The inner-city residents of three councils, Marrickville, Ashfield and Leichhardt, voted strongly in support of de-merging in the 2021 plebiscite by a thumping 62.5 per cent, yet the politicians refuse to act on that democratic action (“Legal roadblock to Inner West split”, January 22). The merging of the three councils was a political move by the Liberals and the refusal to de-merge is a political move by Labor. Democracy and true local government were and still are rejected by the two old parties, Labor and Liberal, because it suits their hold on power. Labor’s refusal to honour 62.5 per cent of the inner west voters will be seen for what it is – a betrayal of democracy. Michael Davis, Balmain East
Local Government Minister Ron HoenigCredit: Dion Georgopoulos
Minister Ron Hoenig’s failure to fix the legislative defect impacting local council de-amalgamations – particularly Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council – is nothing short of a disgrace.
Instead of solving the legislative problem, Minister Hoenig’s suggestion to Cootamundra-Gundagai that they re-submit a de-amalgamation proposal under a different section of the Local Government Act is simply insulting to the council and its residents (who overwhelmingly support the de-amalgamation). This suggestion would necessitate a whole new round of submissions, public hearings and Boundaries Commission examination. There is no good reason to subject the council and its residents to this expensive and unnecessary process.
The legislative defect – which was identified a year ago – should be addressed by the government as a matter of urgency. It could be easily fixed, including a back-dating provision that would allow the commission’s previous review and de-amalgamation recommendation to stand and be acted upon. Bob Sendt, Hornsby
At every state election, I remember which political party made Botany and Rockdale councils merge. I also keep remembering why my council rates then increased more than 50 per cent. Bob Scott, Eastlakes
The NSW government needs to overcome the legal and administrative roadblocks preventing council demergers rather than use them as excuses to stop demergers from happening. Part of the solution is to support legislation currently before the upper house, providing for binding de-amalgamation plebiscites. Residents in areas such as that of the former Pittwater Council were never given a say on whether they wanted to be amalgamated and it’s time our voices are heard. Miranda Korzy, Clareville
Michel McGowan’s article on the controversial council merger policy said Labor knows legislative change is needed to resolve the failed “Fit for Future” policy. All sides have an opportunity to address this by supporting a bill in the Legislative Council, tabled by Dr Amanda Cohn from the Greens, which outlines how to fix the roadblocks and gives communities a real say on how best to run their councils via plebiscites.
Labor went to the election promising plebiscites and to respect the decision of those communities who voted to demerge. A bill, which has the support of many crossbenchers, is soon up for debate. If Labor was serious about respecting democracy, it would support a bill that has been crafted by communities that have been living the nightmare of big, unaccountable and profligate councils since 2016. Grantley Ingram, Bombala
Doctors unfazed by Gaza should not be doctors
In the case of doctors making comments that are pro-Gaza, and in the Lattouf case, one needs to consider not just that these comments might be offensive to some (“Dozens of doctors reported to watchdog over Israel-Gaza social media posts”, January 22). Indeed, in this situation, it is difficult to make a comment, or do something, that won’t offend somebody.
But what is important is how it might reflect on a person’s role as a doctor and on the reputation of the profession. Unless a comment is particularly hateful to one side or the other, it is likely to represent the facts. How does that bring the profession or an employer into disrepute? A large part of the community would endorse such comments.
Those who administer such complaint schemes must be mindful of where a profession or employer wants to be seen. Presumably not supporting one side or the other. David Rush, Lawson
AMA President Professor Steve Robson. The AMA is concerned the situation is creating unnecessary stress for doctors. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
I am shocked that doctors are being reported to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and then asked to answer to anonymous complaints about closed social media groups. As a retired psychologist and letter writer to the Herald I have never heard of being asked to answer to complaints about one’s political opinions, let alone asking doctors to answer to genuine concerns about the deaths of over 16,000 women and children and over 300 health care workers and the deteriorating medical conditions under which the injured are treated. If they are not concerned, they should not be medical practitioners. Sally Shepard, Nelson Bay
If the code of conduct is to protect the impact of political views on patients, why is AHPRA acting on closed medical social media posts? I am sickened by anonymous dobbing and spying by medical colleagues. AHPRA needs to examine its codes to identify whose interests it really represents. Anne Eagar, Epping
A disturbing report this morning about AHPRA investigating doctors for comments they have made on social media. Before my retirement it was not uncommon to work beside doctors of different political persuasions. As long as they were good doctors it did not matter. It was accepted and in fact a point of pride that that was as it should be. It would be worrying indeed if doctors were being investigated by their governing body for expressing political opinions. Gary Barnes, Mosman
AHPRA’s role is to protect the public and to ensure that Australian health practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise. AHPRA’s role is not to tell health practitioners what to think on important social issues.
