Temperature testing must be next

In hindsight it seems we should have mandated masks on public transport and crowded indoor venues from the outset (“New weapon to tackle COVID”, 20/7). It was also noticeable that Melbourne’s Chinese community had adopted masks and social distancing as early as February, giving very low infection rates in suburbs where Chinese Australians are concentrated. We should also remember that masks inhibit the spread of the virus by the unconscious carrier, and that wearing them is reassuring to others. As a health measure this should not be a matter of choice, and it makes more sense than most of the Andrews government’s other lockdown measures — from banning golf and fishing to sealing off the local playground with crime tape.

John Morrissey, Hawthorn, Vic

It was inevitable we would start recognising that the wearing of masks is beneficial. Now for temperature testing. Some of our authorities may refute the benefits, but I will put my money on Taiwan, a country we appear to be hesitant to acknowledge in case we offend someone.

To date, Taiwan has had 455 cases, seven deaths (0.3 per million of population) and that’s all with a similar population to Australia.

The difference: Taiwan was ready and while the West ignored its advice and dawdled, it implemented travel alerts and bans, masks and, you guessed it, temperature testing.

Ross McDonald, Gordon, NSW

Diversity within reason

While it is imperative Australia becomes a more resilient and diversified economy without an over-dependence on any one country for its exports or essential materials post-COVID-19, it is also important we don’t diversify for the sake of it without adhering to fundamentals such as international comparative advantage (“Diversify to head off disaster”, 20/7).

Any large-scale development that requires government subsidies will not survive over the long term as international competition will gradually wear it down, as happened in the car industry. Much-touted projects including an export hydrogen industry or an export-focused renewables electricity project in the Northern Territory might look enticing on paper, but they will not succeed if they require subsidisation. The $200 billion sunk into the LNG industry is based on private capital and initiative, ensuring its success.

The role of governments is to create level playing fields, an efficient and streamlined regulatory environment and a competitive taxation environment to encourage industry competition and innovation.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Great white?

Fred Pawle (“White pointer truth sinks in a sea of paperwork”, 20/7) asks why “a great white shark (would) leap out of the water and grab a 10-year-old boy from a 6m fishing boat, as one did off the northwest coast of Tasmania”.

Very fortunately, the boy suffered relatively minor injuries. Anyone who has seen footage of those huge jaws of jagged teeth when a great white attacks the cages in South Australia would realise the child would not have survived an attack of this nature. We need a more detailed description of what happened to make any call on whether a great white was involved.

David Williams, Wynn Vale, SA

Learn or repeat

When I was at school in the 1950s, kids failing to meet competent reading, writing and arithmetic standards were kept down to repeat the year before moving ahead (“One in 10 student teachers failing the basics”, 20/7). Surely, it is time to reintroduce the system of general 3R competencies in the early years of education to ensure all tertiary students, not just potential teachers, can read, write and add up.

Paulyne Pogorelske, E. Melbourne, Vic