Strength can be found on long road to independence

Peter Hartcher succinctly elucidates why Australia needs to assert its independence of other nations ("Beijing's true face unmasked", April 28). First the UK, then the USA, then China, have long been seen as fundamental to Australian safety and prosperity. I arrived in Australia in 1967, and couldn't understand why the Australian government was not as independent-minded as its people were. At last, an Australian government is showing glimmers of some independence of spirit. Long may it continue. Penny Ransby Smith, Lane Cove

Ambassador Cheng Jingye's threatening comments are unacceptable and will only serve to rally Australians around Scott Morrison. Increasingly and worryingly, Chinese benevolence masks a true malevolence behind it. Stuart Leckie, Port Macquarie

One can safely predict that ambassador Cheng's days in Australia are numbered because he committed the ultimate Chinese no-no: he spoke the truth – China's foreign policy is all about aggression. Good to hear of the government's resolve to stick to its demand for an independent investigation on the origin of COVID-19 and its intent to review our economic dependence on single markets. It is hoped that companies which trade exclusively with China consider their future with a government which respects neither contracts nor loyalties. John Colussi, Wahroonga

With such an over-the-top reaction to a vital global inquiry, methinks Beijing must have much to hide ("Beijing threatens costly economic boycott", April 28). Kay Buckeridge, Mollymook Beach

It is in China's interest, as well as the rest of the world, that the origin of the deadly virus is thoroughly investigated by a properly instituted UN panel to prevent the pandemic from occurring again.

While I share the ambassador's concern that some politicians and commentators are blaming China to divert attention from the West's own failure in public health management and carry on entrenched ideological battles, he could do well to micro-target his criticism rather than alienate the Australian public by threatening us with trade retaliation. Han Yang, North Turramurra

Our dependence on China's cheap imports has left us utterly vulnerable. While US President Donald Trump's crude protectionism is not the answer, there are ways of safeguarding our countries skills and industries.

Germany, for example, has run a carefully orchestrated manufacturing program of selectively importing components to reduce costs, producing its products in-house, while still managing to safeguard its intellectual property. As a result, it ranks second only behind China for net annual exports. We urgently need a national strategy to retain our independence to ensure we remain self-sufficient in a coronavirus pandemic, or any other crisis. David Catchlove, Newport

Ambassador Cheng suggests Australia's anti-Chinese rhetoric "is a kind of teaming up with those forces in Washington". I think he's right. Trump is the master of the blame game. But our politicians, notably Marise Payne, seem to be intent on going down the same path in vehemently pushing for an international inquiry and airing anti-Chinese comments. Time enough for inquiries when all this is over. In the meantime, let's concentrate on dealing with the immediate problem: getting through this pandemic. Chris Danckwerts, Turramurra

Why must teachers face risk alone?

Apparently, children are not a source of risk from coronavirus. However, schools are full of adults too: teachers and parents. So if it's safe for teachers to return to work, then why isn't it safe for everyone to return to work ("NSW students to be back at school full-time by the end of term two", smh.com.au, April 28 )? This is just more inconsistent and confusing messaging from the government. Are they playing populist politics, trying to gain support from the public by sacrificing the safety of teachers? Brenton White, Mosman

Thanks, David Crowe, for your insight (''Students at risk of losing weeks of learning from going online'', April 27). This year's HSC students are in a much better place than the HSC group of 2023, those in year 9 this year. As research demonstrates, year 9 is the year where student disengagement increases as does their desire to find their own person. This challenges both parents and teachers and is not conducive to successful online learning at home. Research also shows how important obtaining the HSC is on health, wealth and future generations. Yet these students will be some of the last to return under a year 12 and kindergarten first model proposed. Linda van Dulst, Padstow

I have always thought that the Prime Minister’s insistence that schools were safe and social distancing was unnecessary was pure hubris without scientific or medical basis. I wonder if reports in the United Kingdom of a rare, serious syndrome in children linked to coronavirus infection could change his views (''Very worried': Britain issues alert as possible new coronavirus syndrome emerges in children'', smh.com.au, April 28). Rachel Fitzhardinge, Hyams Beach

Efforts to get high school students back to the classroom are worthwhile but I’d encourage another approach regarding this year’s HSC cohort (''Three reasons why year 12 should go back to school immediately'', April 27).

Remote, self-directed learning, where possible, is a taste of university study conditions. At uni, there’s a class you can attend if you want to, some books to read if you choose to, an essay to write at your own pace and a test at the end. No one is marking the roll, no one is watching over your shoulder, no one is holding your hand. I’m a uni teacher and I see a lot of first-year students who haven’t learned the skills to get themselves through the course. It’s a valuable life lesson to be resilient and resourceful and one that won’t be wasted at uni or the workplace. Angus McLeod, Cremorne

Cook damned by history

Stan Grant provides an Aboriginal perspective on Captain Cook. How many of us knew that Cook shot an Aboriginal man as he was wading ashore, before he even set foot on the Australian continent (''The Captain James Cook I know'', April 28)?

