We now have an unbelievable PM, actually. Rob Mills, Riverview
Consultants in public service exhausting to justify
The article about the usage of consultants for creating public coverage (“Consultants may help ship higher coverage”, April 4) learn a bit like a business for the continued funnelling of public cash to the author’s sector. I’ve lengthy criticised the lack of expertise, historic information and honed expertise as the general public service has been degraded by successive, principally conservative, governments.
The claimed financial savings disappear into the coffers of consultants, or the work simply doesn’t get finished and the performance of presidency shrinks but once more. However current failures in authorities responses to pure disasters has demonstrated that we want that depth of information, expertise and continuity {that a} correctly funded, skilled, safe public service provides. The article cites the profession prospects and pay ranges attracting shiny minds to the personal sector, with out contemplating that these items used to use to the general public service till conservative governments began their battle on the suppliers of “frank and fearless recommendation” as a result of they typically dislike “frank and fearless”. Nor does it display that the recommendation coming from consultants is best than that from a mature public service. Consultants’ reviews have underpinned a plethora of disputed and discredited authorities tasks. Stein Boddington, St Clair
Little doubt there are good consultants. These with distinctive expertise prepared to jeopardise repeat work by telling you what you don’t wish to hear. However authorities demonstrates repeatedly consultants are used to “validate” selections already made and do work that ought to be core public service expertise, all at larger value. Michael Berg, Randwick
Removed from delivering higher coverage, the usage of consultants in lots of areas of presidency has proved extremely costly, with little or no “after-service” duty. The coverage additionally continues to disclaim native and inside knowledgeable options and progress from inside the establishment. Together with the persevering with follow of privatisation, it’s the reneging of duty by governments which is of constant disgrace.Janice Creenaune, Austinmer
Steven Hamilton makes some legitimate factors, however the usage of consultants is more durable to justify when they’re former workers members employed again at higher value. That’s exactly what occurred when AusAID was merged into DFAT by the Coalition in 2013. Within the following months, a whole lot of skilled AusAID workers took the beneficiant voluntary redundancy funds supplied, and plenty of then labored as consultants for DFAT on packages that value taxpayers as much as twice as a lot. Clay O’Brien, Mosman
Journey and responsibility name to enlist
There could also be particular motives for individuals being ready to combat for his or her nation (“Why combat for a rustic that ignores you?”, April 4) however, in the true world, I imagine the motivation to take up arms is far easier than that. My British-born brother and his mates enlisted in World Struggle II not as a result of they thought their authorities handled them as people or that that they had household and property to guard, however from a way of journey and since they felt that it was their “responsibility”.
Lots of them spent a lot of the battle being starved, overwhelmed and denied medical care as prisoners of the Japanese. My dad and mom deeply mourned their eldest son however, regardless of their grief, they accepted that it had been his responsibility to combat for his adopted nation. Though this contemporary world could have created a extra egocentric technology, there are nonetheless individuals who imagine that citizenship of a rustic carries with it sure inalienable tasks. Derrick Mason, Boorowa
The article lays out a measured, reasoned argument for why youthful Australians discover it exhausting to justify risking their lives for his or her nation. As a person of 57 who’s fortunate sufficient to personal my dwelling, I’m additionally able to admit that below the stewardship of my technology and the one previous, the Australian values so typically touted by the precise, similar to tolerance (a problematic phrase), equality of alternative and entry to justice, have been wilfully degraded, very like the setting that our youth will inherit. And because the authors rightly level out, if the info of our historical past replicate badly on us, then it’s our duty to deal with these info and alter for the higher. Maybe if we “elders” had managed the world with a bit extra of the broader curiosity at coronary heart and fewer of our personal, this query would by no means have arisen. Nevertheless it has, and it’s about time we stopped checking our tremendous balances and grew up. Justin Lowe, Katoomba
Pay up or pay a value
