I was always mystified as to why we would duplicate a perfectly good Bankstown rail line with a driverless metro line (The Herald’s View, January 16). Having been held hostage by the Rail, Train and Bus Union (RTBU) for two hours yesterday morning, and three hours last night trying to get home, I now know. Jennifer Giles, Elizabeth Bay
Public servants don’t like government-imposed caps on wage increases. The caps often don’t keep wages in line with inflation and for the various groups such as police, teachers and train drivers, there are always arguments that their profession deserves a catch-up with other professions or states. But the caps are very effective financial management policy. The Minns government removed the cap and NSW has consequently had strikes and other actions by teachers, hospital psychiatrists, police, rail workers and nurses. Huge disruption, poor service delivery and some expensive wage increases. Time to reintroduce the cap. Steven Lee, Faulconbridge
Sydney train drivers are paid an average of $110,000 to $120,000 a year.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Sydney train drivers can earn $110,000 to $150,000 annually for a role requiring about a year of training, far surpassing the wages of nurses and teachers, who spend years studying to serve the public. While their right to strike is valid, the disruption caused to commuters this week is hard to justify, especially given their relatively favourable conditions. With automation on the horizon, this behaviour is not doing them any favours in the long term. Other essential workers manage greater challenges with less compensation. It’s time they got back on track. Josh Glass, Darlinghurst
The public is being derailed by a union devoid of any sense of common courtesy and which has a blatant disregard for the lives and livelihoods of its fellow Australians. It’s time for the leadership of this union to recommend its members accept the more-than-generous offer on the table, immediately return to work, and issue an unreserved apology committing to a genuine desire to work with the government to maintain a reliable essential service. Allan Gibson, Cherrybrook
The Labor Party was born out of the union movement and few would disagree that working people have every right to better their pay and working conditions. But power comes with the responsibility to deploy it reasonably and fairly. This blatant disregard for the public interest not only brings Chris Minns and the ALP into disfavour, but makes more probable the election of a conservative government – which would be tougher on unions. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
A unionist for 60 years, this is the first time I have not supported a public sector union and its mates in its quests for improved conditions. All I can do, I suppose, is use sign language as the train arrives and departs. Bob Hall, Wyoming
So, the RTBU has been offered a 1 per cent increase to superannuation over and above what most of us receive? I thought that was a privilege only afforded to politicians. Tim Douglas, Dulwich Hill
Both the previous and current NSW governments have disadvantaged Sydney Trains by converting heavy rail to driverless metros that require fewer staff. These were bad management decisions. No wonder rail unions are fighting. What would politicians, electoral staffers and senior bureaucrats do if their jobs were replaced by AI robots? Matt Mushalik, Epping
Have you noticed that neither Jo Haylen nor Chris Minns have recommended working from home throughout this whole train debacle? Why would we want to reduce congestion, carbon emissions, enjoy a better work-life balance, be more productive, save money and have no commute at all? Got me beat. Tim Chapman, Blacksmiths
Glover on, gloves off
In his excellent article, Dennis Glover repeats an idea often heard recently: that the populists are calling progressives’ bluff (“History’s berating us, ‘be prepared’”, January 16). The most obvious example is Trump’s violent and blatantly dishonest campaign to overturn the 2020 election result.
