferries with asbestos,riverboats that could decapitate passengers travelling on the deck and light rail carriages with structural cracks. The current minister,David Elliott,claimed ignorance of a cancellation of every train on the network that was ordered by his own staff and instead blamed train crews.
With this cavalier attitude to public transport by Liberal politicians,I suggest the premier’s escalation of the rail dispute is ill-advised. He should be trying to resolve it by consulting with those who understand transport safety matters,rather than engaging in petty political point scoring.Jackie Allen,Faulconbridge
If the union was more truthful with the public,they would get more support. The latest round of strike action by the union has very little to do with passenger safety. It is all about preserving the now irrelevant role of the train guard. These people have been assured of employment elsewhere in the system but seem very keen to continue “working” in a non-job. The union is using the long-suffering public as cannon fodder.Tony Gapes,Pymble
Imagine I ordered a new custom bike. When it is delivered I don’t think it is safe and refuse to pay for it. I then claim it is too expensive. If I thought I had a valid claim,I could take it through the legal process and let an independent arbiter make a decision. Probably sort it out in a few months. However,if it is trains,unions and governments,it drags on for years. Now we have “war”. The problem is no clear process for resolution when the parties reach an impasse. Just keep beating one another over the head with PR releases. Why is there no independent arbitration process?Neville Turbit,Russell Lea
Illustration:John Shakespeare
With the suppression of wages and salary under the Coalition is it any wonder we have enormous industrial unrest – as the state government sits on its hands. We have lost half of our teachers and nurses from burnout. It is now time for the government to step up staff levels and pay for ambos,teachers,doctors,bus drivers,train drivers,and firemen and women.
This will require funding. Logic says it’s time for the taxpayer,if it wants these services we expect and need,to pay for them. With an election so near this increase is highly unlikely but blind Freddy can see this is the only way forward. Cost-cutting of these services over the years is the reason we are in this situation.Mitch McTavish,Cootamundra
To save space,could we be informed of which front-line public sector unions are not in dispute with the NSW government?Graeme Finn,Summer Hill
Easing of restrictions is alarming for older people
I notice in the COVID statistics that COVID deaths in Australia in August were close to 2000,which means an average of 64 people losing their lives per day (“”,September 1). If that was a death rate from war,road accidents or murder,there would be collective outrage,but the government is willing to reduce the isolation period to five days and allow unmasked people on domestic flights from September 10. I can see the economic reasoning – which I think is shortsighted – behind getting people back to work after five days,but wearing a mask is such a small inconvenience for a potential large gain. But then,the majority of deaths are in the over-seventies. I am 78,well vaccinated but with two autoimmune diseases,so perhaps I am just cynical? And I am unhappy as I am due to take a long-awaited holiday on September 11 which involves a four-hour flight with potentially unmasked passengers.June Robertson,Wagga Wagga
The move towards relaxing COVID isolation rules is alarming. COVID is far from over with scores of elderly and other vulnerable people dying daily in NSW. I wonder if the cavalier attitude and emphasis on “personal responsibility”,as distinct from community responsibility,would be different if it were children dying.Kay Dunne,Bondi
I question the wisdom of the federal government’s decision to reduce the isolation period from seven days to five. I am not an epidemiologist,but I question if it is wise to assume,as now appears to be the case,that a new and more deadly Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus will not appear any time soon. The decision to abandon the requirement to wear masks on domestic flights is also questionable. I,for one,would not want to travel in a large,airtight capsule on the brave assumption that none of my fellow passengers is carrying,or perhaps even infected with,highly transmissible COVID-19.Douglas Mackenzie,Deakin (ACT)
What is the downside of requiring mask wearing during plane flights,for heaven’s sake? Not doing so almost guarantees the vulnerable and elderly will stop travelling by air,if they’ve got any sense.Peter Lake,Glen Osmond
During lockdowns in NSW,the then Premier trotted out the health experts on a daily basis to support her tough decisions. Now,both state and federal governments,ignoring the health professionals,tell us it’s a personal responsibility to protect the community by doing the right thing. I know who I believe,and it’s not the pollies. Getting the economy going obviously overrides sensible health and safety issues.Denis Suttling,Newport Beach
Gorbachev showed compassion
I have very personal reasons to admire Mikhail Gorbachev’s vision for a new world (“”,September 1). For the first 31 years of my life,I had never met or spoken with any of my Ukrainian father’s family. For all those years,Ukrainians could not leave the Soviet Union,and nobody could contact anyone in the West. Nor could my father,or our family,visit his remaining relatives in Ukraine. Then suddenly,the Berlin Wall fell,and in 1989 my father’s youngest brother and his wife arrived in Sydney for a visit. Dad had not seen,or heard from Fedor since they parted ways in World War II. I thank Gorbachev for his humanity. I hate Vladimir Putin for planning to return Ukraine to those times.Ann Panylyk,Seaforth
Put Voice into law
