Our link to the Crown is an anachronism that must end

Bravo, Tom Keneally, I agree completely with your views on the outdated relationship between Australia and Britain (“Call this a geriatric rant if you wish, but at 90, I’ve decided enough is enough”, October 18). I have held these views for nearly as many years as Tom has been with us. As far back as the 1960s, when the “Australian” national anthem (God Save the Queen) was played in cinemas and everyone was obliged to stand, I did not comply, often to the obvious disapproval of the ushers and the surrounding audience. The disaster of the republic referendum surprised me, given I had stupidly assumed we had moved on as a multicultural nation and that we would agree we could rule ourselves. Like Tom, I have no wish to disassociate our country from the roots in the Commonwealth, but it is so ridiculous that a modern Australia could be technically ruled by the sovereign of another country. Let’s try again, Prime Minister. Warren Thomas, Merimbula

Thomas Keneally should not have finished his thought-provoking article by saying it could be “a geriatric rant”. It was wonderfully lucid and all Australians should thank our good fortune for the privilege of being part of this unique country, whatever our background. Ann Babington, Thornton

Princely accoutrements

I hope the royal family gives Andrew a good dressing-down (“Charles cut his brother adrift for the sake of his son”, October 19), perhaps starting with booting him out of his 25-room hunting lodge and into a minuscule 15-room chateau, and cutting his annual stipend down to a meagre few million pounds a year. That should really sting. But I don’t think we’ll be seeing Andrew on a street corner shaking a tin mug any time soon. The “firm” has a way of looking after its own, especially out of public sight. After all, it could happen to any of them. Patrick McGrath, Potts Point

It’s good to see Prince Andrew facing consequences for his behaviour – if you call losing a made-up title a consequence. Most people accused of the same things would lose their jobs, freedom and dignity. He just risks a downgrade from “His Royal Highness” to “His Royal Whoops” and still gets to be called prince. It must be good to be above the law, and the rest of us. Raj Kamath, Castle Hill

As the old rhyme goes, The grand old Duke of York, He gave twelve million quid, To someone he never met, For something he never did. Coral Button, North Epping

Anti-Trump protest

More than 60 years ago, US President Dwight Eisenhower warned of the dangers associated with rapid growth in military production and technology, and the associated power falling into the hands of a few individuals and institutions. Today, that power is being usurped by President Donald Trump and his coterie of pliant minions motivated by greed. The American people would do well to heed Eisenhower’s warning then, that “America today is just as strong as it needs to be. America is the strongest nation in the world and she will never be defeated or damaged seriously by anyone from the outside. Only Americans, only Americans, can ever hurt us.” How encouraging, then, to see so many of them turn out to protest against the nationalist and xenophobic path to self-destruction the United States is currently travelling (“Millions march for ‘no kings’ in biggest protest against Trump to date”, October 19). Mary Carde, Parrearra (Qld)

I suppose you could call what Trump is doing “anti-democratic” in the sense that is against everything the Democratic Party stands for. But when you are delivering what you promised in an election, that is as democratic as it gets. Most anti-Trump protests are just sour grapes and getting more violent by the day, just because they don’t like the guy who beat them. Rob Fraser, Balmain

Tomahawk tease

US President Donald Trump’s reluctance to provide Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles sounds like an excuse (“With Zelensky meeting, Trump makes clear his role in this conflict”, October 18). He claims that the US might need them itself. To use against whom? And when? Presumably, the war in Ukraine is more urgent and the US would have time to produce some more before they are needed in another conflict. Or maybe Trump has learned that he can have more leverage by just threatening to give them. David Rush, Lawson

Save the children

What a welcome yet so belated headline to Peter Hartcher’s opinion piece (“As the world watches, Australia stands up for childhood”, October 18). With our world teetering on the edge of disaster, two prominent Australian women need total support for their stance on safeguarding children’s rights by preventing tech oligarchs from exploiting them on social media. But it’s to our shame that it is only now that our government, represented by Communications Minister Anika Wells and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, is standing up to be counted and proving thankfully fearless in its determination. The fact that we seem to be the first country to make this stand is in itself staggering. The world has truly failed by enabling this situation to develop without protecting our young. The lack of foresight has allowed our kids to be thrown to the wolves. Judy Finch, Taree

PM empowers ministers

Correspondent Mike Kenneally criticises the PM for “pulling the plug” on the treasurer’s proposed tax reforms (Letters, October 17). On the contrary, good prime ministers allow, indeed encourage, “ministers to kick-start the process”, but they selectively intervene. In the case of Jim Chalmers’ superannuation tax changes, the revised legislation is what should have been introduced in the first place. It happens. The “plug” has not been pulled. The Albanese government has promised less and already delivered much more than its predecessors. In retrospect, the Voice referendum had no chance of securing a majority yes vote, but at least Albanese attempted this “major reform”, which was something beyond any of his predecessors. David Hind, North Sydney

Ok, Albanese doesn’t want a fight over taxing unrealised assets, but why doesn’t he have the ticker to tax realised assets? For decades, CGT tax-free deductions have been driving an inflationary wedge between houses as speculative wealth generators and houses as affordable homes. Peter Skinner, St Lucia (Qld)

Hope over hate

It was wonderful to see the picture accompanying Lucy Carroll’s article showcasing students representing Australia’s multicultural heritage (“Selective schools find a better half”, October 18). Contrast that with a recent article about Campion College, which defends its senior academics’ right to espouse white nationalism (“Academics defend white nationalism”, October 17). Sadly, one of these alleged “Australia’s Sons” has called multiculturalism a “poison”. So what can one take from these two articles? I suppose it’s really a matter of hope over hate. Here’s hoping these students excel in their studies and become productive members of our diverse society. Rob Asser, Balmain East

