How can our prime minister claim to want action on climate change at the gathering in Samoa when our environment minister has approved multiple expansions of coal mines, allowing coal mining and exports to continue long after 2050? (“Pacific leaders blame Australia on climate”, October 25). Australia needs more than a “preparedness to act”, given that Australia is, and will continue to be, a leading exporter of fossil fuels. Keith Woodward, Newport
Vanuatu Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu Credit: fairfax Media
Our prime minister’s classic doublespeak on climate action is being strongly called out by Pacific leaders, sadly to no effect. Their analysis of fossil fuels produced by Australia unarguably shows that our continuing extraction of coal, gas and oil is damaging the climate out of all proportion to our population. The PM reckons we are committed to acting on the existential threat this poses to low-lying Pacific nations, but his government actually is increasing our production and therefore, the consequent threat. It is embarrassing that he is blind to the disrespect this is, for people like Ralph Regenvanu, the Special Envoy for Climate Change and Environment for Vanuatu. I knew this man when he was a student. All his life he has been trying to save his homeland from the threat of the industrialised nations’ use of fossil fuels. Albanese slaps Pacific leaders like Regenvanu on the face every time Australian permits another coal mine or gas field development. Barry Laing, Castle Cove
Australia’s efforts to counter the influence of China in the Pacific by showing itself to be a better neighbour would carry more weight if we contributed less to the existential crisis posed by our continuing dependence on fossil fuels. According to the latest scientific data, there is no time to lose in lowering emissions. A fact well understood by these island nations. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo blames Australia, Canada and Britain for 60 per cent of Commonwealth nations’ carbon emissions. That number is calculated on the basis of the carbon emissions from domestic use, plus the coal and gas exported. Should Australia and other wealthy Western countries cease coal exports, however, production would be reduced by only one-third. No.1 exporter Indonesia, and Russia, South Africa, Colombia, et cetera will step up to fill the void. Australia is committed to net zero by 2050, and our coal-fired power plants will be closed by 2035. Teo’s attack on Australia and Canada is counterproductive, allowing other countries to abrogate their responsibilities. Individual countries must solve their own carbon emissions problems, so collectively the world can breathe easier. Alan Carruthers, Artarmon
Anthony Albanese walks in for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in SamoaCredit: AP
As our leaders attend CHOGM, we have to tally the real cost of fossil fuels: how many islands are we happy to drown? How many people are we prepared to displace? How much money do we really need? How much shame can we bear? Penny Rosier, North Epping
Haven’t the Commonwealth summit representatives of Tuvalu and Vanuatu et al, ever heard of China? Riley Brown, Bondi Beach
The Pacific nations’ leaders are perfectly right to criticise Australia’s approach to climate change. In 2023, we emitted 46 million tonnes of carbon dioxide but exported 25 times that amount in emissions and our government has recently given the go-ahead to three coal mine expansions that will fuel another billion tonnes of carbon emissions. It is well time our leaders stopped speaking with forked tongues and made a commitment to phasing out coal and gas mining. Peter Nash, Fairlight
No migrants, except ...