John Nevin, Saumarez Ponds
Degrees of skill
While I am sympathetic to Andy Marks’ regular advocacy for Sydney’s oft-maligned western suburbs (“Are North Sydney and Fairfield on different planets?”, January 19), he falls into the trap of measuring an individual’s success according to whether they went to university. Australia is suffering from an overabundance of university graduates, often struggling to find real jobs, while TAFEs, which perform an admirable job in providing technical and further education, are often portrayed as second-class institutions.
A survey by Melbourne University during COVID revealed that TAFE graduates generally had a better chance of gaining employment than their university-trained counterparts. While Marks’ article does highlight some inequality and the need to rebalance the great divide, it overlooks the point that not everyone needs a university education. The current skills shortage and the fact we can’t find enough welders or electricians to build infrastructure projects (or nuclear submarines) is a reminder we need more graduates from TAFEs rather than universities. James Cryer, Castlecrag
Rogerson’s legacy
Rightly, there will be few kind words about “disgraced former detective” Roger Rogerson following the news of his death (“Corrupt former police officer Roger Rogerson dead at 83”, January 22). By chance, I met him when he was spruiking his new book. When asked about the lowest point in his career, he replied that it was not the ignominy of being exposed as a corrupt cop but rather the horrific ordeal of having to identify mutilated bodies in the crushed wreckages at the Granville train disaster and the Beechcraft King Air crash at Sydney Airport. Police do a stressful, dangerous job but, unlike Rogerson, most of them don’t allow their daily dealings with violence and corruption to blur their own sense of right and wrong. However, regardless of his proven and alleged crimes, it seemed to me Rogerson was not a man completely devoid of morals and compassion. Having said that, he did inscribe my copy of his book: “To Burnsy, I’m glad you bought the book. If you hadn’t, you were getting it in the cellar.” Col Burns, Lugarno
Rogerson speaks to the media at Police Headquarters in 1985.Credit: Russell McPhedran
The death of crooked cop Roger Rogerson has lead to a rash of articles about Sydney’s dodgy past. Do today’s young cadet journalists have to do a special history course to effortlessly trot out the names of missing hit man Christopher Dale Flannery, crime boss Abe Saffron, shot heroin dealer Warren Lanfranchi, sex worker and corruption campaigner Sallie-Anne Huckstepp? I am old enough that the names just roll off the tongue whenever Roger Rogerson is mentioned. Dangar Place in Chippendale elicits a dark thrill even now. Richard Wallace, Balgowlah
Roger Rogerson used to recount how, when he and his partner were watching the TV series Blue Murder, she turned to him and said, “You weren’t a bad-looking bloke when you were young.” To which Rogerson replied, “That’s not me, that’s Richard Roxburgh.” Patricia Farrar, Concord
Nowhere to hide
One can only wonder if one of the “invisible assumptions” Sean Kelly talks about is the need for so many unproductive middle-management jobs (“Pull of work not what it was”, January 22). Working from home may lead to a leaner, meaner “new society”. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls
Answers needed
Environmentalist Mark Graham was treated disgracefully for engaging in what appears to be lawful protest (Letters, January 22). It is a personal tragedy for him, but it also raises some broader questions that warrant investigation by government and parliament. Why was he charged when he was clearly the victim of assault? Why did the riot squad visit his property to enforce a non-existent bail condition? How did Forestry Corporation NSW discharge its responsibility to manage contractors it engaged? Why was there no action taken to prevent the assault? Are law enforcement agencies acting responsibly and impartially when disputes arise around forestry?
