I agree with your editorial that young people need help negotiate social media’s minefield of misinformation (“Civics classes key to health of democracy”, 10 February). Most young adults today get their news from various social media platforms, where algorithms determine a user’s feed. Unless social media users are educated in media literacy and critical thinking, they will not have the skills to decide what is an accurate news source and whether items they are being fed are actually misinformation and propaganda. Much is put upon the school curriculum to educate young people in today’s world and for the future, but media literacy and critical thinking are surely a high priority, perhaps for both teachers and students. Levane Abdoolcader, Padstow Heights
Many young adults get their news from social media platforms, where algorithms determine a user’s feed.Credit: Getty
I am pleased to read NSW has committed to mandatory civics education from 2027 (“Push for civics lessons amid rise in antisemitic attacks”, February 10). This can’t come soon enough, given the rising voice of anti-democratic forces. Beyond a “how to vote”, I hope the curriculum includes the role and responsibility of the citizen, the reality of progressive taxation to fund government for the services and “safety nets” provided, the privilege of being equal under the law and the consequences of destabilising this compact. The formal name of this country is the “Commonwealth of Australia”. Let us appreciate what “commonwealth” is ours to celebrate. Marie Del Monte, Ashfield
The essential civics classes can begin today. All of us, including politicians and the media, could replace the euphemism “disinformation” with its clearly understood synonym – lies. Who does it benefit when this word is used? To be seen to engage in “disinformation” is obviously preferable than to be rightly described as a liar. Sister Susan Connelly, Croydon
Ah, once again it is left up to schools (and by default, teachers) to solve society’s problems. As a teacher for more than 40 years, I can tell you that the types of students that will engage in these lessons are generally not the ones that need them. Brett Wilson, Maroubra
Mandatory civics lessons – a brilliant idea long overdue. But why wait until year 9? And why make it all so solemn and passive? Rather, express it in kids’ terms. Make it interesting and fun by including social media, competitions and debates, in the classroom and online, where kids themselves, not a teacher or an authority figure, vote for the winner – along the lines of the Martin Lysicrates program for young playwrights. Why not get kids to write plays that touch on the theme of democracy in one way or another? Make it fun and model the process – that’s the way to make a success of this most important of all lessons. The democratic vote is the single most precious thing we have in this country. Let’s embed it with flair. Patricia Azarias, Paddington
Giving it away
So-called “rare earth” minerals are essential for an IT and renewable energy future (“Miners close to breaking China’s rare earths grip”, February 10). They are difficult to process and hence very valuable. So why is our government going to pay large mining corporations to extract them? There are massive profits to be made from these materials, yet it seems Australia will be going down the same path as we have with all our other resources, whether coal, iron ore, natural gas or timber: namely, giving the resources to massive mining corporations, as well providing loans and subsidies to recover them. And, to further kick us in the teeth, these companies pay little or no tax. It’s time the governments truly worked in the national interest – no subsidising. Make them pay for the minerals and tax them adequately. Kel Dee, Kiama
Waste of money
So Defence Minister Richard Marles goes grovelling to the new US administration with $800 million of our taxpayer money (“Deposit paid: Marles hands over $800m”, February 9). In reply, the US slaps a 25 per cent tariff on steel (“Albanese to call Trump after president announces 25 per cent tariffs”, February 10). Meanwhile, we are apparently meeting just five of the 19 Closing the Gap targets. It’s clear where our government’s focus and money are going. If the ALP is wondering why their voter base is disappearing, they need look no further than these events in the past week. Kylie Salisbury, Lakemba
Defence Minister Richard Marles in Washington.Credit: AP
Crawling to this government just confirms that governments will do anything to placate President Trump. If the Americans want our stuff they will buy it. But we don’t need to buy their cars and whiskey. Embargo them. Put short- term tariffs on them that rotate. Put a levy on every American plane arriving in Australia. Make the cost of exporting to or coming to Australia prohibitively expensive. There is little we need that others can’t supply. I like my iPhone, but Samsung is just as good. And anyway, American beer is actually awful. David Neilson, Araluen NT
