Credit: Cathy Wilcox
I hope Bob Carr is correct, and that when Anthony Albanese rings the US president, as he must, Joe Biden agrees to drop this vengeful witch-hunt against Julian Assange (“To free Assange, just ask Biden”, June 20). After all, what Assange did in exposing these US war crimes was no different from other journalists. The public has a right to know this information. Biden needs to prove he is the compassionate man he portrays himself to be. He must not be swayed by the looming midterm elections and the temptation to use Assange’s extradition and incarceration as election campaign fodder. This would be cruelty beyond belief. With Chelsea Manning now free, it seems our alliance means very little if an Australian is treated differently. We must stand up for one of our own.
Over to you, PM. As they say, it doesn’t hurt to ask. Pam Timms, Suffolk Park
A good journalist obtains information, sifts through it, extracts the critical elements and writes a story that outlines the key issues. Whatever one thinks of Julian Assange, he is not a journalist. He may well be classified as a whistleblower, and there may be any number o freasons why the Australian government should intervene in his extradition to the US, but being a journalist is not one of them. He is no Kate McClymont. Peter Sutherland, Castle Hill
PM, yes, you can bring Assange home, and declare him a free man. Fundamentally, that is the right thing to do. While he may not necessarily qualify to be martyred, surely he doesn’t deserve to be crucified. Edward Loong, Milsons Point
It’s no wonder Priti Patel signed off on Julian Assange’s deportation to the US for exposing war crimes. Both Britain and the US have not officially investigated war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan and would prefer not to confront it by the usual method, i.e. punish the whistleblower. William Perry, Mount Keira
There was a lot of talk before the election about protecting whistleblowers like Witness K, Bernard Collaery, Richard Boyle (formerly of the ATO) and Jeff Morris (formerly of the Commonwealth Bank), not to mention Julian Assange. But “protection” may be the wrong way to deal with that issue.
If we really want to improve the way society works, we should stop talking about protecting whistleblowers and start talking about convicting those who prevent them from speaking out. Then we might see some change for the better. Tom Orren, Wamberal Heights
Sorry, I’m not on the “free Julian Assange” bandwagon. The idea that Assange was a journalist can’t be taken seriously, and has been mentioned only when his defence is looking around for labels.
The classified information he distributed didn’t fall into his lap; he aided and abetted Chelsea Manning in obtaining it. I suggest that if an Australian journalist did the same with a Defence Department employee, they’d be looking at a lengthy jail term. This is not a test for Anthony Albanese’s leadership. Assange should take responsibility for his actions and stand trial. Geoff Teys, Chippendale
There’s so many ways not to spend $25m on a flagpole
Here’s how to save $25 million (Letters, June 20). Put the two embarrassing colonial relics (Australian and NSW flags) in a museum. Optionally, charge the people a dollar and a half just to see ’em. Hoist a single new flag incorporating the black, yellow and red of the Aboriginal flag and the red, white and blue of the relics. Some stunning designs already exist. Don’t erect a third flagpole. In fact, take down the redundant second flagpole and use it elsewhere. National pride asserted after 121 years of nominal independence. Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples symbolised. Union Jacks consigned to the dustbin of history. Everybody wins, and the money gets spent on something useful. Steve Cornelius, Brookvale
While he’s spending $25 million putting up one extra flagpole on the bridge for the Aboriginal flag, the premier might well consider adding a few more. Because pretty soon someone else will want to be recognised by having their flag up there, too. And then someone else. And someone else. One flag unites. Many, all flown at the same level, divides us into many tribes. Rather than adding more flags, there should only be one flag up there. The Australian flag. To unite us by reminding us of the one thing we are all equally part of. Gordon Drennan, Burton (SA)
At that price, the solid gold flagpole will be standing long after the rest of the bridge has rusted away. Peter Kamenyitzky, Castle Hill
Credit: Anna Kucera
Why can’t we just replace the NSW state flag with the Aboriginal flag? I’ll accept a cheque for my share of the $25 million saved. Randi Svensen, Wyong
I like a money tree with the best of them, so I would like to know where Dominic Perrottet has his planted. Over the past week or so, he has promised hundreds of millions of dollars, albeit for good and noble causes, but where is the money coming from? The NSW Coalition has sold off almost every state asset, so they are no longer available to generate a source of revenue. Many of the projects currently under way or completed are over budget. The premier’s caveat of federal funding assistance is pie in the sky thinking. The federal government has a huge job to balance its budget. I doubt if it will be happy to help fund $25million for one flagpole. It does not bode well for the state’s coffers or the premier’s ability to deliver on his promises and not waste whatever money he has. Susan Durman, Pyrmont
I am sure Hoges could quickly knock up a flagpole on the bridge for a lot less money if we chuck in some tinnies. Diane Erickson, West Ryde
Primary effort can fix GP crisis
Einstein’s words that “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” applies to the “perilous state” of primary care services across NSW towns and regions (“GP exodus puts regions at risk”, June 20). There have been many failed attempts. An innovative approach now would be to get some selected medical schools to run a new accelerated stream of training dedicated to graduating only primary care clinicians, as has been done in New York and some other creative institutions. This should comprise less elitist recruitment of candidates, with possibly some health background and academic success, and perhaps an interest in re-training. Real innovative solutions must challenge the tired status quo. Robyn Dalziell, Kellyville
It is surprising that there is a shortage of GPs in the cities and more so in the country areas when we now have over 100,000 GPs and universities are producing hundreds of doctors every year.
