Study after study demonstrates the mental health benefits of being in nature,whether your own garden or a national park. Perhaps we need to ask what our citizens actually want:I doubt it is 800,000 more people competing for accommodation each year in order to keep wages down,while 2 million houses sit empty and we render koalas and other wildlife extinct by destroying what’s left of their habitat. It’s time to lie in front of bulldozers and say “No,this is not the country we want for ourselves”.Eva Elbourne,Pennant Hills
As heritage homes disappear,streetscapes will change.
As a newish resident of Croydon,I am compelled to suggest the premier is shortsighted in overriding hard-won heritage listings for 39 suburbs. I am aware we all live on once-pristine Aboriginal land. But our history is also in our significant European historical structures and surrounding areas. They must remain,to tell the story and give meaning and enjoyment for current and future generations.
I know people must be housed and I sympathise with those in need,but once heritage is destroyed,it is tragically lost forever. And we have seen this countless times throughout Australia. Premier,consider your legacy,and its impact on history,and us all.Jennifer Fergus,Croydon
There is a balance between heritage protection and new building that becomes the heritage of the future. The challenge will be to manage the transition sensitively to the new. Will great swaths of character-filled areas lose their distinctive building and landscape forms in a rush to build much-needed housing? Now there’s a challenge for the state government,the branch of government that historically has the power to,and does,override local government in planning matters. These changes need to be sensitively managed to preserve,enhance,accommodate and satisfy the wishes of all in the community.Lyn Langtry,East Ryde
Residents of Balmain/Rozelle,contemplate this scenario. Next door to you is an old Federation home with a 10-metre frontage. With these new zoning rules,the owner of that property puts up their place for sale assuming a two-storey duplex can be built on the land. Say goodbye to local heritage and sunlight,say hello to overshadowing and loss of privacy. Of course,this policy will force up the asking price of homes in the area. Great result for homebuyers.Graham Lawson,Birchgrove
The ghosts of the developers and governments who wanted to knock down The Rocks and Kings Cross must be looking at the current NSW government’s development proposals with envy. No pesky unions to stop the demolition of old buildings and precincts (green bans are illegal) and,of course,the apparent moral imperative of housing for all. Even the ghosts of developers past know only too well that housing built for profit is about profit and not access to housing. The barbarians have truly taken over.Colin Hesse,Marrickville
Actors are not exactly supporting Hamas
I just don’t get it (“”,December 9). A few actors don a keffiyeh supporting Palestinians caught up in the war and all hell breaks loose. Wealthy donors and people of influence are suddenly withdrawing financial assistance in outrage. It’s not that these actors are supporting Hamas but feel troubled like many of us in witnessing what appears to be a slaughter of thousands of civilians because they live in the Gaza Strip. We all acknowledge the atrocity of October 7 but how many more innocent people have to be killed each day before its stopped?Con Vaitsas,Ashbury
Your writers quote Louise Adler asking “arts organisations across the country declared their support for Ukraine when Russia invaded,why is this any different?” The answer is simple:Russia invaded Ukraine – arts organisations expressed their support for the invaded entity. In this case,the invaded entity was Israel. The actors would have shown more understanding with support and sympathy for the real victims of the invasion and barbarity which instigated this conflict.Alan Slade,Dover Heights
I am a grateful migrant to this lucky country,and yet what is happening in Gaza haunts me. The onslaught of bombing in Gaza,killing thousands of innocent people,must be condemned by the international community without exception.Alison Hynes,North Ryde
Illustration:Matt Golding
Why is it that if someone shows support or recognition of one side/party/case,it is assumed that they are against the other side. Three young actors wear a simple article of clothing and the media and the theatrical world goes crazy. This whole “your either for us or against us” idea is tearing our society apart. If we can’t get back to having respectful debate,and above all listening to differing views,I despair for our future and our children.Nick Sharp,Warrawong
I have a lot of respect for Foreign Minister Penny Wong,but she needs to get off the fence (‘She’ll get the red carpet’:Penny Wong to visit Israel,West Bank”,December 9). She must insist on also visiting Gaza.
She needs to witness first hand the obliteration of a city which was home to millions of people,and in which thousands of young children have been killed. She should meet the surviving and bereaved of Gaza,just as inevitably as she meets the family members of innocent Israeli victims killed by Hamas attacks on October 7. Only then will her trip be truly meaningful.
One hopes that when she returns,she shares her experiences and thoughts candidly with the Australian people without fear and without filters.Darshak Mehta,Mosman
Pay ambos their real worth
I condemn the NSW Health Minister for playing politics over pay negotiations with paramedics (“”,December 10). As a “frequent flier” with ambulances and emergency personnel due to my neurological disease and other serious ailments,I have first-hand experience of the efficiency,compassion and competence of these professionals. At first I thought refusing a pay offer of 19 per cent was a bit churlish,until I checked their annual salary of less than $80,000 a year. I believe they deserve every bit of their pay demands and more.Bruce Mumford,Moss Vale
‘Reform’ robbed the people
Peter Hartcher gets it right (“”,December 10). He is spot-on in saying that “for the last few decades,we’ve experienced the dominance of an economic system that rewards people already doing well and makes it harder for people to build a life from their own hard work and effort”. Economic rationalism,or neo-liberalism,is indeed a broken system that was set in place in the May 1985 budget as the Hawke-Labor government capitulated to the overwhelming power of big business and corporations and gave these vested interests most of what they demanded with the curse we so blithely call “economic reform”. Thereafter,the Howard government stripped away most of the remaining protections,abandoned all pretences to conscientious liberalism and delivered middle Australia bound and gagged to corporate interests. As the record shows,the Coalition became an “up” escalator that moves income,wealth and power from the broad middle to the top end. It has given us a hollowed-out middle class,trashed our history of income moderation and set us on the Trump and UK road to social disintegration. We must hope that the Albanese government continues to claw back some of what has been stolen from us.Michael Pusey,Waverley
Fossil fuels killing us
Australia was one of the first countries requiring health warnings on tobacco products,so how about taking the lead with health warnings on fossil fuel products (“”,December 9)? How about constant reminders to everyone as we go about our daily lives of how dangerous our addiction to fossil fuels can be.
