I think senator Penny Wong is a little harsh on her fellow senator, Fatima Payman ( “Wong slams Payman for crossing floor on Palestine”, June 29). If Wong voted against legalising same-sex marriage when she obviously supported it, in order to maintain caucus solidarity, that is her decision. But following the dictates of one’s conscience, despite the consequences, is a long held principle as well.
Payman obviously feels so strongly that Palestinian statehood should at long last be recognised, that, even at the risk of expulsion from the party, she could do nothing else. Perhaps, if all politicians adhered to their deeply held principles, whatever the consequences, the profession might be held in higher esteem. Bernard Moylan, Bronte
Labor senator Fatima Payman.Credit: James Brickwood
Politics is a funny game. Labor has reprimanded Payman for crossing the floor on Palestine, with Wong explaining that the principle of collective action is more important and citing her own experience with Labor’s anti-SSM position. But the thing is, Labor never did bring SSM to a vote. That was the Liberals and Malcolm Turnbull. Even stranger is that many high-profile Liberals, led by former leader Tony Abbott, were against the proposition and only brought it on because they believed, incorrectly, that the Australian public backed their discriminatory views. History shows us that we, the electorate, did the right thing on SSM, but also that Labor’s solidarity did nothing for the lives of our LGBTQ+ community. So where does that leave Senator Payman? Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn
Putting integrity above party politics is such a rarity these days that most of us were completely taken by surprise when Payman crossed the floor. As a Muslim, she felt she must do what she thought was the right thing. Goodness! What was she thinking? She has now set a dangerous precedent. Politicians are best at hiding behind gobbledygook, trite politically correct answers and faceless party machinery like caucus. Imagine if they all started acting with decency, honour and truth. Where would we be? Phil Johnson, Dee Why
Wong has said the dissident Payman should have voted with Labor. In other words, leave your conscience in the locker room. She should remember this when she next preaches to warring international factions that some values are non-negotiable, being fundamental to preserve human decency. Ramani Venkatramani, Rhodes
I think I prefer a Labor Caucus with female members like Payman, who display the courage of their convictions, rather than subservient ones who fall meekly into line with “the blokes” in the name of solidarity. Mike Kenneally, Manly
Phone call whine is pointless
Senator Simon Birmingham and Michael McCormack criticised the prime minister for accepting a phone call from Julian Assange (“Rudd reveals ‘creative nous’ was required for release”, June 28). Will they expect him not to take a call from Donald Trump, also a convicted felon, if he is elected president again? Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie
Birmingham’s self-righteous carping about a phone call is yet another example of distraction politics. The Australian people elected the Albanese Labor government and gave it a mandate. Time for the negative Coalition and the grandstanding Greens to focus on the opportunities and well-being of our future generations and not themselves. Bronwyn Braham, Emu Plains
The negative comments from members of the Coalition on the arrival home of Assange are very telling. There was never a chance of the Coalition helping this Australian citizen while they were in government. Mark Nugent, Lugarno
It is a bit sad to hear a spokesperson for the US State Department continuing the line that Assange damaged lives despite any evidence for the claim but we must not forget that the US still has people locked up in Guantánamo Bay on dubious charges but that it still refuses to bring them to trial to test those charges. Australia was all too ready to go along with kidnapping and torture and was very reluctant to protect David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib from abuse by our ally. It was easier to appear tough on terrorists and allow them to pay the price. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights
WikiLeaks exposed US war crimes and what happened? Nothing. Now today, every day, we see war crimes on the internet. Has anything changed? John Christie, Oatley
The thing that stands out for me the most when watching the deeply moving footage of Julian Assange arriving home to Australia is how impossible this all felt until it happened. This was the moment you’d dream of in your quiet, private moments, but could never fully allow yourself to believe would actually happen.
