Violence crisis demands urgent response

Violence against women is nether absorption yet again – thing that ne'er seems to alteration (“The cruel twist of destiny that fto an accused slayer locomotion free”, April 25). The information that women cannot lick the occupation is astatine slightest being recognised – they are not the ones being violent. But 1 societal country that hasn’t been focused connected yet is the contented of modelling. In the mode parliamentarians behave and speech – question clip being 1 example, uncovering responsibility and being antagonistic towards different points of presumption is different – deficiency of tolerance is excessively apparent. Then determination is the adoration towards sports wherever terrible carnal interaction is rife – conscionable perceive to commentators. Our nine is successful request of readjustment. Leigh Allen, Hawks Nest

The large divide.Credit: Cathy Wilcox

Police argued that alleged murderer Billings made threats against his erstwhile spouse and posed a risk. This thought that you tin ne'er foretell aboriginal behaviour is existent to a point. However, unless and until there’s immoderate signifier of intervention, the champion indicator we person for predicting aboriginal behaviour is looking intimately astatine pertinent past behaviour. Ignoring these immense reddish flags, successful this case, was catastrophic. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne

It is clip for the courts to instrumentality the recommendations of constabulary regarding bail approvals overmuch much seriously. The constabulary are precise overmuch alert of who the transgression and deranged persons successful nine are and the level of menace they pose. This is the task they look connected a regular basis. Magistrates and tribunal officers whitethorn beryllium dealing with the offender for the archetypal clip oregon without afloat knowing of the circumstances successful which the offender is involved. It is acold amended to err connected the broadside of caution than to hazard the lives of others. Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest

I person been wondering conscionable what it volition instrumentality to mobilise each Australians to halt the endless unit against women. And this should not lone see home violence, arsenic the connection “domestic” seems to promote thoughts that this is simply a backstage matter and truthful retired of our hands, but each those killings of women who bash not cognize their attacker. Just arsenic successful Peter FitzSimons’ heartfelt nonfiction wherever helium “rages against the dying of their light” successful notation to the deaths of the Diggers, I rage against the dying of the airy of truthful galore women astatine the hands of men, twelvemonth aft twelvemonth aft year. I ask, with each spot arsenic overmuch passionateness arsenic Peter does, wherever is the rage? Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic)

Molly Ticehurst’s execution is different senseless enactment that mightiness person been prevented by stiffer bail laws for imaginable AVO offenders arsenic suggested by Geoffrey Watson (“Civil liberties whitethorn person to spell to support women safe”, April 25). If we tin use idiosyncratic trackers to cause dealers, past surely we tin use them to stalkers of women who are threatening oregon abusive. Jealousy tin beryllium a rage that is constant, overwhelming motivation reasoning and toothless AVOs, arsenic evidenced by the continued murders of guiltless women. Personal trackers are, astatine the precise least, an effectual deterrent that tin assistance our constabulary successful limiting these types of murders. Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge

Rage and remembrance

World War I is present a byword for senseless slaughter, and Paul Keating and Peter FitzSimons aren’t the archetypal Australians to proclaim their rage astatine countrymen being thrown into that maelstrom (“Lots said connected solemn day, but where’s the rage?”, April 25). The rage has simmered successful the Australian psyche for implicit a century, reinforced by a akin cognition during World War II. We were ever “other” successful the eyes of callous, incompetent British commanders. Our 60,000 casualties, overwhelmingly young men, outgo america possibly 2 cardinal years successful presumption of productive lives mislaid - not counting the grief and trauma. Nation-building present would person looked precise different, peculiarly successful our agrarian communities. We pieced unneurotic a nationalist fable retired of tragedy. Nevertheless, the astir enduring bequest should beryllium utter abhorrence of war. Margaret Johnston, Paddington

There is nary uncertainty that Australia owes a immense indebtedness of gratitude to the soldiers who fought, were injured oregon sadly died connected the Kokoda Trail successful Papua New Guinea during World War II. However, the PNG locals, nicknamed the “fuzzy-wuzzy angels” by the soldiers, person to beryllium remembered and honoured, too. Many acted arsenic porters, moving with the soldiers carrying provisions and ammunition and arsenic stretcher-bearers for the wounded and deceased. If not for their assistance and dedication to the soldiers, the conflict result whitethorn person been different. During Anzac Day commemorations, their work needs to beryllium recognised. Alan Leitch, Austins Ferry (Tas)

Papuan bearers (nicknamed the fuzzy-wuzzy angels) transportation an Australian casualty done heavy jungle astatine Eora Creek, 1942.Credit: Australian War Memorial

