Steps to peace: listen unconditionally, find a common goal

Peter Hartcher draws our attention to a seemingly impossible hurdle to clear in order to bring peace to Gaza, namely, the “unquenchable hatred against the other” driven by a minority of fanatics on opposing sides (“Trump’s Gaza deal is a welcome ceasefire. Now for the tricky bit”, October 10). Very deep emotion, such as hatred, derails rationality, which is essential for the resolution of conflict. We see it at home expressed in some domestic violence situations and, at times, in our courts and in political debates. I have no simple answers but I offer two suggestions. The first is to listen to the story of the other without challenging the story – listening can initiate healing. The second is to find and focus on common goals that all parties care deeply about. Differences diminish in intensity when we work for a shared goal we all feel strongly about. Reflecting on the tragedy in Gaza might lead us to look at ourselves at home and learn. Paul Casey, Callala Bay

Like Peter Hartcher, I am grateful for the role that Donald Trump has played in brokering a possible peace deal in Gaza. The millions of people across the world who marched for peace will welcome an end to this conflict. The marchers, the peace flotillas, the UN, the nations that recognised Palestine, and every person, organisation and nation that worked towards an end to the fighting deserve credit. Trump should not receive the Nobel Peace Prize, however, because he is not a peaceful man. He does not share a commitment to peace that previous recipients such as Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa and Desmond Tutu had. Trump recently renamed the US Department of Defence the Department of War. His 2024 election campaign was based on seeking retribution (not forgiveness) for the people he felt had wronged him. He has weaponised the US Department of Justice to hound his critics. He has sent troops into strong Democratic voting cities. Adding Trump’s name to the Nobel Peace Prize list would be atrocious. Mike Reddy, Vincentia

Allocating all the praise for the pending ceasefire in Gaza to Trump is questionable and premature (“US president deserves praise for forcing the breakthrough”, October 10). Without the pressure from most democracies, including Australia, as well as the UN for a ceasefire and for recognition of Palestine – against Trump’s directly expressed wishes – I very much doubt there would be a breakthrough, if indeed it happens. Al Svirskis, Mount Druitt

We are all grateful for a ceasefire in the Middle East: that goes without saying. What is not assured is a separate, sovereign, free and self-governing state for the Palestinians. This was first proposed in 1937 and many times since. Nothing ever came of any of these proposals. At first glance, it appears ironic that Israel’s president yielded to Trump, but Benjamin Netanyahu is beholden to Trump like no other. If “three thousand years of peace” is to be achieved, a true, separate Palestinian state must be a minimum requirement. Otherwise, history will just keep on repeating itself, regardless of who wins a Nobel Peace Prize. John MacKay, Asquith

How can a man who sends in the troops against his own citizens possibly be in any way a serious contender for the Nobel Peace Prize? Ross Hudson, Mount Martha

Driving home in the car the other day, a Vietnam War protest song came on called War by Edwin Starr. The lyrics are as relevant to today’s conflict zones in Gaza and Ukraine and all the other conflict zones around the world as they were to Vietnam. Maybe a copy should be sent to Trump, Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin. As Molly Meldrum used to say on Countdown, do yourself a favour and have a listen. Kaye Leitch, Austins Ferry (Tas)

Executed at sea

In the past six weeks, Trump has ordered US troops to destroy four speedboats in the Caribbean Sea, thousands of kilometres away from the United States. The president said the attacks were conducted without warning, were intended not to stop but to kill all on board, and succeeded in their missions. Trump has claimed that the victims are “narco-terrorists” who were planning to deliver illegal drugs to American buyers. He apparently believes that because these folks are presumably foreigners, they have no rights and he may freely kill them. As far as we know, none of these nameless, faceless persons was charged or convicted of any federal crime. We don’t know if any were Americans. But we do know that all were just extrajudicially executed. Can the president legally do this? In a word, no. Norman Broomhall, Port Macquarie

Fiction now reality

With the latest Trumpian national security edict (NSPM-7), we see the transition of “thought crimes” in George Orwell’s1984 from fiction to reality. In an attempt to eliminate “radical leftism”, it will be an offence to be “anti-American”; to support the overthrow of the US government; to support “extremism” on migration, race and gender; to show hostility towards “traditional American values”, to those who hold those views, and to “those who hold traditional views on morality”. For anyone still not recognising what is happening to our great and powerful friend, this edict, along with the recorded, visual evidence of brutal ICE actions, electoral system fixing and high-level corruption, surely proves that America ain’t what she used to be. David Baird, Burradoo