It was very easy to imagine Assange dying in a prison cell. But coming home, to Australia? No chance. And yet there he is. It happened. Norman Broomhall, Port Macquarie
Biden’s nightmare
Donald Trump didn’t win the first debate. Joe Biden handed it to him on a silver platter (“Former Obama adviser delivers scathing appraisal of Biden”, smh.com.au, June 28). Biden’s frail wispy voice and stumbling speech, initially delivered at an excessively accelerated pace, set the scene for what was to come in the debate. His memory lapses and loss of concentration reinforced worry about his mental acuity. Biden shouldn’t be running for a second term. The Democratic National Convention in August will gift Trump the presidency if Biden isn’t replaced with a younger, competent candidate. Gerardine Grace, Leura
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
One of the saddest and worrying things I have just watched for a long time. One cognitive challenged – one bluffing and blustering, lying his head off. Neither of them should be the supposed “Leader of the Free World”. Very, very scary. Janet Scilly, Wollstonecraft
Having just watched the debate between President Feeble and President Foolish, irrespective of who wins the election, America will continue to implode. Victor Marshall, Meander (Tas)
One is on remote control, another out of control. May someone help the USA. Mustafa Erem, Terrigal
After watching the debate, it occurs to me that Biden’s campaign slogan might well be “Make America grate again – vote Trump”. Steve McCann, Lane Cove
Clean-energy buses make more sense than light rail
There’s a historical romanticism about trams, but I wonder how the economics of light rail stacks up against consistent and regular buses along dedicated bus lanes (“On most maligned road, the idea of light rail takes root”, June 28)? The cost and inconvenience of ripping up roads for rails, disrupting traffic and local business for years, providing electric power and building special passenger stopping bays must surely outweigh the supply of clean electric or hydrogen-powered buses, that can be diverted to a different route if problems arise on their main route. Derails me just thinking about it. Rod Bartlett, Woonona
I suspect a light rail along Parramatta Road would only help get us from one end to the other, more quickly and a little less painfully. It’s unlikely to encourage anyone to linger along the way.
Ross Duncan, Potts Point
What happened to the previous Liberal government’s promises that Parramatta Road would be revitalised in line with the construction of WestConnex? Todd Hillsley, Homebush
I like to think I’m as optimistic as the next bloke, but your article about the proposed Parramatta Rd is beyond the pale. Whatever is planned, it won’t happen, and this derelict, windswept, unloved “boulevard” will remain its grim self until we finally admit it’s the perfect spot for a nuclear power station. C’mon people. Get with the program. Tim Parker, Balmain
Polluter pays
I’m glad to see that the “polluter pays” principle applies in NSW (“Pristine habitat poisoned”, June 28). Perhaps the same principle could be applied to the companies that dig up and/or burn the fossil fuels that are fast destroying our environment. Let’s call it their contingent liability. Catherine Rossiter, Fadden
Wheeny Creek was at the edge of my father’s Kurrajong farm in the 1950s. It had clear, clean water and the occasional platypus and snake, and we picniced and swam there on a hot day. Dorothy Sorby, Pymble
Forced marriage
It may be timely that a new directive for marriage celebrants, of which I am one, is that we now must meet with couples separately before the marriage is solemnised in order to ascertain that there is no coercion or forced behaviour for either them to enter into the marriage (“Exit trafficking conviction after wife abandoned”, June 28). Angie Miller, Bondi Junction
Congratulations to human rights advocate Helena Hassani, who won a medal at the Women Changing the World Awards. Her work in preventing women being exploited by their partners and their families is to be applauded. The insidious practice of men exiting their partners from Australia must be condemned. Josephine Piper, Miranda
Underground cables
It would be better news to hear that wooden power poles were being phased out in favour of underground cabling (“Sparks fly as timber power poles axed”, June 28). For safety and aesthetic reasons, development consent for large projects on major urban roads should require that power lines be placed underground, especially for large frontages with only a single access point, where additional costs would be minimal. This should also apply to major urban refurbishments, such as Willoughby Council’s Artarmon shopping centre project, where both sides of Hampden Road have been extensively dug up but the power poles and wires remain. By comparison, redevelopment of a similar shopping centre east of West Ryde station is enhanced by the placement of services underground. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
School success
Parents often focus on public selective high schools and view these schools as the only way for their child to succeed (“Hills hub is preferred selective”, June 28). Comprehensive public high schools are viewed unfavourably. Jennifer Robinson is the human rights lawyer who represented Julian Assange. She is a graduate of Bomaderry High School. There are many successful graduates from public comprehensive high schools. John Cotterill, Kingsford
Joyce of sobriety
It’s admirable that Barnaby is off the grog but, doing the sums, I was surprised to realise that when he delivered his rant about wind farm “swindle factories” he must have been stone-cold sober (“Joyce dry since big night he can barely recall”, June 28). Colin Stokes, Camperdown
Barnaby Joyce quits alcohol, loses 15kg after infamous night he barely remembersCredit: Alex Ellinghausen
Downsize dilemma
Alexandra Smith writes about the role of stamp duty in deterring people from downsizing their homes (“The sensible stamp duty thought-bubble buried in a budget reply”, June 28). Leaving aside the additional need to free up equity for the purpose of retirement income and just focusing on the comparative cost of the swap, I am surprised it is such an issue.
