‘What a wasted opportunity’: Matildas score great win, but TV coverage is a loss

Marvellous Attitude, Teamwork, Inclusive Leadership, Driven Ambition, Superwomen: Matildas (“Raso roars as Matildas keep Cup dream alive”, August 1)! Gerardo Prietto, Stockton

Congratulations Matildas on your magical win. Early in the game the team made strategic passes that ended with a brilliant pass from the left across the field so that Hayley Raso could make a decisive strike into the net. The crowd roared with joy. Matildas, you showed young girls how spectacular teamwork is. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong

I went to watch the game of the Matildas against Canada at the little volunteer run RSL Club in Coledale (“World Cup out of tough with the public”, August 1). The atmosphere was fantastic. It was a mixed neighbourhood audience. The cheering at times hit the roof. The club usually opens only from Thursday to Sunday, but in this little hamlet of about a thousand people there was enough interest to have a special opening on Monday. During the game I was texting friends around the globe. They knew more about the games played here than I did. I cannot understand why there is no free to air coverage of all the games played. This is the biggest sporting event since the Olympics. When do the old white privileged men wake up to the fact that women exist and their sport is of interest to all of us? Heidi Muggenthaler, Coledale

Forget the pub test try the supermarket queue test. The FIFA Women’s World Cup is being held in Australia and New Zealand but if you are interested you can hardly watch any games on free to air TV. Yes, the Matildas’ games but not much else until later rounds. We must do better for women’s sport and its massive popularity. What a wasted opportunity. Jane Armitage, Mosman

FIFA’s mission statement is: “Develop the game, touch the world, build a better future”, none of which will be served by the venal decision to hide this brilliant tournament behind the Optus paywall. True believers have already been reluctantly forced to Optus to watch the EPL. So, they’re simply discouraging the engagement of the new, and particularly younger, fans who are desperately needed if we are to see a rub-off benefit to the ailing A-League. Truly a terrible decision which does the beautiful game a disservice. Tim Parker, Balmain

If all games in the World Cup had been on free to air, we would almost certainly have watched them on TV. So, with that option unavailable, about two weeks before the game, we bought $40 tickets for Colombia v South Korea. A noon start (bliss), a boisterous crowd, a brilliant game played in great spirit (the Colombians are fabulous to watch) on a perfect weather day. For once, I was grateful that the TV option was unavailable and I felt part of a magnificent event. Peter Cassin, Roseville

Surely, now the premier can light up the Opera House and put more flags in the city after our wonderful incredible teamwork and win. The best! Elaine Smith, Avalon

Is there a subliminal political message in the Matildas playing their last two matches dressed in teal? John Christie, Oatley

Even if robo-debt was legal, it was nasty

Legal or not, robo-debt was prone to error, heavy-handed and just plain nasty (“Morrison lashes out at ‘political lynching”’, August 1). I’d like to think we would never legalise such a scheme and furious argument that it was thought to be legal does not make it right. Did Scott Morrison et al really think it was fair to issue a debt on dubious foundation, with very little time to pay, requiring extensive records over a long period to challenge and a tortuous path for appeal? Franz Weiss, Maroubra

I was waiting for the Morrison rebuttal of his role in the robo-debt scheme and have been rewarded with a beauty. His comments about his passing on the instructions to the public servants to deal with the implementation details shows poor understanding of the feedback and adjustment process of good leadership and governance. If he wasn’t able to see problems, why didn’t the other ministers who held the portfolio do something? As to his reference to Labor needing to stop any references to the Liberal period under his leadership he needs to be reminded of Tony Abbott’s constant attacks on Julia Gillard. As more comes to light it seems that an important part of Liberal strategy is to demonise those that can’t fight back. I wonder how the “broad church” of supporters are feeling now. Robert Mulas, Corlette

There is the maxim “attack is the best form of defence” and Morrison is now making the most of this tactic in his effort to convince us the robo-debt commission’s findings against him were untrue. In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way. And we all know robo-debt was callously planned and brazenly enforced. Vince Scoppa, Tennyson Point

Morrison’s explanation of his role in robo-debt was consistent with the rest of his time in public life. No sincere apology, no acknowledgement of fault, just an exercise in arrogant, belligerent blame shifting. The question remains, how did a man who rose to the highest office in Australia see himself as powerless to prevent a great wrong? He is still the man who didn’t hold a hose. Tony Judge, Woolgoolga

Morrison claims “political lynching” following robo-debt findings. I wonder which other vanquished right-wing leader also professes innocence and claims a “witch-hunt” is being launched against him? It’s bad enough that Morrison is not in the least contrite; but to blame the system that so obviously found him culpable is nothing short of diabolical. Steven Baker, Engadine

So Dutton has nothing to hide and Morrison has nothing to apologise for (Letters, August 1). Got it.
Anthony Gibbins, Redfern

Poor old Scott Morrison. Still not holding that hose. Maybe he needs to get a grip. Tom Mangan, Woy Woy Bay

Positive step to learn true Indigenous history

It is a progressive step to ensure that NSW school students are taught about the impact of European settlement on Australian Indigenous people (“History lessons get major shakeup”, August 1). It is a sad tale which must be told. Aboriginal people were affected by the three Ds: death, disease and dispossession. Hopefully, the new NSW syllabus will play a positive part in a greater community understanding of our past, and a positive step in the journey of reconciliation. Derrick Mason, Boorowa

Bravo for the proposed change in history curriculum. If truth can be taught in schools then maybe we will see it disseminated in society. Our intransigence to the truth of the measure of social and physical genocide may be broken down. Colonisation aspects of First Nations meets the definition of genocide, a term that was developed after WWII. Anne Eagar, Epping

