Nationals MP Keith Pitt is concerned that new laws governing MP’s behaviour will deter future candidates of “good quality” from entering politics (“‘Unlike any workplace I’ve ever been in’: The push to punish MPs for bad behaviour”, August 22). What strange reasoning. I would have thought the guidelines would attract such people – we certainly need this to happen. Wendy Howard, Quakers Hill
Independent member for North Sydney Kylea Tink will take a bullying complaint to the new watchdog if it passes into law.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Keith Pitt’s concern that an enforceable code of conduct would deter good people from entering politics is mystifying. It would appear that we have a different understanding of the term “quality”. Perhaps the hesitation of some candidates would open up the opportunity for more women in the Liberal Party – a move which, in itself, has the potential to improve parliamentary standards. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls
A main issue regarding the behaviour of politicians is the poor quality of the questions. Nearly every question by the opposition recently has been the same: why are we letting refugees from Gaza into this country? Of course, they all receive the same answer. The “Dorothy Dix” questions by the government also need refinement to dig deep into the possible positive action the government is taking. Ken Pares, Forster
The proposed parliamentary workplace code must be given the teeth it needs to come down hard on poor behaviour. Leers, jeers, tantrums and juvenile taunts have no place in federal parliament. Boys may be boys, but that doesn’t hold for men. Thank goodness most girls grow up to be women.
Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
While watching federal question time, I have noticed that several members are constantly on their mobile phones, not paying attention while questions are being asked and answered. This is a classic example of bad manners and lack of respect for the parliamentary process and an affront to constituents. Give them a red card and ban mobile phones from the chamber. John Robertson, Springwood
Full marks to Premier Chris Minns for openly and graciously acknowledging the role that former premiers Berejiklian, Perrottet and Baird played in initiating the M1 Metro Line, and the many construction workers and engineers who also played such pivotal roles. Bestowing credit on others is one of the hallmarks of a great leader. It is also a testament to his commitment to bringing civility back into the NSW parliament.
Tony Gapes, Pymble
Faith in electorate
I am probably naive but as distinct from Shaun Carney, I have more faith in the electorate’s skill at assessing a politician’s sincerity rather than just succumbing to a relentless barrage of negativity (“Dutton plays a ruthless game”, August 22). While Tony Abbott achieved success a few years ago by using this technique, he was booted out by his own party and then lost his seat. At the last election, there was a 2.9 per cent swing to the ALP in Dutton’s electorate and Climate 200 is looking at supporting a candidate against him. It is hard to believe that the electorate will be fooled again by an opposition that promotes only fear and anger and has no plans for the foreseeable future. Peter Nash, Fairlight
Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese Credit: Dionne Gain
Shaun Carney has sent me into a spiral of despair. If he is right, then the Albanese government will sleepwalk into defeat at the forthcoming election and Dutton’s fearmongering, divisive, deceitful politicking will have won. How loud do the alarm bells have to be for this Labor government to sit up and take notice? The defeat of the Voice referendum should have shocked them into consciousness but, clearly, no lesson has been learnt there. What an omnishambles. Donna Wiemann, Balmain
When John Howard turned refugees on the Tampa away from Australia, he opened Pandora’s box. Since then, fear and division have been the main game in the Liberal playbook. Peter Dutton is following in the tradition of fearmongering set by predecessors Howard, Abbott and Morrison. Today, more than 45 per cent of our population comprises migrants and their offspring, and this has made Australia one of the most successful countries in the world. Let’s put an end to fear-based politics and focus on continuing the immigration-based success story that has served Australia so well. Marton Marosseky, Mandalong
We have a lot to be proud of – our country chooses love, unity and justice over fear and division. Our nation is strongest when we rise above divisive rhetoric and instead focus on building a better future for all. Peter Dutton and the Liberal Party are, as usual, obsessed with negativity and divisiveness. Their idea of the future goes no further than winning the next election. Every decent, upstanding, fair-dinkum Australian should be totally ashamed of them. Leila Jessimer, Five Dock
Why would Peter Dutton model his Liberal leadership after that of Tony Abbott? Abbott excelled as a wrecker but wasn’t much of a prime minister. Even his party realised that he was a one-trick pony and dumped him. Let’s all hope that history doesn’t repeat itself. Glenn Johnson, Leura
Likening Dutton’s political mantra to an outdated slogan for an insect spray is indeed apt. The method of insect elimination from that era relied upon toxic sprays that resulted in damage to the environment. Sound familiar?
Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill
I always thought Peter Dutton was more Mr Sheen than Mortein. Jeremy Brender, West Richmond (SA)
Courageous immortal
For those who judge rugby league harshly, meeting and knowing people such as Ron Coote could provide salve for some of these judgemental ills (“Ron Coote inducted as 14th Immortal on NRL Hall of Fame night”, August 22). As high school kids in 1965, a mate and I squashed up against a toilet block at the back of the hill at the Sydney Cricket Ground and watched the famous grand final featuring an emergent South Sydney team. Ron Coote caught my eye as a tall, gangling, fast, energetic lock forward. Coote over the next decade proved himself a skilled warrior on the field, a gentleman and model citizen off it. Brian Jones, Leura
Ron Coote Credit: NRL Photos
Is it not right that immortals can be non-living but live on in the collective memory? A good example might be the immortal Beethoven, although he did not play rugby league. Anthony Baker, Oatley
Honest, brave writer
I want to let your chief sports writer Andrew Webster, who will be leaving the Herald, know he will be missed. I have followed Andrew’s articles because they were always insightful, honest and, more importantly, brave. Having been involved in redundancies in the corporate world, I can assure you that the cream is always skimmed off the top, so off you go, mate. Please keep healthy and why not write a book? Allan Train, Salamander Bay
Hopeful wedding
Kerri Sackville reminded me of the following quote from Oscar Wilde: “Marriage is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. Second marriage is the triumph of hope over experience.” (“If only Ben and Jen had my divorcees’ guide to marriage”, August 22). Perhaps some people by nature have high levels of imagination and optimism. Paul Casey, Callala Bay
Assault scourge
Huge thanks to your investigative journalists Bianca Hrovat and Eryk Bagshaw for their work (“Swillhouse spirals”, August 22). Is it any wonder the hospitality industry can’t get staff when, in this workplace, women are exposed to extreme levels of harassment, bullying, violence and intimidation? No parent would want their child, male or female, to earn a living in such a vile operation. Who wants to pay for a beer, let alone a meal, in any of their venues? Let’s see if there’s any blowback for this lot. Keep up the great work. Our subscription is worth every cent. Dorin Suciu, Eleebana
Swillhouse venuesCredit:
I am stunned by the Swillhouse comment regarding female staff who were allegedly sexually assaulted in their establishments, that those in charge did not know how to handle such accusations because they “had not been to business school”. If you think a course at a business school or anywhere else teaches you how to treat people as human beings, then you should not be in hospitality or any other industry. Their business name is nominative determinism writ large. Swill indeed. Alexa Wyatt, Redfern
What does it say about an industry when whistleblowers who are sexually assaulted and intimidated at their workplace speak “on the condition of anonymity to protect future employment”? The so-called Sydney entertainment/nightlife industry turns up the volume when they want something. They go very quiet when the lights come on. Mark Paskal, Austinmer
The owners, managers and many employees of Swillhouse might live in the same city as me, but for all intents and purposes they are from another planet. Ronald Brown, Putney
Lessons from teals
It’s typical that the Liberals have unleashed two female MPs, Michaelia Cash and Sussan Ley, to do the attack work in response to allegations of misogynistic, bullying and appalling behaviour in parliament (“Teals want MPs punished for poor House behaviour, Speaker agrees”, August 22). They’ll never understand the sense of pride, community and civil engagement within teal-held electorates that have united thousands of residents from diverse backgrounds and age groups, many of whom have been first-time participants in the democratic process. The independents have enabled political change at a federal level, and it is clear that this worries the old, established conservative parties, especially as these female teals have brought more gender diversity to a heavily male-dominated parliament. They have highlighted their electorates’ concerns over climate change and integrity, among other issues, and provided true local representation, something that the Liberals and Nationals just don’t seem to comprehend. Cash and Ley might reflect on how many female leaders the federal Liberal and National parties have had in their long history. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
Michaelia Cash, the teals’ achievement was helping to chuck the Coalition out of government, and that is priceless. Think of all the stuff that a re-elected Scott Morrison would have perpetrated, and which we avoided.