It is disappointing to hear a vocal minority opposing the referendum on the Voice to parliament (“Greens senator attacks Voice referendum as waste of money”,September 1). The stance of Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Tony Abbott is not unexpected;the Coalition seems determined to oppose everything,irrespective of merit. But if Linda Thorpe is giving us the Greens’ position,it might be another case of the unattainably perfect blocking the achievable good – an attitude which gave us 10 years inaction on climate policy. The point of the referendum is to prevent an incoming government abolishing a Voice that had only been legislated. But given the vocal opposition,the best way forward might be for the government to legislate the Voice. Once it has demonstrated that the Voice offers no threat to parliament,as it surely will,then it can be taken to a referendum. That way,opponents will be disarmed,time and money will be saved and recommendations of the royal commissions can be implemented at the same time.Ron Pretty,Farmborough Heights
Hear them roar
Chris Wallace exposes the extent to which the balance is shifting in favour of women in public decision-making roles (“”,September 1). The numbers are compelling and the prognosis so far is promising,but it’s not only a matter of numerical strength. The recent election provides some further clues to why we’re finally seeing women have more impact:there’s a new spirit of co-operation and a desire for genuine collaboration,combined with frustration with traditional hierarchies and methods. We’re moving from confrontation dominated by men to negotiation facilitated by women — and not a moment too soon.Jenifer Nicholls,Armadale (Vic)
Knox incident fallout
The school has done the right thing in censuring those involved (“Knox Grammar students suspended after posting offensive messages in chat group”,September 1). Who censures them when they are out in the big,wide,real world? Who has the capacity to fight this insidious filth on an individual basis?Lee-Ann Groblicka,Turramurra
Where do the expelled Knox Grammar students go? Again,the under-funded public system will be expected to clean up the mess. It’s time these wealthy private schools took responsibility for rehabilitating troubled students.Sarah Johnson,Sandy Bay (TAS)
Cosmetics calamity
It’s such a first-world problem,the amoral commercially driven cosmetic surgeons;so opposite to the amazing plastic surgery teams who visit places that have real needs,like Vanuatu,fixing burn scars,cleft palates,birth defects and squints free (“”,September 1). The rogue surgeons aren’t meeting real human needs,like those genuine plastic surgeons willing to spend their holidays doing essential surgery. Commercial cosmetic surgery could be controlled with a few regulations written in consultation with groups such as Nicola Dean’s professional society,at no loss to Australia’s health. Why is that so hard?Barry Laing,Castle Cove
Far from fair way
What shall it profit a golfer if he should score a motza but lose the whole? That’s the question facing Cameron Smith before his imminent arrival at the travelling Saudi Arabian circus (“‘”,September 1).
Recent British Open winner Smith will receive riches rivalling if not Greg Norman’s then at least those of Croesus,but at what cost? If Smith retired tomorrow and never picked up another club,he could live a millionaire’s life for the rest of his days. Now he’s accepted the Norman enticement,he can live a squillionaire’s life.
But opinion will be divided on the fairways,clubhouses and in front of TVs,and any future PGA or grand slam wins will carry a taint. Smith might say he’s his own man but he needed a good caddie’s advice.
Norman might need Smith to add a young big name to the old names taking the riches in glorified exhibitions where no-one cares who wins or loses,but Smith doesn’t need Norman. Fortunately,the Shark has another shark to turn to. He could invite his good mate Donald Trump to play in the US exhibitions and allow him unlimited mulligans. That will bring the crowds back to golf,dominate coverage and hit the PGA tour into the rough. Everyone will be a winner,except golf and humanity.John Macdonald,Kings Langley
A couple of questions for the sports people joining Saudi-financed sporting enterprises. Are the Saudis making any significant funds available to women’s sporting competitions? If they are not,does that bother them?Ross Storey,Normanhurst
Abolish education fees
I grew up in what were then considered the western suburbs and went to the University of Sydney in the ’60s,September 1). I am forever grateful for the Commonwealth scholarship which paid my fees and a means-tested living allowance. There were also scholarships for those training to be teachers. Abolishing university and TAFE fees would be the greatest contribution to improving equity of access to tertiary education and training the skilled workers the country so desperately needs.Judith Campbell,Drummoyne
My generation
I,too,was taken aback when those born between 1926 and 1945 were described as “the silent generation”. And I like Anne Ring’s idea of referring to them as “Generation V” (“”,September 1). I suppose that means we baby boomers will become “Generation W”.John Lees,Castlecrag
Why do we let others label generations – does the label make one a lesser or better person? Do the people born during the great depression,who watched fathers off to war and faced later traumas when shattered men returned need to be labelled? Did the children from later generations whose parents travelled from afar to find a new way of life enjoy being called “wogs” or worse? I do not want to conform to any label. If I want to be quiet,I will be. If I want to kick up a stink about an injustice I will;but please do not label me,it is insulting.
Patricia Slidziunas,Woonona
Lost moment
A mere 104 days ago the federal Liberal Party was still in power and wrecking the joint. Now they’re sulking on the sideline refusing to help clean up their mess (“”,smh.com.au,September 1).Howard Charles,Annandale
I wonder if Peter Dutton and the Liberal Party can hear that whooshing sound? It’s the world passing them by.
Denis O’Brien,Orange
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on
Frommark636:″And fall on his sword he will. Unsafe trains and insulting wage offers to teachers,nurses,police and fire fighters in our rely on volunteers state. Bring it!″