Lessons to be learnt in funding debate
Jessica Irvine ("The truth behind the great schools debate", SMH September 30) omits one very obvious difference between Australia and other countries such as Finland.
Letters to the Editor
POSTSCRIPT
The ghosts of Prime Ministers past - notably Sir Robert Menzies and Harold Holt - haunted our pages this week. Following the final episode of Howard On Menzies: Building Modern Australia, our inbox was piled high with pith. Rosemary O'Brien set the cat amongst the pidgeons with the suggestion that Howard has been our most popular PM "in recent decades". "Quite wrong," said Geoff Ford, Wahroonga. "While Howard may have been more successful in implementing his attitudes, the accolade for public popularity goes to those imperfect men, Rudd and Hawkes. Both these captains were both brought down by a trusted lieutenant, while Howard's deputy was too intimidated to step up. He was paramount in introducing von Hayek economics (of Thatcher) to replace Keynes' politics (of Menzies) in Australia, but that did not make him popular. Although he's an ambiguity, an anomaly, his career does bear talking about. Think: fridge magnets "Be Alert but not Alarmed". Au contraire, the SA storms alarmed many concerned about climate change. Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce angered many when he blamed the state's reliance on renewables as a cause for the blackout. Equally galling for readers, was our continued front page revelations on the amount of public money elite private schools are receiving. But all things football - both AFL and rugby league - provided the most mirth in the week leading up to two major football grand finals starring the Sydney Swans and Cronulla Sharks. It was Jack Gibson who said waiting for never-Premiers Cronulla to win a comp was like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt. Sharks supporters are hoping Harold Holt will be the Lazarus rising, not John Howard.
The 'perfect storm' on the renewables debate
The real question, is to what extent our infrastructure is ready for the extreme events we should expect as climate change bites?
Schools with the lot don't need Gonski seconds
The Independent Schools Council of Australia director Colette Colman ("Private Schools turn on Turnbull", September 28), in saying that funding cuts to well-funded non-government schools could lead to fee increases, has reprised John Howard's justification for the introduction of the failed policy.
Duty clear on same sex marriage question
Anni Browning (Letters, September 27) has joined thousands of others in calling for a "free vote" or a "conscience vote" on marriage equality.
Impotence strangling marriage equality
I continue to be amazed that our impotent government continues to blame others for its inability to get things done. ("Last chance for marriage equality, says Brandis", September 26.)
Good Sisters betrayed by marriage leaflet
I have spent 85 years forever in the debt of the Sisters at St Patrick's Orphanage Armidale for taking me into their care as a two-year-old, with my older brother and sister.
Sports and women
On the subject of women's sport, is The Sun-Herald saying, not doing?
Learn student needs, minister
If a school were to use Gonski money to run a breakfast program so that its students could start to learn on a full stomach, when would the results turn up in NAPLAN? ("NSW 'faces $400m in school funding cuts'", September 23)
POST SCRIPT: Ouch that hurt Australia
Polls have become a popular vehicle for gauging public sentiment on anything political but especially on hot button issues such as a plebescite on same-sex marriage and what Australians think about immigration. So when a poll came out this week claiming 49 per cent of a sample group questioned oppose Muslim immigration, no wonder the reaction was "ouch." Not just from the Australian Muslim population. Letter writers were incredulous. Many like Gordana Martinovich of Leichhardt pointed out the small sample size and asked "how representative is that sample? She begged for fewer polls and more informed discussion which certainly took place here this week. Comparing this wave of migration to that of post-war migrants, long-time correspondent Ron Elphick of Buff Point questioned the value of such polls. "Those immigrants were not leaners, they were lifters who would have been more than welcome; actually, while I do not really remember the polls, I am sure they would not have been as incumbent on our lives then as they are now." Polls don't really tell the whole story as Hendry Wan of Alexandria was quick to note. "On this letters page alone there is no consensus on ethical issues. The 'human rights' argument has been advanced for anything from same-sex marriage to the displacement of social housing tenants from the Sirius building at The Rocks. Neither marriage nor a harbour view is a fundamental right. No one is any less human for being denied equal access. Fundamentally, the issue is personal ethics versus social ethics (if there is even such a thing)." We here at the Herald, believe the letters pages tell us more about the population than any pollster could. So forget polls. Write to us instead.
