Australia’s wealthy tradition deserves its personal ministry
Hear, hear, Julianne Schultz (“Stage is ready for Australia to have a ministry of tradition”, September 6). To say “Australia is poised to develop a particular cultural uniqueness” is a hopeful and thrilling concept and definitely not one realised by the previous authorities, with its minister for an entire swag of portfolios plus the humanities “tacked onto different ministries”, as Dr Schultz says. The colors and richness of our multicultural society, not simply Indigenous tradition, ought to certainly permit and encourage a vibrant cultural life, represented by a minister for tradition. Deliver it on. Megwenya Matthews, North Turramurra
A devoted statutory physique would possibly make sure the shameful disregard of the humanities group in the course of the pandemic by no means occurs once more. However arguments that tradition serves the nationwide good are narrowly framed to steer governments. They downplay its significance for particular person wellbeing (some nations have a ministry for that, too). Our tradition essentially sustains us, emotionally and spiritually. The great resurgence of Indigenous tradition is a dramatic testimony to that. “Id” is an overused time period however nation constructing begins there, with how we’re empowered when our tradition expresses our full variety. All authorities help pays wealthy dividends. Margaret Johnston, Paddington
Pay extra, get extra
I’d like so as to add my help to the rail union (Letters, September 6). Their claims appear completely cheap to me. Till a couple of years in the past I used to be a daily customer to Sydney from Brisbane, and I used to be very impressed with Sydney’s great rail system. You possibly can flip up at a station at any time and a practice would come alongside fairly quickly – not less than within the space I used to be in. It appears to me that if the state saves cash on their workforce, the lesson is that you just get what you pay for. Clare Rudkin, Barellan Level (Qld)
Dominic Perrottet thinks that person highway prices are the longer term (″Toll revamp might result in highway use prices″, September 6). That’s the form of considering that will shortly make him a premier of the previous.
Denis Goodwin, Dee Why
Premier’s downside
As Coalition members go away the NSW parliament in droves (“NSW Speaker to hitch Liberal Occasion exodus from parliament”, September 6), I observe the premier desires extra girls to face on the subsequent election. Typical. As quickly as issues get a bit troublesome, the bloke palms the onerous work over to the sheilas. Nola Tucker, Kiama
It appears the state authorities is heading for the practice crash to beat all practice crashes. Pleasure Cooksey, Harrington
Joyce’s price reducing ruined Qantas
An fascinating article by Elizabeth Knight (“Joyce isn’t any superhero however Titanium Man tag matches effectively”, September 6). Sure, Alan Joyce was crusing together with good financial administration of the corporate however, like many CEOs, determined to throw loyalty and expertise of staff out the window and transfer to non-public contractors to chop the wages invoice (and train unions a lesson) and make shareholders consider all is effectively. In fact, repeatedly, it has been proven that efficiencies and experience within the fundamental workforce drop dramatically when contracted out, and in an trade that depends on good service to the general public it could possibly have a dramatic impact on the repute of the service supplier. This has already introduced out an apology on service from Mr Joyce, however we’ll now have to attend and see if the “titanium defend” holds sturdy sooner or later. Ken Pares, Forster
Consistent with Alan Joyce’s outsourcing technique to save cash, I provide my providers as new CEO at Qantas for precisely one-Tenth of Mr Joyce’s present pay charge. The fact is the Australian airline below the course of Joyce has destroyed the loyalty proven by prospects and employees over a few years. I look ahead to employees being inspired to speak up the corporate quite than being muzzled in a secretive surroundings. David Goldstein, Balgowlah
We should all endeavour to maintain up with the Jones. Rod Matthews, Melbourne
Isolate the autocrats
Peter Hartcher (“We should stand with the Uighurs”, September 6) omits the plain response in his article. If liberal democracies had a real ethical compass quite than one which factors to probably the most cash, they’d ban all commerce with China. We might not promote them iron ore (resurrect our metal trade), Biden would inform Apple, Tesla, and many others they might not import their merchandise from China, equally the EU and all different true democracies from NZ to South Africa to Canada. They need to additionally minimize off all commerce with Putin’s Russia, Myanmar and all different despotic regimes. Liberal democracies ought to kind a commerce block and exclude all autocratic nations. Pierre Mars, Vaucluse
Bended knees
I suffered a severe knee harm whereas taking part in rugby in 1968 (“ACL research shift focus from surgical options to physio”, September 6). On the time, it was recognized as a medial tear and was handled by physiotherapy. It was by no means the identical, however I used to be in a position to play for quite a few years, albeit not at my greatest. Through the ’90s, it was found that it was certainly a torn ACL, however I declined an operation. At the moment my knee is steady with no signal of arthritis, not like a lot of my contemporaries who’re having knee replacements. Given surgical strategies of the ’60s, the misdiagnosis has in all probability saved my knee and I stay eternally grateful. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne
Go, Nick!
