‘Sexuality is not a value; it is who you are’: Discrimination is unChristian

As Charlotte says in the article, sexuality is not a value; it is who you are (“A school parent discovered Charlotte was gay on Facebook. Days later, she was sacked”, June 13). It’s one thing for schools to hire staff who share their values and will promote them. It is another thing for schools to discriminate against people because of physical attributes they can’t change. David Rush, Lawson

Charlotte (not her real name) was fired from her job as a primary school teacher after her same-sex relationship was discovered.Credit: Nick Moir

The most disturbing aspect here is the use of the word “Christian” in the name of this school. When sincerely held beliefs lead one to act contrary to Jesus’ commandment to “love one another as I have loved you”, is it time to reconsider those beliefs? To what extent are they Christian?

Sometimes beliefs are just prejudices handed down by well-meaning religious teachers supported only by tradition and a few Bible verses reflecting the culture of the time. Is the word Christian synonymous with love, compassion, acceptance and forgiveness or has it already been distorted into ignorance, bigotry, prejudice and discrimination? Let us not give up – it is not too late. Rob Ferguson, St Ives

“Charlotte” was aware of the Christian school’s viewpoint on sexuality, and claims that she “wasn’t trying to be deceitful”. However, by signing her employment contract, she claimed to agree with beliefs and practices that she actually didn’t uphold, which is indeed deceitful. As a Christian, she should have known that being untruthful is contrary to God’s word, the Bible.
“Charlotte” should have chosen to work somewhere where she could sign the contract in good faith and with a clear conscience, displaying the integrity expected of a professing practising Christian.
Hannah Lane, Manilla

Only days ago Premier Chris Minns was apologising publicly for past wrongs and attitudes made by the state to the gay community. During this time, I was facilitating a stage 3 Ethics class that included a topic on discrimination. So in what world is it right that “religionistas” can with impunity reverse our progress on discrimination and potentially force gay teachers back into the closet. Robert Green Ingersoll once remarked that religion is the enemy of education and the foe to progress. It’s time for all schools to teach primary ethics. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

Let religious schools continue at will to discriminate against students and staff that don’t align with their faith. But they should receive no further funding from Australian taxpayers. Peter Spies, Loftus

I don’t know which particular archaic brand of Christianity is responsible for the latest despicable treatment of one of its own, but if their church leaders dragged themselves out of the dark ages, surely they might notice they are out of step with mainstream Christianity. Even the Big Boss of the largest Christian brand (1.3 billion believers) has stated that condemning a homosexual person is an injustice. I’m heartily sick and tired of my taxpayer dollar funding loony minority religious schools that have no moral compass when compassion and beliefs collide. Joy Nason, Mona Vale

Some religious private schools are keen to exclude homosexual teachers from their staff. At the same time, they are happy to accept government funding, some of which is from homosexual taxpayers. Apparently, that’s acceptable. Eric Sekula, Turramurra

Policy of silence speaks loud

Peter Dutton’s successful message against the Voice – if you don’t know, vote no – worked a treat for him (“Weak policy risks a Liberal wasteland”, June 14). He seems to be sending the same message to voters with his refusal to state his emissions reductions target until after the election. As David Crowe says, it may cost him dearly. Susan Haylock, Mosman

Policy pitch.Credit: Matt Golding

Dutton is squawking again. This time it is about the discredited and impossibly expensive use of nuclear power and the abandonment of climate change targets in a time of climate change catastrophe. With all the available scientific evidence telling us we are heading towards a dystopian future unless we act now, it is implausible that an elected official would act in direct opposition to what is best for us and by extension the planet. This behaviour in the pursuit of power is shameful and hopefully one day he will look in the mirror and realise this before one of his grandchildren points it out to him. Mike Keene, Stanwell Park

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Liberal opposition actually worked to improve Australia’s policy future instead of looking for the political wedge? One hopes the media will ask the hard questions on policy instead of just playing to sensationalist headlines. John Watkins, Collins Creek

Let’s face it, putting aside his fantasy-ridden stance on climate change, Dutton has reached the highest level of incompetence imaginable for a prospective prime anything, much less prime minister. Claiming that he will not release detail of the opposition’s policy on the legislated 2030 target until after the election is a campaign strategy guaranteed to deliver its ultimate beneficiaries, the Labor Party and teal-held seats, election victories on silver platters. Frederick Jansohn, Rose Bay

