The King’s visit has once again raised discussion about Australia becoming a republic (“Long may they reign”, October 19). I support cutting ties to the monarchy but am always puzzled about the immediate assumption that we would need a president. Given our current system elects a prime minister to be the nation’s leader and to lead the executive government, what purpose would a president serve? Under current arrangements, the monarch’s representative, the governor-general, has primary purposes that include formally appointing ministers, giving royal assent to legislation and proroguing (dismissing) parliament. We have parliament to do these things, the GG’s role is either to: rubber-stamp legislation and appointments, so why bother; or to override an elected parliament, which is an unwanted throwback to interference by a monarch. We don’t need the monarch and the GG, but we also don’t need a president as we already have an executive. The Constitution would need to explicitly recognise the role of the prime minister. To handle the rare “withholding of supply” situation, the High Court could be given the power to dissolve government if requested by the prime minister or a super-majority of one of the Houses, say two-thirds of a House. Steven Lee, Faulconbridge
King Charles III at NSW Parliament HouseCredit: Getty
Welcome back KC3, I’m assured you are a good bloke and reportedly like coming to visit one of the southern colonial outposts of your kingdom. That aside, it is beyond ludicrous that, in 2024, this country is still not constitutionally independent. Arguments about the dangers of becoming a republic and how to appoint or elect a head of state are just sideshows to the real problem of continuing to maintain an allegiance to the monarch of another country. Wake up, Australia. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne
“I did but see Chuck walking by / A republic right now, I hear the cry.” Jeff Apter, Keiraville
Like many of your readers, my experience of the monarchy is a long reign by a queen book-ended by kings. Future generations could easily be waiting until the 25th Century before there is the chance of another queen reigning. That is, if the whole concept of monarchy has not been ditched by then. Joan Brown, Orange
Our FIFO sovereign – the English king – has arrived in Australia. Whoop-de-doo. Alicia Dawson, Balmain
All the problems and controversies about the role of the governor-general when Australia becomes a republic could be solved by appointing an eighth High Court judge. Each year, on a rotating basis, one of the eight would be the titular head of the country. The current title and duties would be retained, except being the representative of the British monarchy. A High Court judge would have the dignity and the constitutional knowledge for the role and would be free from political bias or influence. Tony Re, Georges Hall
As I recall, there is a long-standing common law custom that when the monarch is physically present in the area/state in which a prison is located, the prisoners have a day deducted from their term of imprisonment. Did the Corrective Services Commission honour that custom with the visit to this state of King Charles III? Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
Tugging feudal forelocks
Got it right this time
Peter FitzSimons (“Charles and Camilla at races? Oh, be still my beating heart”, October 19) has hit the nail on the head when he says, “Debasing ourselves in front of visiting English people should have gone with the end of being a colony.” When watching any of the evening news broadcasts I ask myself: isn’t there just one senior TV executive who has the gumption and sense of national pride to say: “Enough is enough, we no longer need to cover every inconsequential act of an elderly, irrelevant British couple.” I really feel for the poor reporters who have to utter such inanities as, “We’ll tell you where you can catch a glimpse of the royal couple.” I thought we were living in a modern, egalitarian democracy, not some feudal society where we mere mortals need to tug our forelock to those of “royal” blood. Please, let’s consign this anachronism to the dustbin of history and appoint or elect one of our own citizens as real head of state as soon as possible. Martyn Yeomans, Sapphire Beach
In a league of their own
Jenna Price is right to raise the inappropriateness of the Australian Monarchist League’s warnings to the governor-general (“G-G under monarchists’ surveillance for King’s visit”, October 19). The league is entitled to its views, as is anyone who lives in this country. Its views apparently are in the minority. Thanks to John Howard’s presumptive attack on this country becoming a republic by arranging a referendum that by its very wording was doomed to fail, they can be loyal subjects of the King if they wish. The upper-class construct of royal families is in my view anachronistic and an affront to the Indigenous peoples their ancestors dispossessed. Sam Mostyn’s call for kindness, care and respect were very welcome. She obviously does not need to be told what to think, or how to behave, by anyone. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
How dare that fusty old relic the Australian Monarchist League (AML) presume to advise the governor-general on matters of protocol, or anything else for that matter? We can be quite confident that the GG will behave with absolute decorum towards our royal visitors, with no need for advice from anyone, least of all the AML. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer
Mental gymnastics
To say I am disappointed at the proposed industrial action by staff psychiatrists is an understatement (“Doctors threaten mass resignation amid worsening crisis”, October 19). Yes, NSW Health, and mental health in particular, is in crisis, but psychiatrists withdrawing their services will not achieve the desired outcomes. I work in mental health and every day I see staff trying to do more with less – nurses doing overtime, social workers trying to find non-existent accommodation for homeless patients, occupational therapists providing activities without enough resources, and so on. It is an insult to other members of the health workforce that psychiatrists are demanding an increase in their current $273,000 salaries. Moreover, it is an affront to their patients for whom this sum is an impossible dream. I’m not sure what psychiatrists hope to achieve by this action. But I do know that if they succeed, the mental health system will be worse off than it is. Patricia Farrar, Concord
There is indeed a crisis in the care available for those with serious mental health issues in NSW. As with so many other health complaints, good care is in the main available to those who can afford to pay for it. Those with mental illness often suffer also from significant financial and social disadvantage and public hospitals remain the accessible provider. Indeed, this is also the case with myriad health complaints. Those working at the coal face obviously have serious concern that patient care is being compromised but also see colleagues in private practice earning significantly more in a lower stress environment. This dispute must be urgently resolved. Louise Dolan, Birchgrove
Less is more in housing solution
Housing planning must consider current and future issues and restraints (“Dutton vows $5b to connect homes”, October 19). The McMansion on a quarter acre block in outer suburbs no longer fits or is fit for purpose, as it requires private transport, more roads and long commutes, and, as a building unit, it has a huge carbon footprint.