Bankstown inconvenience

The line closure between Sydenham and Bankstown, with all the cost and inconvenience, isn’t replicated between the city and Chatswood because it didn’t involve the capture of an existing heavy rail line (“Commuters face 12-month closure of Bankstown line”, August 1).. As a bonus, the lower north shore gets additional stations at Victoria Cross and Crows Nest. Compare that to between Sydenham and Bankstown, without any additional stations. And it reinforces the view that the Bankstown line conversion was the Berejiklian government’s “dumping ground” for the other end of the Southwest Metro. Geoffrey Williamson, Woollahra

Given the growing gap between oil production and consumption in Asia we need urban rail replacing car traffic, not a metro replacing a well-working heavy rail line. Just like the unnecessary conversion of the Chatswood-Epping tunnel, the Bankstown metro is a huge waste of scarce financial resources. Labor fell into the metro traps set by the Libs. The rail network west of Bankstown now hangs in the air. The mention in the premier’s media release of “future extensions” of this metro project with astronomical cost will trigger triple A credit rating warnings. Matt Mushalik, Epping

I figure that all travel on the T3 will be free because of the massive inconvenience. Best not hold my breath. Jeff Apter, Keiraville

Inconvenient truth

Yes, global warming is certainly “another complication” for government (“Minns’ refusal to outlaw gas ‘disappointing”‘, August 1). Al Gore called it something similar - “an inconvenient truth” - in his 2006 warning of bad times to come if the world didn’t pull together effectively to do something about it. The world didn’t, and now we’re looking at the climate having progressed to boiling stage, in its onwards trajectory. And it’s in no small measure because, still, people who put themselves in leadership positions manage to keep their heads firmly in the sand rather than focussing on this increasingly urgent priority, before it’s 100 per cent too late. And when Chris Minns’ children come to ask him, one overheated day, “What did you do in the war against climate change, Dad?” will he be able to look them in the eye when he has to say: “Not enough lads. Because, you’ve got to understand, it was just too complicated”? Anne Ring, Coogee

Taipans out

I agree with the call by opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie to replace the 47 MRH-90 Taipan helicopters with a $2.8 billion fleet of Black Hawks from the United States before the scheduled date of December 2024 (“Call to retire Taipans after rescue called off”, August 1). As the report states, the Taipans have been “plagued by technical problems” from the beginning. It seems bordering on irresponsibility to risk lives by persisting with the use of helicopters known to be faulty. Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin (ACT)

Green Blinders

The Greens seem to be starting to be reasonable on the Housing Bill (“Greens put everything on the table in housing stoush”, August 1). About time. Up till now they were acting like the Peaky Blinders gang rather than a few elected representatives. They should realise they are not the government. If they force a double dissolution I doubt things will go their way. I certainly wouldn’t vote for them even though I have done before. Julius Timmerman, Lawson

Cash out

Whether banking is purely digital or with plastic, we need to move away from cash (“Cash may not be king but it is royalty”, August 1). The transition to a cashless society would curb drug money laundering and recovering revenue lost to tax evaders. At a current cash usage rate of around 10 per cent, the change should not be too difficult. Like the soon-to-be-eliminated cheque, the government might even go so far as mandating an unhurried move to a cashless economy. As a first step, implementing welfare, health and NDIS payments through debit cards would be a sensible move. Not only will it streamline transactions, but it also eliminates the need for the elderly to count cash, making the payment process much more convenient and efficient. Additionally, the use of plastic minimises the risk of theft as lost or stolen cards, if used, can be traced. By fostering a cashless economy, Australia can not only address issues related to illegal activities but also promote inclusivity and efficiency in our world-leading financial system. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Yes argument

Valid arguments contained in the open letter from the Australia Institute composed by some of Australia’s most eminent lawyers coinciding with the outstanding accomplishments of Gordon Briscoe detailed in his obituary (“Activist, academic and their first Indigenous person to gain a PhD”, August 1) surely present the most compelling case yet for a Yes vote on the Voice. Ray Alexander, Moss Vale

Move on

After the loss of the final cricket Test, the team is complaining about being locked out of post game drinks and Ricky Ponting questioning the condition of the ball (“‘Huge blunder that needs to be investigated’: Ponting furious at ball change”, smh.com.au, August 1). We should just move on. Peng Ee, Castle Cove

Farewell Juanita: ABC news will be poorer when calm presence leaves

Watching Juanita Phillips bid us farewell on Monday night on the ABC news bulletin was quite a shock (“ABC you later: Phillips moves on”, August 1). Always so reliable and calm, she has been what the ABC represents for us: a balanced and non-judgmental presentation of the day’s news. That she had an easy manner and pleasant voice were bonuses. Always graceful and dignified, she was a model announcer. We will miss you, Juanita, but we wish you well and hope you get as much pleasure out of the next stage of your life as we have received from the time you spent with us. Thank you. Nola Tucker, Kiama

Could there be a finer presenter on ABC news than Juanita Phillips? She is consistently clear, courteous, articulate and informative. There must have been many times when she has had to deliver news that is sad, alarming, tragic in a compassionate manner. No matter the subject she nails it in a way we all understand. It will be the ABC’s loss to let her go but so much more our loss in not having her calm and professional presence on the screen. Congratulations and many thanks for a marvellous career now and for whatever comes next Vicky Marquis, Glebe

Juanita Phillips was a party to our dinner every evening for 20 years. It won’t be the same without her. Anne Matheson, Gordon

The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Don’t blame ballgate for Australia’s failure to win Ashes series
From Picasso: “On this tour Australia won the world championship and retained the Ashes. In between a lot of absorbing cricket. Cricket played to packed houses. Cricket reported on the front pages. Cricket talked about in pubs and cafes. How’s that not a successful tour?”

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