Michael Koziol is right on the money (“All of Sydney’s problems boil down to one thing”, November 18). I have no doubt this is the result of our once mixed economy (public and private) being handed over more and more to those motivated by profit. Successive governments over many decades have wound back spending on public housing, sending people into the private rental market. We need more modest, cheaper-to-build homes. Rent or buy was once an option for people in public housing – my parents put down the modest deposit that converted them from renters to buyers. Governments need to get back into building homes on a scale proportionate to the 1950s and ’60s. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove

Michael Koziol has concluded that the entire apparatus of the planning system should be dismantled. He is correct. It is not just the planning system, but also the whole building legislative and regulatory system that needs dismantling and replacement with a new regime that is fit for purpose. Recent proposals by the Minns government of a draft building bill 2024 are just further bandages being applied to a system that is broken. Planning and building standards in NSW have been low for decades and continue to be low, the Building Commission notwithstanding. John Van der Have, Faulconbridge

I agree with the points Michael Koziol makes about improving Sydney’s lot. Yes, maybe we have it all – beaches, weather, food, multiculturalism, attitude – trouble is, everyone wants more. The billionaires he quotes are getting bigger in numbers. Money talks. Greed: it drives the fat cats, politicians, estate agents, developers, consultants, et cetera and although they have already made enough, they want more. Eliminate that desire from within human nature and you might get close to a truth no one wants to own up to. Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood

Those wishing to get an understanding of how Labor’s Housing Delivery Authority will operate and the impacts of its decision-making need look no further than the mess Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) have made of a proposal to develop the foreshore area at Coffs Harbour Jetty. Plans to develop this area with high-rise residential have been opposed by almost 70 per cent of residents and multiple representations from previous city councils have been simply dismissed by PDNSW. Now, with the assistance of a quasi-National Party voting bloc on council, PDNSW will have authority to develop as it wishes – to the detriment of residents. Bob Cameron, Coffs Harbour

Cash is king, long may it reign

I applaud the Albanese government’s wisdom in retaining cash for essential payments (“Keeping cold, hard cash alive”, November 18). Cash is a payment system with several millennia of reliability. To allow 100 per cent electronic transfers would be to court disaster, as demonstrated by recent bank outages. While the wealthy don’t mind paying extra for the convenience of electronic payments, those with less benefit from cash. My mother’s church held its annual jumble sale in cash at the weekend, raising more than $10,000 for charity. Mandatory electronic payments would make raising funds for charities more difficult. Anne Matheson, Gordon

I am happy to see the government take a stand on shops that will not accept cash, but it should apply to every retailer. Once a week, I withdraw from an ATM my weekly allowance to buy the staples of life. I read that there are 1.8 million of us who still carry and use cash. Until retailers and banks stop levying us for using a card, I will continue to use cash. Robert Pallister, Punchbowl

Many years ago, when bank cards were introduced and credit cards started to be used more widely, transaction costs were accepted by business as an overhead expense. Now it is being recognised that the use of cash incurs costs. Fortunately, the government seems to be moving to prevent transaction costs from being applied to the use of cash. Why not simply revert to the past practice and outlaw eftpos charges too? Then it is a level playing field. John Duff, Lavender Bay

Keeping open the option to use cash is essential. What would be negotiable is allowing the acceptance of the higher-value banknotes to be discretionary. In the normal course of events, most essential cash services could be fairly accommodated if $20 notes were the maximum mandated. Less reliance on $50s and $100s would do much to contain the cost to banks and businesses of safely managing the secure distribution and storage of cash. Peter Mair, Dee Why

For several years now, I have been worried by the decline in cash availability and transaction options. Banks and big business have a vested interest in the cashless society. However, the move has disadvantaged the elderly, the very young, those who do not qualify for a bank account, those who cannot afford internet connection, the less techno-savvy and the blind. Jim Chalmers’ reasons for defending cash are laudable. Our money belongs to us. We should be able to hold it in the form of our choice. Small banks in country towns were a great opportunity for employment too, keeping the young in their local community. Clare Sydenham, North Sydney

Jim Chalmers’ move to keep cash alive will be welcomed by us 1.5 million dinosaurs still using this rapidly disappearing form of moolah. One of the biggest ways to save money is to pay with cash. Other payment methods often incur fees and over a year these little nibbles can add up to more than $800. Nick Franklin, Katoomba

