Andrew Wilkie regrets signing a deal with Julia Gillard when she didn’t follow through with gambling reform and says the independents would be well advised to stay independent (“‘Do not do deals’: Veteran MP warns against pacts with Albanese, Dutton”, December 26). The teal independents arose because the electorate was fed up with the Coalition government’s lack of action, particularly on climate change. Peter Dutton’s nuclear energy policy is transparently just a way of prolonging the life of coal. With the World Health Organisation predicting that in 2030 there will be 250,000 extra deaths a year from climate change and bushfires raging in Victoria, we could take a moment to thank God we have a range of independent voices in Canberra. Gary Barnes, Mosman
Independent MPs Tony Windsor and Andrew Wilkie, top row, Rob Oakeshott, Bob Katter and Greens MP Adam Bandt held the balance of power Labor formed a minority government under the helm of Julia Gillard in 2010.Credit: Andrew Meares
Andrew Wilkie makes perfect political sense about independents not aligning themselves with Labor or Liberal, but surely if there is a hung parliament independents have to make some commitment one way or the other. Peter Dutton appears to have no qualms about aligning himself before the election – the problem is he has chosen a mining magnate and not a political party. Peter Miniutti, Ashbury
The power of the gambling industry, like all other industries where money wins over morals, will never be challenged by a government. If they had any backbone, they would lose as Bill Shorten did in 2019 or be taken out at the next election where a new government would change the rules. Judy Nicholas, Kambah (ACT)
Conservative views
So it’s the progressives who know what’s good for us and make decisions for us (Letters, December 26). If only it were that simple. Perhaps, Riley Brown, they are the people with some expertise in their field who determine that a fair and equitable tax system is necessary for the provision of services like health, education, defence and welfare that underpins a progressive society. Perhaps they are the people we elect to make rules and laws that help ensure our safety and protect us from unscrupulous operators. And perhaps, they are the ones who know that if we adopt your conservative mantra we’d have a society where some individuals might be richer, but we’d be collectively poorer. Peter Singer, Hamilton South
Riley Brown should come up with a better analogy to demonstrate the difference between progressive and conservative ideology. I cannot imagine the late Kevin Andrews ever being called progressive, but championing the annulment of the NT’s voluntary euthanasia legislation years ago puts him smack in the middle of this category, using Brown’s definition that “the (progressive) group is those who think they know what is good for you”. Manning Clark’s definition of “enlargers” vs “straighteners” is a far more accurate view of the different ideologies. Denis Minehan, Cooma
Riley Brown’s misguided definition of conservative made me laugh solidly for five minutes. Judging by the last few conservative governments and the current opposition, their idea of what is good for their electorate is for only white middle-aged church-going heterosexual blokes to make the rules and the rest of us are not permitted a say in what is good and right. Victoria Watts, Mango Hill
Riley Brown has it around the wrong way. The conservatives are the ones deciding what is best for people. Just take the same-sex marriage debate. I didn’t hear a progressive voice in opposition to the legislation, only conservatives. They are the straighteners, not the progressives. Sue Adams, Dulwich Hill
Your correspondent has it back-to-front. In matters such as voluntary assisted dying, marriage equality and even library books, it is the conservatives who wish to control what people do even when it does not affect anyone else, whilst the progressives wish to allow people to choose for themselves. Andy Salmons, North Ryde
That’s one way of looking at things. Alternatively, one group is concerned for the vulnerable and marginalised and wants to ensure they have their chance in the sun and the other group that thinks only of themselves and doesn’t care about anyone else. I know which cohort is preferable. Erik Hoekstra, Leura
The trouble with the people who believe you should decide what’s good for you is that they don’t bother asking if it’s bad for their community, their country, or their planet. Michael Berg, Randwick
I’m sure that many women wouldn’t support Riley Brown’s contention that conservatives actually practice the freedom for individuals to decide what is good for them. Brian Jones, Leura
Riley Brown would make an excellent stand-up comedian. He misstates the conservative view – they believe that they should decide what is good for everybody, not just themselves. Seppo Ranki, Glenhaven
Wrongful arrest
