Living on the Central Coast, I am all for the construction of a high-speed rail link to Sydney (“Revealed: Colossal cost of high-speed rail line between Sydney and Central Coast”, January 8). Currently it takes approximately the same time (1.5 hours) to drive from Gosford to the CBD on an increasingly crowded M1 as a train service that is frustratingly slow in sections. Anyone who has travelled on the high-speed rail systems in Europe, China or Japan knows just how efficient and convenient this mode of transport can be. The cost, however, is an eye-watering $32 billion. Can we afford it? Published on the same day were the revelations of unacceptable wait times and overcrowding in our state hospitals, putting lives at risk. Can we not prioritise fixing this problem first? Robert Hickey, Green Point
The cost of high-speed trains is phenomenal.Credit: Australian government
It is surely time to revisit the commitment made in haste to support AUKUS at an estimated cost of $360 billion. With projected budget deficits and precarious overreliance on revenue from mining, necessary expenditure on infrastructure for a growing population, climate change, social welfare, and projects such as fast rail – which would reduce emissions from flying and encourage decentralisation of population and industry – become problematic, if not unaffordable. Saner policies with far less cost and risk for the long-term defence of Australia would free up perhaps $200 billion for necessary expenditure which would boost Australia’s economy, lift Australia’s transport into the 21st century and immediately improve the lives of many Australians. Geoff Harding, Chatswood
$32 billion for a high-speed rail line between Sydney and the Central Coast seems like an absolute bargain when compared to $358 billion for AUKUS submarines or $331 billion for Dutton’s nuclear power stations that may or may not provide 38 per cent of our power by 2050.
At a fraction of the cost of these “pie in the sky” defence and energy projects, a high-speed rail line would deliver immediate and tangible benefits for millions of Australians, reducing congestion, connecting communities, and boosting regional economies. Malcolm Freak, Armidale
A high-speed rail link is as close a solution to our housing crisis as one could get by being able to decentralise but still easily, quickly and comfortably commute into Sydney for business. Imagine if we didn’t have a Sydney Harbour Bridge because it was too expensive at the time, or a Sydney Opera House or now the hugely popular metro rail system. I’ve paid my taxes to see infrastructure, improvement so just get on with it. Tony Bennett, Broke
It must be January. That old chestnut the east coast high-speed rail link has been dusted off and wheeled out again. If I had a tenner for every time I’ve seen this story, I’d be using my private plane instead of the train. Shane Tremble, Bathurst
There must be an election on the horizon. The high-speed rail link is again on the speaking circuit. Alan Slade, Dover Heights
Dutton late again
Peter Dutton will no longer have to wait for Small Modular Reactors to be invented because Enron, the energy company that went bankrupt, has been relaunched and has created a brand-new product called the Enron Egg that will revolutionise home energy (Letters, January 8). It is the first at-home nuclear reactor that contains an integrated chip which “enables seamless 24/7 monitoring by Enron’s nuclear management facility, ensuring real-time oversight and unparalleled operational safety – anytime, anywhere.” Apparently it will power your home for 10 years straight, and they are taking pre-orders now. It would seem that Peter Dutton’s SMRs have missed the boat. Peter Nash, Fairlight (PS this is satire)
Shaping the future
Your article about the state of the world is welcome and encouraging (“It’s OK, the world’s not going to hell”, January 8). On many measures quoted, such as poverty reduction, medical advances, literacy, access to electricity and education, things have improved. The article says bad news feeds into a pessimism that things can change, and consequentially reduces activism.
