We need to recognise business complexity of supermarket sector

It was appalling to witness the attitude of the Greens senator chairing the supermarket inquiry (“Greens show true business colour”, 17/4).

There was a clear lack of understanding of how business operates. The intense compet­ition that dominates retailing was not recognised. The scale and complexity of these businesses is not like that of a local greengrocer. Coles and Woolworths are not saints, and they get up to all sorts of shenanigans, but they provide essential services throughout Australia at a reasonable cost.

Moreover, they now protect us against the power of multinational food companies as well as those greedy wholesalers or farmers who would lovingly raise their prices at the drop of a hat.

Of course, dealing with Coles, Woolworths, Aldi or Metcash would not be a picnic but through competition they help everyone. Recall for a moment the help they provided during Covid with their home delivery and contactless store pick-up. They provided a vital service under difficult circumstances. Grocery shopping before the supermarkets was medieval. They have expanded and flourished because they met a community need. A mandatory code of conduct rather than a show of Senate power would be a useful first step.

James A. Athanasou, Maroubra, NSW

Lesson from Italy

The report that the Italian government will ban schools from closing to mark the end of Ramadan most likely reflects a growing realisation in Western countries that cultural accommodation extended to immigrant groups has its limits (“School closure prompts backlash over ‘Islamic fanaticism’ ”, 17/4).

Confronting a trend described as “reverse integration”, ministers in the Italian government are quoted as saying: “It’s no longer about Muslim students needing to assimilate … but Italian students being indoctrinated about ways which are contrary to our culture and values”.

Recent events in Australia show there are lessons for our government, too, if the way of life Australians have created is to be preserved, along with the willingness to share it with others.

Philip Temple, Larrakeyah, NT

Renewables insurance

In reference to “Solar fire risks ‘make farmers uninsurable’ ” (9/4), surely if landholders adjoining solar plants have to have public liability insurance amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars, why shouldn’t the owner-operators of solar and wind farms be held accountable for any wildfires that escape from their renewables factory area?

And why shouldn’t they be required to have an amount of public liability insurance that could run from $1bn to $2bn?

John Moore, Wangaratta, Vic

Vote of confidence

Justice Michael Lee has done us all a great service by his carefully considered judgment in the Higgins-Lehrmann case, which gives us a bit more confidence in our legal system. As the sole judge, he was able to decide the outcome. In many cases a jury, rather than one judge, determines the outcome. The overriding principle of our trial by jury system is that a person’s innocence or guilt should be determined by a panel of jurists representing one’s peers.

However, in the past decade or so we’ve seen significant polarisation of opinion, which brings into question whether juries of one’s peers can be appointed with any confidence as to impartiality.

Regardless of whether one is a supporter of Donald Trump or not, most reasonable people believe he deserves a fair trial.

However, the reality is that he is facing a jury in New York that is unlikely to be made up of his peers because they would be drawn from New York, where most people reportedly vote Democrat and the dislike of Trump is intense.

This polarisation is occurring not only in political arenas but also in religious arenas, as recently seen with our Jewish population under siege. The MeToo movement shows its polarisation of views, and the Indigenous voice referendum also highlighted polarisation.

All of us, particularly the legal profession, need to carefully consider how juries of one’s peers should be appointed in our polarised world, otherwise justice may depend on where one lives, our race, gender, political and religious views or even on social media postings.

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld

Health needs funds

The Prime Minister is busy talking about manufacturing.

Farmers need help to produce fresh, affordable food. Fuel and water prices make that difficult. Medicare is failing many with health issues that are not classified as urgent. We need to cut big expenditure in areas that incite tension to fund what is most required – health, education and housing. An inquiry is needed about health.

Stuart Davie, Corowa, NSW