It seems that the “success” of the “No” vote in the Voice referendum has unleashed a torrent of anti-Aboriginal and rabidly nationalistic pettiness (“Unwelcome divide”, February 15). How else to understand the small-minded vindictiveness of wanting to abolish “Welcome to Country” ceremonies? To claim that these are “divisive” is absurd. How much more divisive and destructive are the untrammelled actions of the gambling lobby? It is also being claimed that these ceremonies are “too expensive”, with only the flimsiest of figures to support this claim. Yet to give but two examples: hundreds of millions were spent on ceremonies for the World War I centenary and $580 million is being lavished on the Australian War Memorial. This is not “wasteful”? It is clear that anything that involves recognition of First Nationals is to be branded as “divisive” and any sum spent on celebrating their uniqueness – no matter how small – is claimed to be “wasteful” and “extravagant”. What a nation of miserable, wretched and sad grumblers. John MacKay, Asquith
Indigenous people have been shockingly treated since the invasion and now their critics want to take away the minimum of respect conferred by Welcome to Country ceremonies. This highlights the need for a Truth Commission to bring home to Australians the enormity of the harm done to Indigenous peoples and the need for compensation along the lines of the Waitangi Commission in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Only then will we be able to live with our past and go forward together. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer
Welcome to country: Yugambeh elder Luther Cora welcomes the Wallabies to the Gold Coast.Credit: Getty
I was shocked to read that we spent $550,000 on “Welcome to Country” ceremonies in just two years. That works out to almost 1¢ for every Australian per year, or to put that into perspective we spent almost as much in two years as we did in six whole days to welcome King Charles III to Australia. If Peter Dutton is elected and ends this waste, I will have almost 3¢ more at the end of his first term. I’m giddy at the prospect of such wealth. Barry Harrod, Fig Tree Pocket (Qld)
Thank you for the thought-provoking article. It reminded me of the recounting of a welcome ceremony where the elder asked his audience to put their hands up if they lived on the land that their parents lived on. Nearly all hands went up. Next, he asked them to keep their hands up if they lived in the same area as their grandparents. Many hands came down. Next, he asked whether there were any people who lived in the same area as their great-grandparents. No hands were raised. He then said imagine going back a thousand generations – that is what was lost since 1788. Sad, but true. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga
Is anyone else sensing a hint of a politically contrived beat-up in the run-up to a federal election? The astute observations of Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo clearly resonate with “low-hanging fruit to scapegoat Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and create division for political gain”. A ploy the leader of the Opposition practices at every conceivable opportunity towards any minor cultural cohort. From Taree to Turramurra, the seeds of division are being sown assiduously by Peter Dutton, our Trump duplicate. Our ability for mutual respect, acceptance and to get on with each other within a modern, complex, contemporary culture is fundamental to its success. Biripi man Jeremy Saunders correctly calls out opposition to “Welcome to Country” ceremonies as a complete misreading of its original intention. “It’s about acceptance, living together and appreciating the beautiful place that we are in,” he rightly says. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why
I wonder whether those opposed to Welcome to Country are also outraged when confronted by a Maori Haka? Peter Wotton, Pyrmont
Maybe not quite as welcoming?
I have always been a strong supporter of the Indigenous people in this country, so I was bitterly disappointed by the insensitive opinions being expressed at the time and by the failure of the Voice referendum. But I have felt increasingly uncomfortable with the widespread adoption of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country ceremonies – not because I think they are divisive, or cost too much, but because they seem to be just tokenistic. It would be different if we were arriving for the first time at a new place, but it becomes meaningless to be repeatedly welcomed to the same “country” we have occupied for generations. The ceremonies have become just another formality to supposedly demonstrate how we all recognise our Indigenous brethren without actually doing anything really meaningful to further their cause – like giving them the prime responsibility and accountability for the management of their affairs and the tolerance, patience and support to help them with that management. Clearly, the ceremonies mean a lot to those doing the welcoming but, if the Voice vote is any indication, I suspect for many of the “welcomed” they are just words. Col Nicholson, Hawks Nest
Ukraine betrayed
Kateryna Argyrou’s article (“For Ukrainians like me, Trump’s ‘peace’ is a sickening betrayal”, February 15) could have been written in 1938, with the names changed to protect the guilty. The irony of the current conference being held in Munich is surely inescapable: the home of appeasement and “peace in our time”, except with Trump/Vance as a malevolent, not well-meaning, Chamberlain, Putin a reincarnation of Hitler, and both wishing to complete the dismemberment of Ukraine, just as happened to Czechoslovakia shortly after the first Munich gathering. At least now we seem to have a much more powerful and (hopefully) united Europe to oppose them. Of course, we in Australia needn’t be concerned about ANZUS, need we, as long as we can continue to send AUKUS billions of dollars to our great and powerful friend? Frank McGrath, Bulli
Kateryna Argyrou’s heartbreaking article must get the strongest universal support. Sovereignty is the natural law, long recognised, that people are territorial. An invasion, the massacring of sovereignty, is never to be accepted by the world, let alone rewarded. An invasion is an attack on all humanity. It is a non-negotiable wrong. Can there be any wonder that Trump, the lost soul, does not get this? Graeme Tychsen, Toronto
