Australia is punching above its weight in Paris

All the hype about Australia’s medal count invariably neglects one key statistic – the size of the population (“Heart and sole: Kennedy gets her fair share on day of glory”, August 9). Considering Australia’s minuscule population of 26 million, we have performed far better than the US and China. Our population was only 9.5 million in 1956, so the 13 gold medals in the Melbourne Olympics was superior to our present performance. There are countries with even smaller populations which have performed extremely well. New Zealand with a population of only 5 million, one-fifth of Australia’s, and five gold medals at present has a superior performance. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

If I set my mind to it, winning an Olympic medal in running, jumping, cycling or swimming would be achievable. These are simple pastimes that most primates could be taught to undertake. The training consists of constant repetition that favours those with limited imagination and long legs or large feet. How much science is involved in riding a bike or jumping in a pool and waving your arms and legs about until you get to the other end? For most of these simple-minded sports, you can select the likely winners soon after birth. Sailing, by contrast, requires all the skills of the best athletes combined with acute intelligence. Not only must the humble sailor master geometry, hydrodynamics and meteorology, they must also memorise an intricate lexicon of rules. Sailors must navigate upon a dynamic surface and be ready to tie a bowline, while constantly fending off giant squids and voracious predators. When the floods come, who would you rely upon – some monkey who can ride around in circles faster than another monkey, or one who can master the art of navigating by wind alone? Sean Kelly, Cremorne

As a (retired) designer of animal-powered race vehicles, and I believe the first Australian to write a peer-reviewed and published paper on racetrack design, I found Emma Kemp’s excellent article on the role of technology in world track records very interesting (“Technology plays leading role as stars of the track lay waste to world records”, August 9). In particular the quote from Conor Leahy on the Paris Velodrome, “The shape is really fast, the bends are quite long, and long bends produce lots of speed”. He is correct. For any track other than one in a straight line, the fastest track (all other factors being as near as possible equal) will be all bend – i.e., a perfect circle, and in the case of an oval track, its speed will be inversely proportional to the length of the straights. For any given track circumference, the longer the straights, the shorter the bends and the slower the track. The greatest speed on the bends will be obtained where the angle of bank is such that, at the bike’s maximum speed, the angle between the track surface and the bike’s wheel is 90 degrees. That angle of bank can be easily determined mathematically. James Walsh, Woronora

The claim that there has “never been an Olympics like it for Australia” deserves a little more analysis. Sure, we have won more gold than at any other Games, but part of the reason for that is that the number of events has increased. At Melbourne in 1956, we won 13 gold medals and were third on the medal tally. However, there were only 153 events. In Paris there are 329 events, so would need to win 27 gold medals to be comparable. So it seems we need to win more gold before the Games end on Sunday. Barry Buffier, Hunters Hill

Joyce’s fallout

Apparently the incoming chairman of Qantas, John Mullen, is full of praise for the airline’s former CEO, Alan Joyce, saying “we’re the only airline that really hasn’t gone bankrupt” (“Qantas clips Joyce’s payout by $9.3m”, August 9).

I’m amazed that Mr Mullen is presumably unaware that the Australian taxpayer injected $2.7 billion of taxpayer funds into his airline to keep it alive during the COVID-19 pandemic, while its planes were grounded and gathering dust in the desert, and then charged the travelling public like a wounded bull when air travel got going again to help it post record profits in the aftermath of the pandemic.

And this is after a long-running review into the airline found Qantas’ board failed to challenge an all-powerful chief executive, leading to a “command and control” approach from Alan Joyce that left the airline with “significant reputational and customer service issues”. If this is the best that Qantas’ board can do after the damage has been done by their former CEO, maybe we need to replace the entire board of directors and start completely afresh. Matt Eggleston, West Perth (WA)

Poor, poor Alan. Had his pay reduced to $14.9m. After the illegal sackings and the subsequent damage to the brand, he should have his pay docked by far more than $9.3 million. Mark Nugent, Lugarno

