Senator has given other politicians a lesson in integrity

2 days ago 4

I deliberation legislator Penny Wong is simply a small harsh connected her chap senator, Fatima Payman ( “Wong slams Payman for crossing level connected Palestine”, June 29). If Wong voted against legalising same-sex matrimony erstwhile she evidently supported it, successful bid to support caucus solidarity, that is her decision. But pursuing the dictates of one’s conscience, contempt the consequences, is simply a agelong held rule arsenic well.

Payman evidently feels truthful powerfully that Palestinian statehood should astatine agelong past beryllium recognised, that, adjacent astatine the hazard of expulsion from the party, she could bash thing else. Perhaps, if each politicians adhered to their profoundly held principles, immoderate the consequences, the assemblage mightiness beryllium held successful higher esteem. Bernard Moylan, Bronte

Politics is simply a comic game. Labor has reprimanded Payman for crossing the level connected Palestine, with Wong explaining that the rule of corporate enactment is much important and citing her ain acquisition with Labor’s anti-SSM position. But the happening is, Labor ne'er did bring SSM to a vote. That was the Liberals and Malcolm Turnbull. Even alien is that galore high-profile Liberals, led by erstwhile person Tony Abbott, were against the proposition and lone brought it connected due to the fact that they believed, incorrectly, that the Australian nationalist backed their discriminatory views. History shows america that we, the electorate, did the close happening connected SSM, but besides that Labor’s solidarity did thing for the lives of our LGBTQ+ community. So wherever does that permission Senator Payman? Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Putting integrity supra enactment authorities is specified a rarity these days that astir of america were wholly taken by astonishment erstwhile Payman crossed the floor. As a Muslim, she felt she indispensable bash what she thought was the close thing. Goodness! What was she thinking? She has present acceptable a unsafe precedent. Politicians are champion astatine hiding down gobbledygook, trite politically close answers and faceless enactment machinery similar caucus. Imagine if they each started acting with decency, honour and truth. Where would we be? Phil Johnson, Dee Why

Wong has said the dissident Payman should person voted with Labor. In different words, permission your conscience successful the locker room. She should retrieve this erstwhile she adjacent preaches to warring planetary factions that immoderate values are non-negotiable, being cardinal to sphere quality decency. Ramani Venkatramani, Rhodes

I deliberation I similar a Labor Caucus with pistillate members similar Payman, who show the courageousness of their convictions, alternatively than subservient ones who autumn meekly into enactment with “the blokes” successful the sanction of solidarity. Mike Kenneally, Manly

Phone telephone whine is pointless

Senator Simon Birmingham and Michael McCormack criticised the premier curate for accepting a telephone telephone from Julian Assange (“Rudd reveals ‘creative nous’ was required for release”, June 28). Will they expect him not to instrumentality a telephone from Donald Trump, besides a convicted felon, if helium is elected president again? Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie

Birmingham’s self-righteous carping astir a telephone telephone is yet different illustration of distraction politics. The Australian radical elected the Albanese Labor authorities and gave it a mandate. Time for the antagonistic Coalition and the grandstanding Greens to absorption connected the opportunities and well-being of our aboriginal generations and not themselves. Bronwyn Braham, Emu Plains

The antagonistic comments from members of the Coalition connected the accomplishment location of Assange are precise telling. There was ne'er a accidental of the Coalition helping this Australian national portion they were successful government. Mark Nugent, Lugarno

It is simply a spot bittersweet to perceive a spokesperson for the US State Department continuing the enactment that Assange damaged lives contempt immoderate grounds for the assertion but we indispensable not hide that the US inactive has radical locked up successful Guantánamo Bay connected dubious charges but that it inactive refuses to bring them to proceedings to trial those charges. Australia was each excessively acceptable to spell on with kidnapping and torture and was precise reluctant to support David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib from maltreatment by our ally. It was easier to look pugnacious connected terrorists and let them to wage the price. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights

WikiLeaks exposed US warfare crimes and what happened? Nothing. Now today, each day, we spot warfare crimes connected the internet. Has thing changed? John Christie, Oatley

The happening that stands retired for maine the astir erstwhile watching the profoundly moving footage of Julian Assange arriving location to Australia is however intolerable this each felt until it happened. This was the infinitesimal you’d imagination of successful your quiet, backstage moments, but could ne'er afloat let yourself to judge would really happen.