The NSW authorities has “capped”, extra precisely suppressed, its workers’ wages since 2011 (‴Unleashed’: well being workers cleared to stroll off job”, April 4). That is unsustainable. The escalating value of residing has despatched actual wages backwards. Important public sector staff can barely afford to stay in Sydney or the areas. The state authorities has been stalling, attempting to carry again the inevitable. It’s time for the Premier and his ministers to maneuver ahead and are available to the bargaining desk to interact in real negotiations for truthful pay. To do anything is an indication of dangerous religion, which might be met with persevering with industrial unrest.T his concern received’t go away. Holding down wages is appearing as a brake on the economic system. Imposing wage restraint on public sector staff can’t proceed indefinitely. Eleven years is just too lengthy. Time’s up. Glenn Johnson, Leura
Clear-cut victory
In 2007, Michael Towke received a preselection poll 82-8 (“How Towke’s brutal takedown got here again to chunk”, April 4). I really feel certain Scott Morrison want to see his authorities win the election with a majority in the identical proportion as Towke beat him within the poll. It’s comprehensible that Towke is indignant to today. Many citizens are, too. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
When the Prime Minister claimed victory after the 2019 election, his first phrases had been, “I’ve all the time believed in miracles.” Within the 2007 preselection, Morrison acquired eight votes in opposition to his opponent, Michael Towke, who received overwhelmingly with 82 votes. Morrison then received the following preselection, which should have been the genesis for his perception in miracles. Paul Totman, Mittagong
Sand can’t stand
The primary {photograph} accompanying the report “Seashore restore to value ’hundreds of thousands‴, (April 4) illustrates the folly of constructing on coastal sand. Seashores and the low-lying land adjoining to them are a geologically transient a part of the land floor: they’ll inevitably be eroded and their sedimentary materials might be deposited elsewhere. Because the {photograph} exhibits, the beachfront constructing sits on a concrete slab, the entrance of which has sagged because the sand got here away from beneath. Left unprotected, this a part of the slab would quickly disintegrate as sea ranges rise and storms grew to become extra extreme attributable to international heating. I recall TV imagery of a picket constructing on a concrete slab floating down the Brisbane River throughout the current document floods. I believe it could be cheaper to pay homeowners of seafront buildings to relocate to larger, firmer floor than to rebuild with costly safety measures. Douglas Mackenzie, geologist, Deakin (ACT)
Democracy is two-way
The position of presidency in a democracy is to soak up battle (“The brand new regulation curbing our freedom”, April 4). It’s a flaw in our democracy that leaders don’t search to determine the battle expressed by protest. No effort to fulfill, discuss or correspond to diagnose a response. With out considerate contemplation, Parliament extinguished the precise of political protest in opposition to the dysfunctional indolence and deafness of leaders of presidency. This kind of laws seeks to lock up the unsuitable individuals. Regulation and order doesn’t imply justice. It takes two to speak and the abject failure of 30 years of neglect of Indigenous incarceration charges and local weather change verifies a failure of democratic responsibility. Unilateral communication is an oxymoron, not democracy. Anne Eagar, Epping
Who would’ve thought?
Once I was in early highschool within the early Sixties, we analysed an essay that predicted the urbanisation between Newcastle to Wollongong (“Sydney in 28 years: six cities with 9 million residents”, April 4). The writer postulated that in the future this entity can be often called Newsydgong. It was meant as a lamenting satire however it could appear it’s to turn into a actuality. Chris McKimm, Karangi
Centre of consideration
I had a French trainer who may startle the category with the identical writing trick (Letters, April 4) of standing in the midst of the blackboard, chalk in left hand and swap to her proper hand within the centre of the board. She by no means needed to transfer an inch from that spot. It was probably the most thrilling factor that trainer ever did within the classroom. Marie Del Monte, Ashfield
At sixes and sevens
I wake at daybreak, too (Letters, April 4). However daybreak is way preferable at 7am, because it was final week, than at 6am, as it’s this week. Roll on October 3. Judy Hungerford, North Curl Curl
Each day double
I’m known as “Dilly-Dally” each day (Letters, April 4). Owen Dally, Orange
Spare a thought for the US Secretary of State. With the identify A. Blinken, he has an terrible lot to stay as much as. Meredith Williams, Northmead
Girls rule
What a pleasure to look at the Australian ladies’s cricket crew play with such nice spirit, as did their opponents, and supply position fashions for aspiring sportswomen. Together with Ash Barty, they’ve demonstrated what sport actually ought to be all about. Congratulations, girls. Denis Suttling, Newport Seashore
The digital view
On-line remark from one of many tales that attracted probably the most reader suggestions yesterday on smh.com.au
How Michael Towke’s brutal political takedown got here again to chunk Scott Morrison
From Redda: ″When you’re free with the reality, when you’ll do something to attain an finish, if you stroll throughout individuals to get what you need, ultimately it’ll meet up with you. As they’ve mentioned for a really very long time, ‘What goes round comes round’.″
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