Clift scintillates still

Sixty years ago this week, the Herald introduced Charmian Clift (1923-69) to its readers. The first of her weekly entries – “Has the Old Place Really Changed?” – was a confronting reflection on the Antipodean society she had returned to after 15 years abroad. Over the following five years, she offered readers a weekly window to the Australia of the 1960s, as well as a sobering mirror. Much applies today. Her succinct prose and elegant style still rival the best of Australian essays. Bravo to the Herald editors for giving Clift unfettered licence to inform and entertain readers. Four publications anthologise her 200-plus essays, but they are scarcely available. Readers’ best bet is library copies of editor Nadia Wheatley’s limited selection, published in Sneaky Little Revolutions and End of the Morning. Julian Neylan, Dulwich Hill

Hadley saved lives

Whatever legacy he leaves from his years at 2GB or creates in the future at Sky News, we should all be grateful to Ray Hadley for his stance on COVID-19 vaccination, which undoubtedly saved lives (CBD, November 18). He said, “If you don’t get vaccinated you’re an idiot; and if you don’t like being called an idiot, change to another station.” I was invited three times onto his show after his producer heard my telling ABC Radio’s James Valentine, as a clinical immunologist, that people who can’t receive any COVID-19 vaccine on medical grounds “don’t exist”. The limousine driver whose infection led to extended lockdowns in NSW and Victoria was reported to be unvaccinated because he was told it was unsafe due to his diabetes (a very strong reason to be vaccinated). The only medical exemptions given by government were for the extremely rare occurrence of risk of anaphylaxis to all vaccine preparations, but misinformation was widespread and remains so. As we prepare for the next pandemic, I hope Ray Hadley maintains the same line with the Sky News audience. Prof Graeme Stewart, Westmead

Praise for steadfast commitment

In regard to the extensive coverage of the arrest of Alan Jones, I would congratulate all concerned, in particular Kate McClymont, for their commitment to this story, to their commitment to journalism and its purpose, as well as their steadfastness in not being swayed by powerful interests and telling this very important story (“Alan Jones was the king of morning radio. His arrest played out live on air”, November 18).

Alan Jones has spent years bullying others, holding a spotlight and blowtorch even to our prime ministers. He has had the support and fear of many and for far too long he has appeared untouchable. To take a stand, to investigate so thoroughly and to publish without fear does credit to all involved. No one should be beyond the reach of judgment for their alleged misdeeds, and it appears that the Herald has done all it can to bring these issues into the light.
Peter Snow, Budgewoi

The arrest of Alan Jones says a lot about our society. Just because someone is rich, wealthy and loud they get the gold pass right through the top echelons of conservative society and politics. No matter that his rhetoric was of the gutter, this never bothered his radio audiences or his enablers, both the Packers and the Murdoch media. Tony Lewis, Mount Victoria

Twenty-six years ago, Alan Jones led a number of unfair tirades against the staff of Campbelltown Hospital. The lives of many of the staff were ruined and it took a generation for the hospital to recover. As Martin Luther King said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice”. Andrew McDonald, Menangle

If Alan Jones is found guilty of the current charges against him, perhaps an appropriate punishment would be to have him put in a chaff bag and thrown out to sea. Denis Minehan, Cooma

Alan Jones may have been resting, but that’s what I call an ex-Parrot. Well done Kate McClymont. Jo Rainbow, Orange

Inaction brought us vapes

The problems for the current government around illicit vapes stem from decades of government inaction (“A vaping windfall for gangs”, November 18). Unregulated free market products and companies have been permitted to let rip with zero regard for the consequences to others. Just as with tobacco, governments have permitted the marketing and sale of vapes with impunity as a “healthy” alternative to smoking. Advocates of small government champion deregulation as necessary to ensure a healthy economy. Many would strongly suggest that the health and wellbeing of members of our society must take precedence over the financial opportunism of corporations. Tony Heathwood, Kiama Downs

It’s always good to hear a politician take some responsibility for a failure, so Health Minister Mark Butler’s,“Frankly, it got under our guard” is welcome. Even more welcome would have been something closer to the truth: “We were warned repeatedly and we ignored those warnings.” Health organisations across Australia have been lobbying the government to take action for years. Schools, teachers and parents have been vocal about their concerns too. “Frankly, it got under our guard” is such a nice, responsibility-evading way to explain away what is possibly one of the most serious public health policy failures of the decade, if not the century. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point

The Greens sent the country backwards with their refusal to place a price on carbon. Their refusal to support positive action on housing unless they get their own way makes it more difficult for people to own their homes. But their decision to force the government to water down prescription-only rules for vapes places the health of the young in particular at great risk. The actions of the Greens are far from responsible, thinking more of themselves than the people they purport to support. Tony Re, Georges Hall

