State funeral money would be better spent elsewhere

Why have state funerals been offered to John Laws and Graham Richardson? Laws spent his career in commercial radio becoming Australia’s first successful shock jock, acquiring enormous wealth in the process (“Goodbye world: Radio legend dies”, November 11). Richardson was a power broker for the Labor Party, spending much of his time wheeling and dealing (“Long lunches, Swiss bank accounts and a kangaroo scrotum: My pursuit of Richo”, November 11). Ethics were not high on his list of priorities. Both men were prominent figures in Australia, but their activities allowed them to acquire wealth and power. State funerals should be reserved for prominent figures who have given a lifetime of selfless devotion and hard work serving the people. My condolences to both men’s families but, considering both these personalities spent a good part of their lives acquiring wealth, sometimes by questionable means, the money would be better spent on public schools and hospitals. Leo Sorbello, Leichhardt

I wonder if the prime minister will change his mind about offering Graham Richardson a state funeral in the light of Kate McClymont’s article (“Richo was the one who got away”, November 11). And will deputy PM Richard Marles still insist Richardson was a Labor hero? The party is simply damaging its reputation by glorifying Richardson, who had strong ties with Eddie Obeid. Catherine Moore, Charleys Forest

“I know that you know but you’ll never prove it,” Graham Richardson told Kate McClymont. The Herald’s investigative reporter has revealed the true colours of the former political heavyweight, which his fellow Labor mates would have been well aware of. And we are offering a state funeral for this man? Our standards are dropping by the day. Stewart Copper, Maroubra

Bravo, Kate McClymont. The attempted sanitisation of Graham Richardson’s political and personal deceitfulness has been nauseating. To quote Voltaire, “To the living we owe respect, but to the dead we owe only the truth.” Grant Heaton, Port Macquarie

After Kate McClymont’s article the prime minister might like to change the state funeral to a long Labor lunch at Machiavelli’s. Gavin Williamson, Wheeler Heights

I wish to express my deep concern regarding Kate McClymont’s story. I counted myself as a friend of Graham Richardson and I was sickened when I read this skewering of the man. The lack of sensitivity after Richardson’s death just three days prior is breathtaking. I send strength and love to Graham’s wife, son, family and friends. While it is the responsibility of journalists to report the truth, the timing and manner in which stories are told can have profound implications, particularly while family and friends are still grieving. RIP Richo. Roger Lindeman, Sylvania

Fear and loathsome

How has it come to this that 60 men standing in line have wrought such fear and disruption (“Faces of hate”, November 11)? If nothing else, this has the potential to escalate from attempted intimidation to terror, if we allow it. We can legislate against hate speech and violence but how far can we go in banning ideas or ideologies in a liberal society? Our best defence is to stand up for those who are targeted and marginalised by such hate and express our belief in the value of every human being. Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

“No one told me” is not an excuse, it is a sign of systemic and/or cultural failure for which Mal Lanyon bears responsibility, even if that may appear unfair (“Plea of ignorance just doesn’t cut it”, November 11). Can you imagine the commentary if this neo-Nazi performance had occurred in Karen Webb’s time, at any point in her tenure? I know some will respond that it is a fault of an existing culture for which his predecessor carries responsibility, but is it really or is it about a culture of covering for a bloke? Olga Wynne, Croydon

Like Jenna Price, anyone with an ounce of compassion and common sense is devastated by the recent neo-Nazi protest outside NSW Parliament House and the negligence of NSW Police (“What we just witnessed was state-sanctioned Nazism”, November 11). It is inexcusable, despite Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon brushing off this colossal stuff-up as a “communication error”. Price’s article brought tears to my and, I’m sure, many other readers’ eyes. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

Jenna Price makes the predictable comment that had the neo-Nazi protest been allowed by previous police commissioner Karen Webb, one would expect to have seen “the hounds baying and Ben Fordham calling for her resignation”. While I can’t comment on what’s happening on the Sydney airwaves, I’d suggest that the public and the media are doing a pretty reasonable job of letting those involved know of their dissatisfaction. Ross MacPherson, Seaforth