No one likes to speak ill of the dead but my lasting memory of Kevin Andrews, commonly referred to as “The Undertaker” by his peers, was his false arrest of Mohamed Haneef (Letters, December 16). Andrews spent nearly $8 million trying to prove he was a terrorist when, in actual fact, he was a surgeon at the Gold Coast Hospital – with another $2 million in compensation! Ray Armstrong, Tweed heads South
Bay beauty held dear
The majority of developers are businesses whose prime goal is to make a profit (“No longer fishing villages: Fight to save charm of South Coast holiday towns”, December 26). Making a profit in developing subdivisions these days appears to mean creating as many small house blocks as possible on a parcel of land with extremely narrow roads and nary a tree in sight. This certainly doesn’t fit with the visual amenity of Callala Bay. Evacuating would be a nightmare if a bushfire approached. These sorts of subdivisions are not sympathetic to the local environment or based on sustainability principles. People need housing, but many of the houses would probably be bought as holiday homes or as an investment, not for those who need permanent accommodation. The roads leading in and out of Callala Bay are goat tracks with pothole piled on pothole. And where is the poor old greater glider to go? Laura Beaupeurt, Callala Bay
Culburra BeachCredit: James Brickwood
Of course, the Shoalhaven area is a magnet for tourists wanting to escape from city life and relax on the beaches but not at the price suggested by developers. Have you seen some of their efforts where buildings are crammed together, bushland annihilated, and any native habitat or fauna eliminated in the name of profit? Now a charitable trust that includes Scots College wants to eradicate 40 hectares of endangered greater glider habitat at charming Callala Bay to build 380 houses. What the summer of bushfires failed to do the developers will do for them. Nola Tucker, Kiama
Southern blunders
I totally agree with Dene Griffin’s views on the AFL (Letters, December 26). Because of a weak government that would not stand up to the AFL, Tasmania has signed off on a $750 million stadium at Macquarie Point, one of the most iconic sites in Hobart. The costs have already blown out by millions and it is estimated the final figure will be well north of a billion dollars, even though more than 60 per cent of Tasmanians don’t want the stadium. The current government, which is responsible for the stadium, has commissioned two new Bass Strait ferries currently stored in Scotland as the government neglected to build wharves that could cater to them. Stand by for what is potentially some of the biggest and most expensive blunders in the history of an Australian state.Victor Marshall, Meander (Tas)
Veterans’ health valued
One of the real achievements of the Labor government has been the improvement in the treatment of our veterans’ health and wellbeing (“Cost of caring for veterans soars to $13b”, December 26). Public servants generally care more than short-term hire workers and apparently Labor cares more than the Coalition about the health of our veterans. The Morrison government was responsible for robo-debt and poor treatment of veterans. The human cost was horrific. As Shane Wright says, the veterans’ take was to see this treatment as “delay, deny, die”, an accurate and shameful description of their treatment by that government. The current Liberal leadership is already talking about again cutting public servant numbers, without appreciating the shameful human cost of such a move. I can still hear Morrison’s hollow words, “thank you for your service”, offered to our veterans. “Delay, deny, die” has been replaced by “respect, listen, support”, and it needs to continue. Geoff Nilon, Mascot
The catafalque party is illuminated at the Shrine of Remembrance during the Anzac Day dawn service.Credit: Jason South
Rates cut roulette
When the RBA cuts interest rates an increase in the rate of inflation of property prices is almost inevitable (“Inaction is the RBA’s default setting”, December 26). The benefits of high interest rates have been the dampening of property price rises, but also the higher interest rates on bank deposits for those desperately accumulating a deposit for a potential purchase. Unfortunately, a decrease in interest rates is double jeopardy for the potential purchaser as property prices inflate and bank deposits attract lower interest. An additional annoyance is that the interest on bank deposits are taxed at one’s top marginal rate, further eroding the ability to raise an adequate deposit. The government could provide a little more assistance to potential first home buyers by allowing interest on a designated bank deposit to be tax-free. Geoff Harding, Chatswood
Ground rules