We can no longer rely on politicians honouring democracies’ traditions like the peaceful transfer of power or telling the truth. Progressive media must stop attempting balance and start reporting fearlessly on the facts. We’ve just seen America elect a president who only four years earlier actively sought to overthrow their democracy. The fascist revolution is not coming, it’s here. Time to take the gloves off. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn
Dennis Glover makes sense. Hitler was written off as just a crazy who could be controlled. The far-right ascendancy throughout the world seeks to wrest the power from those in elected government to change the status quo. They want to create a new normal where the truth is what I tell you it is, not an objectively verifiable reality. Look closely at Donald Trump’s behaviour to win a second term and tell me there are no copycats right here. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
Donald Trump and the MAGA elite is attempting to knock their political opponents off balance, according to columnist Dennis Glover.Credit: AP
Dennis Glover is not alone in noting the similarity between the whole MAGA circus and populism in Europe between the two world wars. Cost-of-living pressures don’t equate with the Great Depression. But add in increasing climate catastrophes and that same angry, febrile mindset could be generated. Revolution might not be imminent but the next four years will require the world to be constantly on the alert. And, worryingly, there is already a historical precedent for granting a further term as president. Margaret Johnston, Paddington
Dennis Glover’s article has echoes of the tactics here in Australia. The observation that non-populists’ attempts to negotiate make them look old and cowardly is particularly apt. Every news service echoes the claim that Albanese is weak, which overwhelms the good news on the repairs being made to the economy with the IMF declaring that Australia has the second-best economic governance in the world. Reporting wild populist accusations is always more exciting than dry economic realities. Graeme Finn, Earlwood
Rip of despair (alt: Get off the Tram)
Rowland Melville’s story is timely: at dusk yesterday as the storm brewed, I saw about 10 people swimming on Bronte Beach in turbulent conditions at the mouth of the famous rip that the locals call the Bronte Tram (“The dangers of saving a stranger’s life”, January 16). At the risk of being told to mind my own business, I ran down to tell them it was too dangerous to swim there and suggested they try the Bogey Hole or the pool instead. Both groups, from overseas, thanked me. I explained that I am often woken at night by helicopter searches for people who have been caught in rips (I don’t mention that those people rarely survive). I grew up surfing and did my lifesaving Bronze Medallion at Bronte Beach when I turned 50, and I would never do what they were doing. At least both of these groups were strong swimmers – I have seen others in the surf who can hardly swim, after the lifeguards have left for the day. “In Australia, always ask locals before you swim,” I advised. Then, as I turned towards home, I saw another group of about 10 people swimming near the Bronte Tram with even less light. Josephine Grieve, Bronte
Rowland Melville may understandably feel a little jaded from his heroic actions in saving another’s life. My own father was caught in a rip in 1961. I still remember as a four-year-old, standing lonely on the beach and waiting for an outcome. He was rescued by another, slightly younger man, and lifelong gratitude and friendship followed. Both now have passed away, but memories of the ramifications of the incident often highlight what could have been lost. The gratitude remains from me, and it will, too, for Melville’s efforts. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Game of lies
About golf, Ken Pares writes that “preferred lies are always allowed”; so that’s why Donald Trump plays that game (Letters, January 16)! David Gordon, Cranebrook
Liberal lurch to the right won’t cut it
Finally, someone from the moderate faction dares to fight the right wing of the Liberal party to support a female candidate for the federal seat of Bradfield (“Deputy Liberal leader backs female tech exec over Mundine for blue ribbon seat”, January 16). By endorsing Gisele Kapterian for preselection, Sussan Ley and other moderates have belatedly realised that the Liberals’ lurch to the right is not going to cut it in cities where they must win, or at least retain, current seats if they want to be the next government. It is a real test for the Liberal “broad” church to see if they can preselect Kapterian over Mundine. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill
Gisele Kapterian has been endorsed by Sussan Ley and other moderates in the Liberal Party for the seat of Bradfield.Credit: James Brickwood
As political wannabe Warren Mundine wanders the political landscape seeking an electorate he could pretend to represent, surely the fact his forlorn pursuit is being backed by Tony Abbott, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and a phalanx of conservative warriors should be enough to disqualify him from the progressive seat of Bradfield. Bill Young, Killcare Heights
No matter who the Liberal Party preselects to run in the coming federal election in Bradfield, they will be stymied by the regressive policies that appear to be a hallmark of the Coalition. The independent candidate Nicolette Boele is running for the people, not a party, and voters find that refreshing. Bring on the teal steal! Michele Rossetto, St Ives
Psych warning
