If you think about it,the Australian Open is a few hours of entertaining sport. COVID-19 is a life-changing and in some cases a life-ending disease. Greg Baum is correct (“”,October 26). Perhaps pressure on the sponsors of the Australian Open to boycott their brands if players are not required to show they are fully vaccinated will help Tennis Australia with their decision and come next January we will be enjoying the tennis,watching players who respect their Australian fans.Elizabeth Morgan,Manly
If any state or federal government caves in to movie stars or sports personalities,they are sending a powerful message to the hoi-polloi that rules only apply to the masses. Baum is sending a clear message to all governments stating that they must “read the whole room not just the locker room”. Special rules for some is simply asking for more social disobedience by a small minority.Denis Suttling,Newport Beach
Memo to Novak Djokovic:I tried the “My vaccination status is nobody’s business” line at a restaurant the other night. It didn’t work.Jim Dewar,North Gosford
Every Saturday,some of our locals attend the community hall as a sewing group. Soon after the COVID rules were announced,one of the members was excluded. She has immunity issues and is not vaccinated. Last week a table and chair was set up outside so she could partly join in. Perhaps Tennis Australia could do the same for Djokovic,although it may be hard work for him to return serve from outside the stadium.Ken Osborne,Bowraville
I had to lay off one of my best staff because he is not allowed at our worksites due to being vaccine hesitant,but sports people on multimillion-dollar salaries will be able to work without having the vaccine. This sort of inconsistency will eat away at public goodwill to respond appropriately to the next health crisis.Frank Gasparre,Eastwood
Illustration:John Shakespeare
It is gratifying to have Peter Hartcher highlight the almost hidden deficiencies of our Western lifestyles and how these deficiencies will bring our world to its knees far quicker than any climate change (“”,October 26). By being the over-privileged white elite,we fail to see the rights of all humanity to a safe and secure life,and it is this arrogance that will destroy our economies quicker than any other event. We may be a step ahead of COVID right now,but with the incubator running at full speed,our efforts to date will be rapidly overcome.Chris Rivers,Port Macquarie
I am not surprised the federal government is under-performing on the COVID-19 front with our regional neighbours. We are one of the wealthiest nations in our region. The people of the small nations around us,especially PNG,need our support. And that support should be given without hesitation or equivocation. That other big Australian,CSL,should be tasked to keep producing AstraZeneca until our regional neighbours’ vaccine needs are met. After gifting billions of JobKeeper dollars to businesses,the government must be implored not to scale down its support for our South Pacific neighbours.Graham Hansen,Denistone
Our ‘hero’ PM shows not regard for climate danger
This is the way your parents made you feel good about swallowing horrible medicine the doctor prescribed (“”,,October 26). I suggest that these heroics are more in the Flashman mould,that scheming cad who always found a way to look principled while achieving lesser objectives of a self-interested nature. Perhaps Morrison would be more authentic if he actually legislated 2050 and set a realistic 2030 target.Brian Jones,Leura
Note to Boris Johnson:difficult does not equate to heroic. Heroes put their own safety on the line for the good of others. Morrison shows no recognition of the danger of the climate crisis for us all,and struggles with others in his Coalition only for a line that he hopes will get him re-elected.Angela Michaelis,Balmain
Our “heroic” Prime Minister,who wants the credit for everything but the blame for nothing,claims he cannot change the emissions target for 2030 because it would break an election commitment. A matter of principle? What about the principles of ministerial responsibility,respect for women,expenditure transparency,equitable welfare support? This government is very “selective” in its application of “principles”.Rob Phillips,North Epping
As the PM indicates,the key to his plan for achieving net zero is “investment” in regional communities and new energy technologies (,October 26). Where is this money coming from?It’s the taxes paid by you and me.
Instead of punishing the polluters and giving the free market incentive to work out the best way to reduce carbon emissions,as Labor’s carbon price did,the Coalition wants to pay polluters with taxpayers’ hard-earned money and let the government pick the winners.Han Yang,North Turramurra
The National Party does not represent farmers or the regions. It is a mouthpiece for fossil fuel and mining interests. These industries are not sustainable and are in their death throes. Farming is capable of being sustainable to survive. Farmers realise this. It is time the National Party,a political dinosaur,became extinct.Steve Rothschild,Thalgarrah
Morrison is taking an entourage of 10 on the flight to Glasgow. I hope one of them knows some facts about global warming,maybe has a science degree,or could even be Matt Kean. Anything has to be better than only knowing how to manhandle a lump of coal.Wendy Atkins,Cooks Hill
Having suffered,for many years,the sight of Australian prime ministers looking uncomfortable in local outfits at CHOGM (please no more photos of Scott Morrison with the floral headgear),I hope no one suggests that our chummy PM is allowed anywhere near a kilt. Sully ye not,the image of my country.Eric Scott,Bondi Junction
My day surgery nightmare
A support network for women with breast cancer sent me a list of preferred surgeons to perform a single breast reduction (“”,October 26). One of the surgeons I contacted steered me away from the public hospital system citing the waiting time and the chance my surgery may be performed by inexperienced doctors. In my vulnerability,I agreed to have the procedure done at a day surgery - a six-hour round-trip drive. The surgery began three hours late — a warning sign,but you pay upfront. I was turfed out of recovery in agony with a packet of Panadol,busted my stitches and was ignored when I tried to contact the surgery for attention. When I tried to explain my disappointment,they sent me a litigious letter,further distressing and frightening me. I feel ashamed for not pushing the issue as the doctors are probably still taking advantage of the vulnerable. Stay away from day surgeries for anything more than an ingrown toenail.Michele Thomas,Mollymook Beach
As medical students in the 1950s,we were confronted by what I call the Peanuts paradox. Charlie Brown says,“when I grow up,I want to be a doctor. I want to be a humble little country doctor. I’m going to zoom round in a little red car and save lots and lots of lives. I’m going to be the most famous little country doctor in the world.” Now it all seems so 20th century:self-advertisement is the new norm,humility has lost meaning and the paradox has died a natural death. Vale Dr Charlie Brown.Ian Riley,Bawley Point
Still on hold for NBN
What is this “ubiquitous,resilient and fit-for-purpose network” I read about (“”,October 26)? Perhaps the NBN could send one of its high-performing employees out my way,where we are still waiting for the service to arrive.Meredith Williams,Northmead
The justification for paying bonuses to Australia Post workers is that they “had managed through extraordinary circumstances to deliver for our customers and our community”. The same could be said of teachers but they are denied any pay increase. No wonder there is a teacher shortage.Judy Sherrington,Kensington
Tens of millions of dollars handed out for delivering packages and not a cent for the frontline workers who deliver health,education and safety outcomes. What message is that sending to young people making career choices?Peter Cooper-Southam,Frenchs Forest
That is a lot of Cartier watches:where is the outrage,PM? The boys club rules.Bruce Ingrey,Elizabeth Bay
Where is Telstra help?