Many letters about Dutton’s vision for our energy future. We must not forget he is in a coalition with David Littleproud, Bridget McKenzie and Barnaby Joyce. Why are we wasting energy getting upset at their Trumpian politicking? Idiotic ideas don’t need to have so much air time in the media. William Perry, Mount Keira

In response to Peter Dutton choosing to keep the 2030 climate targets secret until after he is elected, I would have no other choice than to take his sage advice and apply it at the polls: “if you don’t know, vote no”. Raj Kamath, Castle Hill

It’s time to tame the monster utes

Margot Saville is on the money about the rise of monster utes. There seems to be a certain mindset that because we inhabit a large country, that translates to a desperate need for a large SUV vehicle ready for any off-road situation, such as crossing the Simpson desert (“Monster utes took over our roads. Our car parks will be next”, June 14). However, the monsters I see in our car parks and used for school transport are in immaculate condition, indicating an easy life on sealed roads. Smaller, less-polluting vehicles are all that is mostly required but changing preferences will need legislation. Lance Dover, Pretty Beach

Monster utes are taking over our roads and carparks.Credit:

I feel your pain, Margot Saville. Add a wheelie walker to the mix, which has to be removed from the boot and unfolded in tight spaces without scratching the ute or SUV taking up the neighbouring space. Joan Brown, Orange

I wonder how many people continue to lament the lack of climate change action while popping down to the shops in their large luxury SUVs, twin-cab utes or 4-wheel drives? Of course, these vehicles do have their uses and are ideal for transporting one’s luggage when returning from the annual shopping trip to Honolulu. John Mizon, Collaroy

The highlight of my shopping experience can be, after waiting five minutes for an SUV to try unsuccessfully to park in a small space and then move on, zipping into the space in my tiny car. I would like to be “carrying eggs”, but unfortunately, at the moment, I can’t buy any. Jan Boyd, Sylvania

No answers from NACC

Robo-debt isn’t just yesterday’s scandal (“Watchdog doesn’t want a sniff”, June 14). Justice delayed is justice denied. In the case of robo-debt, justice means not simply monetary compensation to victims, but meted out to the perpetrators. It has already been far too long. In retrospect, it’s a pity the royal commissioner sealed part of her findings, including names. Now the National Anti-Corruption Commission decides “hands off”. Is it so concerned with second-guessing or stepping on the toes of the Public Sector Commission? It would be very helpful to see how our much touted new body defines “corruption” in this real, life-and-death context – a demonstration that we, the public, could get our heads around. Now, left to the arcane public sector mindset, we may never know when a slippery slope became a moral failure, even a crime. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

Credit: Cathy Wilcox

The newly minted federal NACC claims the royal commission into the robo-debt scheme did such a good investigation that it doesn’t need to. This type of doublespeak makes no sense because the investigative bodies have different functions. Why would the robo-debt royal commissioner refer six individuals if nothing was going to be done? Why did the NACC take 11 months to come up with these useless findings? The NACC claims that their role would not add “value in the public interest”. What then is its purpose? What is still unknown to the public is what “lessons” the NACC claims have been “learnt”. What we do know is that NACC commissioner seems to have forgotten he serves the Australian public because he “will not be making any further comment”. Ailie Bruins, New Town (Tas)

Given its failure to do anything much, I’ve renamed the National Anti-Corruption Commission the Fairly Unworkable Corruption Commission. David Baird, Burradoo

Class divide

Once more the inequities of our education system are exposed by the press, followed by the usual blame game from both major parties, followed by a smoke and mirrors fiddle (“This Sydney school science lab has shut down until there is money to fix it. How did it come to this?”, June 14). Once more the result will be no substantial change. We should all be ashamed of the disparity between disadvantaged public schools and the obscenely well-equipped private school systems. Wealthy private schools continue to wallow in a sense of entitlement while public schools maintain their second-class status. If all we can do is wring our hands and do nothing, rising inequality will lead to a financial and social burden for this country. When will our federal and state governments have the guts to do whatever it takes to adequately fund our education system? Bruce Spence, Balmain

Your article on the plight of government schools in NSW asks, “How did it come to this?” Easy. This is one of the outcomes of nine years of Coalition government at federal level combined with 12 years of the same at state level. Both tiers of government wantonly ignored the requirements of the Gonski reforms and continued to favour private school education funding.

