Illustration: Cathy WilcoxCredit:
The previous Coalition government made protecting the nation’s borders from those it perceived as malfeasant one of the cornerstones of its rule (“Visa rorts wrecking migration”, November 8). How tragically ironic that this actually meant persecuting innocents seeking refuge from war and suffering, while allowing organised crime to flourish, resulting in the exploitation and destruction of even more lives. Whether this has been from neglect by the responsible ministers is yet to be determined. The images of the little Nadesalingam girls being torn from their beds at dawn, and being used as pawns in a cynical political game remain in many people’s minds. Meanwhile, the exploitation of our visa system by criminals and those selling women into slavery went on unchecked. Those involved deserve not only their political demise, but should face the weight of the law. Marie-Louise Dreux, Dulwich Hill
Each day seems to provide more evidence of the Coalition’s blistering incompetence in it would seem all areas of government. Now it appears that the one area they claimed to be strong at, border security, has also been a dismal failure with thousands of criminal and illegal people simply flying into the country with little or no oversight. Mind you they did manage to persecute one asylum-seeking family costing millions of dollars for no apparent reason. I assume Peter Dutton and Scott Morrison will offer apologies for the dismal failures that occurred on their watches. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)
Legal and illegal immigration has always been a part of the Australian immigration regime. Tourist, temporary worker and student visas are a pathway for migrants to enter Australia and work. The many thousands of immigrants on student visas are not only learning, if at all, but working. As this is so, why doesn’t the government acknowledge the need for workers, regulate their employment and also give asylum seekers the opportunity to live and work here as well? Michael Wheatley, Rock Forest
One can only be amused by the excuses and plea for more resources to assess visa applications. If, indeed, a major issue is people arriving on tourist visas with the clear intent to stay in Australia, then surely the issue is a cavalier or inadequate approach to approving tourist visas. The fundamental of dealing with any problem is to remove the source. The US appears to have an effective system: it is not as easy to enter the US.
Maybe this issue requires a commonsense review, and a very close look at who is issuing the dodgy visas which allow the offenders to board a plane and enter Australia. DÁrcy Hardy, North Turramurra
Illustration: Matt GoldingCredit:
If someone claims asylum they should be protected until their claim can be accepted or rejected. Howard Springs in the NT is set up for this purpose as are other quarantine or detention facilities such as Christmas Island. The genuine refugees will be patient. The rest will go home and try their luck elsewhere. David Neilson, Alice Springs (NT)
Scott Morrison’s desk famously included a boastful trophy bearing the legend “I stopped the boats”. Given the growing evidence of visa rorting on his watch maybe Peter Dutton should install a model plane on his desk, along with the slogan: “I let them in”. Nick Franklin, Katoomba
The no worries country now has plenty of them
Sadly, I agree with Nick Bryant (“I’ve never seen Aussies so anxious about the future”, November 8). Australia has lost its lustre, the Aussie mantra “no worries” has given way to a nation consumed by them. I too am anxious, but remain hopeful, there are signs we are emerging from the Morrison morass, and COVID confinement. The government, rather than being overwhelmed by the crushing weight of expectation, is working hard to redress the imbalance – first and foremost enshrining an Indigenous voice to parliament is a critical first step. There is much work to be done with little time to correct the great Australian blight – inaction. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill
The “lifestyle superpower of the world” we may be, as Nick Bryant argues, but one pillar of our democracy that stops us going down the same path as America is the ABC. In a huge country with a relatively small population which is increasingly beset by floods, fires and droughts we need the unifying stability of a national broadcaster. Don’t hand it over to the forces of darkness. Stand up, tune in, write letters, fight back. Jenny Forster, Manly
Bryant makes many salient points. However, when you compare the seismic storm clouds around the globe with our mosquito bites, we are still the lucky country. My friends and family living in the US would be on the next plane if they could. Hope is in short supply around the globe. Mark Paskal, Austinmer
It is clear that, in some quarters, there is a mood of concern about growing inequality, reduced living standards, health threats and potential external menaces. None of us function at our best in an environment of uncertainty or unpredictability and it would seem that these factors are primary contributors to any existing worries. We cannot neglect that, at the federal level, we have just seen the end of an indecisive government whose only concern was their re-election. Consequently, they resoundingly failed to complete and embed concrete climate, energy and housing policies, made a number of missteps in addressing the COVID pandemic, and resorted to fear-mongering relating to our biggest trading partner. At the same time, over the last nine years the gap between the haves and the have-nots has greatly widened and previous certainties like most being able to own a house, regular wage increases and budget surpluses have disappeared. The ALP successfully tapped into the feelings existing in the electorate and its commitment to calm, measured and balanced government will bolster confidence and gradually reduce some of the pulse-racing to which Bryant refers. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
Greedy landlord in bond grab
In all my years of renting, there have been very few landlords who returned my bond in full (“More measures needed to ease housing crisis”, November 8). Most demand expensive professional cleaners, and if you have had a cat they demand a pricey pest exterminator. They rarely take into account normal wear and tear, and I have yet to move into a home which has reached the high level landlords demand from a tenant on exiting. If the house had a garden, a mow and a tidy-up is rarely enough – no, it should be brought back to a pristine level, despite the ravages of extreme weather and the constant weeding one undertook to preserve the lawn. You might have looked after the place as your own and religiously paid the rent on time, but a person would be lucky to receive even half of their bond money back from the many avaricious landlords out there.
