Illustration: Cathy WilcoxCredit:
Transport Minister Andrew Constance has diagnosed the cause of the slow Randwick tram journey: it's the passengers' fault ... they have to press a button ("Trip to Quay slower than bus", December 16). The obvious answer is no passengers and perfect running times. Remember Yes Minister and the new hospital with no patients and the best record in the NHS? - Paul Stevens, North Epping
The travel time from Randwick to Circular Quay isn't going to get any faster. The government has yet to appoint the man with the red flag to walk in front. - Anthony Healy, Willoughby East
A tale of two suburbs. Bondi Junction to city –14 minutes. Randwick to city – 58 minutes. - Pam Fichtner, Matraville
The new trams are far too long and should be split in half. Better still, bring back the old footboard ‘toast rack trams’ with their 10-12 compartments, which unloaded and loaded people very quickly. - Ron Field, Bermagui
Say g'day to Sydney's snail rail. - Meredith Williams, Dee Why
The light rail has the potential to remove buses from congested roads but if they are forced to give way to cars at intersections then they are no more than less efficient, very expensive buses. - William Roberts, Randwick
Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit:
There appears to be great concern regarding pedestrians walking in front of trams because "they are not used to them". I would dare suggest that any pedestrian so foolhardy as to be oblivious enough to cross the path of a 67-metre long tram is equally a danger to any other vehicle and should venture out only under the supervision of a responsible adult. All they need in Melbourne is a very loud and distinctive “ding ding ding” from the tram to anything in its path, cars and trucks included. Adults must take responsibility for their own risky behaviours.
If not, the nanny state’s only solution is to ban earbuds while crossing the roads. And how sad is that? - Kay Buckeridge, Mosman
The light rail is obviously a poorly conceived system for modern Sydney when Shanks's pony is faster. The expensive infrastructure fiasco is at disaster level. - Cecile Hunt, Paddington
The projected and current travel times (40 to 50 minutes) from Circular Quay to Randwick by tram (about 12km) look about right, compared with about 25 minutes from Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station to St Kilda, about half that distance. Labor transport spokesman Chris Minns makes a somewhat irrelevant comparison by saying it’s quicker to get from Penrith to the city. It is, because firstly, it’s by train and secondly, it skips quite a few stations. Constance, in the context of delay at tram stops, says “it’s not like a bus”. True indeed, but it’s not like a train, either. The government chose the light rail option instead of a much faster (and I expect, more expensive) metro from the city to Kingsford and Randwick. Everyone concerned has to live with the consequences. - Geoffrey Williamson, Woollahra
A light rail tram begins its life from Randwick to the Quay, surely accompanied by some expectation of first night jitters. But no, let's pile in, and declare the gum'ment is inept. Even the Opera House had its barnacles. - Rosemary O'Brien, Ashfield
Secular stoush beyond belief
Michael Baker (Letters, December 16), is your religious world-view so fragile that you cannot encompass any beliefs other than your own? While I am an atheist I have dear friends who are religious and open-minded – and while we disagree on the religious issue we share most other beliefs. This includes support for human rights, refugees, gay rights, women's reproductive rights, divorce – and all other things that seem to terrify you. These are basic human rights. To fear social change, as you obviously do, is a little bit scary. - Pam Hawkins, Lakemba
So, everyone is compelled to the atheist line now that more liberal laws on abortion, contraception, homosexuality and euthanasia have been enacted? On the contrary, everyone now has more freedom of choice about these matters rather than being compelled by laws passed in bygone times where religion straitjacketed behaviour. Michael Baker is still free to behave according to his conscience and religion, but now more people have the same right based on their ethical beliefs. - Peter Lino, Lennox Head
Claiming atheism is an "irrational religion" when all religions are based on the irrational suspension of natural laws is risible. To use the old saying, "atheism is a religion just as abstinence is a sex position and baldness is a hairstyle." - Grant Heaton, Port Macquarie