Nick Bryant’s recent article brought to mind a conversation about the Roma camps along France’s Moselle River (Letters, December 26). It was explained that there were no rules prohibiting them but downriver, in Germany, it was different because “in France if it is not specifically prohibited it is allowed but in Germany if it is not specifically allowed it is verboten.” Lance Rainey, Rushforth
Life lessons
The problem with an all-boys school is there are no all-boys universities or all-boys employers (Letters, December 26). Sometime or other the boys have to mix with the girls. Why not do it from the beginning rather than learn how to mix later on? John Rome, Mt Lawley (WA)
Perhaps the student at Newington opposing the school becoming co-ed should do a little research to see how other schools have coped so well after becoming co-educational institutions. An excellent example is Wolaroi College in Orange, which merged with PLC Orange in the 1970s to form Kinross Wolaroi. The amalgamation went smoothly with no outlandish objections from the students. This has created a progressive and popular school with students achieving highly in both sport and the classroom. In the real world we are not segregated, and it just makes sense to begin mixing with the opposite sex while still at school. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
Given the antics of the Newington Old Boy network opposing co-education, I can’t imagine there would be a rush of parents wishing to enrol their daughters at the school. Probably no need for the student to take legal action. Catherine Turner, Cremorne
I find it fascinating that critics of Newington parents opposed to the college going co-ed were silent when the same proposition was proposed for the state school Balgowlah Boys High. Parents at “Bally Boys” expressed the same concerns yet were not tagged “privileged” or “old white males”. Balgowlah will remain a school for boys and hopefully continue to build on its impressive academic record. Co-ed is not a “one size fits all” solution. Let the community of the school concerned sort it out, without crass commentary from outsiders. Mike Kenneally, Manly
Lady of letters
My sister, Joan Brown of Orange, may not have won the letter of the year contest, but she persists in continuing to submit letters, despite having serious sight problems and suffering shakes due to Parkinson’s disease. Not a bad effort for an 85-year-old great-grandmother, using a wheelchair, in a nursing home, and still with a razor-sharp mind. Warren Scanlon, Ballina
Trump the businessman
Donald Trump wants the Panama Canal to be controlled by the US and also wants to buy Greenland (“Trump threatens to take back Panama Canal”, December 26). In terms of Greenland, Trump has a better knowledge of history than most. In 1917 Denmark sold some of its colonial real estate to the US. The land previously known as the Danish West Indies is now the US Virgin Islands. One never knows – perhaps the Danes might be willing to do the same once again. Neil Purcell, Hermit Park (Qld)
During his previous administration, Donald Trump withdrew from the US-Iran nuclear deal, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and renegotiated NAFTA. He is now threatening to go back on the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, which gave Panama control of the canal. Given this form, it might be a wise move by our political leaders not to put too much weight on the ANZUS and AUKUS agreements. Malcolm Freak, Armidale
Practise what you preach
Pope Francis seems to miss the extraordinary irony that the birth of “a poor carpenter’s son” is being celebrated in the grotesque opulence of St Peter’s Basilica, as shown in the Herald’s photograph (“Pope heralds new Jubilee year with St Peter’s Mass”, December 26). The wealth of the Roman Catholic Church and of the other established churches is obscene, amid world-wide poverty, deprivation and war-torn devastation. Perhaps the Pope might elucidate for us that lesson about the camel, the needle, the rich man and heaven? Rob Phillips, North Epping
Pope Francis opens the Holy Door to mark the opening of the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, or Jubilee, in St Peter’s Basilica, at the Vatican on Christmas Eve.Credit: AP
If Jesus was the humble man depicted in the Bible, advocating for the poor and downtrodden, I wonder what he would have thought of the scene in St Peter’s Basilica. A huge, ornate, baroque space, decorated with gold leaf and beautiful mosaics and hundreds of robed priests in attendance. Jim Pollitt, Wahroonga
Sydney on show
It was great to see the far superior coverage of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race this year as there was much better attention given to more smaller yachts rather than the usual focus and obsession on the two multimillion-dollar yachts, either of whom often ends up winning. It was wonderful to see the glorious harbour and then the tussle between the boats, the weather and the sea. Fair winds and safe sailing to them all. Merilyn McClung, Forestville
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