We’re not getting value for money from absurdist parliamentary theatre

Jacqueline Maley’s examination of parliamentary behaviour raises some interesting points (“Is ‘rip him a new one!’ really necessary for robust democratic debate?”, August 25) We don’t want to stifle political debate but when the opposition members have little to say constructively, it is difficult to get them to change their ways. They love to set verbal traps. When Zali Steggall calls out Dutton’s racist rants, she is the one in the wrong. When Steggall is goaded and responds she is blamed, all under parliamentary privilege. It’s absurdist theatre at times and often childish and inappropriate. We Australians pay these people, let’s get value for money, please.
Geoff Nilon, Mascot

Member for Warringah Zali Steggall speaks during a motion moved by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to suspend standing orders, in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra.Credit: The Sydney Morning Herald

Punishment needed

No Parnell Palme McGuiness (“Don’t ban politicians’ insults”, August 25). Bad behaviour and abuse by politicians in the House (and Senate) should be punished with heavy fines, expulsion and suspension. Politicians know they can say anything and hurl insults to others in the House with impunity. As it is expected of the general public to act correctly and respectfully in all public places or be expelled or even prosecuted, so it should be for the politicians in the House.
Alfredo Bustos-Ramirez, Mosman

Parnell Palme McGuiness objects to Dutton being called a racist when he wants to ban all Gazan refugees. What can be more racist than banning an ethnic group, solely on the basis of where they come from?
Andrew Macintosh, Cromer

Parnell Palme McGuiness’ tolerant response to the behaviour of parliamentarians in their workplace may garner “hear, hear” from some quarters. However, the context in which Zali Steggall used the word “racist” is surely not to be compared with “a six-year-old accusing her brother of being a bum-head”. What Ms Steggall said, after a string of invective and noise from the opposition was, “we heard you in silence. You can hear me in silence. Stop being racist”. She named comments about Gazan refugees for what they arguably were, discriminatory against Palestinians. Sometimes accusations of racism or misogyny are not dummy-spits, they are statements of fact.
Fiona Colin, Malvern East

Unbridled havoc

There is a real and present danger threatening not just the very lives of our citizenry but also the integrity of our livestock industry and the survival of this nation’s natural gifts of beauty, rich and increasing rarity (“Spreading fire ant invasion could be deadly”, August 25). The nemesis, the fire ant, will infest the continent with unbridled havoc if it does a runner and more than emulates the insidious spread of the likes of the cane toad and rabbit. The defence of this realm from the ruination of biosecurity breaches is paramount. Safeguarding Australia’s health, economy and ecology from existing invasive species and the spectre of what lurks beyond is critical and immediate. The adage “a stich in time saves nine” does not drive home strongly enough the urgency to invest all resources necessary to keep this country safe.
Steve Dillon, Thirroul

Work family

Tim Duggan’s article rings very true for me (“No, your work is not your family, so let’s stop pretending it is”, August 25). We still rightly care much more about our partners, children, siblings and parents, and do not hesitate taking paid absences from work to look after sick or injured family members if the need arises. However, I have to say that I am very much more impressed when my workplace’s designated “social glue” coordinator takes generous personal time to make food drops to a self-isolating colleague and the visits made to another undergoing stroke rehabilitation. My heart warms to the empathy and kind-spiritedness of the “work-family” able to access togetherness from a compassionate colleague’s visits at home or at the hospital when unwell or down for the count. Work should assume the caring mores of a family when the need arises to help one another out of a rut.
Joseph Ting, Carina (Qld)

Correct rejection

The Woolwich Marina proposal has already been dismissed by the planning panel, because of heritage, safety, amenity and public property usage issues (“Hunters Hill’s vocal locals wage ‘existential battle’ over Woolwich Marina”, August 25). Any future applications should also be rejected. Private profit should not win over multiple genuine community concerns. Personal gain and future profit through expanding into public harbour areas should not override or impinge on local and general harbour use.
Jill Stephenson, Woolwich

Broken promise

I wouldn’t have faith in the Minns government seeing through/honouring its 2023 election commitment to secure the Roxy Theatre as a major cultural venue if its broken promise with the Ultimo Powerhouse Museum “revitalisation” is any guide (“Dinner and no show: Plan to halve Parramatta’s Roxy Theatre auditorium revealed”, August 25). Will catering to the well-to-do party crowd outweigh providing a cultural family-oriented entertainment venue that retains the heritage of the Roxy Theatre? Heritage and family-oriented venues hold little sway with the Minns government and Infrastructure NSW as we have seen with the closure of and removal of the historic collection from the Ultimo Powerhouse Museum and the proposed demolition of the internals as part of the project.
Neville Pleffer, Rooty Hill

Fingers crossed

As I danced at a party we’d thrown, my then 12-year-old son told me I was an embarrassment to myself and others (“Children don’t need you to be the ‘cool’ parent. Mercifully”, August 25). I’m still optimistically hoping the “others” was just him.
Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

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