The premier and police commissioner reportedly did not know about the protest application by the neo-Nazis. Considering that the police seem focused on any other protest taking place in Sydney, including the over-vigorous response to a legitimate protest against an arms fair, I find the lack of knowledge about protesting Nazis extraordinary. Perhaps this will be used as an excuse for further restrictions on the right to protest in NSW. Paul Pearce, Bronte

I imagine I am not the only woman who looks at that image of the all-male neo-Nazi rally and feels real unease. It would not only be Jews who feel threatened but women, too, by the uber-masculine, aggressive and solely male packs that now regularly take centre-stage at rallies throughout Australia. These men, all dressed in black and with sullen faces, seem to have separated themselves from a balanced society and operate in their miserable, aggressive little bubble, themselves weak but unable to see it. Judy Hungerford, Kew (Vic)

As your editorial correctly argues, neo-Nazism and racial hatred have no place in Australia (“Racial hatred has no place anywhere in Australia”. November 10). Now, could Australia perhaps express the same sense of outrage at the racial hatred that drove Adam Goodes from the AFL, that scuppered the Voice, that the ABC’s Tony Armstrong has fought to expose in sport, that community leaders have long strived to expose for the betterment of First Nations People? The Jewish Board of Deputies’ legitimate concerns over neo-Nazism have received wide publicity. Can we please have a similar level of publicity about First Nations people’s 200-year fight against racism and dispossession? Douglas Broad, Highgate Hill

Given that it seems pretty easy to get permission these days, who’s up for an anti-idiot march? See you on the street, comrades. Jeff Apter, Keiraville

Healthy respect

In the words of former TV presenter Andrew Denton, there are just two periods in the history of modern Australia: before Gough and after Gough (“Women lost a champion in Whitlam”, November 11). As a doctor before and after, the truth to this I best know is Medibank and the paradigm shift in equity of healthcare it brought to all Australians. Graeme Stewart, Avalon Beach

Ian Morison is confusing the issues (Letters, November 11). Supporters of Gough Whitlam are motivated not by blind loyalty but the outstanding legislative record of his government. A list of his achievements is far too long for this page, and 50 years later have stood the test of time. Some of the “groupies” have also “maintained the rage” about the manner of the Dismissal, and fair enough. Imagine if President Trump was sacked to resolve the US government shutdown and a Democrat was installed in his place? That’s pretty much what happened 50 years ago. Denis Goodwin, Dee Why

Development roadblock

The proposal to build thousands of home units around Warringah Mall and Pittwater Road looks remarkably similar to plans for Parramatta Road and other major thoroughfares (“1500 homes, towers up to 39 stories: Plans for northern Sydney shopping site revealed”, November 11). The road corridor to the city is four to six lanes and is already at capacity during peak periods (sound familiar?), and in this case no sign of light rail. One can only assume that already stretched commuters will have to walk through a conga line of end-to-end stationary B Line buses to reach their destinations. Commuters from south of the spit bridge may well have to walk across the rooftops to achieve the same result. Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest

I live on the northern beaches. While there are many excellent reasons to reside here, efficient public transportation is not one of them. Now our local council is suggesting Brookvale as a significant development opportunity. A train service was proposed in 1927 and is routinely trotted out when elections loom, but the northern beaches line remains a bridge too far for our state government. We were promised a road link/tunnel, but that proved to be another mirage. Sydney’s metro network seems destined to grow as we struggle to meet housing demands and our fearless leaders will, no doubt, target the northern beaches for greater density. To do so without first addressing transport and other social infrastructure is a recipe for yet another dog’s breakfast development. I suspect, however, that along with Santa Claus and the tooth fairy, a northern beaches rail link will remain a cherished fantasy. George Williams, North Balgowlah

