Brandis’ Morrison myopia misses all of the unhealthy factors

George Brandis’ try and salvage the repute of Scott Morrison is at greatest hopeful, actually untimely (“Historical past might be sort to PM Morrison”, February 26). To name AUKUS a legacy is a stretch. If any submarines are literally delivered it’ll nonetheless be a questionable achievement to many Australians. What galled me probably the most in Brandis’ myopic claims was the obvious consigning of Morrison’s position within the robo-debt scheme to the title of “ephemera”. Folks misplaced their lives due to the scheme to illegally claw again non-existent money owed from a few of our most susceptible welfare recipients. Morrison nonetheless accepts no blame or accountability for that fiasco. A royal commissioner had a really completely different view. Geoff Nilon, Mascot

Brandis claims Scott Morrison might be remembered extra for the nice than the unhealthy and cites AUKUS, web zero by 2050, the administration of the pandemic and a free commerce settlement with the UK as his glowing achievements. The worth of the AUKUS deal is questionable at greatest and was performed behind a good friend’s again. The general public clamoured for motion to cut back carbon emissions for years and the Coalition needed to be dragged screaming to make any type of stable dedication to it. And as for negotiating a post-Brexit commerce deal overseas and correctly managing the pandemic at residence, aren’t they the sorts of issues that any prime minister confronted with these points can be anticipated to do? Adrian Connelly, Springwood

I see Brandis manufacturers Julia Gillard’s efficiency as “hopeless”. Maybe he missed the Clear Vitality Invoice, Mineral Useful resource Hire Tax, colleges funding following the Gonski Assessment, ending the logging of native forests in Tasmania, $1.8 billion flood levy following widespread injury to Queensland and the Nationwide Incapacity Insurance coverage Scheme. Hardly “hopeless”. Patrick McMahon, Paddington

As a result of there may be little or no to say about Morrison who went on holidays whereas the nation was burning and believed that COVID-19 vaccinations was not a race, however duly acquired one of many first jabs. The actually unhappy assertion by Brandis is the remark that Gillard was hopeless as PM. Gillard was truly sensible in delivering many reforms such because the NDIS and college funding beneath Gonski and did so in a minority authorities. These reforms will endure for a few years. Michael Blissenden, Dural

Let me depend the methods. Lives destroyed by robo-debt. Away on holidays whereas folks’s houses are destroyed by devastating bushfires. Forty billion {dollars} in JobKeeper paid to firms which didn’t qualify. Skulking inside in response to the ladies’s march on parliament; “if you wish to discuss with me, make an appointment with my workplace”. Evaluate that with John Howard’s look in entrance of a big crowd of indignant gun house owners. There’s absolutely rather more to have a good time for the Minister for Every thing. Michael McMullan, Avoca Seaside

How fortunate are we in Australia to be blessed by two comedic geniuses in (the late) Barry Humphries and George Brandis. It’s attention-grabbing to notice the purposeful humour and societal observations of the previous vs the unintentional, unrealised guffaw created by the latter. Each immensely entertaining and, at instances, onerous to separate for snort. Howard Younger, Clovelly

Council nonetheless dedicated to stamping out tree vandalism

It was very disappointing to learn the revealed letter from considered one of our residents in Mosman wrongfully suggesting there was a change within the administration of bushes and that the poisoning of the gorgeous and venerable Port Jackson figs at Balmoral might have been a political protest (Letters, February 26). Putting personal views above the advantages and amenity of public bushes is a questionable premise; doubling down and suggesting that voters take direct motion by poisoning liked public belongings is each harmful and excessive. Nothing has modified right here at Mosman, both by way of coverage or strategy, and we stay dedicated to prosecuting each unlawful tree felling, pruning or poisoning to the fullest extent of the legislation. Any try to achieve political capital from this vile act fails and needs to be contrasted towards the large outpouring of neighborhood grief and concern about our beloved figs and the continued dedication to defending our outstanding tree cover, created by private and non-private bushes alike. Carolyn Corrigan, Mayor of Mosman