My heart goes out to Ukrainians everywhere as I, too, find the Trump-Putin “peace deal” a sickening betrayal of anything vaguely approaching justice. Apart from the immorality of Ukraine being kept on the peripheries of the Trump-Putin talk-fest, I can’t help but think that the “deal” consists of a “land swap”. Trump won’t get in the way of Putin’s Ukraine grab or Putin’s avoidance of war crime tribunals, and Putin will use his influence in the Middle East to smooth over Trump’s “plan” for turning Gaza into a strip of casinos, golf courses, shopping malls and “condos” by the sea. This depravity has no bottom, whether it is achievable or not. Ukrainians and Gazans deserve much better. As do we all. Marie Del Monte, Ashfield
Go north for airport inspiration
A bit of advice for the planners of the western Sydney rail: if you want to see an airport without a proper rail system you don’t have to go to Montreal (“New airport’s woeful rail links bad news for travellers”, February 15). Try going to Tullamarine from Melbourne at 4pm on a Friday; you will not get a 6pm plane. Alternatively, if you want to see a functional airport rail, check out Brisbane. Admittedly, it is an extension of the suburban network so sometimes you might share your train with schoolies or workers, but the carriages have large space for luggage, prams and wheelchairs, and a single train can carry you through the CBD and on to the Gold Coast. Bryce Templeton, Mudgeeraba (Qld)
Western Sydney International Airport - all it needs now is a bit of transportCredit: Sydney Morning Herald
Leppington heavy rail station is about a 17-minute drive from the new airport. Travellers may well find a taxi or ride-share to Leppington a better option than a Metro (eventually). Trains from Leppington go to the city and Parramatta, Blacktown etc. Alternatively, two stations away passengers can change at Glenfield for a faster trip to the city via the airport line. Perhaps there is an investment opportunity for a shuttle bus operator, or an extension of the line from Leppington to the new airport would be an option. No one seems to know why it is not. Tony Whiddon, Denham Court
Nobody I speak to wants to go to western Sydney airport. Tim Schroder, Gordon
Numbers game
Millie Muroi has nailed the issue (“Something’s not adding up – here’s the formula for better economists”, February 15). Having gained an economics degree more than 35 years ago, and working in my own businesses for much of that, economics formed the bedrock of my knowledge of the world, just as a humanities or science-based degrees would have for others. Where tertiary studies come into their own is when they help us better understand, work with and help those around us. As to the maths ... Andrew Raymond, Parramatta
The basis of economics is having an understanding of opportunity, risk and bravery. Most, if not all, who have made considerable fortunes recently, or in the 18th and 19th centuries, have understood this principle. Be it Ross Gittins or Alan Kohler’s current commentary, those who have made fortunes have understood these concepts. It can be seen today in the US, Russia and China as well as here in Australia, with past examples well documented in economic history. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst
I found it difficult to take economics seriously when the final lecture concluded with the words “None of these economic theories worked”. Joy Cooksey, Harrington
Seat repairs
Anthony Whealy makes a strong ethical case against some of the new “reforms” of political donations laws (“Botched laws will hurt democracy”, February 15). An equally strong case can be made against political stupidity. Weakening the power of the teals in former Liberal-held seats is not going to help the Labor Party. What would the ALP prefer: the seats to continue to be held by the teals or to go back to the Liberals? This move has the potential to blow up in Labor’s face. Tony Brownlow, Glebe
Rehab struggles
Once again, we see that when governments hand over the care of the vulnerable in our society to private enterprise, whose sole aim is to make a profit, it is the patient and also society which suffer (“Inside the dark side of private rehab centres”, February 15). Private rehab centres that are unsupervised are leading to people being ripped of. The criminal element is getting a foothold into these centres, with the supply of drugs and alcohol to people facing these issues. It is up to governments to face this serious problem. Josephine Piper, Miranda
Relative energy
Thank you, Kate Halfpenny (“Jealous of my daughter? Wistful yes, but so very proud”, February 15), especially for your sentence “we’re energised keeping our arms open for when they need to land”. That goes for all kids, not forgetting grandkids. And, if you can, help in any shape or form. You, and they, will be energised. Jennifer Fergus, Croydon
Sweetest victory
Of course there’ll now be acres of delirious newsprint about the Waratahs’ first match of the season (“So begins pursuit of Super Rugby glory but Tahs face tall order to make finals”, February 15). For the most part, for me, the game resembled a bunch of beefy lads jostling for the last cream bun at the tuck shop. Kent Mayo, Uralla
Happily grey
Nick Bryant has a go at Australia’s past leaders for not being memorable (“Is Albo aluminium foil to Trump?” , February 15). Give me a stream of bores before a memorable halfwit like Donald Trump. Paul Davies, Crows Nest
Multi-Morrison
Why are we still being kept aware of the whereabouts and opinions of Scott Morrison (“Morrison reveals he still meets with Trump”, February 15)? I thought he’d wrangled another role after he left The Lodge; now I wonder whether he has surreptitiously appointed himself to Albo’s job. It’s not beyond possible. Lyn Savage, Coogee
Credit: Megan Herbert
Whiting on the wall
In reply to your correspondent about the new fish market (Letters, February 15), regarding the report of the company being in liquidation – did they get the money from a loan shark? They do appear to be floundering. Who has the responsibility for the building to be perched on the headland? Is there a porpoise in the roof design without use of solar panels? Maybe you should send a photographer (a snapper) to get a few pics. He “orca” have a whale of a time as long as the report is well balanced – with a chip on each shoulder. Terry Thelwell, North Ryde
Is there something fishy about this building?Credit: Dion Georgopoulos
Although koi, I’m herring that fish puns now have a new plaice – wahoo! Rather than mullet over, I won’t linger to put my dart and sole into regaining a prime perch on the letters page, because as the catfish like to say on TikTok, carp a DM. Chris Roylance, Paddington (Qld)
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