The imminent crisis due to the resignations of NSW public hospital psychiatrists should come as no surprise to anyone (Letters, January 16). Despite negotiating for more than 12 months, there has been no meaningful action by the health minister. The immediate provision of working conditions and remuneration equivalent to other states is urgently required. The impact of the loss of these senior doctors will adversely impact the provision of care not only to mental health patients but to all other patients who present with acute conditions to public hospitals in this state. The contingency plans put in place with role substitution and transfer of patients will not address the problem. Tony Joseph, Bronte
Consider those who need the services of a psychiatrist in Australia. The first appointment of one hour costs $500, and subsequent consultations of 30 minutes, $300. In London, I discovered that the initial consultation of one hour costs £800 ($1575), a follow-up session of 40 minutes costs £750, and subsequent sessions of 20 minutes cost £450. Maybe this is why our local psychiatrists are so unhappy. Michael Bright, Moss Vale
Your correspondent criticises psychiatrists for resigning to get better pay. They have spent 12 years of their young adult lives training, the years when they were spending money on books rather than booze, studying instead of socialising. Who can blame them for going interstate or into private practice if that will get them some monetary return on their well-spent youth? Jennifer Blackman, Wentworthville
Readers have mixed feelings about psychiatrists’ incomes.Credit: Getty Images
What a nice end to summer in Sydney: polluted beaches, travel chaos, damaging storms, ongoing housing and rental crisis, and no psychiatrists to help with the stress. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills
Property solution
There is a potential way for sisters Amy and Jordan and others to buy into the market with the deposit and loan halved for each of them (Letters, January 16). They could become co-owners of a property as “tenants in common”, under which they become joint but separate owners of a property. It is best suited to siblings or friends of a similar age who know and trust each other. There is a level of risk involved but the contract spells out the rights and responsibilities of each, and eliminates potential misunderstandings. It even allows for one share to be sold with a title to that share, which is not the case with joint tenancy. Mark Olesen, Ryde
Word works
After reading Tony Wright’s article about his desk, I feel much happier with my two main tools for crosswords and the written word (Letters, January 16). Firstly, the Concise Oxford Dictionary from 1975. But my major armory is Roget’s Thesaurus in Dictionary Form, published by Doubleday, which the State Bank provided to me as a student at Ku-ring-gai College of Advanced Education around 1978. The thesaurus has seen better days and I wish that Doubleday would do a reprint. Laurie Wilson, Forestville
I enjoy using my copy, still in good condition, of the American Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, 1927 edition, which was handed on to me by my father in 1966 as a birthday present. It may be a bit short of terms like astronaut or space station, but its almost-3000 pages still have a wealth of information that I refer to quite often. David Fraser, Ballina
Badly does it
Your correspondent’s Friday golf group recalled the assertion of Alexander McCall Smith that “if a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly” (Letters, January 16). Adopting this motto has kept me doing my 6am swim into extreme old age, commencing to play competitive tennis at age 59, singing (admittedly in the privacy of my own home), writing letters to the Herald, and thousands of not-quite-completed Herald crosswords. Coral Button, North Epping
Early morning swimmers at Newport Beach rock pool.Credit: Tanya Lake
Jockey for position
As Rupert’s influence starts to wane, the right-wing star chamber has a new champion ready to succeed him (“Elon Musk might decide if TikTok has a future in the US”, January 16). This time, however, the influence is wielded by social media. Same horse, different jockey. Dale Bailey, St Leonards
Supply and a demand
Professor Jennifer Martin’s call for the federal government to actively support the establishment of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities and take a stronger role in co-ordinating the supply of medicines is timely and should be widely supported (“If Australia made more of its medicines, we’d all feel better”, January 16). Over recent months I have had considerable difficulties securing supplies of Ozempic for my type 2 diabetes – in fact, I have missed a week in each of the past two months, which has adversely affected my management of diabetes. Securing my monthly supply of Ozempic has been time-consuming, depressing, stressful and worrying for me. I am sure a large number of type 2 diabetes sufferers have had similar, demoralising experiences. About 25 years ago, the federal government and the states and territories worked together to establish the National Blood Authority (NBA), which is responsible for managing and coordinating arrangements for the supply of blood, blood products and blood services in Australia, and delivering an uninterrupted supply to Australians in need. These arrangements have ensured we have not had supply chain shortages of blood or blood products – even during the pandemic. Given the ongoing supply chain problems with medicines, there is an urgent need for the governments of Australia to consider and establish suitable institutional arrangements and processes to ensure Australia has an uninterrupted supply of medicines to Australians in need. This should be led by the federal government. Greg Fraser, Lyneham (ACT)
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