Atheism is “irrational” and, wait for it, a "religion”? Now I've heard everything. - Lloyd Swanton, Wentworth Falls
The irrationality or rationality of religious belief or faith vis-a-vis non-belief might be judged using Hitchen’s Razor: “That which is asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.” - Brian O'Donnell, Burradoo
Your correspondent seems to be conflating physical health, mental health, emotional issues, and genetic predeterminism with atheism when he claims that abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexuality and euthanasia are an atheist agenda. - Barrington Salter, Neutral Bay
All of the listed social changes listed may well be approved of by most atheists but then, they may also find favour with a large number of theists. Atheists do not have a common set of beliefs and values they merely assert that there is insufficient evidence to believe in the existence of a supernatural being. There is no desire to make atheism a mandatory religion for no better reason than by definition atheism is not a religion. - Trevor Somerville, Illawong
Ah, the old strawman cliche, “atheism is a religion”. Indulge me as I give the traditional and equally cliched counter apologetic, “only if not collecting stamps is a hobby". - Thomas Gough, Casula
I would say that the "atheist agenda " has been achieved by democracy, not any kind of religious discrimination. The majority seemingly do not want to be ruled by religious dogma. - Gary Frances, Bexley
I don’t think anyone, atheist or otherwise, is suggesting that abortion, contraception, divorce, homosexuality or euthanasia should be compulsory. We are just suggesting they should not be illegal. - Col Nicholson, Hawks Nest
Coalition's creative carry-over accounting
I don't know why the PM is so excited about a projected budget surplus in 2019-20 ("Surplus remains goal in face of headwinds", December 16). Under this government's preferred accounting method, the $170 billion in "carry-over deficits" accumulated since 2013 means we can put off worrying about a real surplus for years. - Bruce Watson, Balmain East
Conservatives (apparently) are the only party that can be trusted with the economy and to bring down Labor's debt. Now, eight months on from the April budget, the economy has stalled, wages growth is stagnant, household and retail spending are stagnant and the budget will fall short of its target by $22 billion (over four years). Thank goodness we have the conservatives running the shop. Imagine how bad things could have been otherwise. - Antony Bennett, Bar Beach
Only a $2 billion deterioration in the budget bottom line in six months. Who can't manage money? - Denis Goodwin, Dee Why
The Treasurer continues to talk about “paying down Labor’s debt” and nobody challenges him. The fact is that since the LNP was elected in 2013, the national debt has doubled. So, no, Treasurer; it is not “Labor’s debt”. It is the Coalition’s debt. - Michael McMullan, Five Dock
There are none so blind ...
Well done, guys. Australia ranked last, 57 out of 57 countries on climate change policy and is the 14th largest emitter of 196 parties in the Paris agreement ("Coalition's climate warriors: insiders working to sway MPs to take action", December 16). Take a bow Tony, Scott, Barnaby, Angus and Craig. - Paul Doyle, Glenbrook
My daughter lives in a small town in Portugal where everyone wants to know about the fires and drought in Australia. These are the Portuguese, wondering why the Australian government, represented by Angus Taylor, seems to be undermining the summit in Madrid, and is urging for the recognition of dodgy emissions credits, while not mentioning the bushfires in any public forum. The Europeans are perplexed by the lack of integrity we are bringing to the negotiations. - Josie McSkimming, Coogee
I thought Scott Morrison had said he would burn for us, not the other way round. - Paul Roper, Croydon
At home in Wollongong, with barely the slightest breeze blowing, a small, dry, scorched leaf fell from the sky. There was virtually no smoke in the area so we must assume that this was from a bushfire well to our west. I picked it up and smelt it just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. - John Baird, Corrimal
Water plan ... just add water
