Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs I live in Ruskin Rowe and it beggars belief that the council would pour so much time and money into such an absurd decision to fell two magnificent trees (“Community takes axe to council tree felling”, February 19). Supposed “sudden branch dropping syndrome” cannot be identified in advance. All trees, and particularly gums, drop branches. Given the council seemed so possessed to attend to these two trees, why not simply remove the dead wood and move on, as we all do with our properties on the peninsula? Musk is wasted in Washington. We need this bloke here at the Northern Beaches Council, and pronto. Bruce Hall, AvalonBravo Canopy Keepers. Your advocacy and activism to preserve mature trees in your suburb is much appreciated. In Lake Macquarie, council signs are erected where trees once grew to alert the community to tree vandalism, and request information about the perpetrators. Sadly, convictions are rare. Freshly planted, three-metre tall coastal banksias adjacent to a car park are chopped down; casuarinas disappear if they block a view. In a major local conservation area, boardriders remove a significant grove of trees to improve sight lines when a competition is on. The level of entitlement is bizarre. Messaging about global warming and biodiversity loss are ignored: if a tree is any way inconvenient, get rid of it. Dorin Suciu, EleebanaDouble chargedI often take a taxi home from a charity job (“Cab company changed rules to dismiss complaints”, February 19). On May 24 last year, I arrived home and paid by card as always. When I got inside, I noticed I had been charged double the regular fare, so I complained to the relevant authority, the “point-to-point transport commissioner”, and attached the receipt. It took until late June to receive a “complaint acknowledgement letter” from P2P. It then took until July to receive a response from the taxi company, stating: “Upon investigation, we have discovered that this fare isn’t an overcharge”, adding that my “feedback was valuable”. I challenged that “finding” in an email with several other receipts demonstrating the usual fare, but never heard back from the taxi company or the transport commissioner’s office. Nick Andrews, Bellevue HillCaffeine economicsFair enough, Rachel Clun (“Want your local cafe to survive? Start paying $7 a coffee”, February 19), it does sound like we should all be paying extra for our coffee, but if an extra 20¢ per cup “would more than cover the cost of increased wholesale prices”, how can cafes justify charging an extra $2 a cup? Kerrie Wehbe, BlacktownMy local barista was almost in tears as she told me the price of my daily coffee had to rise. My reply was that even if I had to pay $10 for a cup of her wonderful brew and friendly face, I’d still pay it. Small cafes provide a great service to the community, they work long hours, know the names of regular customers and serve with a smile. If that’s the price of what we have to pay for somewhere to catch up with friends and provide local jobs, so be it. Christine Tiley, Albany Creek (Qld)How much would you pay for this?
Credit: iStockStrong womanHow refreshing to see Jodie Haydon carve out her “own identity and purpose” as head of strategic partnerships at Teachers Mutual Bank, while standing beside the prime minister (“Small, intimate: PM and Jodie Haydon reveal wedding plans”, February 19). Her decision to continue working full-time and maintain her professional independence sets a fantastic example for young girls and women across Australia. Too often, women in public life are expected to fade into the background. Instead, Haydon’s stance reinforces that success isn’t defined by who you’re with, but by what you achieve. She is a fantastic role model for modern Australia. Marina Cardillo , BeecroftGod and warCorrespondent Phil Bradshaw says God is the reason for the Middle East conflict and that secular societies are the answer (Letters, February 19). I would suggest he contemplates the history of fully secular communist societies and the murders of their own citizens. Human nature needs to be tamed, and I would suggest a gentler means is Christianity, the bulwark of western civilisation. Roger Cedergreen, KirraweeNo, Phil Bradshaw, there has never been “a better time to push for a fully secular society”, nor to ask that question. Belief in a god is a personal option and we (the world’s occupants) would all be better off if this was exercised inwardly and alone. I wish. Ann Babington ThorntonPhil Bradshaw has identified the root cause of an ancient problem. It doesn’t seem to be working out for the current crop of man-made organised religions and their various takes on gods and prophets. Their hatred for one another has only deepened over the centuries and the resulting death toll, in the tens of millions, is beyond horrendous. It is time to re-embrace paganism for those who have a need for gods, or to shift to the freedom and tolerance of the more sensible atheism. Who or what is stopping us? Dave Watts, AvalonVenice selfieHaving worked in the “arts industry” and been to the Venice Biennale, I think it is the greatest waste of champagne ever seen (Letters, February 19). Air kissing and ego boosting seems more important than the actual installations, which in many instances are “innovatively mundane”. Already Venice is screaming about overcrowding by tourists. They don’t need more poseurs. Gavin Williamson, Narrabeen Housing anomalyGiven that the state government wants to increase housing density in Sydney, why does it allow private certifiers to approve the demolition of serviceable, one-family houses on large suburban blocks, and