How can he counsel that views are disappearing when the nice burghers of Mosman get to see water and bushes? A full tree cover is an impressive view in my view, one I usually want for. And property values evaporating? Oh come on. It’s nicely established that full tree cowl will increase biodiversity and lessens warmth impression. And will increase residence worth. If the parents in these multi-million greenback houses can’t stay with viewing a full tree cover “blocking” a few of their water views, maybe they will simply poison all of the bushes, thereby rising international warming and convey the water view proper as much as and inside their entrance doorways. Richard Abram, Bexley

If Mosman property values are certainly “evaporating” or “disappearing” as a result of a view is filtered and even hidden by bushes I’d be very shocked. Anyone who takes issues into their very own arms and thinks poisoning bushes is something aside from anti-social vandalism deserves to be prosecuted.
Sheryl Black, Coffs Harbour

Such a disgrace home costs are falling in Mosman attributable to bushes being “allowed to achieve their full potential”. In case your correspondent’s angle is consultant of the Mosman inhabitants, it looks like we are able to anticipate extra bushes to be poisoned simply to guard home costs of some privileged folks.
Todd Hillsley, Homebush

Your Mosman correspondent, regardless of his views on the contrary, doesn’t personal a view and I’m certain his perspective wouldn’t be endorsed by the bulk in his native authorities citizens. Bushes trump self-entitled pursuits! Bob Nicoll, Hat Head

College funding isn’t a give/take

Everybody in schooling helps public colleges being totally funded as a result of we all know public schooling is the spine of our education system (“We’ll discover out quickly if Labor does care about public colleges”, February 26). College funding isn’t a zero-sum recreation; one sector has by no means had its funding lower to fund one other. NSW public colleges acquired on common $9,500 extra per scholar in authorities funding than non-government colleges in 2021/22 ($23,558 v $14,061 in response to the Productiveness Fee). It is because the funding supplied to non-government colleges is diminished in response to dad and mom’ earnings, a discount that doesn’t happen for public colleges. The extra dad and mom earn, the much less authorities funding a non-government faculty attracts. The unbiased sector consists of a whole lot of religion and non-faith based mostly colleges. They educate college students from all cultural backgrounds. Islamic colleges, for instance, educate college students with Asian, African, Center Japanese and European heritage. Many Christian colleges educate non-Christian college students. Margery Evans, chief government, Affiliation of Unbiased Faculties of NSW

Ross Gittins’ article makes level that by attending a public faculty, kids get to rub shoulders with others from completely different backgrounds and religions, which in flip boosts social cohesion. With Australia now representing over 130 nationalities, it’s critical that we encourage curiosity and tolerance in our public colleges, as cohesion is at an all-time low. Pamela Shepherd, Balgowlah

Moreover receiving more cash from the federal government and charging larger and ever-increasing charges I’m certain the personal colleges will proceed to supply more cash to safe educating employees, creating one other space of concern for the general public system – how will we get extra lecturers into our public faculty system? All of us look ahead to the options that might be supplied by Schooling Minister Jason Clare as we transfer in direction of this yr’s funds and the long run planning and adjustments in schooling that he’s suggesting. Robert Mulas, Corlette

The 80/20 state/federal funding cut up for public schooling is an incentive for states to underspend on, and dare I say run into the bottom, public schooling. A poorly perceived public providing drives dad and mom to “select” personal schooling, the place the associated fee will largely be borne by the federal authorities and the dad and mom of the scholars. Franz Weiss, Maroubra

One facet of the chasm between private and non-private education in each funding and status is the impact this has on the attitudes of public faculty college students in direction of their education and so their studying success. Public faculty college students are frequently advised by the media and conservative politicians that their lecturers and colleges are second fee. As a consequence many college students have a unfavourable angle in direction of their education and their very own means to be taught in such circumstances. By frequently telling public faculty college students they and their lecturers are second fee we create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Denise Woods, Orange

Ross Gittins has written a cracker of an article stating the significance of presidency funding being depending on want as Gonski supposed. On my approach to faculty within the morning, I catch the prepare from the native transport hub and see a kaleidoscope of color in college students sporting varied uniforms criss-crossing the town in each course and I believe to myself, wouldn’t or not it’s marvellous if each baby’s wants could possibly be met of their native public faculty? Diane Dennis, Epping