Defence land win/win

I refer to Matthew Knott’s article (“Defence to sell off sites”, October 10). Has the government thought of the alternative of retaining ownership of the land and leasing it for the long term? This presents an opportunity for the government to provide public, essential, affordable and build-to-rent housing. Perhaps super funds could be encouraged to invest long term in the construction of this housing. It could be a win/win situation. The government would get to help solve the housing problems facing a growing portion of Australians; it would lock profit-hungry developers out; and it would bring an interesting mix of people to various communities. Just a thought. Neil Bradford, Potts Point

Hands across the aisle

It was pleasing to read that political rivals Josh Burns (Labor MP) and Julian Leeser (Liberal MP) have been working closely together to tackle growing antisemitism since the beginning of the war in Gaza (“A friendship that grew from shattered glass and shared values”, October 10). Perhaps now these two prominent Jewish politicians could “reach across the aisle” to their Muslim colleagues in parliament. That demonstration of largesse and humanity would certainly take courage and integrity, and may bring some much-needed understanding of the pain felt by all members of our society, Jewish and Muslim alike. Louise Greenwood, Balmain

Teachers need more time

I couldn’t agree more with Adam Voigt’s take on the predicament of our teachers (“Why our teachers are choosing mining jobs over classrooms”, October 10). One in five teachers want to leave the profession in the next five years, and who can deny the appeal of having a typical workday, a luxury Australia’s teachers don’t have? Teaching is not a typical job. The day is structured very differently from most professions, which have clear start and finish times, as well as lunch breaks. As Voigt mentioned, teachers spend most their day in the classroom, which means that planning and preparing lessons, administrative work and marking have to be done before and after hours. Voigt also highlights the weaknesses in the “canned curriculum” solution to teacher’s lack of planning time problem. Teachers who care about and see the value in a teacher-designed curriculum spend their weekends and holidays planning for their classes. These teachers are typically rewarded with more work to compensate for the deficiencies of “the inexperienced, the indifferent and the burnt-out teachers who remain behind”. Voigt provides an ominous warning that these teachers may be all we have in the future if this trend continues. Saba Mustafa, Punchbowl

Well-earned recognition

There is so much to love about Professor Richard Robson (“Humble Australian Nobel winner gets straight back to work teaching”, October 10). A Nobel Prize one day and teaching first-year university students the next. With so many stories of the burnout of teachers and disillusionment with education in this country, what an inspiration he is. At 88, this scientist and teacher clearly has more to give. Congratulations and thank you professor, how lucky we are to have someone like you. Lisa Williams, Dulwich Hill

No home security

Waleed Aly’s excellent analysis of the complexities of the current housing market refers to the “deep psychological effects on society” that our unequal housing system has caused (“Housing, Australia’s great divide”, October 10). One crucial effect of our broken housing system he doesn’t refer to is the disincentive for young couples and women of childbearing age to have children due to the cost of putting a roof over their heads. The ramifications of a declining and ageing population are manifold and costly to society, something that has been recognised for decades. It is an indictment of our society that wealth means individual wealth, and that obtaining it comes at the expense of the younger generation, who are indeed Australia’s future. Kate Lumley, Hurlstone Park

Waleed Aly, I’d say a majority of Australians are worried about the lack of affordable housing for the younger generation. The anger felt over Peter Dutton’s multimillion-dollar real estate portfolio, made possible by his hero John Howard’s halving of the capital gains tax, when he was in a position to fix this monstrous inequity, no doubt hastened Dutton’s exit from politics. Independent Allegra Spender has a starting point: all taxes, everything, should be on the table. Models of affordable housing from all corners of the world should be considered. Our prime minister, now at the top of his game, is capable of leading the societal change needed to view housing as shelter, not a means of wealth creation. Sue Young, Bensville

Housing policies have been set by those comfortably ensconced in their own homes, and what an utterly dreadful job they have done. The housing market of yore has been destroyed and now resembles a Ponzi scheme because the intrinsic value of houses in providing shelter has been dwarfed by what the rich are prepared to pay to respond to the investment incentives governments have set out. Yet the present government chooses more of the same as its only response after dithering for 41 months. This is not the time for slingshots. All guns must be directed at reducing investment demand and increasing supply. Many wouldn’t like to see such bravery by the government, but they start from a position of great comfort now denied to young ownership aspirants. Mike Bush, Port Macquarie

