The article regarding tradie qualifications being issued without testing or proof of competency is a classic example of the success of neoliberalism (“Out the back of a Haymarket suit shop, you can get your tradie qualification without sitting a test”, April 14). No longer do governments face the cost of providing the relevant training facilities and teachers, instead they have been replaced by profit-seeking backroom businesses that have no concern for educational quality, or indeed student competency. The fact that this leads to shonky buildings, well that matters naught, simply because those who seek “small governmenthe wt” and the removal of red tape are happy, and they have other issues within the building trades that they want to concentrate on. Andrew Brown, Bowling Alley Point
The purported Sydney office for Australian Skills Certification doubles as a luxury tailor.Credit: Steven Siewert
Yet another failed privatised venture by a coalition government at the expense of a once first-class TAFE system. The folly of privatisation of any public entity such as education, private building certifiers, child care, age care etc. requires additional taxpayer funds to pay the private facilitators, resulting in a second-class system. However, the cost to taxpayers doesn’t stop there, with the entry of fraudsters and unqualified tradies resulting in building defects and failures, which requires further policing bodies, a building commissioner, licensing authority for tradies, and a star rating system for consumers based on payment by the developers to be rated. What’s next? An expensive public enquiry following deaths, injuries, unjustified government spending, broken system, or media/public concerns. So much for good economic management. Brian McDonald. Willoughby
It’s Albo’s vibe
Chip Le Grand’s bio of Anthony Albanese calls him “careful, stable, even prosaic.” That description is missing one key word – decent (“He’s careful, stable – even prosaic. But Albanese may just have nailed the mood”, April 13). In a world where leaders seem increasingly erratic, opportunistic and populist, we have a prime minister focused on simple but admirable principles. While Trump makes hubristic boasts of leaders wanting to “kiss my ass” and Putin plots to rebuild a lost empire, we have a prime minister who talks of opportunity, affordable healthcare and better real wages. He celebrates friendship and our capacity to triumph over adversity. His guiding principle is no-one left behind and no-one held back. It is often said that a nation’s leader reflects its identity. We should be congratulated for choosing Daryl Kerrigan over Gordon Gekko. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga
Show our colours
It is good to see Canada asserting its resistance to Trump’s overtures, and also to read about how much Australia and Canada have in common in their history and culture (“‘Elbows up!’ How Canada stopped playing nice with Trump”, April 14). However, one important step in their evolving independence that Australia should learn by was their adoption of their own flag, featuring the maple leaf. Now that Queen Elizabeth II is no longer with us, we should replace the Union Jack with a more appropriate symbol, such as the Aboriginal flag, or, less controversially, a gum leaf or a sprig of wattle. This should be our first change, before we start making a move towards becoming a republic. Jill Tuffley, Turramurra
A visitor to Washington wears a Donald Trump mask in front of a Canadian flag in outside the White House.Credit: AP
Experience required
I wish Caitlyn Dunkley well with her first vote. The Australian Electoral Commission has a vote practice site where first timers can gain familiarity with our voting system – that is, if they have not already learnt by going into a polling booth with parents, and having a sausage on the way in or out (“As a first-time voter, I want us to declare our vision”, April 13). As Caitlyn says, our social ills have many causes. While we can learn much from school and the dreaded social media, our political parties ensure a very narrow ugly path to the job of prime minister. So much better if, post school, prospective PMs studied for a trade or a non-politics degree, found work, started a business, played sport, pursued artistic endeavours, travelled the world to see how others do things, made a lot of friends, and discovered what others think and want before pursuing politics. Peter Egan, Mosman
Solar by stealth
I have read with interest for months Ken Enderby’s letters about the virtues of EVs and off-the-grid living, but there were four words in his latest letter that caught my attention: “shortage in the grid” (Letters, April 13). That is the Achilles’ heel of the renewables debate and why Mr Enderby seems quite pleased to be profiting from this shortage. Labor continues to shut down our reliable power stations, thus causing this shortage, but if we still had an adequate, fully functional grid, Mr Enderby would have nobody to sell his excess power to. No wonder he loves Labor’s renewables scheme. David Sayers, Gwandalan
I have no doubt that the Dodgy Brothers are getting ready to enter the solar battery industry with the help of Google in the event of a Labor win, just as they did with pink batts (Letters, April 13). Beware Labor – you will be blamed by opposition enemies as Kevin Rudd was, while the greedy opportunists among us slink away into the night. Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay
No gender agenda
Jacqueline Maley’s article about masculinity seems to indicate that “real men” want women to be “barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen” (“How Trump’s tariffs will ‘save’ masculinity”, April 12). Women were moved into the workforce to take over jobs vacated by men who were fighting the two World Wars. Even though women were kicked out of those jobs when the men returned, they still showed that they could compete with men, and (dare we say it?) do better than some men in a variety of occupations. Our world today shows we should focus on a person’s ability to perform the job, rather than on their gender. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland
Best man for top job
And the beat goes on (“Joe Doueihi didn’t plan to be a detective. Now he’s NSW’s top homicide cop”, April 13). Riley Walter has penned an inspirational profile on the man who would become the new king of the homicide squad, replacing recently retired Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty. Such promotions in any key agencies reflect the true diversity of our multicultural Australia. To be a self-identified “gyppo”, as Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas described himself, is no longer a handicap for promotion. Nor is it to be a “proud Leb” or the ability to speak Arabic, relating at a socio-cultural level, where all religions (or none) are acknowledged on their own terms. Communities look for role models in society, and Dame Marie Bashir was no exception in her rank as a NSW governor, following many distinguished medical positions. Any hand-wringing over suspicion DEI criteria claims is a false gesture. Merit is its own reward. I join others in welcoming him onto our television screens as he makes a seamless transition to fight recrudescent crime. Mike Fogarty, Weston (ACT)
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