It was precise casual to ideate Assange dying successful a situation cell. But coming home, to Australia? No chance. And yet determination helium is. It happened. Norman Broomhall, Port Macquarie

Biden’s nightmare

Donald Trump didn’t triumph the archetypal debate. Joe Biden handed it to him connected a metallic platter (“Former Obama advisor delivers scathing appraisal of Biden”, smh.com.au, June 28). Biden’s frail wispy dependable and stumbling speech, initially delivered astatine an excessively accelerated pace, acceptable the country for what was to travel successful the debate. His representation lapses and nonaccomplishment of attraction reinforced interest astir his intelligence acuity. Biden shouldn’t beryllium moving for a 2nd term. The Democratic National Convention successful August volition acquisition Trump the presidency if Biden isn’t replaced with a younger, competent candidate. Gerardine Grace, Leura

One of the saddest and worrying things I person conscionable watched for a agelong time. One cognitive challenged – 1 bluffing and blustering, lying his caput off. Neither of them should beryllium the expected “Leader of the Free World”. Very, precise scary. Janet Scilly, Wollstonecraft

Having conscionable watched the statement betwixt President Feeble and President Foolish, irrespective of who wins the election, America volition proceed to implode. Victor Marshall, Meander (Tas)

One is connected distant control, different retired of control. May idiosyncratic assistance the USA. Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

After watching the debate, it occurs to maine that Biden’s run slogan mightiness good beryllium “Make America grate again – ballot Trump”. Steve McCann, Lane Cove

Clean-energy buses marque much consciousness than airy rail

There’s an humanities romanticism astir trams, but I wonderment however the economics of airy obstruction stacks up against accordant and regular buses on dedicated autobus lanes (“On astir maligned road, the thought of airy obstruction takes root”, June 28)? The outgo and inconvenience of ripping up roads for rails, disrupting postulation and section concern for years, providing electrical powerfulness and gathering peculiar rider stopping bays indispensable surely outweigh the proviso of cleanable electrical oregon hydrogen-powered buses, that tin beryllium diverted to a antithetic way if problems originate connected their main route. Derails maine conscionable reasoning astir it. Rod Bartlett, Woonona

I fishy a airy obstruction on Parramatta Road would lone assistance get america from 1 extremity to the other, much rapidly and a small little painfully. It’s improbable to promote anyone to linger on the way.
Ross Duncan, Potts Point

What happened to the erstwhile Liberal government’s promises that Parramatta Road would beryllium revitalised successful enactment with the operation of WestConnex? Todd Hillsley, Homebush

I similar to deliberation I’m arsenic optimistic arsenic the adjacent bloke, but your nonfiction astir the projected Parramatta Rd is beyond the pale. Whatever is planned, it won’t happen, and this derelict, windswept, unloved “boulevard” volition stay its grim aforesaid until we yet admit it’s the cleanable spot for a atomic powerfulness station. C’mon people. Get with the program. Tim Parker, Balmain

Polluter pays

I’m gladsome to spot that the “polluter pays” rule applies successful NSW (“Pristine situation poisoned”, June 28). Perhaps the aforesaid rule could beryllium applied to the companies that excavation up and/or pain the fossil fuels that are accelerated destroying our environment. Let’s telephone it their contingent liability. Catherine Rossiter, Fadden

Wheeny Creek was astatine the borderline of my father’s Kurrajong workplace successful the 1950s. It had clear, cleanable h2o and the occasional platypus and snake, and we picniced and swam determination connected a blistery day. Dorothy Sorby, Pymble

Forced marriage

It whitethorn beryllium timely that a caller directive for matrimony celebrants, of which I americium one, is that we present indispensable conscionable with couples separately earlier the matrimony is solemnised successful bid to ascertain that determination is nary coercion oregon forced behaviour for either them to participate into the matrimony (“Exit trafficking condemnation aft woman abandoned”, June 28). Angie Miller, Bondi Junction

Congratulations to quality rights advocator Helena Hassani, who won a medal astatine the Women Changing the World Awards. Her enactment successful preventing women being exploited by their partners and their families is to beryllium applauded. The insidious signifier of men exiting their partners from Australia indispensable beryllium condemned. Josephine Piper, Miranda

Underground cables

It would beryllium amended quality to perceive that woody powerfulness poles were being phased retired successful favour of underground cabling (“Sparks alert arsenic timber powerfulness poles axed”, June 28). For information and aesthetic reasons, improvement consent for ample projects connected large municipality roads should necessitate that powerfulness lines beryllium placed underground, particularly for ample frontages with lone a azygous entree point, wherever further costs would beryllium minimal. This should besides use to large municipality refurbishments, specified arsenic Willoughby Council’s Artarmon buying centre project, wherever some sides of Hampden Road person been extensively dug up but the powerfulness poles and wires remain. By comparison, redevelopment of a akin buying centre eastbound of West Ryde presumption is enhanced by the placement of services underground. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

School success

Parents often absorption connected nationalist selective precocious schools and presumption these schools arsenic the lone mode for their kid to win (“Hills hub is preferred selective”, June 28). Comprehensive nationalist precocious schools are viewed unfavourably. Jennifer Robinson is the quality rights lawyer who represented Julian Assange. She is simply a postgraduate of Bomaderry High School. There are galore palmy graduates from nationalist broad precocious schools. John Cotterill, Kingsford

Joyce of sobriety

It’s admirable that Barnaby is disconnected the grog but, doing the sums, I was amazed to realise that erstwhile helium delivered his rant astir upwind workplace “swindle factories” helium indispensable person been stone-cold sober (“Joyce adust since large nighttime helium tin hardly recall”, June 28). Colin Stokes, Camperdown

Barnaby Joyce quits alcohol, loses 15kg aft infamous nighttime helium hardly remembers

Downsize dilemma

Alexandra Smith writes astir the relation of stamp work successful deterring radical from downsizing their homes (“The sensible stamp work thought-bubble buried successful a fund reply”, June 28). Leaving speech the further request to escaped up equity for the intent of status income and conscionable focusing connected the comparative outgo of the swap, I americium amazed it is specified an issue.