Regional health crisis
Mr Albanese, I read you have pledged to spend $573 million on women’s health (“HRT, contraceptive pills to cost less in major women’s health pledge”, Februrary 9). On your election campaign travels, have you happened to notice a lack of hospitals in regional areas? Wee Waa hospital near Narrabri is critically understaffed and underfunded and is now just a glorified clinic and referral centre for Tamworth hospital, two hours’ drive away. Do you realise some women in regional areas have to travel up to 800 kilometres to find a hospital suitable for giving birth? Further west, Nyngan hospital faces the same problems. It’s all very well to subsidise reproductive health treatments, but money should also be spent in areas where hospitals are urgently needed. Do you know some people out west have to wait three weeks just to see a doctor? Mr Albanese, you are supposed to be the prime minister of the whole country, so please do something to improve health care in regional areas. Carmel Kenniff, Randwick
Thought crimes
George Brandis sets up a straw man argument when he claims “it is not the business of governments to tell people what they may or may not think” (“Beware Trojan horse of hate laws, February 10″). He creates a slippery slide to state that “hate speech laws … have been used to ... criminalise attitudes and beliefs”. Brandis must know that hate speech laws aim to criminalise the physical expression of those attitudes and beliefs, not the beliefs themselves. The criminal law does not recognise thought crimes, but only the manifestation of thoughts as expressed by physical acts. So there is nothing exceptional about hate speech laws and Brandis need not worry that our “free societies (will) lose their freedoms”. Irene Nemes, Rose Bay
Limit rental profits
A Grattan Institute report suggests that rent assistance be lifted by 50 per cent, which sounds like a good idea until you think it through (“Boomers are enjoying their retirement – unless they’re renting”, February 10). The institute fails to recognise that most rental properties were bought many years ago and that mortgage payments on them are either very low, or zero. In other words, they are generating mega-profits for their owners. The landlords do not “need” higher rents every year, they are simply taking advantage of the market to make even more profit (which they can then use to buy new properties with all the associated tax advantages). The solution is to limit the profit that can be made from rental properties, say, to a maximum of 15 per cent above expenses. Apart from slowing rent rises, this would also make investment in rental properties less attractive, which would mean more homes for sale on the market. As it stands, the Grattan Institute’s plan is just to subsidise an already highly profitable business model. Tom Orren, Wamberal Heights
Build to rent
Congratulations to the Minns government in acting as developer for this site (“Parramatta Road site for build-to-rent”, February 10). The only way to quickly solve the shortage of homes in Sydney is for the government to use its capital, its land and its planning powers to develop build-to-rent apartments. Subsequently, the buildings can be sold to super funds or long-term investors. This will avoid repeating the problems of the Housing Commission. Brian Watters, Mosman
NSW Premier Chris Minns walks past the Annandale site of the first build-to-rent essential worker housing. Credit: Kate Geraghty
It’s good to see affordable apartments being built for essential workers. But the bigger question is, how is it that salaries for essential workers mean they can’t afford private rentals when “non-essential” workers can? Richard White, Leura
Paths of sorrow
John Kempler defends Israel against claims of genocide (Letters, February 10). He says antisemites’ “hostility stems from conspiracy theories, misguided envy or a perception of Jewish “otherness”. But sometimes the truth is plain to see. After the October 7 attacks, I felt hostility towards Hamas and empathy for the murdered and kidnapped Jewish people, but over the next year I gained empathy for the people of Gaza and felt growing hostility for the government of Israel. I am not an antisemite, but I hope everyone can understand why I feel this way. Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point
Pride of the police
Sydney is experiencing a resurgence of anti-LGBTQIA+ violence (“Fear of violence as LGBTQ groups face rising intimidation”, February 10). Teen gangs are hunting down queer men using dating apps, attacking them and forcing them to make false confessions, while neo-Nazis are spreading their ideology, emboldened by a normalisation of hate imported from America. At a time when our community is under attack, some argue that police should be banned from marching in uniform at Mardi Gras. That would have been dangerously shortsighted.
