Eureka ahead of Anzacs? A push too far
Peter FitzSimons' push for the Eureka Stockade as a rallying point for the celebration of what it means to be Australian rings a little hollow.
Letters to the Editor
Sabre-rattling no way to advance understanding
War is an evil thing, and it does not become less evil by claiming to be right.
Pollies' self-interest over property prices
By now it must be evident to everyone that our democracy has failed, given that our nation's politicians are incapable of addressing the housing affordability crisis by virtue of their monstrous conflict of interest ("Houses of Parliament: MPs on top in property game", April 22-23). That these very same real estate speculators have the effrontery to lecture Australians on what our nation's values should be is not only the height of conceit, but damning evidence of their collective sophistry. If ever the phrase "a pox on all your houses" was appropriate, this is surely the time.
Pignominy risked
Surely experiments in burying pigs could have taken place in a remote location rather than risk upsetting some with a present or future connection with burials at Rookwood.
Patience, not jingoism, the answer
Jingoistic claptrap is now being trotted out in the interests of nationalism.
My mate represents the best of Aussies values, and he's house trained too
I think my best mate ticks all the boxes for what represents Australian values ("Australian values testing starts at home", Letters, April 21). He was born in the outer western suburbs of Sydney, with a working class background going back many generations. He is passionate about all water and ball sports, fiercely loyal to friends and family, and loves a barbie.
Australian values testing starts at home
I was born in Australia, as were my parents and their parents before them. When my grandfathers fought in World War II, I suspect they did so at least partially in defence of a clearly understood set of Australian values. These were the same values I was taught at home and at school.
Finally, local workers might get a chance
Can this be the beginning of a range of future government decisions that ordinary Australians have known about for a long time?
Perhaps housing needs a US-style crisis
It takes up to eight years to save for a deposit, little wonder many appear resigned to renting forever.
Well-travelled Millennials failing to save
So it seems the real problem with housing affordability is that the Millennials' parents are selfish and vote for the wrong side of politics ("Locked out: Nation in grips of housing affordability crisis" April 17). Codswallop!
Great Barrier Grief of no concern to MPs
How stupid does the federal government think the Australian public is ("Adani coal mine would be a poor use of our taxes", April 15)?
Qatar shows way
The Australian public is not being fairly compensated for the extraction of a finite resource, which is being depleted while corporations are making huge profits.
Schools squeezed for space by poor planning
It is quite obvious that the Department of Education is not playing the ball correctly.
State government should be ashamed over LPI sale
The sale of the Land and Property Information registry is so against the interests of the citizens of NSW that this state government deserves to be dismissed.
Time for a lesson on ethics in schools
The NSW government's failure to restore the ethics option to the school enrolment form itself raises a question of ethics.
Moore has power to cut inner-city traffic
I could not believe what I was reading yesterday when lord mayor Moore put forward her opinion of road traffic versus public transport.
Young Nats ignite a tremble in the vacuum
The Turnbull government must be shaking in its shoes on hearing that the Young Nationals, through their support for a carbon trading scheme, are now effectively backing renewables. ("Young Nationals back emission trading scheme", April 11). The policy vacuum in Canberra is becoming clearer by the day: no recognition that "black coal Morrison" and friends' promotion of coal to India is out of step with India's move to cleaner energy; fearfully tiptoeing away from previously toying with the idea of an emissions intensity scheme for energy generators; sidling away from Labor's policy on negative gearing; floundering around trying to find budget savings – "Is Abbott's work for the dole scheme fit to ditch?" Oh yes, "Policy Vacuum" is the new normal in the conservative realm – just take a look at the US!
Negative response to Morrison's gearing stance
Scott Morrison does not get it. He is still claiming supply is the reason first-home buyers cannot afford a home.
A loving last act
How sad to read of the thousands of unclaimed boxes of remains stored at crematoriums and funeral homes ("Dust to dust: ashes of loved ones remain", April 2).
Syria: a bit too soon to praise Trump's reply
Is it wise for our political leaders and journalists to be so enthusiastically endorsing Trump's reflexive military response to a gas attack that has not yet been investigated?
Political leaders blind to growing inequality
Bernie Fraser's warning of growing inequality, like the shot heard round the world, is the warning that should be heard round Australia.
Attitude to Assad is as chilling as the acts
"Quite frankly there are worse people and you simply don't know what you'd get if he were to be replaced," is as chilling a thought as the actual release of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians.
Giving water to coal mine a bitter betrayal
Handing the Adani company unlimited water access is intergenerational theft of unprecedented proportions.
Self-interest making housing unaffordable
I'm sure it is 'for political reasons' that the coalition refuses to act on this massive issue.
US missed a trick in Cuba but so did Castro
Fidel Castro started his political life as a ruling-class nationalist, opposed to the corrupt US supported/appointed regime of Fulgencio Batista.
Conflict of interest for planners can be avoided
Independent chairs for planning panels must be appointed to ensure proper consultation.
No need to lie when half a truth will do
While Coalition politicians repeat the mantra that Australia has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, Australian "mum and dad" investors are enjoying an effective corporate tax rate of zero, due to dividend imputation. This is obviously the lowest in the world.
Time to earn respect and reform 18C
Section 18C needs reform because it doesn't work ... Mutual respect is earned, not imposed.
Is Julie Bishop still smarting from a previous ticking off?
In launching chagrined annoyance at her Coalition colleagues who prevented the ratification of a 2007 extradition treaty with China is Julie Bishop still smarting from a previous ticking off by the Chinese Foreign Minister?
Sale of titles registry a dumb move indeed
Entities like the Land and Property Information service are the invisible manifestations of good government: unglamorous, unremembered, generally unappreciated (until they disappear), but nonetheless critical to the successful operation of the state.