With 2023 declared the warmest year on record,monthly records tumbling and the global temperature increase nudging the 1.5C danger zone,surely it’s time to make it illegal to sell any fossil fuel product without a clear consumer warning on petrol/diesel nozzles at service stations,on all new gas stoves,heaters,hot water services and LPG cylinders,on advertisements and tickets for air travel and cruises. Such warnings have proven to be one of the most cost-effective and powerful ways to increase public awareness of serious health risks.Rob Firth,Red Hill (ACT)
Is it a fair COP?Matt Golding
Nukes not the answer
The UN COP28 climate change summit in Dubai has put nuclear power back on the energy menu (“”,December 9). If you wish to know the full truth about nuclear power,go to Idaho,an obscure US state,jammed up against the Canada border. I spent a year at the University of Idaho teaching beside a former nuclear submariner. He left the service to get a life. I was surprised to learn Idaho,a state 800km inland from the west coast,was the location of nuclear submarine training and disposal of spent uranium fuel. The hot sludge kept bursting its concrete containers and necessitated further re-potting and so on. The problem is what happens afterwards. How do you get rid of the stuff for 100,000 years? No one has an answer. Best not create the problem if you don’t have a solution. That’s not counting Chernobyl,Windscale,Three Mile Island,Fukushima – the list goes on. If nuclear power is unsafe without a manageable process to dispose of the uranium fuel afterwards,isn’t it best to leave it in the ground? Besides,there are far cheaper and safer alternatives.Phillip Drew,Annandale
No flood of pollies
Many residents of Yamba are keen to have the premier and planning minister visit and see for themselves the seemingly never-ending construction of new buildings on mountains of fill on a floodplain (,December 9). With neither a railway station or a racecourse,we’re pushing the proverbial uphill with an icy pole stick in our endeavours to get them here.
What other features do our politicians favour? We have plenty of beaches and mostly lots of sunshine,so they should bring their cozzies,towels,hats and sunscreen. On the other hand,when there’s flooding,there are street scenes reminiscent of Venice.Col Shephard,Yamba
Teachers,be prepared
In my first year of teaching in 1971,I had 45 students in a science laboratory,at least half as large again as a regular classroom (,December 10). These days,the teachers federation wouldn’t allow it. Sage advice from my mother with decades of teaching experience:“Start tough – you can always ease up later,but it is very difficult to do it in reverse order”. There was also a lesson I learnt the hard way – trying to wing it after arriving inadequately prepared for my 4D class (probably after a party the previous night). Chaos ensued! Order had to be restored by a senior PE teacher from the staffroom next door,which was embarrassing! Be well prepared,keep students engaged and don’t give them time to become disruptive.Geoffrey Watson,Gulmarrad
As a teacher who resigned some 15 years ago after feeling dispirited,worn out,humiliated and broken by her attempts to “teach” in her school that was beset by horrific behavioural issues - and being blamed for “not coping” - I think the current focus on discipline issues in schools is long overdue. How can a teacher teach or a child learn when children are out of seats,throwing chairs,yelling,hitting teachers,on phones and refusing to listen? You cannot,and the teacher is blamed for “not making the lesson interesting”. Any attempts at enforcing discipline are thwarted by teachers not being able to impose any appropriate sanction or indeed suggest to the child or parent that their behaviour is not appropriate – as evidenced by a teacher friend who was directed by the school to apologise to the parent and child for suggesting their child’s behaviour was not acceptable. As a society,we are failing teachers and children by allowing this to go on. Things need to change.Catherine Kembrey,Albury
They’re hardly racing
Many years ago,Warwick Farm and Canterbury were relegated to mid-week or a few night meetings because no one attended races there (,December 10). If the ATC hierarchy believes this will change,I’ve got a bridge to sell to them. Many people from west,north and north-west of Parramatta go to Rosehill. They won’t go to Warwick Farm or Canterbury.Mark Kilminster,Castle Hill
Speak up and stop it
I was saddened to hear about the poor standard of behaviour exhibited by the passenger seated next to Malcolm Knox (“” December 9). Keeping quiet and not challenging bad behaviour really endorses and entrenches such selfish and possibly dangerous behaviour in the air. It is possible to calmly object. A polite “do you mind”? Or offering a mask could not be considered incendiary. Airline staff also should be providing for all passengers. Japanese culture stresses it’s the nail that sticks out that gets hammered in,not the one that is in place. And don’t get me started on road use.Terese Archibald,Enmore
Grounded.Simon Letch
We are a divided country and politicians are experts at exploiting it. The electorate willingly go along for the ride. Progress and good policy are the casualties.Mike Keene,Stanwell Park
Knox’s analysis of our national mood is simply brilliant. Nail hit precisely on head.Angela Namoi,Crows Nest
Bitumen prison
Given the recent traffic impact of the Rozelle interchange on Balmain residents (,December 10),perhaps the suburb should be renamed Hotel California because “you can check out but you can never leave” (apologies to the Eagles).Brian Leader,Glebe