I notice Jean-Claude van Damme was in Broken Hill to consider areas suitable for African wildlife rescues sites ("Saving species a Damme fine idea", December 4). He says the reason for this approach is that infrastructure development, deforestation and game hunting is causing the loss of indigenous African wildlife. Hasn't anyone told him we are having the same problem with habitat loss here?
Illustration: Cathy Wilcox
Anthony Healy Willoughby East
Crony capitalism
Macquarie Bank's unsolicited secret bid to develop prime city airspace above a Martin Place metro station should be looked at in the context of the sale of many NSW entities during Mike Baird's tenure as premier ("Call for inquiry into Macquarie's bid for CBD site", December 4). The acceptance of James Packer's bid for a casino at Barangaroo with the alienation of harbourfront land and the gross overdevelopment of Darling Harbour is consistent with this form of crony capitalism. This torrent of opaque and rampant privitisations and sacking of thousands of public servants might be expected from a dictator.
Tony Simons Balmain
Value our children
Tanya Plibersek shows wisdom and political diplomacy in not wanting to pit school against school or system against system in "the great funding debate". ("No cuts to 'over-funded' private schools: Labor", December 4). Educating children should never be turned into a battleground, even philosophically. Schools are, after all, all there for the same reason, to benefit children. However, it is simplistic to continue on as is and merely allow catch-up from the public system and other systemic educational schools. It won't happen in many of our lifetimes. Just occasionally wrongs need to be righted, and the continuation of over-funding to some already wealthy schools is wrong. It continues to perpetuate the growing divisions of wealth and opportunities for our young. Governments need to take a firm hold and show even our most needy children are valued and allowed opportunities only the best money will buy. And it must be done soon before another generation is lost.
Janice Creenaune Austinmer
Industry subsidies
Australia produces the writers, actors, musicians and film makers. It has its own stunning backdrops. But like any small business, to grow, it needs significant financial support. No matter how excellent their product, some industries need to be subsidised to compete with cheaply-made overseas creations. Because of Australia's relatively small population, its ticket sales will never equal those the of more populated countries, even when Australians flock to the cinemas ("Movie hopes ride on an outback dog in Australian slump", December 4). Perhaps a few cameo photo opportunities for government officials may provide the film industry with the "gold pass" it needs for a speedy journey forward.
Joy Cooksey Harrington
Study's bad smell
Firstly the Government cuts funding to the CSIRO in the 2014 budget by millions of dollars, resulting in mass staff redundancies, but now announces $200 million innovation fund for the study of, among other things, cow flatulence ("Funds to cut cow smells", December 4). What is happening to the CSIRO stinks.
Stewart Smith North Kellyville
Trump tests waters
Could it be that President-elect Donald Trump is operating foreign policy from a planned business model and testing the waters, well aware he may be pushing China's buttons by receiving a call from Taiwan's president and couching it in the economic terms of connecting with a buyer of America's military equipment ("Trump risks new 'cold war' ", December 4) or would that be to paint him as too shrewd?
Gordana Martinovich Dulwich Hill
Respect beliefs
I can't see why we can't accommodate all people, including those with "Magic Sky Daddies"("Pastafarian's small victory", December 4). Give them a screened booth at the airport, where they can privately remove their head attire (or red bandanna). Let us be sensitive to other's beliefs – we don't need to agree with them!
Sue Ryan Hamilton East