Now, then, is the time to improve even more on all these measures and make big strides forward to halt global warming. Yet we have world leaders such as Trump and other right-wing figures such as Peter Dutton trying to put the brakes on these attempts. They stoke fear to enhance their own power. It’s up to us to more clearly see the way forward and work towards a better world for future generations. Jan Marshall, Mona Vale
The world’s not going to hell. Credit: Simon Letch
On one Herald page we have good news with a timely reminder of the global advances in health and living conditions. Countering that, your editorial lists the recent cases of international political interference by the world’s richest man (The Herald’s View, January 8). Add Trump’s brain farts on invading Panama and Greenland, and you’d have to wonder if 2025 is taking its musical cues from Led Zepp or Acca Dacca. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn
As a happy, healthy 85-year-old who leads an active and productive life, loves their food and enjoys the occasional drink, the thought of living to 100 absolutely fills me with dread. Jo Bond, South Melbourne (Vic)
Thank you, Matt Wade, for reminding us that the world at large is in a better place. Not only is it cooler today, but I feel much more positive! Elly Haynes, Orange
Widening gulf
Mr Trump is correct: the “Gulf of America” does have a ring to it and correctly identifies the gulf between the incoming administration and the rest of the world (“Donald Trump won’t rule out use of military to take control of Greenland, Panama Canal”, smh.com.au, January 8). Stephen Driscoll, Castle Hill
Truth a casualty
I read with deep concern about Meta’s decision to abandon third-party fact-checkers on its platforms (“Meta scraps fact-checking ahead of Trump’s second term”, smh.com.au, January 8). This move, while framed as a rollback of “mission creep,” is nothing short of capitulation to extremism and misinformation. By shifting responsibility for truth to users – many of whom lack the tools, time or objectivity to discern fact from fiction – Meta is opening the floodgates to unchecked lies, harassment, and hate.
This decision reeks of cowardice and represents a wholesale surrender of principles. In an age when disinformation campaigns threaten democracy, trust in science, and the safety of marginalised communities, Meta’s reversal is a gift to bad actors everywhere. Marina Cardillo, Beecroft
Throwing shade
When it comes to the cabana disaster I’m with Albo (“PM weighs in on beach cabana drama”, January 8). The sun protection they offer is no more than a large beach umbrella, but unlike the lower umbrella, the shade they produce, apart from when the sun is directly overhead, is way outside the cabana’s footprint. So we have the cabana plus its shade, hogging huge swaths of the sand and spoiling the beach experience for others. As to the stability of cabanas over umbrellas, I am willing to share my guaranteed quick and easy dig and twist method with anyone who wants to trade up from a cabana to the kinder and more practical umbrella. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga
Cabanageddon.Credit: Cathy Wilcox
I read that the PM thinks that the use of cabanas to secure beach spots might be “unAustralian”. One might argue that arriving at a beach and claiming land that isn’t yours is very Australian indeed. Tim Parker, Balmain
Only one question remains – will there be a ban on cabanas at Copacabana Beach on the Central Coast? Ray Hood, Illawong
Testing experience
I too remember my driving test (Letters, January 8). Aged 17, Leaving Certificate just completed, I drove there with my dad in his Humber Hawk – only to find I had driven all the way with the handbrake still on! My sainted father overcame his frustration to calm me and wish me well. And yes, I passed. Carol Bailey, Point Frederick
Timeless words
A malapropism from Abbott seems an appropriate addition to the National Film and Sound Archive, but an absolute must should be the wonderful speech on misogyny given by Julia Gillard in response to Abbott’s disgraceful utterances at the time (Letters, January 8). Meg Vella, Wentworth Falls
High fees warrant high-profile
The head of the Association of Independent Schools NSW, Margery Evans, may have her statistics correct (Letters, January 8), but as Clive and Myra Hamilton point out in The Privileged Few, increasing elite privilege causes widespread harm to our society. The authors demonstrate the vital role played by high-fee private schools in creating the micro-politics underpinning the privilege which leads to inequality in the distribution of economic, social, cultural and political capital; the very basis of how we are governed, how we earn our income and live our lives as a community. Education should focus on developing the individual capacity to maximise the personal good but not at the expense of the public good. This is exactly why the media focus on high-fee schools is warranted. Trevor Wootten, Petersham
Private v public schoolsCredit: Andrew Dyson
What Evans fails to address is the increasing segregation in our education system – which she calls choice. While our performance in international rankings continues to fall, Australian governments over the past 30 years have decimated our once outstanding comprehensive school system. The expansion of selective schools and low-fee, mostly religious, schools have created divisions within communities once held together by their local schools. In addition, children travelling great distances to reach a school of choice adds to our overstretched transport system where many could walk or ride to their local school. If fear of missing out or a need to be with a certain faith group is what is driving this trend then I have great concern for the future of our country. What a shame we do not have a system like Finland, where all children are educated at their local comprehensive school. A system that continues to rank much higher than Australia on the world stage. Robyn Thomas, Wahroonga