Learn from the past

Des Connolly described schools like Hartford College as taking us back to an “idealised past” (Letters, November 11). As a founding parent of Hartford, I can say the opposite is true. Parents and teachers are collectively committed to the rounded formation of the students and fostering a pursuit of truth. Great works of the distant and recent past are read because of their timeless insights. Hartford has families from many creeds and races. Together, we joyfully create a learning environment that fosters great outcomes for boys. I wish the same for all schools, be they state, systemic or independent. Tim Mitchell, Maroubra

Hear, hear Janine Burdeu (Letters, November 11). The reallocation of school funding could be achieved today if the government adopted David Gonski’s proposals. He recommended funding schools on the basis of need which, quite clearly, doesn’t apply to wealthy private schools. Funding for needy schools could include low-fee private schools as well as public schools. Just get on with it, Albo. Elizabeth Elenius, Pyrmont

Take responsibility

Amy Hiller states that “fossil fuel companies cause 75 per cent of climate change” (Letters, November 11). While fossil fuel companies are indeed far from innocent, just who causes climate change is more nuanced. Fossil fuel companies produce oil, refineries sell it to airlines, airlines burn it, but only when they have passengers, and advertising travel brings passengers. Given that every item we consume and every service we use has a carbon footprint, it can well be argued that, while acknowledging the role fossil fuels have played, as consumers, we are all to blame. Peter Lane, Margaret River (WA)

Pack it in

Yes, Bianca Hall, packaging is out of control. Apart from excessive food wrappings, when did so many of our shampoo, conditioner and other liquid products go from having a lid to a pump-action dispenser (“Why you pay more for pointless packaging”, November 11?) These dispensers cannot be recycled. Are we so lazy that tilting a bottle is beyond us? As consumers, we need to keep learning these same basic lessons (reuse, reduce, recycle) and companies must be forced to produce only recyclable containers. Rhyan Andrews, Faulconbridge

Enough rope

So the lunatics are running the BBC as well (“Trump slaps BBC with $1.5 billion lawsuit threat over edited video”, November 11). Who in their right mind would have come up with the idea to edit the Trump footage in such a way, never mind put it to air? Such an act, once exposed, achieves the opposite effect of what was intended – sympathy and empathy for a man who deserves none of it. The once-great BBC has disgraced itself at great moral, and probably financial, cost. May this be a lesson to all media that honesty is the best policy, no matter who the subject is. Donna Wiemann, Balmain

It is beyond belief that the BBC has handed Trump a gift-wrapped cudgel for him to beat them with, and a gold-plated justification to claim that everything critical of him in the media is “fake news”. There is no need to edit or doctor any footage of this man speaking, walking or standing still, to expose him for what he is. Kristina Vingis, Church Point

Home free

One way for Janette Purdon to get around her council’s ridiculous granny flat laws is to build an extension to her current home that includes a very long corridor separating the old and the new (“Why granny flats are the latest front in Sydney’s housing wars”, November 11). Anne Kirman, Wilton

No sting in this tale

Every year I get stung when walking barefoot through the carpet of jacaranda flowers to collect my Sydney Morning Herald. Sadly I haven’t seen or heard one bee this year. Margie Christowski, Roseville

Lest we forget

The sun sparkled on the water at Toowoon Bay Beach on Tuesday morning. School groups played volleyball, people relaxed in the sun, did yoga or sat outside the cafe drinking coffee. At 11am The Ode was read and the Last Post played for Remembrance Day. Absolutely everyone on the beach stood and faced the ocean for one minute of silence. The school groups stopped activities and stood on the water’s edge. The yoga class, people on the rocks, folks on the sand and at the cafe stood to remember the fallen soldiers of World War I. What a moving scene as the yoga teacher reminded the class when they again drifted off into relaxation that we must not take peace for granted. We are lucky to live in Australia. Margaret Collins, Terrigal

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