No, Peter Dutton, a royal commission is not required to unearth the evidence to end men’s violence against women (“Dutton pledges to hold royal commission”, May 4). The large sum of money required for a royal commission could be put to much better use with many elements contributing to domestic violence being identified already. The states are responsible for many aspects of DV and they are doing a good job in working towards solutions. Money is always going to be a problem so save the royal commission funds and help the states. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
Credit: Simon Letch
I reject the call for a royal commission into domestic violence, unless the government commits to fully implementing 100 per cent of the recommendations. Tim Schroder, Gordon
Dutton is going to act decisively on DV by, wait for it, holding a royal commission. Perhaps his royal commission will find out if DV is real. Barry Harrod, Fig Tree Pocket (Qld)
Women flee, with their children, because they are not safe to remain in their own homes (Letters, May 4). While the violent, deranged, pathological perpetrator knows their whereabouts they are in danger. Countless women have been murdered in their homes. Their abusers treat the apprehended violence order with the same contempt and disrespect as they treat their victims. Yes, it means that women are then in the unenviable position of insecure housing, financial uncertainty, children needing to change schools, abandonment from familiar communities and supports, even having to keep their new address secret from close friends and family. They choose preservation of safety and life over the enormous disruption of uprooting their lives. Furthermore, doing so mitigates the ongoing psychological harms to themselves and their children that come with persistent exposure to family violence. I, like many of those who have written in support of women staying put, have never been in the position of having to make such difficult decisions. The situation is far more complex than just saying “kick him out”. Kim Hobbs, Kings Langley
In the letters and opinion pieces concerning male violence against women, one keeps reading about “societal solutions” and “society” which prompts the question: what society (Letters, May 4)?Australia has not been a society for at least 30 years. It has degenerated into nothing more than an economy and that which we were once pleased to call a society has fragmented into an agglomeration of individuals, tribes, cliques and splinter groups, each primed and ready to hate and act violently towards The Other at the click of a “send” button. The nastiness which underpins the economic policies pursued by the ALP and Coalition since the days of Thatcher and Reagan has permeated and poisoned every aspect of life in Australia. Narcissistic self-interest trumps every other social consideration: it’s every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost. Empathy is for wimps and weaklings: don’t tell me your problems, I’ve got a Porsche. Don’t ask the government to fund your refuge because that money is earmarked for negative gearing and franking credits. The homeless? They only exist to promote a developer’s dream. If you want to do something about male violence you can start by addressing the violence done to people by an inhumane economic paradigm. Ryszard Linkiewicz, Caringbah South
Politicians must be named and shamed for WestConnex disaster
So if the disaster that is WestConnex was predicted 10 years ago in traffic modelling, why was it built at all (“Rozelle 2.0: warning of North Shore chaos”, May 4)? It seems that no one wanted this mess, except the NSW Liberal government members responsible for it. Why did they want it? Only one question left to ask really – who profited? Whoever they are should be named, shamed and held fully responsible – preferably behind bars. Sally Morris, Leichhardt
What on earth was the former Coalition government thinking in rashly selling off the state’s public assets to fund these motorways, despite the best available advice? And who actually signed it off? Blaming the system or complexities merely muddies the waters, suggesting it will happen again.
Peter Farmer, Northbridge
Spaghetti-junction woes.Credit: John Shakespeare
In December 2023, I wrote a letter to the Herald, which was not published, warning that the “Spaghetti Western” would become the “Northern Nightmare” by relocating the current traffic chaos from Rozelle to North Sydney when the Western Harbour Tunnel links them in 2028.
So again I ask: Can the government assure road users that the Warringah Freeway upgrade design is thoroughly checked and the North Shore will not have to endure a similar “joke of easing the traffic” in four years’ time? Peter Allen, Castle Cove
There is already chaos on the harbour bridge towards the west. It could prevent a few heart attacks if the left-hand sign on the road saying tunnel could let drivers know it also goes to the western distributor. Vicky Marquis, Glebe
On reading this story my thoughts have immediately turned to asking when was this absurdity first reported, and who were the people who signed off on the Rozelle interchange fiasco? Now we have another potential disaster on the North Shore, with the same people responsible.