I refer to Paul Sakkal’s article (“Labor’s housing agenda in crisis amid complaints, resignations”, October 10) and question why the minister sets impossible national supply targets, like building 240,000 new homes a year over the next five years, when in the 2024 calendar year we only built 168,000 new dwellings and in the previous year 163,000. How on Earth are we going to build 75,000 extra new homes? The government response to the housing affordability crisis seems to mainly focus on the supply side, which will be stubbornly hard to move, and not on reducing stimulus to the demand side. There must be a shift in policy focus away from promoting residential property as an investment. We must promote housing as a human right rather than solely as an investment. Policies like discounted capital gains tax and negative gearing have incentivised housing as an investment, rather than a basic human right, increasing demand and substantially detaching house prices from income. Ian Muir, Chatswood

Please explain

The inadequate explanation for not allowing any reference to Palestinian statehood was disdainful of SBS staff and viewers alike (“SBS staff sworn off naming Palestine despite federal recognition”, October 10). SBS is a public broadcaster, so there’s no place for bias or unwarranted censorship in its programs. The current affairs managing editor is employed by taxpayers, so is accountable to us. In light of this, perhaps the explanation and editorial approach to the conflict in Gaza should be revisited. Graham Lum, North Rocks

Renewables impact

We talk of a footprint of 5000 square kilometres of land for renewable energy (Letters, October 8). As far as I can tell, there are 50 cattle stations that size in Australia. Hardly a major setback, one might think. The National Party speaks very loudly about the impact of renewables, but has nothing but enthusiastic support for gas fracking, coal mining, coal seam gas infrastructure and massive deforestation. The Nationals have very close links to the coal and gas industry, including ex-MPs on company boards, and are generously financed by them. The Nationals may sometimes represent big agribusiness, but it is a long time since they represented farmers and the wider rural communities. In my youth we used to call them the Multi-National Party for a reason. Jock Webb, Narromine

It would be good to know what your correspondent considers to be a “modest expansion of agricultural land” to feed population growth by 2080 (Letters, October 10). Land clearing in Australia has continued at an alarming rate despite efforts to control this practice. It’s all about greed in 2025. Glenn Johnson, Leura

Tyre pressure gauge

As I understand it each tyre has a manufacturer’s product number (“Tyre-dumping hotspot, the undercover investigation – and a $200,000 clean-up”, October 10). Thus, each tyre can be traced from the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to the tyre dealer to the vehicle it’s installed on. The tyre can then be traced again when it is replaced. As vehicle users we pay that disposal fee so surely that manufacturer number can still be recorded when it’s correctly disposed off. Any tyre “that goes missing” can be traced again back to the business that either removed it or refitted it. Surely the EPA has the power and the will to get our government to enforce this legislation. Michael Hayden, Kiama Downs

Batting prowess

I disagree with correspondent Steven Lee, who says the pink batts scheme “failed miserably” (Letters, October 10). More than a million homes are now more energy efficient, saving massive amounts of gigawatt hours. The scheme delivered a much-needed stimulus to a sector of the building industry during a major economic crisis, and a CSIRO inquiry found that, despite popular perception, there were fewer house fires during the scheme’s operation than before it. Lloyd Swanton, Wentworth Falls

Petty divisions

The Liberals should be patient by giving Sussan Ley a fair go as leader of the party (“Libs may resist this Hastie elevation”, October 10). The whole scenario of two teams working against Ley is proof of how shallow the talent pool in the Liberal Party is at the moment. Robyn Lewis, Raglan

Bees have flown

Your correspondent’s reference to the decline in the number of insects crashing into her windscreen prompts the question: has anyone seen more than one or two bees this spring (Letters, October 10)? It’s worrying for home tomato growers, flower gardeners and lovers of citrus trees, to name a few. Wayne Duncombe, Lilyfield

Bring them home

The government must with great urgency bring home the Australian women and children detained in Syria’s Al-Hawl refugee camp (Letters, October 10). They are our citizens and deserve no less. Ian Falconer, Turramurra

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