Not that this absolves the current Labor governments of the responsibility to resolve the public education funding fiasco during their first terms in government. The community wants genuine investment in public education and meaningful long-term reform of the education funding model in Australia. A failure to do so will see Labor’s primary vote continue to fall, as they will reveal themselves as being no better than the previous lot. Peter Cuk, St Ives

Cash splash

As a footy fan, and for my sins a West Tigers supporter, I am appalled that $40 million of taxpayers’ money is to be spent on the overhaul of Leichhardt oval – money that could be far better spent on public health and education (“Tigers den to be park of a different stripe”, June 14). The NRL is a very rich organisation. Let them pay for it. Wendy Young, Glebe

Garbage collection once per fortnight. Ten million dollars for a sports oval. The ratepayers of Inner West Council have every right to feel annoyed, very annoyed. Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt

Now that Leichhardt Oval is to undergo an overhaul, the loyal Tigers supporters can finally be comfortable in seeing their team being trashed by visiting teams. Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Renters’ pain

According to the “head of research” at CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate and investment firm, Sydney renters are getting a bargain because they don’t spend half of their income on rent like those in New York or London (“Government prepared to underwrite housing projects to boost viability”, June 14). Unsurprisingly, the analyst thinks rent and unit prices need to increase by 30 per cent. In 2023, CBRE recorded a gross profit internationally of $6.274 billion USD. Perhaps it’s time for more altruistic operators in the property development business. Maclaren Wall, Manly

When will our governments understand that it’s the costs, taxes and delays that largely cause the housing crisis? As a developer, I don’t need any government guarantees because if a project works financially and on time it will happen. We need reduced taxes and reduced delays.

What is the point of giving tax-paid guarantees for sales when the costs and delays in developing are prohibitive? Taxes, contributions and delays alone account for a large part of a new home cost, and no amount of guarantees will change that. Peter Icklow, Pymble

Mission impossible

I realise that they may have good intentions, but isn’t the government and opposition’s call to ban under 16-year-olds from social media a little like banning the sun from coming up tomorrow morning (“Meta scanning faces to verify age of users”, June 14)? Derrick Mason, Boorowa

Clubhouse blues

Apart from snoozing in one’s leather armchair, tilting at lefty windmills, guffawing at ex-prime ministers’ attempts at humour and being escorted to the lavatories, what does one actually get for one’s subs at the Australian Club (“Australian Club snub is another blow for ScoMo”, June 14)?
Dave Watts, Avalon

Water catastrophe

So we are now on the horns of a dilemma: poison ourselves by drinking the tap water, or poison the planet with discarded plastic water bottles (“Is bottled water toxic?”, June 14). Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills

Brains trust

It is well known in the education field that an adolescent brain does not grow to full maturity until about 26 years of age (Letters, June 14). There is a very occasional outlier. Thus, the voting age should be increased, if anything. Phillip Foster, Orange

It all adds up

It may be splitting hairs, but I reckon the correct answer to the mental arithmetic calculation is three and tuppence ha’penny (Letters, June 14). Geoff Walker, Glebe

Eyes on the radar

I was advised by a travel agent that when travelling overseas, climate is what you expect and weather is what you get (Letters, June 14). Mark Anderson, Coogee

Postscript

“So much written and debated this week regarding the Coalition’s so-called energy policy. Let’s cut to the chase about what this policy is really about. Peter Dutton does not believe in or care about climate change.” Phil Peak of Dubbo has summarised well this week’s discussion on the letters pages.

Matt GoldingCredit:

Correspondents, like Tom Hunt of Oak Flats, added that “sadly, Dutton is continuing the Coalition tradition of driving a wedge between Australians, using climate change ignorance as a weapon”. But he believes the opposition leader has “misjudged how many voters are now much better informed on climate issues than he is”. Many writers voiced their “dreams of a Canberra team working together on the vital issue of reducing the world’s greenhouse pollution, instead of wasting so much effort bickering and balking on the solutions we now so urgently need”.

Meanwhile, Ross Drynan of Lindfield wrote he was “saddened to see the challenging problem of global climate change and the Herald’s letters used misleadingly to denounce the Coalition parties”. Riley Brown of Bondi Beach described “Dutton’s nuclear energy policy as a rational way to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050″ and “far from weak”.

As the majority of letter writers bemoaned the return to the climate wars, Tony Simons of Balmain commended the correspondents who called out “Dutton’s political chicanery on emissions reduction targets” and the opposition leader “continuing to take voters for fools”.

Vivienne Freeman of Warrawee was one of many who wanted to remind Dutton he should be mindful of his rhetoric. “‘If you don’t know, vote no’ may come back to haunt you”, she warned. Pat Stringa, letters editor

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