Happy that Telstra is shelling out $1.9 billion of taxpayer funds to purchase Digicel and boost Australia’s footprint in the region (“Telstra seals $2B Digicel Telco deal”,October 26). Without a Telstra mobile phone tower in my region,and with my Telstra phone/internet line being out of action for three weeks,maybe we will see some shelling out in our region sooner to fix the problems.Stephen Wilson,Kangaroo Valley
Human sacrifice
How fascinating it is to watch Gladys Berejiklian being inserted under a convenient bus (“”,October 26). Some of her ex-colleagues push her gently,some throw her with great energy,but all will sacrifice her to attempt to avoid blame for the catastrophic mess which is NSW.Ian Lewis,Kentucky
Power unobserved
The issues outlined between the mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council and staff are not good (“Tensions rise as council manager muzzles mayor”,October 26). What’s worse is that this situation is probably news not just to everyone else in NSW,but to Ku-ring-gai locals as well. The collapse of local newspapers over the past four years means that local government rarely receives media attention. As we approach our next local government elections,citizens are perhaps less informed than ever about the actions of our third level of government,and this makes us all vulnerable to poorer decision-making.Colin Hesse,Marrickville
Hooning with nature
It is commendable that there will be two new national parks out west (“New national parks to preserve rare species”,October 26). However,along with the list of animals and plants slated for preservation,there was mention of visitor facilities and “4WD circuits”. It is to be hoped that the remaining resident eastern fat tailed geckos and Major Mitchell cockatoos,along with their friends the mallee fowl and the dunnarts,do not have to mix it with racing 4WDs tearing around the circuits.Lance Dover,Pretty Beach
Get scooting,Sydney
One of the (many) attractions of visiting Darwin is the ready availability of neuron e-scooters in the CBD and surrounds (“”,October 26). These can be used by anyone over 18 and easily accessed by the Darwin city app. What a wonderful initiative. Sydney,take note!Jenny Baker,North Bondi
There are about 194,000 government-owned e-scooters in Canberra. They can be used via one of two mobile apps and a QR code to pay $1 to unlock the scooter and helmet,then 38 cents per minute. Judging by the numbers parked near shopping centres,offices,and other public buildings,e-scooters have been adopted enthusiastically by Canberrans. They would be a blessing for the City of Sydney.
Douglas Mackenzie,Deakin (ACT)
Stephen Taylor recommends e-scooters be allowed at 10kph on suburban footpaths. Nowhere is the pedestrian mentioned. It’s crowded on suburban footpaths,and the addition of e-scooters at 10kph,let alone the probable 25kph they are capable of,will result in collisions,fractured hips and worse. Pedestrians gain health benefits and contribute nothing to emissions but are more vulnerable.Peter Purches,North Balgowlah
Be very afraid
Last week it was foreign spies from numerous unnamed countries (“”,October 26). This week it’s single-issue violent extremism. What will it be next week? ASIO doing its bit to keep the population fearful and the Morrison government in power.Michael Kozlowski,Cowra
Wanna bet?
The royal commission finding is that the Crown body is badly diseased but a head transplant should bring this Frankenstein back to life (“”,smh.com.au,October 26). An interesting experiment — wonder if it will have a better ending this time.Andrew Young,Port Macquarie
On the right track
We went to Leura on the train last week (Letters,October 26). There were two others in the carriage,no congestion,no road rage,no honking,no traffic lights (although quite a few station stops) and a totally enjoyable look at a green outer Sydney. It’s time public transport was back on the agenda and cars off the roads before all the environmental good done during the lockdown is suffocated by exhaust.Mary Billing,Allambie Heights
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on
Fromdewpoint:″This is becoming like the weather. Talk,talk,talk,but no one does anything about it. Like decoupling from coal,things will only change if there is a sufficient electoral move against it. The leadership will have to come from the electorate.″