The future requires smaller houses in medium- to high-density developments closer to infrastructure, work, schools and city centres. As more people are forced to rent long term, our tenancy models and laws need to reflect this change, allowing long-term leases. This is the successful international model. So Peter Dutton’s plan to subsidise infrastructure for developers of new large outlying housing developments maintaining a 20th century housing model is a step backwards. Chris Minns is on the right track, but we need more urban social and affordable housing from federal funding. Remember when Landcom was a big player in housing development? Rowan Godwin, Rozelle
Peter Dutton - how much good will $5billion do?Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Latin lives
I studied Latin for the 1968 HSC (“The HSC subject with only 114 students”, October 19) and I can reassure students sitting it today that Latin is the gift that keeps on giving. In addition to its classical heritage, it teaches you about your own language, vocabulary and grammar, which provides a solid foundation in later life. I used it regularly in a specialised legal field, but it’s all around us today, in law, science, literature, and other areas. William Lloyd, Denistone
Marcus Aurelius ponders the question “What did the Romans ever do for us?”Credit: Getty
Way back, some time in the last century, I studied Latin in my senior years at school. It is the only language I learnt, of which I remember quite a bit; to me, a lover of English, Latin lives on. Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek
I didn’t study Latin at school but I did learn some as an ancient history teacher. I also learnt how it was used and of its significance for the Roman Empire. Knowing this gave me a recent “wow” moment when reading the inscription above the Gate of Mazeus and Mithridates in Ephesus. These two freedmen of emperor Augustus, 2000 years on, are lauding their master. Latin comes to life at ancient sites, in our language and through an understanding of human behaviour. Lyn Langtry, East Ryde
Sound of summer
If the noise of the roaring cicadas manages to drown out the noise of the endless droning on of the politicians, they will have done their job (“Stand by for a roaring summer of cicadas going full pelt”, October 19). Mark Anderson, Coogee
Feud over fights
I’m continually bemused and amused by people condemning the use of government resources on sports, and especially when the justification is that the money should be going to “real” jobs (Letters, October 19) as opposed to construction, labouring, trades, hospitality, transport, entertainment, media and the many more jobs that go into putting on performances that large numbers of people like to see. And yes, other public interest sectors should receive more money, but tearing down one doesn’t mean the building of one or more others. Tony Doyle, Fairy Meadow
I am aghast and disgusted that Chris Minns and his government are wasting taxpayers’ money on the UFC. Cage fighting is akin to dog fighting, and should be banned for the same reasons. It is barbaric and is not a sport that can be enjoyed by any but the bloodthirsty. It should be outlawed and not encouraged. Mike Budden, Springwood
Safety not speed
Something needs to be done to make the middle lanes of the Harbour Bridge safer (“Two dead after head-on collision on Harbour Bridge”, October 19). Taking out a lane to widen the remainder, with or without a “zipper”, seems reasonable. Drivers will adjust to the 15 per cent reduced capacity. A lower speed limit will have safety benefits and negligible travel time costs. Matthew Boylan, Leichhardt
When the second harbour tunnel opens, the bridge should be reduced to seven lanes with a permanent divider in lane four to separate northbound and southbound lanes. Until then, a reduction in speed to 60km/h is appropriate. Graeme Milton, Dulwich Hill
The accident wound back my memory over 50 years to when I passed my taxi driver’s licence to do some part-time driving while at uni. The supervisor at Red Deluxe cabs drummed into us to avoid the lane facing oncoming traffic on the Harbour Bridge because it was dangerous. Seppo Ranki, Glenhaven
Consider the birds
A rainbow lorikeet happy to drop in for a drinkCredit: Glen Campbell
For National Bird Week last week, I purchased a cheap plastic saucer and filled it with water. Birds are now washing in it and playing in it. Our dachshund loves to wallow in it too. Hot weather is coming, so make cool water available for birds, lizards and other creatures to enjoy. It will bring a smile to watching humans too.
Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
State of the art
Your correspondent’s criticism of the recent purchase of the sculpture for the revamped Sculpture Garden (Letters, October 19) reminds me of the criticism about the purchase of Jackson Pollock’s Blue poles for $1.3 million in 1973. It is now valued at $500 million. While times are undeniably tough, we should not fall into the trap of denying the importance of the aesthetic to our quality of life. Meg Pickup, Ballina
Lindy Lee’s Ouroboros looks more like the stuff of nightmares to me. Llieda Wild, Eastwood
Fees won’t fly
One of the issues I have with debit and credit card transaction fees is that it would cost no more to process a transaction of $1 than one of $1000, so why is the charge a percentage of the transaction amount rather than a flat fee (Letters, October 19)? Purchasing airline tickets is an example where outrageous fees are charged for a simple process. Geoff Lindsay, Thurgoona
On the subject of financial rip-offs, what about the buyer’s premium paid by the lucky winner of a general auction?
John Christie, Oatley
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