Policy terrorist Nationals must go their own way

2 hours ago 3

The Nationals repeatedly hold the Liberals hostage when it comes to significant policy issues, and it’s time for Sussan Ley to stop it (“The Libs are heading for less than (net) zero”, November 5). The Nats know full well if they declare their hand first, then the Liberals either reluctantly go along, or the Coalition is destroyed. It’s policy terrorism. Well, the time has come to call the bluff. Let the Nats go their own way, and the Liberals will be free to contest National Party seats at the next election. Stop treating climate change as some kind of social issue like welfare or employment law. The science is clear. The evidence that climate change is real and caused by humans burning fossil fuels is indisputable. Brendan Jones, Annandale

It is difficult to join those sympathising with Sussan Ley (Letters, November 5). Yes, she is on a hiding to nothing as leader of the Liberal Party. However, she actively sought and campaigned for the leadership despite being aware of a voluble right-wing group within the party. In addition, she could not have been caught by surprise by the conflict and chaos driven by the Nationals. Amid this dysfunction, Ley has made some unfortunate statements herself. So while I agree she has a difficult job, I don’t feel pity for her. Pia Deans, Lyneham (ACT)

Ley has little to lose by maintaining net zero targets. The Nationals clearly think a win at the next federal election isn’t on the cards, so they are happy to just disrupt. But I suspect once there is a ministerial position in the offing, National Party politicians are sure to become more collaborative and policy flexible. Jill Napier, Phegans Bay

No matter what might be said about “glass ceilings” being demolished, Sussan Ley has come up against the common one here in Australia – that men do not want a woman in charge in politics. Just think back to the vicious attacks on Julia Gillard. They obviously think it would be better to have a blustering or smooth-talking man than a woman boss. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

Will Australian primary producers still have buyers of their produce if we abandon our commitment to net zero? It is my understanding that international governments that aspire to net zero will impose tariffs on imports from countries that are not committed to the target. Gerard Bryce, Ashfield

Eyes have it

I loved the photo of Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor sitting in parliament with MP Colin Boyce in front of them looking through binoculars (“Contenders share Thai meal as Ley’s position tested”, November 5). Is he seeing a bigger, brighter future for Australia? Given he’s part of the Coalition, it’s probably more likely he’s looking through them backwards. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

Liberal National MP Colin Boyce uses his binoculars in the House of Representatives.

Was the gentleman sitting in front of Hastie and Taylor watching the Cup? Alan Wells, Farmborough Heights

Education over AUKUS

Instead of spending billions on AUKUS and nuclear-powered submarines that may never arrive, shouldn’t we increase public funding for universities so they do not have to rely so much on international students (“Sydney Uni admits thousands of extra overseas students”, November 5)? It’s alarming to read of students’ poor learning experiences at our top universities, which, combined with high fees and inadequate rental accommodation, might ultimately dissuade young people from higher education. With the rise of social media-driven populism, now more than ever, we need an excellent education system to encourage critical thinking. An emphasis on military funding doesn’t seem to have improved America’s critical thinking, which seems sadly lacking at present. Alison Stewart, Riverview

The right to die

If an aged care home is the chosen residence of a person, the facility has no right to restrict a person’s access to voluntary assisted dying or any other service that would normally be available to that person in their home (“I’m 86 – this bill to restrict voluntary assisted dying is cruel and callous”, November 5). This bill is unconstitutional; it goes against the Aged Care Act; and it demonstrates clearly that MLC Susan Carter and the other co-sponsors care more about those to whom they are beholden than the people they are supposed to represent. Rose Bird, Woy Woy

This is a cruel bill indeed. I agree with Jill Nash that Susan Carter’s proposed amendment to our voluntary assisted dying law could only cause unnecessary distress. Voluntary assisted dying is already a 10-step process and the amendment would require a frail, aged resident to move in and out of their home up to seven times within their last months of life. Heartless. Stephanie Short, Woy Woy

Jill Nash eloquently illustrates how politicians can be so out of touch with the realities of aged care. Susan Carter clearly has no experience with the majority of families who seek affordable aged care solutions that provide support and care, and hopefully physical proximity to a supporting family. As Nash says, choice is an illusion. The least we can do is give our older citizens some security once this final home has been chosen. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Thank you, Jill Nash, for setting out so clearly the impact of this heartless bill, which serves only the interests of religious institutions that accept our taxpayer dollars (and huge tax exemptions) to run these facilities, but now wish to restrict access for the most vulnerable. Hardly very Christian. Tess Ashton, Willoughby

Susan Carter has proposed an amendment to the voluntary assisted dying law.

The irony that religious-run aged care facilities are the ones wanting to deny the care and compassion that their own religions promote is bleedingly ironic. We need more rights for the elderly, not fewer, as one day we, too, most likely will be in this very same position. Rob Keldoulis, Bondi

Jill Nash has set out in clear terms how cruel it would be to restrict access to voluntary assisted dying for aged care residents. Carter and her 13 co-sponsors obviously have no idea how hard it is in the regions to snaffle an aged care bed at all within cooee of home and family. Now they suggest we find an aged care facility with a compliant hospital nearby that would be happy to run a voluntary assisted dying shuttle service. Why such cruelty? Judith Fleming, Sawtell

I live in a rural area. I know there is no real choice of what care facility the less well-off elderly are placed in. They have to take what they are given. Many of our local care homes are run by religious institutions. If the current private members’ bill attempting to give care homes the right to deny voluntary assisted dying on religious grounds goes through, it is a total denial of the current law. Rosie Kaplan, Lennox Head