their replacement with bigger one-family houses, when the land could easily accommodate a duplex or perhaps three terraces? In knock-down-rebuild suburbs such as Boronia Park, this would significantly increase the population density. Alister Sharp, Hunters HillThe state government aims to increase housing density. Credit: Paul RovereNuclear fallacyPeter Dutton says the federal government’s energy policy is “renewables only”. This is just not true. Labor’s future gas strategy states: “Even in net-zero scenarios, Australia and the world will need gas at lower levels through to 2050 and beyond. Australian gas will play an important role in an orderly global and domestic energy transformation. However, to meet our legislated climate goals, we must find alternatives to gas, and gas-related emissions must decline.” The Coalition’s “all of the above” energy policy is equally misleading, and contradictory. Nuclear would put a stop to rooftop solar, for instance, as taxpayer-funded reactors could only make money if consumers were forced to buy its electricity (at premium cost). The tragedy would be that Australians missed out on cheap electricity and that we squandered our position as a renewables superpower. Fiona Colin, Malvern EastMy late father, a nuclear chemist, explained that nuclear power would never be suitable for Australia because we just don’t have enough water (“Trump’s energy chief wants us to go nuclear”, February 19). But why listen to those who know what they’re talking about when we have the US crackpot and his Aussie acolyte, Peter Dutton, trying to lead us down the yellow brick road? Elisabeth Goodsall, WahroongaI see former Liberal foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer has declared South Australia the perfect place to build multiple nuclear power stations and become the “battery” for the eastern states. I imagine those will be built while wasted sunlight beats down around them, and will use imaginary water from the many free-flowing rivers in outback South Australia. Greg Phillipson, Aranda (ACT)Haves and have-notsRobyn Lewis downplays the daily economic struggle experienced by many Australians (Letters, February 19). While she sees “people struggling with the cost of living” at her weekly shift at a food bank, she claims that because private schools are overflowing, overseas travel is booming, children have smartphones and coffee shops are bustling, “it doesn’t seem that the cost of living is the problem it’s made out to be”. Obviously, not every person is struggling, but many are, as she sees at the food bank. It is called the haves and the have-nots, Robyn. Maurice Critchley, Mangrove MountainElection cycle too shortI do think we should change our term of government to four years. The current three years isn’t enough time to see new policies take effect, or for the electorate to really decide which party is the best for the country. Talk of changing leaders is distracting. I will be upset if Penny Wong loses her job as foreign affairs minister – her dignity is admirable and she’s a wonderful asset to our country. Albo is a decent man with years of experience. Strength isn’t about being a bully, it’s about quiet resolve. Peter Dutton should find some life-improving ideas to offer. Why are the Liberals so bereft of imagination? Nuclear power stations are a problem, not an answer. May Australia make a wise choice come election day, and avoid change for the sake of it. Jill Power, NarrabeenIf Albanese intervenes to stop the rail disruptions in Sydney he will win the votes of every person in the city and surrounds. It’s a sure thing. Train travellers are fed up with the delays and uncertainty, motorists are fed up with the resulting heavy traffic, employers are fed up with their staff being late. Short message to the premier – get this sorted or call in the big guns. Stephanie Edwards, LeichhardtHot air trumpetI’ve been puzzled lately by these ads from Clive Palmer, rattling off his pie in the sky lists of things to “fix” what ails this country and exhorting us to reach out to Australians in need and to say a prayer for our country – until today. The announcement of the Trumpet of Parrots party, oops sorry Patriots, has now put the ads into context. Equally puzzling is the use of a lion on the party logo. I don’t see anything remotely patriotic about a predator from another continent for an emblem. Palmer claims that the $100 million spent at the last election to achieve one Senate seat was money well spent. Could I suggest that it would be better for him to follow his own advice and donate the money to Australians in need, rather than spending eye-watering sums trying to buy political influence? Margaret Allen, BexleyClive Palmer at the official launch of the Trumpet of Patriots.Credit: Alex EllinghausenPalmer is promising “honour above all”? This is the man who kept Labor out of power with obscene amounts of tax-deductible money for nine fruitless years. And Trump honourable? Convicted fraudster who should have faced trial for treason. And that before he was even elected. My legs can’t stand being pulled so hard. David Neilson, Araluen NTWhy does Clive Palmer want to drain his natural habitat? Rob Mills, RiverviewWould someone care to tell Clive Palmer that lions don’t have lips? John Collins, LoftusRate realitySure, interest rate cuts will help people with mortgages, but they will also send up the cost of housing and drop the interest rates of fixed-term accounts, which translates to less money for self-funded retirees. Those inconvenient truths seem to have been overlooked in the excitement. Mark Anderson, CoogeeTo submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.