In my opinion, most of the suggested solutions to the housing crisis barely scratch the surface, so why not return to earlier days when people let out rooms in their homes to strangers, and thought nothing of it? Lyndall Nelson, Goulburn
Shallow gestures
Sue Ingram is spot on, unfortunately (“Watson making waves but sailing still a boys’ club”, November 8). There are still too many club executives who think they have done their bit when they schedule a “lady skippers” race once a year. If the token woman cannot be found to hold the tiller and follow instructions, some blokes dress up as women.
There are also still too many male members who mouth the right words but whose actions are anything but inclusive. In my own club only two skippers volunteered their boats and time to assist a dozen keen-to-learn women. Consequently, only half the applicants can be accommodated in the program. Cherylle Stone, Soldiers Point
Give eco houses green light
Yes, please. I would love a home that produces most of the food I eat, is full of the greenery created by containers of fruit and vegies, is built using recycled and non-toxic building materials, has a tiny environmental footprint and eliminates waste (“Eco film is fruit of frustration that message is not sinking in”, November 8). Joost Bakker’s Greenhouse shows us how this is done in an inspiring documentary. Our policymakers could adopt this as one way to tackle a severe housing shortage in Australia, limit our carbon footprint, reduce our energy bills and significantly add to our wellbeing.
Joost Bakker’s Greenhouse.Credit: Earl Carter
Given Labor’s promise in the October budget to build one million low-cost houses over the next five years, how about including some greenhouses? Resilience and sustainability – words thrown around but rarely applicable – fit the bill in this build. Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale (Vic)
Right move
I’m delighted that the Land and Environment Court has awarded the Waverton Bowling Club site to the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council as freehold land (“Indigenous owners lament fighting to win site of bowling club”, November 8). I’ve lived in Waverton for the past 31 years, not even an archaeological speck compared with the millennia Aboriginal people lived and worked here. It is a very welcome move. Kate Miller, Waverton
Cashless cow
Perrottet wants “cashless gaming” (“Perrottet warns ClubsNSW over gambling reform”, November 8). This is not new. Surely, he realises that the purpose of gambling has always been to render the punter cashless. Peter Bourke, Rockdale
Why should the NSW premier feel compelled to commit to a pre-election agreement with any lobby group? The very practice of making such agreements indicates the undue sway that industry groups have over our political parties. Election promises should only be made via the principled and unfettered deliberations of party structures, not on whose political donation chequebook is the most generous. For this coming state election both Premier Dominic Perrottet and Opposition Leader Chris Minns need to show some spine, speak freely and gambol responsibly. Russ Couch, Woonona
Down on donations
Why all the fuss about the amounts the so-called “teals” spent on their election campaigns (“Big Spender tops teals’ election cash splash”, November 8)? Ordinary people, like me, donated to our independent candidates just as all political parties’ supporters donated to theirs. The same people who donated to their own independent candidates also donated to bodies such as Climate 200 in order to support like-minded independents who weren’t in their own electorates. What’s the problem? The major parties can’t start crying foul when they receive massive donations themselves. Donations should be publicly funded and capped and there should be real-time donation disclosure. Judy Hungerford, North Curl Curl
Strong foundation
Your correspondent points out the problem of identifying what particular thing it is that warrants a change to the Constitution (Letters, November 8). I am willing Noel Pearson and his colleagues success with every fibre of my being but I fear defeat in the planned referendum if “they” don’t make a distinction between Recognition and the Voice.
Let’s get Recognition of our First Nations’ foundation place embedded in the Australian Constitution. Make that the substance of the referendum. Then, let all of us make it our business to listen to “their” Voice. With their claim to be heard being justified by Recognition clearly stated in the Constitution, every Australian citizen will have a duty to listen, and act, to right the injustices “they” have been burdened with since 1788. Penelope Layton-Caisley, Marrickville
Nup to the [World] Cup
“I have to be true to myself, that’s the key thing” (“Socceroos fan turns down trip to Qatar”, November 8). Congratulations Pablo Bateson, you get my vote for Australian of the Year. We need more people like you, who put their ethics before personal gain. Greg Horan, Wentworth Point
Broken link
Congratulations Genevieve Kang on actually getting into the “obstacle course” of linking to Centrelink (Letters, November 8). I haven’t been able to get past the first fence labelled “Service unavailable” for five days. Jennifer Berryman, Drummoyne
What a scoop
Surely, there must be more to it than just an external makeover to the local gelato franchise because I’m sure I could hear it calling out to me the other day, telling me to come in and get a scoop of pistachio (“Oh Lord, it’s a pretty sweet gig”, November 8). Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay
Quando, quando, quando
As a local, I ask “when” (“Parkland will ‘heal a scar’ in Sydney’s spine”, November 7)? Also, the artist forgot to include the hordes of cars that will be sharing “our” space. Gillian Scoular, Annandale
Eerie premonition
It is family lore (Letters, November 8). My great-grandmother woke in the middle of the night to see her son standing at the foot of her bed in his army uniform. The following week came the telegram. He had been killed in action, fighting in France, WWI. John Campbell, South Golden Beach
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