Not long ago, it was difficult for the fresh medical graduates to get an internship in hospitals.
Yes, we have a problem with COVID-19, but the population hasn’t increased by 30 per cent in the past six years and the GPs crisis has been overblown today. It seems more like a management issue than a resource issue. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
House of generosity
How very generous of Wendy Whiteley to donate her collection of Brett Whiteley’s paintings to the NSW Art Gallery (“A priceless cultural gift to the state”, June 20). In return, would it not be fitting for the state or a benefactor to purchase her Lavender Bay house with its famous “secret garden” as an adjunct to the Art Gallery? The property is doubly worthy of heritage listing; its position at Lavender Bay provides much-needed Sydney parkland and its connection with the Whiteley family is a reflection of the historical and artistic value of one of Australia’s most famous couples. Nola Tucker, Kiama
Wendy WhiteleyCredit: Louie Douvis
Development fatigue
Am I the only one who is suffering major development fatigue in this city (“New ferry wharves, ‘New York-style’ high line slated for Circular Quay”, smh.com.au, June 19)? This disruptive project will take forever, will rip the guts out of a perfectly good road system and the recently refurbished wharves at Circular Quay and line the pockets of the building industry and developers. Do we really need it? Especially when there are more pressing problems, like fixing a broken health system, increasing affordable housing and paying front-line workers a salary commensurate with their vital roles. But obviously, this is all dull stuff compared to announcing extravagant projects. Lyndall Nelson, South Turramurra
The school of life
I am bemused by the reaction to the skirmish at The King’s School over the flight of the headmaster and deputy and their wives to the Henley Royal Regatta, Letters, June 20). As far as I am concerned, if the rich want to spend up to $69,000 sending their boys to the school, let them do it.
State and commonwealth subsidies are supposed to be what the state would have spent educating those boys themselves. But the real issue is education for life. I spent two years at a Sydney boarding school in the early 1960s and concluded after that time that the boys there were privileged brats and that the school, with its extensive sporting facilities, was a holiday camp for rich kids. I spent my primary and early secondary school years at public schools in Dubbo, mixing with children from all walks of life and all socio-economic strata. And as far as I am concerned, dealing with that was a far better education for me than my father paying through the nose for it. They were lessons in life that I carried all through my career as a journalist. Malcolm Brown, Ermington
I was driving past The King’s School the other day and it struck me that if they should ever lose funding, they could always sell a couple of hundred acres of school grounds. Barry Riley, Woy Woy
On election day 2022, the ABC visited an election booth in Grayndler (the PM’s electorate). This school is renowned for its ‘theme’ democracy sausages, where proceeds were earmarked, this year, to upgrade the girl’s toilets. Says it all. Judy Love, North Haven
So far, so good
Miracle or marvel, Anthony Albanese has made an impressive start to his time as prime minister (Letters, June 20). Along with some competent and decisive steps into international relations, domestic affairs and social justice has gone firm foundation-laying for a First Nations “Voice” and for the future development of strong climate policy and action. Our new PM seems genuinely open to innovation, consultation, inclusion and diversity. His government’s first month in office promises a re-setting of how parliamentary democracy is conducted in Australia. Long may it last. Meredith Williams, Northmead
More people, less wildlife
Joanna Howe’s discussion of immigration (“Open the (right) doors to immigrants”, June 20) starts from an assumption that we need skilled migrants to increase our standard of living. As if it’s Australia’s right to let other countries pay for their training and then poach them. And nowhere does pressure on our fragile environment come into consideration. Over the past 50 years, the Australian population has grown from 8 million to 26 million. At the same time, wildlife numbers have decreased by 68 per cent. When will our standard of living be high enough? When there are no more koalas, platypuses or wombats? Mary Marlow, Blackheath
Credit: Tony Moore
No releaf from puns
No doubt birds and garden pests are destroying lettuce seedlings all over the place, and your correspondent’s experience (Letters, June 20) is just the tip of the iceberg. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
Let-tuce pray or lettuce prey? George Zivkovic, Northmead
Fair trade?
I find it hard to understand the need for an inquiry into the appointment of John Barilaro (″Inquiry to investigate Barilaro’s plum post″, June 20). I am sure John looked in the mirror and saw himself as perfect for the job as trade and investment commissioner in New York. Why the fuss? Bill McMahon, Lennox Head
Cold comfort
Vivid, withered, livid, shivered (Letters, June 20). Whatever. Back in the days of plenty, up here on the chilly hilltop, we would set our central heating on 22 to warm the house, then 20 to maintain. Now, it’s 16 and 15, plus four layers by evening news time. You have to be both rugged and rugged.
Brian Jones, Leura
I have off-peak hot water, but I have never seen any reference to households installing batteries which can charge off-peak. This would seem to be a useful option. Michael Harrington, Bonnet Bay
The digital view
smh.com.au
New ferry wharves, ‘New York-style’ high line slated for Circular Quay
From aardvaarkjc: $216 million to do what? Make a 50 metres or so ring around Circular Quay a bit prettier? You’re left with the ugly skyscraper madness stretching for kilometres into the distance. That sort of money would be far more usefully spent in rural NSW.
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