There has always been a demand in this country for school choice. Before Menzies began funding Catholic schools, they were very basic, poorly resourced and run by the teaching orders of nuns and priests, but that didn’t stop many parents wanting their children to attend them. Whether it be the desire for social status attached to attending a GPS school and giving your child the ability to reap the rewards in later life of the “old school tie” network, or to simply have her or him taught in a system sympathetic to your religious values, private schools will continue to be favoured by some. This is nothing new; it never did have much to do with academic results. To this end, grandparents will always be willing to support this choice when they know the school will suit the child and the values and aspirations of the family. If this phenomenon is increasing, it is an indication of greater wealth in today’s families. Lyndall Nelson, Goulburn
Evans fails to acknowledge that over the 15 years since Gonski recommended that all government schools receive full Schooling Resource Standard funding, public schools across Australia have failed to receive the billions of dollars due to them each year. She fails to state whether her association supports immediate, retrospective payment to the states of all the unpaid Gonski funds that public schools are morally entitled to from years past. Politicians of both major parties have failed abysmally in sticking to commitments to fully implement Gonski’s advice for all public students, going back to Julia Gillard’s government. Pity the poor public school kids. Kevin Farrell, Beelbangera
For generations, the mantra has been leaving our children a better life than ours so if grandparents have a nest egg when grandkids appear – with private school attendance growing by 20 per cent in the last 50 years – why not book them in? And let’s not pretend elitism and the old school tie don’t exist. Similarly, governments have long trumpeted achieving a better and fairer education system, but fearing being fatally smeared as socialists they ignore Gonski and standards keep falling. Over to you, nan and pop. Peter Farmer, Northbridge
Hammer the root cause
The prime minister has defended his plan to deliver 1.2 million homes by 2029 (“Crunch in building approvals sounds warning for Australia’s housing crisis”, smh.com.au, January 8). However, the facts get in the way. If the PM were serious about addressing Australia’s housing problem, he would attack the matter at its root cause – affordability. We know why housing has become unaffordable; that was reinforced by the release of the 2004 Coalition government cabinet papers. Until the causes are addressed we will remain barking into the wind. No politician wants to announce large-scale tax reform going into an election year (with the exception of independent MP Allegra Spender), but until we address that elephant in the room nothing will change despite the allocation of illusory funds and the accompanying rhetoric. Chris Rivers, Port Macquarie
Big Bash tests patience
Some of Australia’s Test cricketers are to play in Big Bash matches before the Sri Lanka tour (“Hazlewood set to miss Sri Lanka tour as Test stars’ BBL availability revealed”, January 8), but for what gain? Test cricket requires patience, resoluteness and resilience amidst cricket’s vicissitudes. The Big Bash, frenetic in name and nature, cannot develop these qualities. Paul Casey, Callala Bay
Josh Hazlewood Credit: AP
Top chocs drop
Hopefully, the restoration of the Olympia milk bar will see a return of my favourite chocolate bar, the Cadbury Whip, and some Wagon Wheels and Mint Patties (the current ones are suffering from acute shrinkflation) (“Nod to nostalgia: Plans to restore Sydney’s historic Olympia milk bar”, January 8).
Graeme Milton, Dulwich Hill
Public housing truth
As a nearby resident to Riverwood, I feel compelled to defend this suburb from its recent ravaging (Letters, January 8). Riverwood has much high-rise and public housing. Maybe the romantic name of Riverwood has conjured mystical images of a meandering river flowing below idyllic green woods occupied by a bunch of highfalutin’ NIMBYs. Nothing could be further from the truth. Mark Nugent, Lugarno
Ian Chan, Hunters Hill does have public housing and I would gladly provide a tour. We could start with the appropriately named Blandville Court on Victoria Road, a seven-storey building that reflects its name. Peer at the three-storey walk-ups on Pittwater Road and finally arrive at Mornington Court, another multi-level building overlooking Lane Cove River. All these apartments provide accommodation for more than 200 families. Not bad for the smallest municipality in NSW. Rodney Crute, Hunters Hill
Global travel burnout
The baggage associated with international travel weighs heavily (“Global tourism is at a crossroads”, January 8). The guilt linked to the excess emissions when flying now coupled with the realisation that hotspot destinations are in meltdown. Global roaming, global warming, it seems we’re destined to wear out our welcome on this glorious planet. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill
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