Dutton seized his latest chance to target immigration

With utter predictability, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton jumped at the chance to turn the toxic behaviour of two healthcare workers into an anti-immigration issue (“Dutton calls for debate on powers to revoke citizenship”, February 13). Sadly, this event may leave some Australians feeling that their innate prejudice is, in fact, well-founded. Even more sadly, we have a prospective future PM eager to exploit this prejudice to his advantage. Tim Parker, Balmain

Peter Dutton’s penchant for demanding revocation of citizenship should be chilling for all Australians. He is no longer even limiting such demands to citizens who have actually been convicted of an offence. He is now proposing it for two very foolish nurses who will suffer many other consequences for their bad behaviour. None of us should assume we won’t be in the next group he wants to strip of citizenship. Samantha Chung, Kensington

Max Veifer used his social media platform to seek out antisemitic views and two nurses jumped into the trap, possibly thinking they were playing along with his scheming (“Man who exposed Sydney nurses reveals how he ‘got them’” , February 13). What they said was so disgusting and hateful I immediately thought it was a set-up, or a sick joke. Who is Veifer really, and has the media fallen into his trap? Is this a new example of the dangers of social media? Therese Schier, Casino

These two nurses have been found out and removed, but what about their homes, their friends? Sentiments like this don’t just appear out of nowhere. Are they a tip of the iceberg of hate? A tough job for the authorities, but hopefully they are checking the wider ripples in the pool. When will everyone involved in this confrontation accept that this is not their fight? Their refuge is Australia, and they’d better get along. The fight is elsewhere. Sue Milliken, Queens Park

Before we get the gallows ready for the two young nurses, can I suggest we approach this with adult wisdom, investigate how they came to say such awful things and whether there are prospects for their rehabilitation. Above all, we must neither blame nor fear our Middle Eastern medical personnel. I can say from experience that they have high principles, do their best for everyone, and that we would be poorer without them. Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay

People come to Australia to escape the hate of war, but sometimes they bring it with them. The haters need to step back and appreciate where they are, because there are so many terrible places to live in the world. Lorraine Zsoldos, Glen Innes

It seems okay for us to loudly condemn the dreadful comments of these two nurses. What they said was undoubtedly abominable and unacceptable. However, if one condemns the destruction of Gaza and the killing of more than 45,000 people one is accused of antisemitism. Just look what happened to Antoinette Lattouf. Lynne Raymond, The Ponds

Political sabotage

I fully support much-needed changes to the political donations laws, but the dog’s breakfast that has been dished up by the Coles and Woolies of Australian politics is a disgrace (“Teals’ fury at main parties over limits on donations,” February 13). There is only one reason why the two major parties could find bipartisan agreement on this issue – it would be of benefit to their parties and not the electorate. The teal movement has been a breath of fresh air to our polity, delivering intelligence, common sense and nuance. The majors have a large, well-funded party machine behind them, where national campaigns can be run and funds taken from unwinnable seats and targeted at winnable marginals. The independents don’t have this luxury. It’s hardly a level playing field. I urge electors to punish the majors for this undemocratic rort. Bill Young, Killcare Heights

Yes, the supposedly community-based independents, in unison, cry foul that individual donations are to be limited to $50,000. Raising that sum would require selling a lot of lamingtons and snags at community events. It’s much easier to just accept a cheque for $50,000. Why do the teals complain it’s unfair to impose such a limit? I am sure many Labor and Coalition representatives would be delighted with $50,000 donations from individuals in their electorates. The reality is that the legislation is designed to limit the influence of an individual over a political group. And why is that so important? So that one influencer does not hold the balance of power to control Australia, which is exactly what the teals have threatened to do over this piece of legislation and no doubt generally. Is that really what the electorate wants? Dennis Bluth Cammeray

I always wish for greater co-operation across parliament, but when does it happen the major parties decide to shore up their own election funding at the expense of any new blood. Here we go, back to the days of the lowest common denominator. Jill Napier, Phegans Bay

Smell the swamp

Thanks to correspondent David Morrison for giving me a good laugh (Letters, February 13). Trump a “breath of fresh air”? More like the putrid stench of a cesspool. Trump knows only one thing, chaos. He is currently undermining the foundations of the American constitution, violating the separation of powers and denying Congress its standing as a co-equal branch of government. His aim is not to make things better, but rather personal enrichment. To further his goal he has now recruited the richest man in the world. The end result will be lower taxes for the rich and misery for the poor. Trump is not the cure, he is the disease. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove

I’m amazed that David Morrison tried to conflate Donald Trump’s attack on DEI policies and a politically oriented judiciary. The republicans bought the US Supreme Court by refusing to confirm Democrat appointments and then rushing through Trumps picks, three of whom gave untrue statements in Senate confirmation hearings. But he was right that Trump does seem crazy at times. Jeff Evans, Cambewarra

The thought of Donald Trump as “a breathe of fresh air” makes me gag. He is a criminal, a serial liar and has no respect for the constitution he is sworn to defend. As a representative of America, he is a total disgrace. America’s bureaucracy is heavy-handed at times, but to run roughshod over the law and put incompetents in charge solely on the basis of their loyalty to a conman is not the way to improve things. This presidency smells too much to be fresh air. Richard Keyes, Enfield

Donald Trump thought, without proof, that there was a connection between DEI and the tragic Washington plane crash. Your correspondent, David Morrison, similarly thinks that DEI is life- threatening. I would have thought employing people based on their skills, training and reliability rather than their race, religion or disabilities would be beneficial for society, rather than leaving those same people unproductive. Division, Entitlement and Intolerance is the DEI that I condemn. Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

