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Letters to the Editor

Land titles fight needs to be long and loud

Illustration: Alan Moir

When the chief executive of the Law Council of Australia tells Mike Baird that leasing the Land and Property Information unit is not a good idea, maybe the Premier should listen.

Damned if they deal, damned if they don't

SMH Letters

As I watched Mr Turnbull crow about what his wonderful achievements this year I realised that he had finally reached the logical conclusion of his journey as Prime Minister. He ends the year equal in stature to those who surround him in Parliament. He has become a moral pygmy.

Post Script: Fresh takes on equation of maths performance

Illustration: Ron Tandberg.

Maths students of Kazakhstan take a bow. When our front page story blared "Australian students fare worse than Kazakhstan in maths and science", readers were quick to provide some solutions to the problem: "what's wrong with maths standards in Australia." As Peter Baker of Smiths Lake pointed out: "It's seems that despite the brilliance shown by its maths and science students, the country of Kakakhstan continues to be used as an example of what a country shouldn't be....  The story also gave a backhander to our students.."Is this the best you can achieve?  You can't even beat Kazakhstan of all countries?" But as Robert Fisher, a Senior Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Sydney we should not dismiss this central Asian country as some mathematical backwater.

Inept politicians behind light rail debacle

SMH Letters

The additional $549 million cost of the inner-city light rail project is only the tip of this emerging dinosaur ("Public were misled on light-rail costs", December 1).

Maths problem can be solved with due diligence

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Simon Birmingham says he wants evidence-backed action to stop Australia's slip in international school rankings. Here it is: the more we privatise our education system, the more we slip in the rankings.

Poor clouted while rich companies prosper

SMH Letters

The government constantly uses Australia's growing budget deficit to justify ever more punitive crackdowns on the reporting errors of welfare recipients who are already struggling to survive.

The ominous emasculation of ICAC

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It is a very difficult job to excise corruption in politics. Since the founding of NSW, government leaders were more inclined to buckle to corruption than confront it.

Bleak view of urban living in growth suburb

Illustration: Alan Moir

Your front page photo of Sydney's fastest growing suburb, The Ponds ("Terracotta warriors, November 22), paints a bleak picture of where urbanised living is heading.

Many questions to answer before homes built

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Once again we see that the Baird government has not consulted broadly about the increasing population of Sydney, although he has consulted with property developers ("Sydney set to pack in 185,000 new homes", November 19-20).

Hail the new feudalistic order

SMH Letters

Malcolm Turnbull and his conservative backbench still don't get it ("PM on collision course with Trump over trade," November 18). The victory of Trump in America is a knee-jerk reaction to the stubborn refusal of governments to abandon neo-liberalism with its insidious inequality, precarious employment prospects and lack of a decent, secure, living wage. Globalisation, privatisation and tax cuts for business have brought about a society resembling a sort of new feudalistic order. Voters increasingly know they are being lied to and are revolting in the same chaotic way they have in the past. The old way no longer works anymore and the future does not look too bright for any of us, including Malcolm. Bruce Spence Balmain  

Triggs' legacy of compassion

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Malcolm Turnbull can dismiss Gillian Triggs, but her legacy will live on. ("Triggs' contract will not be renewed," November 17). I suspect she has more compassion and integrity in her little finger than the whole of the Turnbull government put together. She has been relentless in her staunch defence of human rights and exposure of the cruelty inflicted on asylum seekers, in spite of the most vicious personal attacks. She was pilloried for one error by a government plagued by errors and mediocracy.mediocrity. Her dignity and leadership have been a source of encouragement, and a shining light in some very dark times in our country. We owe Professor Triggs a great debt of gratitude. Mr Turnbull et al, should not expect their contracts to be renewed at the end of the present term. I suggest their legacy will not be a source of pride. Graham Lum North Rocks

Mike Baird's moves on the ICAC raise thorny questions

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The proposal to move to a three-person ICAC will result in a restriction on the commissioner's power to hold public inquiries, which have played a large part in the ICAC's success, both as a deterrent to corruption and as a means of stimulating other witnesses to come forward.

Voters are waking up to Magic Mike's tricks

SMH Letters

To distract us from the disaster of the Orange byelection, Magic Mike's Coalition government has announced its "commitment" to a metro rail line from the Sydney CBD to Parramatta.

Bizarre refugee deal stains us again

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

It is wonderful to see the suffering crowds on Manus and Nauru offered a home in the land of the free ("Secret deals end offshore detention", November 12-13). Their treatment to date has been a dreadful stain on our national history. Based on our actions many of them have probably decided already that Australia is no longer a place they want to call home. However I am very confused about how this acts as a deterrent to people smugglers. A back door to the USA seems a real incentive to try for Australia with hopes of a home in another fine place. Malcolm says "once only" but he is of the professional expediency class who live in our own Disneyland beside Lake Burley Griffin. Other than the saving of face for our political leaders, how has can this be more practical than finding them place in our country. They are now shown to be real refugees. Why are we so proudly and stubbornly merciless in this aspect of Australia's refugee policies. Peter Copleston Westleigh  

Network priority

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My free advice to Sydney Trains would be to spend more on improving Sydney's ailing public transport network.

Another sell-off, another sell-out

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What a disgrace to see the Lands and Education buildings joining the long list of heritage assets flogged by the Baird government.