Peter FitzSimons eloquently expresses what truthful galore of america cognize astir World War I. He besides states that overmuch of the origin of this carnage lies astatine the feet of the British generals, who had scant respect for quality beingness and were prepared to sacrifice the lives of “lower class” and “colonial” soldiers whom they regarded arsenic expendable. There is besides a not-so-subtle excavation astatine the monarchists among america who persist successful kowtowing to that strategy of privilege and birthright that allowed this short-sighted and ill-conceived shambles to happen. Like galore Australians, I had galore household members who were killed, wounded oregon emotionally damaged due to the fact that of war. Their sacrifice should beryllium honoured by having an Australian caput of state. We beryllium it to their representation to turn up and marque our ain decisions. Robert Hickey, Green Point

Peter FitzSimons should beryllium thanked for his nonfiction connected rage arsenic a missing emotion connected Anzac Day. It’s unlikely, arsenic radical who debunk nationalist myths are seldom praised. Even a cursory speechmaking of the past of World War I makes wide that it was a onshore drawback by the large powers, facilitated by planetary alliances, and legitimated by the conception that warfare was an acceptable hold of overseas policy. The carnage FitzSimons documents was exacerbated by disastrous subject leadership, fuelled successful portion by notions of the expendability of working-class lives. No 1 wants to deliberation that household members mislaid their lives unnecessarily, but successful narration to that war, determination is lone 1 dreadful conclusion. Bruce King, Rushcutters Bay

Might not the ghosts, stirring arsenic they bash connected Anzac Day, successful marked and unmarked graves each implicit the world, look to Peter FitzSimons rising successful choler connected their behalf, convey him but mildly spot their fingers connected his shoulders to spot him again? Might not they explicate that anger’s champion mates are rage, hatred and violence? They surely volition exhort Peter to question retired Lord Kitchener’s descendants, forgive them and inquire america with quiescent determination to resoluteness successful honour of the ideology they gave their lives for, that it ne'er happens again. Lest we forget. James Smith, Manly

The sheer madness and utter disregard for quality lives by those who program and enactment warfare arsenic a mode to resoluteness struggle is erstwhile again truthful intelligibly written astir by Peter FitzSimons. Our quiescent tears, respectful silences, contemplation and honouring of work springiness america moments of reflection and sometimes tears. But Peter is right. Where is the rage implicit the useless slaughter of truthful galore based connected decisions made by truthful few? Ukraine and Gaza are stark examples of either an unspeakable archetypal fearfulness oregon a perceived oregon existent question of sovereignty that person ignited wars that we thought were unimaginable. Humans person an tremendous capableness for creativity and kindness but our capableness for demolition of different humans connected the standard we bash seems endless. How we collectively nonstop our rage volition beryllium connected however we truly worth our shared past and our future. Anne Skates, Bomaderry

War lingers successful our household done my grandfather, begetter and brother, each of whom suffered the fearfulness of the battlefield. My gramps died astatine property 62 erstwhile I was 7, a gentle, benignant antheral harbouring carnal wounded and the astir horrid memories of the Western Front. My begetter had a implicit breakdown 10 years aft World War II, helium ranged betwixt affable and violent. I recovered retired successful the 1990s that helium carried the assemblage parts of his champion person to the infirmary aft a kamikaze onslaught connected his ship. My member undergoes continual attraction for warfare neurosis arsenic a Vietnam veteran, plucked from normality by conscription. Lest we hide those “hard lessons”. Brian Jones, Leura

We indispensable bash amended with nationalist lodging

I was surviving successful Milsons Point erstwhile the authorities announced the Sirius gathering was to beryllium sold disconnected (Letters, April 24). I person ne'er forgotten the day I walked implicit to Kirribilli conscionable aft 1 of the Sirius residents had jumped disconnected the Harbour Bridge and landed connected the footpath. He had walked crossed the span to inquire if determination was immoderate accommodation successful the Greenway gathering (public housing) successful Kirribilli. He was told determination wasn’t. In the fewer 100 metres betwixt the Greenway and the span helium indispensable person decided determination were nary options left. We indispensable beryllium capable to bash amended with nationalist housing. Gordon Walker, Lane Cove

The redevelopment of the Sirius gathering nears completion.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Martin indispensable look the music

Why is the punishment for the nasty behaviour of this misogynist, Taylor Martin, truthful lenient? (“In nationalist life, immoderate backstage failings tin beryllium overlooked. But this MP should resign”, April 25). Being expelled from one’s enactment mightiness dependable serious, but does this mean that helium inactive collects the aforesaid salary, answers to nary 1 and sits a fewer metres distant connected the crossbench? I americium definite that the Liberal voters who enactment him into the Senate bash not o.k. of his behaviour and, similar me, cannot recognize however helium gets to stay. It’s clip for him to resign from parliament and judge the consequences of his actions.
Lorraine Hickey, Green Point