Peter Kamenyitzky, Castle Hill
That the Liberal Party and its members are unwilling to acknowledge the universally accepted fact that the teals were successful because of the party’s own failings, simply confirms what led to the teals’ success in the first place. Whichever way the teals vote on legislation they can be accused of supporting one party or another. That the majority of them don’t always support the negative and obstructionist path which is the current approach of the Liberal Party won’t come as a surprise to anyone. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point
In harmony
Here’s an idea : how about forming a choir in federal parliament (“The choir helping school boys find their voice, and their tribe”, August 17)? There’s nothing like a choir for teaching essential skills: paying attention and respecting the conductor, mutual respect between all voice parts, each part singing their line and coming in at the right time rather than shouting and interrupting, quietly listening while the other parts practice their bits, and finally blending the parts to produce a thing of beauty. Gayle Davies, Armidale
Forever problem
The recent reportage around PFAS and Sydney water quality is interesting, but not really surprising. Sydney’s water supply, essentially, starts near Goulburn, Lithgow and Wilton, then runs through infrastructure which is effectively 70 years old and hasn’t been invested in or strategically managed other than on a “sustainment to failure” approach. This is compounded by the fact that water for the Hawkesbury District is sourced directly from the river at North Richmond, downstream of numerous upstream water treatment plants and urban runoff along the entire Hawkesbury-Nepean system. The Hawkesbury-Nepean River system also bears the larger portion of housing developments, from Wilton through to North Richmond with most creeks draining into it. I’d argue it’s more of a surprise that the PFAS readings aren’t higher. Ultimately this wicked problem is a failure of vision, governance, regulation, enforcement and corporate capture of our politicians and gatekeepers at the local and state government levels. As they’re all involved in this I’d argue that nothing effective will be done to address it and that, ultimately, is the tragedy of this issue. Water quality is yet another example of the abject failure of privatisation and the outsourcing of government services (and effectively responsibility). Bernard Stever, Richmond
Missed deadline
So, the NSW Liberals are reported to have abandoned their threat to take the NSW Electoral Commission to court (“NSW Liberals abandon court challenge over council nomination debacle”, August 21). Are we sure they didn’t simply forget to lodge the paperwork? Allan Roberts, Dulwich Hill
I hope that my council is not one of those affected by the nomination debacle. I’d hate to be deprived of the opportunity to put the Liberals last on my ballot paper. Malcolm McCallum, Dulwich Hill
WA doesn’t have these sorts of issues because people nominating for council elections cannot be publicly associated with a political party. Of course, they might have political leanings, but they stand as individuals. I note the number of occasions in NSW and Victoria where councillors and mayors are involved in corruption or councils are put under administration. It seldom happens here. The problem seems to be that councillors representing political parties usually vote in a block on each motion, particularly with property developments. One or two might be corrupt but through persuasion can get their party aligned councillors to agree.
While depoliticisation of council elections might end the career paths of would-be state and federal politicians, it is, in my view, a smart way of reducing maladministration and corruption. It also minimises the farce that we have witnessed – each potential councillor would be responsible for getting registered by the appropriate date. John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)
Season’s greeting
It is customary, among the landed English county set, to write a letter to The Times each year upon hearing the first cuckoo of spring. As I am not a member of a county set, and in the absence of cuckoos, I have only this to offer: today I heard the first blowfly of spring. Will that do? Martyn Goddard, Hobart (Tas.)
Twice shy
I note the Republican presidential candidate is speaking behind bulletproof glass at an outdoor rally. The chief of Control despaired whenever Agent Maxwell Smart demanded the “cone of silence” to discuss matters of national security. Appears Trump’s “cube of steel” is similarly faulty, as we can still clearly hear his hatred and drivel. Peter Snowden, Orange
Walzing on
Tim Walz, running mate for Kamala Harris, is tough (“Tim Walz speaks on day three of the Democratic National Convention”, smh.com.au, August 22). He ticked the right boxes: hinting at a log cabin story; teacher, veteran, state governor; and his endorsement of sensible public policies. Any man who can wear a blue suit with brown shoes has got to be tough. Only USN aviators can wear brown in town with their dress uniform. Mike Fogarty, Weston (ACT)
Richard Tognetti Credit: James Brickwood
Singing ACO’s praises
Well done, Richard Tognetti and the ACO (“This ain’t your grandma’s orchestra: ACO celebrates 50 years of pushing the envelope”, August 21). I still remember the recital hall opening in the late 1990s, ending your “Bedouin existence” with great fanfare! I seem to recall the Commonwealth Bank presenting the ACO with a Stradivarius violin from the 1700s worth millions of dollars. Wonderful memories of wonderful performances.
Tony Coates, Randwick
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