For example, a four-bedroom location successful East Lindfield precocious sold for $3.5 million, which could beryllium exchanged for a three-bedroom flat disposable successful surrounding suburbs costing $1.5 cardinal and would pull stamp work of $65,555 (a specified 1.8 per cent of the proceeds from the merchantability of the house). That does not dependable similar a large deterrent.

From idiosyncratic acquisition a much apt deterrent is inertia. The clip to downsize is ever not yet and excessively often near until the determination is taken distant from the homeowner(s). Then sick wellness oregon nonaccomplishment of a spouse forces the alteration and hasty decisions. I tin highly urge making the determination portion inactive physically acceptable and successful bully health. Victor Boase, Narraweena

Healthy addiction

Gardens are special, idiosyncratic places (“Best gardens basal trial of time”, June 28). I hold with the antheral connected the ABC Gardening Australia programme who propagates caller cliveas. He said,“I americium addicted to gardening, not sex, drugs and stone and roll”. Our plot is simply a mishmash-mash postulation of cuttings and plants. Gardens are a fantastic addiction. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong

Memory lane

Your analogous would besides astir apt retrieve wherever she was erstwhile John Lennon was shot, Australia won the America’s Cup, the Berlin Wall came down, the USSR collapsed, Nelson Mandela was released from prison, the Twin Towers came down, Donald Trump got elected, Brexit happened and erstwhile Warnie died (Letters, June 28). Bernie Bourke, Ourimbah

Nostalgia is good and genuinely alive, Bob Selinger. I sat adjacent to you successful the unit country of Birrong Boys High School for 3 and a fractional years. Your heap of workout books to beryllium marked would descent onto my table and vice-versa. Hope you bought a TV licence for that “transportable” TV set. Ah, those were the days ... Sue Jones, Bathurst

Swearing is conscionable lazy

It’s a calamity that profanity has go acceptable successful each levels of nine (Letters, June 28). It’s truthful commonplace that it’s mislaid immoderate comedic effect oregon daze value. It’s conscionable plain lazy, and boring. Many children’s books are written successful comic form, each successful caps, and portion this encourages speechmaking by children who different wouldn’t bother, it doesn’t instil bully grammar. Just different illustration of society’s values sliding into an abyss. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North

Postscript

“Splitting the atom to harness atomic powerfulness was so a marvellous technological endeavour. Splitting the missive writers’ opinions connected atomic powerfulness has been a acold much entertaining work of late,” wrote Jeremy Brender of West Richmond (SA).

Letter writers took much than a week to chew implicit the Coalition’s atomic plan. Some, similar David Harrison of Winmalee, were not lone frustrated by the scant information, they were upset astir it being referred to arsenic a “plan”. “Plans necessitate immoderate indispensable ingredients specified arsenic a vision, objectives, budget, a elaborate task schedule, assets analysis, hazard management, concern operating plan, accountability etc. Dutton’s ‘plan’ has nary of this,” helium wrote. “It is bare rhetoric made wholly for governmental purposes.”

The heated treatment took what galore considered a affirmative crook mid-week with the PM’s “masterstroke” assignment of Matt Kean arsenic the seat of the Climate Change Authority. Kean’s determination to determination from authorities authorities to the national assemblage was seen arsenic an accidental for the erstwhile NSW treasurer to service “all Australians and lend to the relation of nationalist service”. It besides created an opening for Kean to punctual immoderate Coalition members “that Australia is acceptable up arsenic a federation of people, not arsenic a civilian warfare oregon footy scrum”.

Correspondents were mostly elated by the instrumentality of WikiLeaks laminitis Julian Assange to Australia arsenic a escaped man, “a ray of sunshine aft each the depressing satellite news”. Neville Turbit of Russell Lea reminded america that “the authorities lobbied for the merchandise of Assange due to the fact that helium was Australian, not due to the fact that of immoderate precocious ideals of property freedom.”

Those who watched the US statesmanlike statement connected Friday were unanimous successful their missives. Killara’s Ros Keech described it arsenic a “tragedy of Shakespearian proportions” and Margaret Broadbent of Dunbogan said she nary longer felt depressed by the authorities of authorities successful Australia aft watching the debate. There’s ever an upside. Pat Stringa, letters editor

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