‘A message for the premier: Honour the deal you made with teachers’

Perhaps the minister of education should start wearing the colour purple more often to represent the dashed hopes and the blood, sweat and tears shed by the teachers of NSW, wearing red, who swarmed the voting booths last election in the hopes of a fair and just salary and improved working conditions (“Government has betrayed teachers over pay: union”, August 4). But not only is there a wage loss offered in real terms, there is a demand for higher productivity. There would be at least one teacher in every school whose mental health is on the brink as a result of teacher shortages and sub-standard working conditions. Those who only stayed this year, deluded by promises of reform, will walk away to either the private system or the corporate world to protect their mental health and to receive rightful respect for their skills. Vanessa Tennent, Oatley

We have been betrayed by Chris Minns and Pru Car. We believed the rhetoric that we, like the nurses, child and aged care workers, had done it tough during COVID and deserved a pay rise. We did the letter box drops and helped on election day, hoping that at last we would be rewarded. We believed that they would understand the need for strong salaries to increase recruitment. We swallowed the Kool-Aid about the need for changes to curriculum and all the unpaid work such measures mean. It is the unkindest cut, with thoughts of banishment overturning our initial enthusiasm for the new. Brian Thornton, Stanmore

NSW public school teachers’ wage justice is cast aside by yet another state government. Not really surprising. Teachers, like nurses, police and paramedics, don’t generate huge profits – they just keep society functioning, safe, healthy and educated. It’s clearly more important to look after big business, developers and tollway operators. Three and a half decades of teaching and I still get let down by politicians and their empty promises about public education. Pity. I did think this Labor lot was made of better stuff. Barry Ffrench, Cronulla

A message to the premier, education minister and treasurer: Honour the deal you made with teachers. Margaret Allen, Bexley

No campaign uses an age-old tactic of fear

The No campaign’s dependence on fear and untruths suggests the workings of an ancient human response to crisis - scapegoating (“Why Dutton could be the Yes saviour”, August 4). The No campaign’s main champion, the Coalition, is saddled with a history of hubris, fraud, poor leadership and ineptitude. Solution to this electoral crisis? Deflect attention and find unity by blaming, attacking or dragging someone else down. The fingers must point to someone not inclined to revenge, someone vulnerable, and the Indigenous peoples fit the bill. Feed the public with accusations that they will wreck our system and steal our money, and once again, it’s the scapegoat to the rescue. How low can you go? Susan Connelly, Lakemba

The full-blown insincerity of the Coalition, when it comes to listening to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, is clearly displayed by not one of the federal opposition’s shadow front bench attending the Garma Festival (“Dutton, PM get fiercer on Voice agenda”, August 4). Peter Dutton and his “No-alition” claim to be in touch with regional First Nations people, yet despite invitations to attend Garma to listen, they refuse. There’s no doubt who wants to racially divide this nation and it’s Dutton and his party of colonial, white privilege. Mark Berg, Caringbah South

Whatever the merits associated with the Voice to parliament it was appalling to watch the vitriolic debate between Dutton and Anthony Albanese on the floor of parliament. The whole exercise has just become a party political slanging match. Even if the Voice referendum is successful it is hard to see how there will be a civil debate in the parliament when it comes to legislating the details of the makeup and powers of the Voice. It is shameful that our politicians cannot find common ground on such an important issue. Phil Peak, Dubbo

While the PM and Dutton get fiercer on the Voice the PM might try to answer a simple question - how will a politically appointed group of Indigenous representatives in Canberra give voice to a local community in Kununurra and its elders? Stop focussing on Dutton and start answering the questions most are asking. Brian Barrett, Padstow

If October 14 is to be the date of the referendum, it couldn’t have a better historical context (“The PM should fire the starting gun on referendum date”, August 4). The Battle of Hastings occurred on that date in 1066. When William landed at Pevensey on the coast, he slipped over in the sand. A bad omen, his soldiers thought. On getting up, William scooped up a handful of sand. “Look” he shouted, “I have England in my hand already.” Let’s hope Australians see the Voice as the remarkable opportunity it is, to forge a future we can be proud of. Bob Selinger, Eastwood

Your writer suggests a simple riposte is needed by the Yes camp to counter the “If you don’t know, vote no” slogan. I suggest: “If in doubt, find out”. As a Yes campaigner I am already using this riposte effectively. I have every confidence in the good will of the Australian people and when doubters are presented with the actual facts of the referendum, they will see a Yes vote is merely a simple step, a step in the right direction for all Australians. Joy Nason, Mona Vale