Fundamentalists winning publicity war
It is shocking, disappointing and frightening that 49 per cent of Australians would oppose immigration from any religious or ethnic group.
Poll result smacks of bigotry and racism
It is the terrorists and their supporters who will smile most at the results of the poll.
PM's self-righteous preaching a fail
The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration and Border Protection Minister Mr Dutton may well have gained the admiration of Pauline Hanson ("PM to UN: get tough on borders", September 20).
Brandis out of his depth on marriage bill
Then re again, a public non-binding vote on basic human and civil rights is hardly a step forward in a progressive democracy. Chris Rivers Port Macquarie
Want a mandate? Easy, ditch the Senate
If Australians abolished the Senate, a prime minister could claim with some certainty he had a mandate to govern as he pleased.
Dastyari's perfect segue to has-Bean
Golding's cartoon aptly wraps up what must have been the worst week encountered by Senator Sam Dastyari in his Mr Bean impersonator's life (Editorial toon, September 11). At least Rowan Atkinson's character could (eventually) drive away in his Mini.
Downsizing retirees facing a disadvantage
Peter Martin argues that many non-working 65 to 74-year-old people could not make extra contributions to superannuation.
Hanson on wrong side of history, again
Pauline, you are a one-track pony and it is time for a stewards' inquiry into how you run.
Time ideologues were given a shake-up
Turnbull has not ruled out a future vote on gay marriage in Parliament.
Plebiscite not date with destiny
This time they're wasting taxpayers' time and money on a same-sex marriage plebiscite. Most Australians just want this to happen with no fuss and bother. There is nothing to debate.
Belief in democracy restored
Congratulations Clover on a well deserved victory over that disgraceful gerrymander ("Moore storms back stronger than ever", September 12).
Injury compo operates like virtual lottery
We have multiple workers compensation systems, multiple systems for injury compensation in the public and product liability areas, and different systems across Australia for injury caused in a motor accident. The result is a virtual lottery.
Childcare an 'L' of an experience
Delightful article about fathers and grandfathers at playgroup ("Look who's coming to playgroup: it's daddy daycare", September 4).
Renewable energy the solution, not the problem
Renewable energy will resolve energy poverty, not exacerbate it. After all, energy from the sun and wind is free.
Tour de forks will cost of course
Jessica Irvine again demonstrates why we need economists in her article "How economics can make your dinner taste better" (September 9). Thanks to award winning economic research, we now know that if you don't want to pay too much for a meal, stay away from tourist areas. Bob Eggleton Neutral Bay
Women, women everywhere but not a seat to win
I would be the first to admit that it can sometimes be a challenge being a primary caregiver and a parliamentarian. Tanya Plibersek, deputy leader of the opposition
Another political donations scandal only leaves the public short-changed
Sam Dastyari. Another NSW political operative demonstrating that we have the best politicians that money can buy.
Dastyari deed highlights need for clamp on donors
It's time to ban political donations so as to avoid any inference of fear or favour.
Heads should again roll over tax burden
Ross Gittins makes the important distinction between capital and recurrent expenditure accounts in the budget ("Super tax fairness is the key to getting the budget back on track, September 5). He points out that the nation's recurrent expenditure is close to being in balance, and that it is legitimate for the capital cost of long-lasting infrastructure to carry the burden of debt.
More scrutiny needed on likes of Dastyari
The Dastyari affair has shown the creeping risk soft power's influence poses to our country's politics and economy. ("Riding the red dragon express is an insult", September 3-4.)However, this concern shouldn't stop with China. Businesses in the country are equally guilty of using donations to buy influence. From favourable re-zonings and tax exemptions, to labour reform and market regulation, Peter Hartcher's observation that "it is a polite fiction that donors will give money to politicians without expectation of a return on investment" rung true long before the Yuhu Group got involved.