Rainbow reminder

We should not forget that 40 years ago, the French government’s secret service blew up and sank Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour for protesting against French nuclear tests in the Pacific (“Risk of foreign-ordered killings on our soil: ASIO”, November 5). There will always be foreign governments we may not like and who would seek to silence opposition, but surely the best way to be safe at home would not be to fear the world, but rather to make sure our society stays fair, decent and democratic. Colin Hesse, Nowra

War crimes

Your correspondents claim that the Israeli Defence Forces are committing war crimes in Gaza, despite warning of any planned attacks (Letters, November 5). They should be reminded that none of the enemies of Israel provide advance notice when they shoot rockets at Israel. When Israelis hear the rockets, they retreat into bomb shelters below their apartments, or go into safe rooms within the apartments. Your correspondents seem to forget that beneath Gaza lies a sophisticated tunnel system, built to withstand heavy bombings. In any civilised society, the citizenry would be ordered to go into the tunnels for protection when a bombing was imminent, as occurred during World War II when Londoners retreated into the underground rail system. However, I do not recall in the two years of the bombing of Gaza that these tunnels were made available to anyone other than Hamas. Just imagine how many lives would have been saved if they had been. But then that would not suit the narrative that has been so cleverly developed by Hamas, and perpetuated by your correspondents. Dennis Bluth, Cammeray

Shane Shmuel claims that warning civilians before a bombing attack works (Letters, November 5). If that is true, how does he account for the best part of 70,000 Palestinian deaths? How many were terrorists? Dennis Fardy, Warriewood

Peace image tainted

In the same week that Sydney welcomes South African judge Navay Pillay for the venerated Sydney Peace Prize, Premier Chris Minns uses the public purse to sponsor the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition at Darling Harbour (“Protest at major defence expo in Sydney”, November 5). And instead of a move that is long overdue – extricating ourselves from our complicity in the mass killing of Palestinians by ceasing to provide parts for Israel’s F35s – we denigrate our reputations and sense of decency and self-worth further. Catherine Hartley, Petersham

Nature’s window

Fortunately, I didn’t need BOM to let me know that Sydney was in for Monday’s almighty storm (“Two images portray the same storm amid confusion over BoM upgrade”, November 5). From my fourth-floor apartment, the bird’s-eye view across the treetops to the Blue Mountains provides me with a reliable and spectacular forecast of Mother Nature’s weather. The sight of the dark, threatening cumulonimbus clouds closing in, the eerie silence of the birds and the gusty winds heralded the fierce storm that was about to engulf Sydney. No update or software patch needed. Elizabeth Maher, Gordon

Looking east from Kirribilli as Monday’s storm goes out to sea.

Tautology of the week award must surely go to the Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson who said “Radar images … provide situational awareness of the current situation”. Edward Grieve, Woolloomooloo

Timely tactics

While raising three boys and a girl in the ’80s, it was never acceptable for any of them to touch each other with the intent to hurt. Quick consequences of “time out” in their bedroom was always a good reminder. They have grown into fine, young adults who have never used physical means to win an argument or solve a dispute. Education in the home and reinforcement at school and in the community is a good approach, and hopefully a long-term solution to domestic violence (Letters, November 5). Barbara Tregear, Ashfield

Big car selfishness

Australia doesn’t need more big cars and utes. Standard parking spaces are not big enough to accommodate them, so their front or rear ends often impinge on the already narrow spaces other cars must negotiate to enter or leave car parks (“Big car drivers ignore risks for comfort and space”, November 5). When on the road, or parked parallel to the road, they are impossible to see around, which can lead to accidents. They also use more fuel, adding to carbon and micro-particle pollution. People may feel safe and “above the fray” when they drive these monsters, but what about all the other road users? I’ve always felt that if you have three children over six feet tall and they all play the double bass, an SUV is a good option. Otherwise, I do not see the point. Gerianne Rudd, Toowong (Qld)

Power-sharing

Joseph Ting is upset that others will be getting access to his otherwise unused solar power under the scheme for three free hours, describing it as robbing Peter to pay Paul (Letters, November 5). But in what way is Peter being robbed? The scheme doesn’t cost him a cent. It just uses power that is otherwise wasted during the day. This kind of “what’s in it for me” thinking is exactly the opposite of how we need to be in the new world of power-sharing. Andrew Taubman, Queens Park

Your correspondent has a short-sighted and self-interested view of renewable energy. He appears unable to perceive the more general and indeed worldwide benefit that would flow from better utilisation of available solar power. Personally, as someone whose system can produce over 8kW in the middle of the day but whose feed-in to the grid is limited to 5kW, I am more than happy for the government to take any steps that would allow better use of the excess renewable energy that is currently going to waste. John Croker, Woonona

Alan Stanley has got it wrong in saying solar or wind could consistently supply enough power to run an aluminium smelter such as Tomago (Letters, November 5). This is a 24/7 operation. Solar cannot supply this and the batteries needed would be so large you could never have enough. The big battery in Adelaide could supply Tomago, which uses 900MW a day, for about 10 minutes. There is only one answer for Tomago, and that is reliable base-load power generated by coal, gas, or nuclear. Terry Cook, Ermington

Zohran Mamdani successfully reached out to the normally reticent younger voter.

Hope for democracy

To be called a communist by the Prince of Hyperbole, Donald Trump, is a badge of honour as “radical, left-wing lunatic” is the customary epithet for his adversaries (“Trump meddles in New York mayoral poll,” November 5). The new socialist mayor of New York city, Zohran Mamdani, is everything the president is not – young, intelligent, articulate, multilingual, a climate change advocate and the holder of a host of progressive ideas. Could his election be the first sign that America First and narrow isolationism is making way for the return of America as a truly democratic nation once again admired and respected? Bernard Moylan, Bronte

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