A jolly good feller

Forestry Corporation NSW CEO Anshul Chaudhary carefully makes a justification for the organisation he represents continuing its harvesting practices, in accordance with state laws (Letters, November 18). He carefully omits any reference to the broader picture on forestry: since European settlement, we have denuded the country of 70 per cent or so of its forest cover, losing carbon sequestration, degrading the land and causing wider environmental damage. Current practices don’t give the koalas, kangas or even humans much of a look-in. Anthony Tucker, Leichhardt

Other than linguistic, what processes are used by the Forestry Corporation to transform “logging” in native forests into “harvesting”? Catherine Turner, Cremorne

Stuck in the middle

I’m finding it difficult to prioritise my despair (Letters, November 18). Should I place the end of the world, aka the day Donald Trump and his clown-car of nominees take office, at the top of my paranoia list? Or should I keep it local and worry most about the possibility of an election victory for the nuclear fiction powered Peter Dutton? Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

I’m just as dismayed and anxious as the next person about Trump’s dangerous and nonsensical leadership team picks, but have we all forgotten that Tony Abbott was once minister for women? Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

Robert F Kennedy Jr being given the health secretary job is akin to Sir Les Patterson being the minister for the arts. Terry Thelwell, North Ryde

Emergency in ED

There is no denying that skyrocketing threats, abuse and assaults of hospital staff are fuelled by psychostimulant use, alcohol-driven disinhibition, the epidemic of mental health crises, long wait times and ambulance ramping (“Broken teeth, punches and threats: the hospitals where the most violent incidents occur”, November 18).

As a frontline emergency doctor of 30 years, I know the elephant in the room is the pervasive devaluation of our under-appreciated and over-utilised 24/7 public hospital system. There is a deep problem when the worried well treat precious resources such as the ambulance service like a free Uber ride, or expect to be seen immediately in the ED for a small finger scratch or a puff of cigarette smoke blown into their eye at a bar. The acute health care made available to all comers at no direct cost so that Australia has universal access to “free care” is non-negotiable to provide a safety net for the whole community. Open access to anyone who enters the ED also means we shoot ourselves in the foot when a precious resource that is available 24/7 has its worth denigrated by those who don’t value a free service or treat it with due respect. Joseph Ting, Carina (Qld)

Tyson take-down

Simon Briggs says Mike Tyson “ranks in the highest echelon of sporting giants, alongside Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Zinedine Zidane” (“Tyson v Paul was a sporting abomination. I loved every minute”, November 18). Without even discussing Simon’s selection of those three as members of the highest echelon of sporting giants, I would suggest Tyson ranks anywhere near Woods only in the reprehensibility of his behaviour outside the sporting arena; he ranks anywhere near Zidane only if one can equate Tyson’s ear-biting with Zidane’s World Cup final headbutt; and is not in the same galaxy as Federer if one considers longevity of performance at the highest level, let alone his appeal as a representative of all that is admirable in a sporting champion. Mark Morgan, Palmwoods (Qld)

Leading by example

The National Anti-Corruption Commission is doing a great job of educating us on corruption risks and prevention by showing us how not to handle perceived conflicts of interest (Letters, November 18). Mark Porter, New Lambton

Website woes

I love my ABC. But I hate its new web news site, obviously given over to designers with no news expertise, with carte blanche to dumb down how users read, view, watch, and hear news. The result is a dog’s breakfast of an inexplicable visual jigsaw, designed to make me, and millions of others avoid it. The presentation, style and tone of the ABC’s online news is now one of the least serious and silliest Australian news sites for anyone seeking credible news and analysis. Aunty’s survey of people visiting the site asked users about their opinion of it. Outputs from that survey have been secret to date. Release them publicly please, including visitor engagement since the site went from serious news site to a Play School version of it.
Wayne Burns, Newtown

History’s first draft

On the subject of collecting newspaper cuttings: Ella Mitchell of Peak Hill shot to prominence in 1916 when (aged 18) she dominated the female competition in rifle shooting in Peak Hill and then other country towns (Letters, November 18). Within a year, she was in open competition, regularly recording the highest scores and she was travelling to Sydney to compete. In 1917, Ella was invited to be the first shot to kick off the inaugural competition at the Liverpool Rifle Range when it was opened. In 1919, she was the first woman to compete in the “King’s Prize”, which was the premier competition in Australia for rifle shooting. Ella was honoured by being invited to fire the first shot of the competition. Newspapers were labelling her as “the crack lady rifle shot of Australia”. Her father Edward was naturally very proud of his daughter and collected all the articles published in the country newspapers, and then the major Sydney newspapers. His collection dates to 1916. Yes, sadly they are brown but they present a marvellous picture from that time and they are a source of information for this genealogist. Carolyn Murtagh, Killara

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