Cook may have been a brilliant navigator and explorer. He may have had unremarkable attitudes for his times. But he was at the vanguard of white invasion of Australia. The historical injustice done to Aboriginal Australians can never be put right. But maybe we can try, and maybe more Australians can learn and acknowledge the truth of history. Geoff Black, Caves Beach

Thanks, Stan Grant; your view of history concurs with my own study. Cook shot an Aboriginal man as his boat entered Botany Bay. His gun was effectively the starting pistol in Britain’s race to the bottom as its quest for colonies reached a new low. To regard Cook’s endeavour as benign is self-serving and disregards the massacres and incarcerations that followed, dispossessing Indigenous people of their lands and their livelihoods. Annette Johnson, Brighton Le Sands

Expand housing plan

If the state government plans to buy up unoccupied housing stock, why confine it to the Parramatta area ("State may buy up housing in stimulus plan", April 28)? Apartment blocks in Waterloo and suburbs surrounding Green Square have lain dormant for years. Healthcare workers in hospitals such as RPA and Prince of Wales have been unable to afford to buy or rent property close to their employment or accessible by public transport for shift work. Allocation of housing stock for healthcare workers should be mandated in any new development applications and included in the government's current proposal. Patricia Farrar, Concord

Beaches belong to us all

Why not replace the “locals only” sentiment emerging on our public beaches with the “fair go” (''Locals back in water as virus loosens jaws'', April 28)? We could keep the crowds down by asking those who have exercised on a beach in the last month to stay home for a while and let those who have stayed home have a turn. First 500 to arrive get in regardless of their postcode. The beaches belong to everyone. Melinda Harrington, Epping

In the early days of COVID-19, the experts were unanimous in saying that any relaxation of social distancing rules would have to exclude the more vulnerable, including all older people, until a vaccine was found. As a 78-year-old grandmother, I've been scanning the information about the proposed rollbacks in various states with keen interest, and found no mention of any exclusions. Is that just an oversight that will be rectified (or not), or does it mean that they will, after all, be safe for us too? I hope for the latter, but fear that it's actually the former. Anne Ring, Coogee

Admittedly I have no medical qualifications, nor do I understand the complexities of economics, but as someone with a modicum of common sense, surely there should be no easing of any restrictions for at least two to four weeks after the last known reported case of someone contracting the virus. And then only very gradually. Jo White, Lilyfield

Realising super loss

I am disappointed that it is recommended that people use their superannuation to support themselves due to loss of income (''Costello backs early super access'', 'April 28').

To benefit from superannuation one needs to build up a large balance by way of contributions and increases by way of returns on the balance. This is the compounding effect. Hence withdrawal of funds has a detrimental effect on your final balance. Time lost cannot be recovered. Further, due to the fall in the share and other markets, assets held by superannuation funds are at low values. In effect a “paper loss”. If these assets are sold you realise the loss and cannot recover from it. Barry O’Connell, Toongabbie

Apply common sense

Yes, Jim Willis, I too got the bad news that my six-year-old phone is too old to install COVIDSafe (Letters, April 28). Surely this is an unintended consequence and not one deliberately coded in to make me, and I suspect, many others face the inconvenient truth that it’s time to upgrade? Flora Devery, Lane Cove North

Yep. Two mobiles here, neither will accept the app. One just a pre-paid but the one a new iPhone. So much for trying to assist with the virus tracking. Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

We’re not sure if the app “will keep working when my iPhone is locked or other apps are in use” (“Confusion surrounds iPhone’s compatibility with COVIDSafe”, April 28). Should I inject it with disinfectant and see if that helps?
Adrian Connelly, Springwood

Some correspondents, who are “relying” on the app to somehow help keep them safe, do not understand how it works. At least 15 minutes contact with someone else, at a distance of 1.5 metres, is required to “trigger” the application (“How does the coronavirus app work?”, April 28).

Anyone who cares about their own health, let alone that of others, should always know exactly with whom they have had extended contact (15 minutes or more). People who cannot avoid prolonged close contact with others on public transport may possibly benefit from the app.

The worst threats to public health in the last six weeks resulted largely from poor government decision making like the Ruby Princess or huge lines at Centrelink for days and days. All foreseeable, and all avoidable. An app may well have been useful on those occasions. For everyone else, continued common-sense and proper social distancing will be of far, far greater use than the app. Paul Parramore, Sawtell

Unnecessary cruelty

I really don’t care if an unnamed department official says it’s “unlikely Australia’s protection obligations would apply to the family” (''Tamil family wins costs but remains in limbo'', April 28). I really do care about Australia’s obligations to humanity. Bring the Sri Lankan family “home” to Biloela immediately or we are all guilty of cruelty. Jim Croke, Stanmore

It's a data. Or is it data? Difficult to keep track

The word "data" comes from Latin. It means "things given" (Letters, April 28). In the language of Caesar and Cicero it would have been pronounced more or less to rhyme with "stutter". In Vulgar Latin, much later in the piece, the first a was lengthened and the pronunciation became "dahta" – which in due course over the centuries gave us modern English "dayta". The prevalence of "dahta" in modern use results from 20th century ignorance, though, ironically enough, it recreates what ignorant people were doing 1500 years ago. Alex Jones, Kirribilli

The word is pronounced "dayta". This is not an opinion, or optional, it is just a fact. Data is the plural of the word datum. No-one pronounces that as "dahtum". Ian Reid, Chatswood

For those lamenting the American pronunciation of data, listen how the word defence is now pronounced.

Australians are now transitioning to the use of the American vernacular, leaving our British roots behind. Sixty-four years of television and movies have had a huge influence. Trevor Watson, Allambie Heights

Reading the room

I'm glad Ben Lee played We're All in This Together at Saturday night's concert and not his other hit Catch My Disease ("Old favourites lift spirits with modern means and pure hearts", April 27). Georgia Deeth, Como West

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