Amen to all the pieces Ross Gittins writes. Over to you Jason Clare. Helen Kebby, Woollahra

Election marketing campaign

Is anyone shocked that Dutton and his fellow white-anters have taken the lead on the first vote (“Coalition closes hole on ALP”, February 26). They’ve been in full election marketing campaign mode since Australians dumped them from workplace and have performed nothing aside from hinder the federal government’s efforts to progress the nation. True to type, they’re nonetheless taking the taxpayer greenback within the type of salaries and utilizing the time that we fund for their very own egocentric functions. Dave Watts, Avalon

Nice Gough

Paul’s put downs have been fiery and focused, however I nonetheless choose Gough Whitlam’s (Letters, February 26). “The honourable member has the brains of a goat!” “The member for Werriwa will withdraw that comment!” “Definitely. The honourable member doesn’t have the brains of a goat!” Robert Hosking, Paddington

Further mile

Although Caroline Milburn’s argument in regards to the overburdening of lecturers with administrative duties is on the cash, I really feel she relatively misses the purpose in regards to the position of lecturers (“Burdening lecturers with admin is failing our youngsters”, February 26). I taught in authorities and unbiased colleges for nearly 4 a long time, and relished my time within the classroom. Not being burdened with pointless, irrelevant box-ticking and form-filling actually enabled me to deal with lesson preparation. Nonetheless, what proved invaluable in enhancing the classroom expertise was my involvement over a few years in working debating and public talking, taking faculty camps, teaching squash and soccer, staging musical and drama productions, modifying the varsity journal, and on one event being lucky sufficient to escort an abroad journey. I invariably discovered that college students appreciated lecturers going the additional mile outdoors the classroom, particularly these college students in much less advantaged colleges. Ken Webb, Epping

Whereas I wholeheartedly agree that lecturers in authorities faculty are overloaded, I’d query Catherine Milburn’s assertions in regards to the nature of that overload. As a instructor for 43 years, I accepted things like mum or dad/ instructor evenings, scholar musicals, sporting occasions and organising excursions as a part of my job. They supplied essential academic experiences which enriched my college students and supplied me with technique of interacting with them. It’s the new administrative burden positioned on lecturers that each crushes and infuriates them. Limitless types and stories supposedly to show that they’re doing their job however actually chopping into lesson preparation, bureaucrats demanding that even probably the most unreasonable dad and mom and foyer teams be glad, and sudden adjustments of coverage and curriculum that should be carried out immediately. And on prime of this, a senior paperwork making unrealistic necessities, being with out {qualifications} in schooling or understanding of the character of faculties. Gary Eire, Elderslie

Music goes on

I can’t let this theme fizzle out with out a point out of the documentary of Joe Cocker’s Mad Canine & Englishmen tour of America, with two aircraft a great deal of musos, WAGs, assorted kids, roadies, tools and substantial portions of intercourse, medicine and rock’n’roll (Letters, February 26). However the music – wow! Stein Boddington, St Clair

Properly, it was a author referred to as Invoice Wyman who began this attention-grabbing sequence of letters about rock motion pictures. Now we have now a contribution from Brian Jones. The place are you Mick, Keith, Charlie? My contribution, for what it’s value, is The thirtieth Anniversary Live performance Celebration, which was a
celebration of the music of Bob Dylan with quite a few artists performing his many great songs together with George Harrison, Johnny Money, Eric Clapton, Tracy Chapman, Neil Younger and Chrissie Hynde. John Lees, Castlecrag

Forgotten or forgiven

A correspondent (Letters, February 26) suggests, “few would disagree with Nick Bryant that Trump’s character and plenty of alleged felonies ought to disqualify him from excessive workplace.” I’m guessing the “few” evaluation has little truck with the greater than 70 million People who’ll vote for Trump. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield

Pet peeves

It’s not leaving the cap off that’s the connection deal-breaker (Letters, February 26), it’s squeezing it from the highest. Dave Horsfall, North Gosford

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