Your correspondent makes the breathtaking assertion that efforts to level historic inequities faced by women and other minorities are “unfair and potentially life-threatening”. The whole point of DEI is to address historical bias. Women, older people, Indigenous people and those of other nationalities still face discrimination. You only have to look at salary and job statistics, political representation, medical misogyny figures, domestic violence statistics and at its most base, online abuse. Trump is busy returning America to a “white male is best” mentality. If Trump is what the world needs, God help us all. Alison Stewart, Riverview

Trump wants Egypt, Jordan and other countries to take in Palestinians from the “living hell” of Gaza, but he doesn’t want to take Haitians, Colombians and Venezuelans from their living hells? But never let logic or compassion stand in the way of a property deal. Steven Lee , Faulconbridge

All’s well, or is it?

There I was, feeling depressed and jaded about the cost of living, the flat recent past, the regular fumblings of our PM, government splurging and the scary mood of anti-semitism, when, out of a clear blue sky, Graham appeared (Letters, February 13) to assure me that, under Labor, we’re going great. Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield

Fish market was destined to flop

Something smelled fishy back in 2019 when the government announced a $500 million cost blowout at the proposed new Sydney Fish Market (“Sydney Fish Market on brink of collapse”, February 13). The somewhat murky business case then seemed to be skewed towards the profits from selling off the old fish market site for up to 1100 units in towers up to 35 storeys, but these are never shown in the glamorous impressions of a “revitalised” Blackwattle Bay. This latest financial problem just shows that we are left with a piscine pig in a poke. Evan Bailey, Glebe

Surprise, surprise – there are huge problems with the new Sydney Fish Market. The government thought that it knew better than the experts and the opinions of the public, and we see where this has led. The same can be said about the controversial “revitalisation” of the new Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo. Despite objections from the public and multiple experts, within a few days the government is set to announce at least $350 million (excluding inevitable cost overruns) in spending on the project. Even though considerable damage has already been done, the government still has time to halt the process. Such a move would be immensely popular and would save huge financial waste and damage to our reputation as a cultured democratic nation. Tom Lockley, Pyrmont

Life of lessons

It is so good to see the Education Department welcoming older teachers back into the fold for the benefit of both students and younger teachers – who may well turn to them as mentors (“Back to school not just for children”, February 13). While the number of healthy older people who still have a lot to offer grows, persistent ageism often leaves them out in the cold. Let’s hope more employers take a leaf out of the department’s age-friendly book. Anne Ring, Coogee

Soft on sentencing

I completely agree with Fran Durand that the judiciary failed in the light sentence it imposed on Inspector AB (Letters, February 13). However, I am more concerned about the continuing legal suppression of his name. I believe the media tried and failed to have the suppression order overturned, but I can’t understand why. I am surprised the public hasn’t demanded to know the name of the senior police officer who engaged in such inappropriate behaviour. Rosemary Long, Wyoming

Danger on wheels

A timely article from Claire Heaney about pedestrian etiquette (“Dear fellow pedestrians, keep to the left, you drongos”, February 13), especially considering that, as well as phone zombies we will soon also be challenged by e-scooters whizzing around us (“Sydney gets another e-bike company, with e-scooters not far off”, February 13). This will happen even though Adam Rossetti, the manager for e-bike company Ario, very helpfully lists “the stubborn challenges that we haven’t been able to solve as a sector”. They scarily include, but are not limited to, not wearing helmets, speeding and pedestrian safety. Considering that we are all pedestrians at some point, what an amazingly terrifying sales pitch. Pauline McGinley, Drummoyne

Mental health matters

We welcome your support of GPs in their bid to extend bulk-billing to under 35s, along with your sentiment that “every citizen should have access to healthcare when they need it, regardless of their age or income” (“It should be easier for young Australians to visit a GP”, February 12). The same access should, without question, extend to mental healthcare. Like GPs, we at the Australian Association of Psychologists believe there should be a bulk-billing incentive for those under 35 seeing a psychologist, and that for anyone seeing a psychologist, the Medicare rebate must be higher. With recent Productivity Commission figures showing that fewer people are accessing psychology appointments since the federal government halved the subsidised sessions, the right to affordable mental healthcare has never been more urgent. Access to both physical and mental healthcare should be given equal priority. Sahra O’Doherty, Leichhardt

Pay to play

I’m 70 and have been surfing since I was 10. Nowadays, I am a reluctant longboard rider, too old and fat for my shorter board. I can’t cart my nine-foot stick to the beach by bus or train – only on the racks of my 15-year-old car. A couple of hours’ surfside parking fees costs the same as a couple of days’ food, but I need the exercise and mental rejuvenation that surfing gives me. Am I wrong to feel hard done by? Andrew Cohen, Glebe

Mixed bag

The interesting middle aisle of Aldi was mentioned by your correspondent on Thursday (Letters, February 13). I agree. I went to buy bread the other day and came home with an anvil and a flagpole. Glenn Holmes, Katoomba

Valentine’s commitment

Valentine’s Day certainly improves the sale of chocolates, greeting cards and flowers, while warming the hearts of young lovers (and those young at heart). But amid all the romance, it’s easy to overlook the sobering fact that February 14 marks the day Catholic martyr St Valentine was beheaded for breaking a Roman ban on conducting marriages. Like John the Baptist, Valentine paid the ultimate price for his beliefs. In fact, he exhibited exactly the commitment and long-suffering qualities still necessary for the endurance of marriage, family and community. David D’Lima, Sturt (SA)

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