Nightmare descent of the US plutocracy

Why all this angst about democracy in the US and the effect on it of Trumpism (Letters, August 4)? America is not a democracy, and it has not been one for some time. It is a plutocracy, of which there are two forms, defined (with apologies to Abraham Lincoln) as either “government of the people by the rich for the rich” or “government of the people by the people for the rich”. I find it hard to decide which definition best fits the US, but I have a suspicion that the second is a good cover for the first. American dream? It is a nightmare. John Hill, The Entrance

Donald Trump, defeated or undefeated, imprisoned or free, will be a threat to American democracy for as long as he lives. Why? Because very close to half of the US voters, to put it politely, appear to be pathologically ignorant. There’s no other way to put it and there’s absolutely no solution. That wouldn’t matter if the rest of the world wasn’t affected but, of course, it is. We are all going to pay the price of a once great democracy gone mad. John Peel, Woollahra

Countless profile pictures of Trump show the former president’s elaborate hairstyle which is designed to hide his substantial baldness. Those same pictures show where the gunk he puts on his face ends and his natural skin tone begins. If his metaphorically blind supporters don’t recognise what they’re looking at, would they react differently if confronted by a short-back-and-sides, bald-on-top, gunkless face? Such a seemingly trivial question illustrates the Trump phenomenon as the US continues the process of destroying itself. The perception and the reality. John Macdonald, Kings Langley

Your correspondent believes Donald Trump will never get a fair trial in Washington DC because the jury will consist of Democrats. By his logic, a black person would not get a fair trial if the jury was predominantly white, a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman would not get a fair trial if the jury was predominantly women, a priest would not get a fair trial if the jury was made up of atheists. If Trump is found guilty, maybe it will be because the evidence against him is simply overwhelming. Denise Duclos, Balgowlah

I think your correspondent blaming the Democrats for Trump’s trials has been listening to too much from Trump. Apart from anything else, the US still has a justice system. That system stands between lawbreakers and political parties. It is that system that has indicted Trump, not the Democrats. Des Carmody, Bourkelands

Zero tolerance

The reported conduct of the sacked NSW minister is further evidence of why so many of us are disgusted at the self-entitled behaviour of some of our MPs (“MP’s aid reported concerns to Minns”, August 4). What is encouraging is that Premier Chris Minns acted decisively to address the aberrant behaviour, rather than the usual evasion, delay and spin. Murray Patchett, Kentucky

Poor Tim Crakanthorp. To be sacked from cabinet after only a few months in the job must be devastating (“Hell hath no fury like the mother-in-law of a sacked politician”, August 3). But at least he’ll feel comforted by the love and support of his mother-in-law, particularly her comments that “my son is a f—-ing politician”, “politicians are there because they’re f—-ing dumb”, and “I don’t like politicians, they’re all bloody crooks”. Derek Low, Forresters Beach

Santina Manitta’s invective-ridden spray against politicians, including her son-in-law, is incisive, honest and cuts to the bone of the current political reality. Manitta has my vote if she ever changes her mind and goes into politics. Manbir Singh Kohli, Pemulwuy

Santina Manitta for premier? Prime minister? President! Bill O’Donovan, Thirroul

Too-long Morrison

In his essay on “long Morrison”, Nick Bryant identifies the serious ongoing effects of a condition known to ethicists, psychologists, theologians and poets as moral injury (“Australia has a dose of ‘long Morrison’, and it’s nothing to sneeze at”, August 4). During Scott Morrison’s successive ministries, and then throughout his years as PM, many Australians suffered a burden of shock, outrage, shame and despair, at the leadership malpractice we experienced. The pain, damage and mistrust linger, but anti-moral events need not define our lives. The moral injury that we as Australians have sustained will pass. Healing comes through participation in a society of respectful, inclusive, trusted human connections. Though for a time our collective humanity was betrayed by our elected leaders, we may still choose honesty, generosity, humility and kindness to restore hope and reclaim our country’s soul. Meredith Williams, Northmead

Morrison’s lingering “legacy” has resulted in multiple strains (placed upon the long-suffering Australian population) and sadly, his contemptuous contagion shows no signs of eradication. However, there’s no doubt as to the origins: he’s clearly batty. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill

Long Morrison is not the disease. It is actually long Howard. Long Morrison is just the latest variant. Greg Thompson, Bega