Nick Kyrgios might typically be a jerk, however he’s our jerk and we will study to like him. Everybody loves a prodigal son. But surprisingly he says that, at 27, he thinks he’s too previous to win grand slams, regardless of his opponent in London being 35, and his probably ultimate opponent in New York being 36. Nick, younger man, you could by no means be talked about in the identical breath because the tennis god and gentleman Mr Rod Laver, however you’ve gotten the time and prodigious expertise to sit down subsequent within the Australian pantheon with Emerson, Newcombe and Ken Rosewall, who gained the Australian Open at 37. Go, Nick! Make us proud. Kevin Fell, Cooks Hill
Pathetic pilferers
Having skilled plant theft, I share Jenna Worth’s disgust on the miscreants (“Unhealthy seeds: Plant thieves are the basis of all evil”, September 6). It’s sadly widespread, the thieves are troublesome to catch and expensive to counter. Furthermore, it isn’t all they thieve. A few years in the past, we had all of our entrance backyard photo voltaic lights stolen one night time. After I was staying with my nephew in Yorkshire, he had sizeable crops, rigorously cultivated like Jenna’s, stolen from his entrance yard regardless of it being fenced, whereas, final 12 months, 120 worthwhile crops had been stolen from the brand new army memorial on the Fairbridge Kids’s Park (created in 2020 to commemorate the journeys of youngsters despatched from the UK to Australia) close to Molong. Sure, if caught, these pathetic pilferers must be pruned. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne
I’m such a awful gardener that I as soon as had a plain pot stolen with its plant uprooted and left behind. Matthew Boylan, Leichhardt
Work as artwork
No, “Cash for nothing, get your chicks without spending a dime” (Letters, September 6) was not an advocacy, it was a parody by way of the lens of an atypical employee. Becoming a member of the dots to any energy relationship could be artfully related. Brian Jones, Leura
Sluggish practice coming
Home equipment aren’t meant to final and transport not designed to be quick (Letters, September 6). In 1957, at Wagga, I watched the Russian satellite tv for pc transfer throughout the sky at 27,000 km/h. In about 85minutes, it had orbited Earth as soon as. Quickly after, I caught the previous Albury mail dwelling to Sydney. The practice obtained so far as Junee in about the identical time as Sputnik circled the globe. Since 1957, the practice journey has solely dropped to about an hour. Makes go-slow practice strikes appear a bit pointless. Trevor Somerville, Illawong
Future cities
If work is generally efficient and environment friendly three days per week, why don’t the planners look to the longer term quite than the previous to start out redefining town (“Three-day workplace week might save CBD: productiveness head”, September 6)? Change is inevitable, particularly after we contemplate that, in England, a metropolis was initially outlined by having a cathedral. Craig Duckmanton, Birchgrove
The right way to illustrate
Day after day, we’re handled to amusing and correct commentary by the sensible Cathy Wilcox. Her “The right way to opposition” (Letters, September 6) highlights the negativity of Peter Dutton, Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor. Utilising the Tony Abbott “easy methods to” opposition playbook, they’ve had nothing constructive so as to add (didn’t even hassle turning as much as the roles summit), categorical no new concepts and oppose every part proposed by the federal government. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
One other wonderful cartoon from Wilcox. However calling them the opposition just isn’t appropriate as they’re simply one other small, fringe right-wing celebration. Greg Thompson, Bega
Wilcox’s cheeky cartoon highlights how there’s no controversial button that Dutton gained’t press, no devious undercutting that he gained’t pursue, no purse-lipped tutting he gained’t tut-tut, no whiffy mutton he gained’t attempt to cross off as lamb. Joan Brown, Orange
Stacks of alternate options
There are alternatives that might’ve been thought of for the stacks (Letters, September 6). Syd, Olly and Millie. Or a collection of loud shirts by Christopher O’Doherty, aka Reg Mombassa of Mambo fame. Graeme Milton, Newtown
The digital view
On-line remark from one of many tales that attracted probably the most reader suggestions yesterday on smh.com.au
The gown that spoke louder than phrases
From One other Day: ″Dai Le seems to be proud sporting the Australian flag out of affection for her adopted nation. There are two stars on the sleeves and a Union Jack on the bodice which shall be banished when Australia turns into a republic. Bravo!″
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