For example, a four-bedroom house in East Lindfield recently sold for $3.5 million, which could be exchanged for a three-bedroom apartment available in surrounding suburbs costing $1.5 million and would attract stamp duty of $65,555 (a mere 1.8 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of the house). That does not sound like a major deterrent.
From personal experience a more likely deterrent is inertia. The time to downsize is always not yet and too often left until the decision is taken away from the homeowner(s). Then ill health or loss of a partner forces the change and hasty decisions. I can highly recommend making the decision while still physically fit and in good health. Victor Boase, Narraweena
Healthy addiction
Gardens are special, individual places (“Best gardens stand test of time”, June 28). I agree with the man on the ABC Gardening Australia program who propagates new cliveas. He said,“I am addicted to gardening, not sex, drugs and rock and roll”. Our garden is a mishmash-mash collection of cuttings and plants. Gardens are a wonderful addiction. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong
Memory lane
Your correspondent would also probably remember where she was when John Lennon was shot, Australia won the America’s Cup, the Berlin Wall came down, the USSR collapsed, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, the Twin Towers came down, Donald Trump got elected, Brexit happened and when Warnie died (Letters, June 28). Bernie Bourke, Ourimbah
Nostalgia is well and truly alive, Bob Selinger. I sat next to you in the staff room of Birrong Boys High School for three and a half years. Your pile of exercise books to be marked would slide onto my desk and vice-versa. Hope you bought a TV licence for that “transportable” TV set. Ah, those were the days ... Sue Jones, Bathurst
Swearing is just lazy
It’s a tragedy that profanity has become acceptable in all levels of society (Letters, June 28). It’s so commonplace that it’s lost any comedic effect or shock value. It’s just plain lazy, and boring. Many children’s books are written in comic form, all in caps, and while this encourages reading by children who otherwise wouldn’t bother, it doesn’t instil good grammar. Just another example of society’s values sliding into an abyss. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North
Postscript
“Splitting the atom to harness nuclear power was indeed a marvellous scientific endeavour. Splitting the letter writers’ opinions on nuclear power has been a far more entertaining read of late,” wrote Jeremy Brender of West Richmond (SA).
Letter writers took more than a week to chew over the Coalition’s nuclear plan. Some, like David Harrison of Winmalee, were not only frustrated by the scant information, they were upset about it being referred to as a “plan”. “Plans require some essential ingredients such as a vision, objectives, budget, a detailed project schedule, resource analysis, risk management, business operating plan, accountability etc. Dutton’s ‘plan’ has none of this,” he wrote. “It is empty rhetoric made entirely for political purposes.”
The heated discussion took what many considered a positive turn mid-week with the PM’s “masterstroke” appointment of Matt Kean as the chair of the Climate Change Authority. Kean’s decision to move from state politics to the federal body was seen as an opportunity for the former NSW treasurer to serve “all Australians and contribute to the role of public service”. It also created an opening for Kean to remind some Coalition members “that Australia is set up as a nation of people, not as a civil war or footy scrum”.
Correspondents were mostly elated by the return of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Australia as a free man, “a ray of sunshine after all the depressing world news”. Neville Turbit of Russell Lea reminded us that “the government lobbied for the release of Assange because he was Australian, not because of any high ideals of press freedom.”
Those who watched the US presidential debate on Friday were unanimous in their missives. Killara’s Ros Keech described it as a “tragedy of Shakespearian proportions” and Margaret Broadbent of Dunbogan said she no longer felt depressed by the state of politics in Australia after watching the debate. There’s always an upside. Pat Stringa, letters editor
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