NSW Police has a dark history of homophobia indeed, but history is not the present. Today, LGBTQIA+ officers exist within the force. They have fought hard to create change from within, to ensure their community is not only protected, but also represented. Their presence is a testament to progress, a sign that institutions can change, and a reminder that safety comes from inclusion, not division. We need LGBTQIA+ officers to feel proud, empowered and visible — not ashamed or pushed to the margins. Exclusion does not create safety. It weakens it. Now they will march in uniform—proudly and openly. And when they do, let’s give them an extra cheer. John Glass, Darlinghurst
SailGP in Sydney Harbour.Credit: Simon Bruty for SailGP
Sail to highest bidder
The suggestions by correspondents on alternative places to sail on SailGP weekend are appreciated, but they miss the fundamental problem (Letters, February 10). SailGP is a purely commercial venture controlled by the world’s fourth-richest man, Larry Ellison. It was granted exclusive rights by the NSW government to use two large areas of a public space, Sydney Harbour and Shark Island. SailGP then charged boat owners thousands of dollars to anchor in privileged vantage locations during the racing, and for spectators to watch from the island. All recreational craft (not just sailing boats) were excluded. These restrictions were enforced for two days by the water police and Transport NSW marine staff, presumably at taxpayer expense. I have no objection to SailGP itself. My beef is with the authorities, who allowed a foreign-owned business such extraordinary rights to exploit public property for private gain. David Salter, Hunter’s Hill
Just fix the pool
I was a regular at North Sydney Olympic pool and, like most of the regulars there, we just wanted the pool fixed (“Pollies scrap over Olympic pool’s $122m hole in the ground”, February 10). The “options” we were presented with at the time, by Jilly Gibson and co, ranged from a giant water park development to huge gym and restaurant developments. We kept saying that all we wanted was the pool fixed. North Sydney already had a bunch of gyms and fine dining places, even more now, but it only had one North Sydney Olympic pool. No one wanted the grand plan except the people who posed for the pictures with their high-vis and shovels. They own the expensive hole in the ground where our beautiful pool used to be, and all the finger pointing and attempts at blame shifting won’t change that. We just wanted the pool fixed. Pam Newton, Dee Why
Oils well that ends well
After reading Susie Burrell’s article about healthy cooking oils, I decided to check the bottles in my pantry (“Are seed oils really that bad for us?”, February 10). To my surprise, I found my bottle labelled “vegetable oil”, a Colesworth brand, contained far less saturated fat and more Omega-3 oil than my bottle of extra virgin olive oil, also a Colesworth brand. The vegetable oil was a blend of Australian canola and sunflower oils. The olive oil was imported from Spain. In terms of health benefits, it would appear that some vegetable oils are just fine and far cheaper than avocado oil and other more expensive types. Read the label. Jim Bland, Engadine
Not-so-fairway
Apparently Tim Shroder doesn’t play golf (Letters, February 10). While many older golfers play the game to get exercise and keep fit, he should visit a few golf courses. He would observe a growing number of supposedly working-from-home younger members of society playing golf. It’s them who should be carrying a shovel – to plant the mushrooms they feed the boss. D’Arcy Hardy, North Turramurra
Carnarvon Golf Club in Lidcombe is earmarked for conversion into a cemetery.Credit: Wolter Peeters
As a long-standing member of Carnarvon Golf Club, it would be remiss of me to agree with Tim Schroder that all golfers are elderly. Our membership range is between nine and 90, with I believe most under 60, and highly multicultural. It is also a large habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna. About 50 species of native bird call it home. Twenty-five or more employees would be out of work if it was closed. David Tucker, Concord
It’s true, the dead do not need a golf course, but if we’re talking about actual needs, neither do the living. Peter Fyfe, Enmore
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