Those who created this chaos must be made to explain how they got it so wrong. They must explain to the shareholders: the public. Bruce Hall, Avalon
How much did Sydney Metro pay in consulting fees to come up with the new rebranded name for the southwest metro? M1; seriously (Letters, May 4)? I would have to disagree with the head of Sydney Metro and suggest that if an out-of-state or overseas person asks for directions to the M1 they may well be directed to the freeway heading north, rather than a train line heading south. Warwick Spencer, West Pymble
Australia’s sustainable future
Like Ross Gittins, I’m bamboozled by Labor’s ambiguous Future Made in Australia plan (“Albanese’s slick slogan drives an old brand, but needs gear shift for future”, May 4). If “the plan” involves Australia being bold on renewable energy, and using our abundant clean power to become a foundry for the world’s decarbonisation needs, then I’m all for it. Rather than being a “dig it and ship it” petro-state, we have the capacity to add value onshore by using renewable energy to produce green steel, green hydrogen, green ammonia and more. A sustainable future awaits. It’s high time Australia stopped being part of the problem and started being part of the solution. Amy Hiller, Kew (VIC)
Ross Gittins’ inference that locally made goods are “inferior” and we were making things “we aren’t good at” is simply wrong. I’m sure I’m not the only one to have Australian-made electrical tools and goods that are 35 years or older still working. Imported Chinese manufactured goods are lucky to last two or three years. More landfill, false economy. Were Australian cars inferior? Not according to most experts. On China, is it wise to become almost totally dependent on a country with a regime that is willing to be openly punitive with tariffs if we don’t do and say everything they agree with? If we ever did go to war with China, or even have another (perhaps worse) pandemic, how does a country which doesn’t make anything fare? What does China specialise in? Everything, it appears. Surely the benefits of being self-sufficient to a degree can’t just be dismissed by a simple economic theory. Andrew Cronin, Robertson
Politician’s wisdom
How refreshing to read a perfectly logical solution to our worsening housing crisis and how unsurprising that this sensible suggestion has been proposed by one of our wonderful women teals, Allegra Spender (“Tax break on spare bedrooms ‘could ease crisis’“, May 4). It’s a no-brainer that one way to resolve the federal government’s alarming predicted housing shortfall of 250,000 homes in five years is to encourage owners to rent out spare rooms and incentivise construction of backyard granny flats, arguably achievable by simply removing the tax penalties. This would cost the government nothing and the associated social benefits spin-offs are inestimable, such as fewer people forced into homelessness, decreased strain on the aged care sector, job creation, better retirement prospects and so on. My money’s on the entire crossbench backing this practical proposal to the hilt. Joy Nason, Mona Vale
Mariners ahoy
The Central Coast Mariners have long been one of the most successful clubs in the A-League, despite representing the smallest market (“Inside the Mariners’ 100,000km odyssey”, May 4). They have developed a reputation for developing Australian talent, and punching above their weight, and most importantly they have represented an antidote to the big-money clubs that think all that is required for success is to open the cheque book. The Mariners are one of the great success stories of Australian sport. Peter Jones, Rathmines
Inspiring principals
Thanks, Christopher Harris, for writing about the “chap who sticks with his principals” (“A chap who sticks by his principals”, May 4). It was so inspiring. Craig Petersen, like many people in our education system, is a special human being. We all know of teachers who have changed us and enriched our lives. As for the NSW Education Minister, Prue Car, the quiet achiever, I am glad that Petersen mentions the outstanding job that she is doing. I have a lot of respect for her. I have put the article on my fridge door for all to see. Judy Archer, Nelson Bay
Electric dream
As an EV owner, I am amazed that more people are not buying plug-in electrics, particularly given the cost of living (“Drivers double number of hybrids sold”, May 4). You can get a good-quality EV with a 450-kilometre range for less than the price of an SUV and, unlike the latter, the EV will cost you precious little to run. Since going all-electric, I estimate that I’m saving $3000 a year. That means after 10 years the new car will wind up costing me $22,000. And they say EVs are more expensive than petrol-driven cars. Only upfront. If you have the money to buy one, do it. They leave their rivals for dead. Ken Enderby, Concord
A love of letters
Reading the review of the book about letters sent by the authors Shirley Hazzard and Elizabeth Harrower to each other made me wonder whether something like this will be possible in 30 years’ time (“The letters between two great writers revealing their hidden stories”, May 4). With letter writing becoming an anachronism as most of us have moved online, how will future cultural observers analyse any written communication? I have love letters written from more than 40 years ago that still make me emotional reading them. I hope letter writing is not a dying art. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury
Clubs’ changing code
Licensed clubs were initially established to provide a gathering place for people with a common interest (Letters, May 4). Applicants for membership had to show an affiliation with the club’s purpose, while non-members had to be in the company of a member who added a signature to theirs on entry. This requirement was eased until visitors were able to sign themselves in, seemingly a redundant need now. Regarding the information clubs collect, in a quest for reward points some members willingly disclose the time they entered, the time they spent playing poker machines and the amount used to purchase food and drink. Who needs Big Brother? Barry Wooldridge, Harden
More museums, please
In 1988, when the Powerhouse opened, the population of Sydney was 3.5 million (Letters, May 4). Now it is 5.3million and we are one major museum less. We need more museums now, not fewer. More new - and old - ideas. More play places for increasingly crowded family living, more learning places for increasingly underfunded education. More exposure to new technologies and improvements to make life better and more environmentally friendly. And please can they be designed by and for people, not by and for architects? Allan Kreuiter, Roseville
Entering the Archie bunker.Credit: Matt Golding
Ritual painting
Ah, the annual ritual of the Archibald Prize (“Pet sitters give Archibald jury paws for thought”, May 4). The last-minute dash to deliver a painting, sometimes barely dry; the packing room crew giving entries the once-over, with the knowledge that what has taken maybe months to paint must catch the eye of the judges in the seconds it takes to be carried past them. Roll on May 30, for the next ritual: the cries of, “You’ve got to be joking!” at some of the finalists selected. Joan Brown, Orange
Rich get poorer
You mean to say the chief executive officer’s pay went from $32,800,000 a year to $25,200,000 a year (“Macquarie’s top brass hit with pay cuts”, May 4)? Heck, that’s a cut from $89,501 a day to $68,933 a day, seven days a week. Are there plans to send the hat around? Need I say any more? Col Shephard, Yamba
All God’s children
If the Christian belief is that all people are made in God’s image, given the appalling behaviour of his creations and the havoc they have inflicted upon the world, why would anyone want to worship such an entity (“Morrison broke a taboo with anxiety; he’s broken a bigger one in his book”, May 4)? Johanna White, Woonona
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