Hands off super

We are encouraged throughout our working lives to plan for a comfortable retirement (“Super system could help fix aged care funding crisis”, August 4). There are a number of incentives provided by government to grow super balances, such as salary sacrificing and co-contributions. Is it to be that those who scrimp across their working lives are to become an aged care target? I hope not before those paying no tax lose their franking credits windfall, or we address the inequities of the Australian tax system as a whole. Mick Grimson, Leumeah

I cannot believe this government, no matter which party, is now looking at using our superannuation to solve their problem of aged care. Most Australians have worked their entire lives thinking that after years of paying taxes, our government would look after us with automatic pension and if needed, housing. Every successful Western country in the world has a system whereby their citizens receive a government pension when they reach their sixties. What are those in power thinking, taking away from those who have paid tax all their working lives? Our super is exactly that – our super. Take your hands ️off it. Brian Pretorius, Breakfast Point

Through my work I witnessed many “boomers” almost trip over their feet trying to get the $100,000 concessional super contribution into their super accounts and claim the tax deduction in the 2008 and 2009 financial years. This was a Howard/Costello initiative for those over 50. Of course, it favoured the wealthy. Good luck to those who benefited. Now, some may not be as enthusiastic about using their own funds on aged care. I believe the government only needs to raise the means tested care fee to something more reasonable. Levying the young is certainly not fair. Let the aged with means help fund themselves. Isn’t that what super is meant for? Bernadette Scadden, Earlwood

Off the rails

Why would anyone think ripping up a perfectly good rail line, the Bankstown line, to replace it with the value-capture metro, is a good idea (Letters, August 4)? It simply shows the power of developers and their hold over our political class in NSW. Maria Bradley, Coogee

In addition to all the delays and inconveniences while the line is converted to a metro, commuters on the Bankstown line can “look forward” to trains that are 30 per cent seated and 70 per cent standing compared to their current service of 70 per cent seated and 30 per cent standing. I suspect they will not see this as an improvement. Peter Thornton, Killara

Good day out

This week, I went to watch the France v Panama women’s football match and took public transport (Letters, August 4). I have nothing but praise for the system, which worked perfectly for me, my son and my grandson. The B-line from Mona Vale to Wynyard, then on the light rail to Moore Park and then a well-marked stroll to the stadium. And what a great stadium it is to watch football. Very impressive. At the stadium the food and coffee was good. The trip home was equally trouble-free, with timely connections. An entertaining game with plenty of goals and action, which pleased the 46,000-plus crowd. Congratulations to the organisers. David Williams, Bayview

Out of pocket

If we move to a cashless society what do I give my children as pocket money when they do jobs at home (Letters, August 3)? Donna-Dianne Walker-Smith, Mittagong

Tolls and trolls

Tolls to support usage of public transport (“High tolls can boost public transport use: think tank”, August 4)? What’s next, trolls under the bridge?Liz Liddelow, Avalon Beach

Postscript

“I note the letters editor has, presumably in the interests of balance, included a contribution from a supporter of Donald Trump. Congratulations. It must have been one hell of a job to find them,” wrote David Howard of Bowral. Correct? No comment, suffice to say a flood of letters found the supportive contributor’s point of view unreasonable.

“It seems your correspondent doesn’t consider the incitement of a heavily armed lynch mob (literally) to storm the Capitol Building, as viewed in real time by horrified billions across the democratic world, to be an ‘objectively reasonable allegation of wrongdoing’?” wrote a bewildered Phil Bradshaw of Naremburn.

Similarly, no-one supported Scott Morrison’s response to the robo-debt royal commission. “If the legacy of the former PM is a nasty and debilitating case of ‘long Morrison’ it is obviously due to Morrison revising his COVID-related mantra that ‘the buck stops here’ to ‘the buck stops somewhere else’. It is a philosophy that still serves him well but leaves the nation with a very bad cold indeed,” wrote Phil Rodwell of Redfern in response to Nick Bryant’s op-ed.

Jenna Price’s comment piece about narcissism in children, “cultivated by parental overvaluation”, and the effect it has on teachers, ignited many fiery letters from parents and educators, all of whom agreed with Price. Many thousands of readers enjoyed reading the letters online, and the discussion continued there and in print.

Writers were ecstatic about the Matildas’ win against Olympic champions Canada, furious at the lack of free-to-air coverage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and presumably would agree with Denis Suttling of Newport Beach: “May the waltz continue beyond the round of 16.” Pat Stringa, Letters editor

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