At the risk of sounding like a parody on The Life of Brian (“Migration stalks PM, but Dutton too”, October 25), people seem to want no migration except for the nurses and doctors we need for our health system, the plumbers, builders and electricians who work in housing construction, the farmhands, pickers and planters we rely on in the agriculture sector of our economy, the tertiary education students who fund our universities, the chefs and cooks who prop up our hospitality services and the technicians who vitalise our information technology industry, just to give a part list of the skilled migrant workforce. Of course, we also utilise migrants in the unskilled areas like carers in aged care facilities, drivers in transport, labourers in building and more. But beside all those, let’s drop immigration to nothing so we can get a handle on some of the long-term problems we have created in our nation. Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point
What have migrants ever done for us?Credit: Geoff Ampt
One wonders just why the federal government is allowing the excessive level of year-in-year out immigration to persist. In Sydney, we see overcrowded roads, shopping centres, beaches and entertainment and eating areas. Our previously relatively relaxed way of life looks as though it has been lost forever. People have become short-tempered, impatient and angry, and I’m sure that a contributing factor is the increased number of people we encounter daily. As a country of chosen destination, surely we can select who can come here based on what they have to offer the country, rather than just a free-for-all. Our population is 27 million. An additional 500,000 every year is just far too many. Stewart Copper, Maroubra
Broad church
Christ Church St Laurence, peace in the cityCredit: Louise Kennerley
Your correspondent (Letters, October 25) highlights the valuable role of Christ Church St Lawrence as a “sanctuary of calm in a busy city”. I would suggest that it is much more than that. It is an outpost of Anglican social justice, diversity and tolerance in an extremely conservative diocese where such values do not seem to be highly prized. It is the one place in Sydney where senior women clergy have been provided with a platform. It is also a place where the broad, liberal and inquiring face of wider Anglicanism has been allowed a voice. This church, representing the Anglo-Catholic tradition, is a beacon of inclusivity, as well as a place of peace and calm. Derrick Mason, Boorowa
Shades of white
Your article on different responses to “white” and “non-white” names in a university research project seems to have conflated white with Anglo (“PhD project sparked backlash from academics”, October 25). I wonder whether the results would also have shown evidence of possible bias if the list of names had included non-Anglo names like Boris, Marianne, Giuseppe, or, indeed, Herman? Herman Beyersdorf, Bangalee
Make solar the law
Given that strata schemes will go on indefinitely, it makes both political and economic sense to legislate for compulsory installation of solar panels, with batteries and shared EV-charging stations (“How to get solar to 2.5m apartment dwellers”, October 25). Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
Price needs abortion education
It stuns me that anyone in Australia would consider banning or at least restricting abortion (“Price backed over abortion debate”, October 25). Jacinta Nampijinpa Price should read more about the history and consequences to women and families of driving abortion into illegal backyard set-ups. It is unconscionable that anyone – man, woman or politician – should interfere with a woman’s right to do what she knows is right for her at the time. Whatever the reason a woman seeks an abortion, she must have the right for it to be performed medically safely and legally. That will have a far better outcome for health and perhaps the chance of having a child in the future. Families and other children need their mother so she must have every chance to be there for them. I am horrified that Barnaby Joyce is backing Price in her move to restrict abortion rights. Our laws have been achieved after considerable debate. For women, families and society they must stay unless there is better that can be achieved. Augusta Monro, Dural
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price’s cheer squad who were talking her up to be the deputy leader of the opposition must surely be disappointed with her contributions since the Voice referendum. Instead of raising the abortion issue, she should speak on a decision that males make about their bodies that the parliament can override. Should not take long. Trevor Somerville, Illawong
Well, Barnaby Joyce, for myself and many others, you actually paid a political price for your outright hypocrisy during the same-sex marriage discussions, not your pro-life stance. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne
Where allegiance lies
I don’t countenance loud and abusive belligerence in the workplace (“She split ‘heirs’ but won’t be sacked”, October 25). As distasteful as she seems, those calling for Senator Thorpe’s resignation need only to look at themselves in the mirror during parliamentary question time. I give short shrift to the notion of a king, but at least he’s polite. David Ramsay, Bexley
Lidia Thorpe claims she swore allegiance to the Queen’s “hairs”, instead of her “heirs”.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