Waffle and piffle is all I read of the Murray-Darling basin ("Murray-Darling water plan has ‘high chance of failure’", December 16). “Make the lab fit the paddock” – now that’s a good one. There is just one admission that needs to sink in like a bucket of water in a dry river bed; we do not have water to manage or share. We are also lacking a dynamic leader who can pull this together across the states and get the only reliable, consistent water supply available, the Cape York monsoonal rain, diverted into the Murray-Darling basin. Financing it is the easy part. Just juggle the Defence spend and buy six subs instead of 12. Herding the cats – that is, corralling the premiers, water ministers and Labor, Liberal and National state and federal political interests – into an agreement on a long-term plan is the hard bit. We need to prepare for the next drought. That should be our focus. - Steve Johnson, Elizabeth Beach
We have only to go back a few years to remember the massive demonstrations and protests of farmers claiming their communities would be destroyed when the Guide to the Proposed Basin Plan was released. That guide posited a scheme to address over-allocation of surface and bore water; prolonged drought; and climate change but was rejected by farmers who could not see past their own fencelines to the broader need. The protesters got what they wanted and there has been a six-year free-for-all, greedily draining the rivers and bores. Those protesting farmers are now seeing the results of their protests in the destruction of their farms and communities when a reasonable plan could have saved a lot of this agony. - Stephen Broderick, Avalon
Freedom to be bigots
The boss of two McDonald's outlets in Victoria has been relieved of his post and “has left the system”. I assume most Australians will support this decision by the organisation ("McDonald's boss fired over racist tirade", December 16). Apart from the possible contravention of section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, one can safely assume that retaining this manager would be bad for business. So he goes. This corporate action is considered to be correct but how about when a corporation fires someone who is strongly identified with that business and who is equally offensive by using outdated vilifying text from the Bible (or any other religious tract)? The proposed religious freedom act will absolutely ensure that a religious nutter can be as offensive as he or she likes without fear of dismissal. Something wrong there, isn’t there? - John Whiteing, Willoughby
Clear the fog of war
Will a $500 million upgrade of The Australian War Memorial (“Incoming war memorial boss defends massive redevelopment and new focus”, December 16) help us understand why a Victoria Cross recipient is now the subject of an inquiry into alleged war crimes and what Australian forces were doing in Afghanistan in the first place? Maybe then an enhanced historical record will expose how superannuated politicians came to run the museum and exert undue influence over the board. With that sort of money, maybe even the losers will be able to write the history. - Scott Brandon Smith, Bowral
The Yule tide
Is there some irony in the fact that we can buy a live Christmas tree and give it water every day for six weeks to keep it alive, while all around the state blackened trees will take years to recover, if at all (“Christmas trees are walking out the door”, December 16)? - Joan Brown, Orange
On the naughty list
There are a lot of candidates for first place on Santa's Naughty List this year,but I am putting my money on the Duke of York. ("Prince used pseudonym to establish firm", December 16). - Stephanie Edwards, Roseville
Organ transplanted
It’s always great to receive feedback. A reader in Five Dock rang me about my letter in the Herald (Letters, December 16) regarding the Wurlitzer organ at the old Prince Edward Theatre. He was able to tell me that the old theatre’s organ is now in the Marrickville Town Hall. - Derrick Mason, Boorowa
Derrick Mason's experience of attending the old Prince Edward Theatre also brought back memories for me. In the 1950s, I took a young lady there to see the film, Sabrina. Unforgettable was the vision of a sparkly Noreen Hennessy, playing the organ, emerging magically from the pits. As I recall, the theatre also put on a full floor show. Not bad for a Saturday afternoon screening! - Robert Sharpe, Bronte
Not only were audiences at the Prince Edward Theatre treated to pre-show Wurlitzer displays from the wonderful Noreen Hennessy, they also enjoyed musical performances by Reg Lewis and his orchestra. These days at the cinema all you get as a curtain-raiser is 30 minutes of advertisements. - Garth Clarke, North Sydney
Towards a job you love
Well done to all HSC students, whatever your results today. Now, remember the old saying: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” - Edward Loong, Milsons Point
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