Whenever a Herald correspondent accurately raises the point that the public school system educates the majority of students with a disability, the Independent School Association or one of their well-resourced lobbyists dives in to try and refute the fact (Letters, October 18). Public schools, as the Gonski review acknowledged, educates the greatest number of disabled, multicultural, Indigenous and economically disadvantaged students. These students require the greatest funding and resourcing. Yet federal and state funding generously favours the independent sector, which receives well above the school resource standard. The only time the independent schools’ disability figures dramatically increase is when they are seeking to exploit the special provisions for their Higher School Certificate candidates. Mark Berg, Caringbah South

Your correspondent Sue Durman is happy she sent her three children through private education (13 years of school, probably totalling about a million dollars) as they all grew into polite, decent adults (Letters, October 18). I, too, have three grown-up kids. I put them through public schools and they have all also grown into polite, decent adults. The schools taught them maths, science, history and more. My partner and I also did the “polite, decent” curriculum – without spending a cent. Paul Doyle, Como

Sue Durman is incorrect that “there was no picking” when she enrolled her three children in private schools. The “picking” was based on her ability to pay, unlike public schools, which also have the capacity to grow polite, decent adults. Sharon McGuinness, Thirroul

I was once very close to a teacher who worked at a well-known Sydney private school. She told me several times that (academically) underperforming students had been forced to leave that school, effectively expelled, for alleged “behavioural problems”. These were completely normal teenagers, but their lower examination results dragged the reputation of the school down so they had to go. No doubt to a public school. Dave Williams, Port Macquarie

Good luck, Nic

Thank you to sports writer Tom Decent for his beautifully written and moving story about talented Australian cricketer Nic Maddinson (“Maddinson’s private battle with cancer”, October 18). It brought a tear to the eye. Nic has a great record in all forms of cricket and has brought enjoyment to many cricket fans. It would be terrific to see him perform in top-class cricket again, but my main wish is for him to have a long and healthy life with his family and to enjoy time at the park with his young sons. Good luck Nic, and thank you Tom Decent. Ken Butler, Mount Colah

Bombs for Hezbollah

Norman Broomhall wrongfully accused Israel of bombing south Lebanon to prevent the reconstruction of civilian infrastructure there (Letters, October 18). In fact, Israel has been stopping Hezbollah re-establishing itself in the area and refortifying itself, which would be a breach of the ceasefire agreement. Athol Morris, Forde (ACT)

Joyce bane

The possible defection of Barnaby Joyce from the Nationals to One Nation should surprise no one (“Hanson courts Joyce after Nats breakdown”, October 19)? Let’s be honest, he and Pauline Hanson are a good match. They can sit side by side and plot the destruction of the environment. Joyce is no loss to the Coalition; in fact, he was part of the reason for its embarrassing election loss, playing the poor man’s Bazza McKenzie and cosying up to Gina Rinehart instead of concentrating on helping the salt of the earth people of the land. And to think he was once acting prime minister. Ray Alexander, Moss Vale

So the slow train wreck that is the Coalition, and specifically the Nationals, gets a new lease of life with Barnaby Joyce’s weekend announcement. While Nationals leader David Littleproud may like to scrape that barnacle off, the message to the electorate is that it’s about politicians’ personal interests, not the voting public. Joyce has thrown all his toys out of the cot and has gone looking for a new cot. Don’t these politicians ever think of the voters who put them there in the first place? Just another reason to dial up the political cynicism meter. Grahame Riethmuller, Redbank

Barnaby Joyce is likely to vacate his Lower House seat and seek a Senate spot at the next election. Best news I’ve heard all year. Not living in his electorate, this move would, at last, give me the opportunity to vote him last. Richard Watson, Pyrmont

Different systems

As a Russian, I remember one of my teachers saying that a winner loses by behaving like one. That’s what Andrew Neil’s article is about (“China is rising, but the challenge is not from China alone”, October 19, 2025). Instead of making clever-clever observations, the author frankly admits what has long been well known in China and Russia: the current rules-based system designed by America is not equally compatible with their interests. Still, he overlooks the fact that looking good and feeling good are not the same things: a democratic country chopping and changing politically may be much poorer than an authoritarian one with a steadily rising GDP. Neil concluded by urging a fightback from democratic nations everywhere, but I am sure his countrymen don’t go a bundle on working as hard as a Chinese or fighting as hard as a Russian. Mergen Mongush, Moscow

Modify e-bikes

An e-bike rider myself, I am regularly appalled at the totally irresponsible behaviour of many fellow riders. I believe action needs to be taken before we see serious injuries and deaths. In my observation, most unsafe behaviour occurs with the bike in all-electric mode as riders race along roads, footpaths and through malls at high speed. Before e-bikes, we had bicycles and motorbikes, with virtually none of the current problems. E-bikes in all-electric mode are motorbikes and I think the best solution is for the law to treat them as such, with registration and licensing of riders. E-bikes with electric assist for pedalling should stay as bicycles; current e-bikes with all-electric mode would have to be modified to remove this feature or be registered. I believe this would resolve most of the current circumstances that are leaving many pedestrians, particularly the elderly, frightened and traumatised. Neil Edwards, Caringbah

No need for breed

Over the past 200-plus years, too many non-native predators have been brought to Australia and allowed to run wild and reproduce, destroying our unique creatures (“Claws out over push to import more Bengal cats”, October 19). We already have too many feral cat breeds. Bringing another cat breed in, even though its owners will promise faithfully that it will not be allowed to escape captivity and breed, cannot be justified. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

Whist-ful thinking

It’s on the cards that if Albo can sell our rare earths to America, then spades will be trumps. Ian Butchart, St Ives

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