I can’t believe this is even being discussed. Lidia Thorpe was elected to Parliament by the people of Australia to represent us. Yet in accordance with our arcane system, she has to declare loyalty not to the people of Australia but to the English monarch, as do people who join our military. For goodness’ sake, can we at least modernise this piece of our Constitution? Michael McMullan, Avoca Beach
Like Lidia Thorpe, I was required to swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth when elected to Muswellbrook Municipal Council many years ago. As a staunch republican, I did it through clenched teeth, just as I imagine about half of Australia’s current MPs did when they were elected. King Charles III seems a nice enough fellow but does any Australian owe allegiance to this Englishman whom we have not elected? I am no fan of Senator Thorpe, but to suggest that she should be expelled from the Australian Parliament because of lack of allegiance to the member of another country’s royal family is patently ridiculous. It is a historical fact that the original owners of Australia were pushed off their land and sometimes murdered by people who owed their allegiance to Queen Victoria or some other English monarch. It is perfectly understandable for an Indigenous person, such as Lidia Thorpe, to find it repugnant to be required to swear allegiance to one of their descendants. A more appropriate oath for our parliamentarians would be one in which they were required to swear allegiance to their country – Australia – not to any king or queen. Mike Reddy, Vincentia
It’s clear that Lidia Thorpe has decided where her allegiance lies and that words on a page are just that. Maybe the oath/affirmation of allegiance in the constitution should be to Australia rather than to the monarch. Makes sense to me, but try getting even that up at a referendum. Then again, many people don’t give a fig about sticking to their word these days anyway. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
Heirs. Hairs. Senator Lidia Thorpe spoke what she read. It’s the quirkiness of our English language that’s to blame, (h)onestly. Mary Julian, Glebe
And here I was all this time thinking Thorpe had pledged allegiance to the Queen’s hares. Brian Collins, Cronulla
Hurtful truth
Your correspondent (Letters, October 25) suggests extra protection for various people, and I feel that teachers need to be issued with stab vests, as well as everyone going through metal detection scans to enter school grounds and buildings. From escalation of weapon use in overseas conflicts to kids taking a knife everywhere, why are we seeing more willingness to hurt others? Marjie Williamson, Blaxland
Wave of greatness
Mick Fanning in full flightCredit: © WSL / Cestari
So many dark stories abound yet this one bursts through brilliantly (“Fanning on life after death, family tragedy and that shark punch”, October 25). Whatever the tally of Mick Fanning’s considerable surfing achievements, his greatest accolade is arguably now on full display. Talk about an inspiring role model for not only “grommets” but well beyond our beaches and shores to a greater global youthful cohort. I am quietly jealous there was no one of his ilk around in the mid to late 1960s during my formative surfing days chasing “foamies” on Manly Beach. May your baby’s daughter’s smile be your ultimate tube ride, mate, to be revisited daily for many years to come. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why
Postscript
First of all, Postscript would like to thank Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla for their sterling work in filling the pages early in the week.
There were letters of praise for the royal couple, including one writer who had once been to the lavatory in Highgrove, and what more proof of royal egalitarianism do you need?
There were letters complaining about them and the waste of good Australian money on hosting them, and, of course, many letters yearning for a republic and, as so often, offering ideas about how this republic could be created.
Yet again, if only governments would listen to Herald letter writers, the world would be a nicer, safer, better run and cleaner place.
Following this manifestation of the magisterial, the letters moved on to Senator Lidia Thorpe and her actions before the King: were they justified, justifiable or pointless?
Another big story this week: the poisoned water in Sydney. It was agreed that the water needs to be cleaned up, and many people wrote thanking the Herald for its reporting of the subject (we take a collective bow here).
Qantas took a beating after being told to pay money to workers who had been fired during the lockdowns to reduce the company’s outgoings at a time when almost no one was outgoing from the country.
Through the week, erudite to the end, letter writers discussed Lindy Lee’s new and very large artwork Ouroboros, which is being installed in the garden of the National Gallery in Canberra. There are those who love it and those who would close the curtains if it were outside their windows. Then there were the practical people who thought $14 million was an OK price for a spectacular 13 tonne artwork, reminding readers that people were aghast when Blue Poles was bought for $1.3 million and that it is now valued at about $500 million, so it was a good buy.
Then other people asked for Blue Poles to be sold and the money put to use in the community.
You just can’t win sometimes, can you?
Harriet Veitch, Acting letters editor
- To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
- The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.