People with a grievance have a right to protest peacefully and lawfully. All residents of NSW have a right to fair and impartial treatment under the law. This shameful case illustrates that those rights are not being respected. We need to know why, and we need to fix it. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga
Earth defenders
It was heartening to read that younger generations of Australians are choosing to donate to renewable energy and other climate projects, and to the advocacy for better climate policy (“Forget inheritance, save the world”, January 22). It is to be hoped that some of this money goes to the Environmental Defenders Office, the largest environmental legal centre in the Australia-Pacific, dedicated to protecting our climate, communities and shared environment by running groundbreaking legal cases, leading law reform and providing access to justice.
Active cases at present include the landmark human rights challenge over Clive Palmer’s Galilee Coal Project, Supreme Court action over Glencore’s McArthur River Mine, and defending the World Heritage Springbrook National Park from water mining. Sue Walsh, Woollahra
Electric fans
Why isn’t Labor investing heavily in household electrification for a rapid and urgent transition away from gas (“Labor strikes deal with gas giants”, January 22)? Electrification is anti-inflationary, better for our health by taking gas out of the home, better for cost-of-living savings, better for the environment. Money and power seem to have overshadowed the science, the more dangerous impact of methane emissions and the interests of the Australian people. Amy Blain, Ainslie (ACT)
A far better way to reduce energy costs for households would be to assist them to get off gas. Gas water heating is far more expensive than electric heat-pump, and gas room heating is far more expensive than reverse cycle air-conditioning. Help with these expenses would give long-term energy bill relief. Peggy Fisher, Manly
Silly and seasoned
I agree that being silly is an important part of life (“It’s the right time for playtime”, January 22). My ageing body attempts stretching into unusual poses under the guidance of a yoga teacher. Other silly times happen at gym classes; we try to keep time with the music when remembering instructions of steps to make our bodies strong and our hearts strong. Shared laughter and smiles by all. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
The benefits of yoga are not just physical Credit: iStock
Emergency is now
Recently I walked part of the Tom Uren Trail in Balmain and was exhausted (Letters, January 20). The reason? The dew point was 26 degrees, a record. According to the conventional wisdom, 35 degrees is the dew point at which humans can no longer cool themselves through sweating. If exposed to these conditions for too long, they die. The effects of climate change – let’s say, climate emergency – will come to us earlier than most people think.
George Carrard, Oatley
Can’t beat Cathy
When AI can produce a political cartoon that matches Cathy Wilcox’s inventiveness and topicality then it will have come of age (Letters, January 22). Doug Crawford, Cheltenham
Blame the booze
I believe your correspondent is blaming the wrong drug for the deranged parliamentary behaviour during question time. Surely alcohol from the parliamentary bar prompts most of the poor behaviour, rather than the more soothing pot. Peter Wotton, Pyrmont
Show’s over
The demise of the koala population on the peninsula flagged by Gloria Looby is a tragedy. To the koala population of Avalon: I wish to apologise deeply to those rutting koala males in our front yard on Avalon Parade that I would abuse for keeping me awake at 3am, and hope you will forgive me. But alas, I fear it is too late. Robert Hosking, Paddington
koala
Yellow card
I have no issues with the president using his helicopter for matters not strictly presidential — (“Marcos caught chopper to gig”, January 22) – but Coldplay? Really? I’d understand if it was Radiohead. Jeff Apter, Keiraville
History’s lesson
There are so many ways to look at history (Letters, January 22). Justin Cahill thinks that the Rum Corps rebellion was resistance to tyranny. Or maybe the whole Rum Corps episode was an example of a catastrophe caused by unregulated private enterprise (we do it more subtly these days). Norman Carter, Roseville Chase
Royally blue
Last week the King was commended for publicising his medical condition, so common among older men. If he has access to the witty ripostes here, he might think twice about being so frank next time. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth
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