Two pollies are amended than one

I deliberation having 2 politicians job-sharing successful 1 electorate is simply a bully thought (Letters, April 25). When 1 is lying drunk connected the footpath, the different tin beryllium successful the House, doing a due occupation soberly representing their people. They tin instrumentality it successful turns if they wish. A amended thought would beryllium a booze prohibition similar each different workplace, and past the sleaze mightiness diminish. John Burman, Port Macquarie

Tull babe ban

Just a outcry retired to John Brown’s missive regarding the Jethro Tull performance astatine the Hordern Pavilion successful 1972 (Letters, April 25). I retrieve the performance well; Ian Anderson came connected signifier and refused to play until the kid was removed. No 1 blinked an oculus astatine his request. However, nary babe receptor muffs successful 1972. Janice Hull, Katoomba

Double whammy

One origin attributed to the emergence of ostentation has been the summation successful backstage schoolhouse fees (“Chalmers high-wire enactment conscionable got much difficult”, April 25). Not lone are my taxation dollars being utilized to subsidise backstage schools portion authorities schools stay underfunded, but I besides wage via inflated prices astatine the checkout. John Bailey, Canterbury

Antediluvian cognition whitethorn apprehension Nats’ ambitions

The Nats’ unholy confederation with the Libs is coming location to roost (“Nats stance rules retired Paris targets”, April 25). Their paradoxical relationship: symbiotic due to the fact that each enactment needs the different to person immoderate accidental astatine forming a government, but parasitic due to the fact that 1 tin destruct the other’s chances, is exposed astir brightly successful their interior conflict against clime action. If the Coalition walks distant from the Paris Agreement, they tin accidental goodbye to immoderate accidental of being successful power. Will the Nats proceed successful their antediluvian cognition to renewable vigor adjacent though it mightiness awesome an extremity to their governmental ambitions? Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic)

A aboriginal Coalition authorities would locomotion distant from the Paris Agreement, making america 1 of 5 nations unwilling to prosecute it. Taking enactment to bounds the now-lived acquisition of clime alteration is perceived arsenic being much fashionable successful metropolitan seats. Yet, those successful determination areas are experiencing the carnal effects of clime extremes. Are the realities of a caller breed of fire, monolithic deluges of rain, and the resultant harm bills and uninsurability convincing capable for Nationals enactment members to recognise the request to hasten rapidly successful the modulation to renewables? I fervently anticipation so, for each our sakes. Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale

Artefacts’ instrumentality brings hope

How heartening to work astir the instrumentality of the Gweagal spears aft 250 years (“Aboriginal spears taken by Cook to beryllium returned home”, April 25). As the rubric of the communicative suggests, “home”, and each that that connection signifies, is the point. In the 1960s, my household recovered a boondi (a club) mysteriously walled up successful our laundry successful Cootamundra. We kept it for decades, but upon learning from a First Nations’ person that culturally, it should person been buried with the warrior who erstwhile owned it and whose “essence” spiritually was successful the boondi, we gave it to a Keeping Place tally by the Aboriginal Heritage Office. There are respective Keeping Places successful NSW that volition person Aboriginal taste objects. Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park

La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council chairwoman Noeleen Timbery.Credit: Hans van Leeuwen

I americium pleased that, by collecting the weapons thrown astatine them connected Captain Cook’s epic voyage of discovery, valuing their taste value and preserving them truthful carefully, my taste forebears paid respect to the Gweagal radical of Kamay-Botany Bay. And I americium pleased that, fixed it seems that determination are nary akin weapons oregon taste items that person been preserved locally since that time, they volition bring spiritual joyousness to the descendants of those peoples. But astir of all, I americium pleased by (La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council’s) Noeleen Timbery’s honesty successful saying that “had they not been taken distant and been cautiously preserved and cared for by Trinity College and the depository here, we wouldn’t beryllium capable to link to them today,” erstwhile galore others conscionable speech astir artefacts being “stolen”. Such honesty spoken by Indigenous radical astir themselves is simply a portion of the instauration for existent reconciliation. Peter Thornton, Killara

Beige isn’t Taylor-made

Reviewer James Jennings thought James Taylor’s performance was “beige” but conceded that the “grandparents” successful the assemblage liked it (“Beige marque of brushed stone is inactive grandparent-pleasing”, April 25). All the songs we loved, large backing vocals, an fantabulous band, the lone negatives being Taylor’s dependable (suffering from overuse) and an unnecessary airy show. Of course, we liked it. It was lone “beige” for non-fans – lone 1 of whom seems to person been successful the audience. Bronwyn Bryceson, Mangerton

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