The flying public and the staff of Qantas are still suffering the fallout from Joyce’s egregious tenure. Apparently the revamped board takes its responsibilities to “stakeholders” seriously – not so much its responsibilities to their staff and long-suffering customers. Elisabeth Goodsall, Wahroonga

The $9 million should be apportioned between the 1700 workers who Joyce illegally laid off, and he should be forced to hand it to each worker with an apology for the treatment he dished out to them. That will help him learn that his faux-Napoleonic days are over. David Gordon, Cranebrook

Qantas suffered brand damage under his tenure. Throwing good money after bad says it is the luck of the Irish that he still got paid $15 million for his last year as its CEO. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Webb’s new broom

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has lots of enemies within the force determined to get rid of her (“Webb bans booze as gifts amid gin furore”, August 9). At a time when police numbers are down, recruitment campaigns are struggling to meet the shortfall and drop-out rates are high, we need a leader who will embrace and nurture a diversified workforce. We don’t need another bloke schmoozing with media buddies, protecting the internal boys’ club or sucking up to political mates – so get out of her way and let her get on with it! Brian Barrett, Padstow

The reporting by Alexandra Smith – revealing that current criticism of Karen Webb is a classic attack on a female tall poppy – is excellent. Thank you for making it clear that the commissioner was only continuing the example of the previous male incumbent. Sad that there is so much “blokey, highly political and deeply divided” behaviour in the NSW Police Force. Alison Stewart, Waitara

Police record about 20,000 alcohol-related assaults (half of them relating to domestic violence) every year in NSW. About 10 per cent of all Australian police time is spent dealing with alcohol-related incidents. Police continue a decades-long struggle to exclude bikies and other organised criminals from the alcohol trade in Kings Cross and elsewhere. NSW Police’s decision to find a better gift for international visitors than a bottle of grog is long overdue. Vic Jones, London

Am I the only one who wonders why the police service, whose front-line officers have to deal with the sad results of excessive alcohol consumption, would be handing it out as a reward? For what? And to whom? Dick Clarke, Elanora Heights

Does anyone else see the irony in the police constantly discouraging drink-driving and gin – paid for with our taxes – being handed out as a gift by our police commissioner? Can’t she find a more appropriate gift? Elly Haynes, Orange

Ready to learn

What a breath of fresh air it is to read of Kayley Lyons’ link to Tim Walz as her teacher during her high school years (“Harris’ VP pick taught me history – now he’s making it”, August 9). Her first-hand recollections of just what is possible for a future VP makes it reassuring that there are actually good people out there, waiting to be given a chance to lead and spread a positive promise for the future of the US. This surely gives all voters a very welcome boost to what could be possible with refreshing new visions for the future. Go Kamala and Tim. Greg Vale, Sydney

So interesting to read the background of Tim Walz revealing him to be a human being of some depth and integrity – a more than refreshing change in focus to that of most political leadership candidates, whose main claims to fame seem to be the relentless pursuit of power and money at all cost. Perhaps hope still springs eternal in this world. Judy Finch, Taree

Your correspondent suggests that there have been no references to Tim Walz’s age or appearance of the type that are often applied to women. He was, in fact, recently quizzed as to why he looks so much older than Kamala Harris, despite there only being a six-month age gap. I believe his response pointed to his 20 years as a high school teacher. David Howard, Moss Vale

Tight squeeze

Record number of bankruptcies in the construction industry, a main engine of economic activity. Mortgage stress levels are at breaking point. And the RBA is talking about extracting more from the lemon that has run out of juice (“RBA will raise rates if it has to: Bullock”, August 9). Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

It is incredible that Michele Bullock and the Reserve Bank Board’s only tool to contain inflation is by increasing interest rates. Surely there are other tools in Economics for Dummies available for consideration without putting more financial pressure on working families. Peng Ee, Castle Cove

It is a bit much for Michele Bullock, on her income, to question a 10 per cent raise for child care workers, on their much lower incomes. Especially after Ms Bullock received a 10 per cent boost to her own salary less than 12 months ago. Paul Parramore, Sawtell

Take the lead

At last somebody has exposed our prime minister’s inability to show the leadership his country needs at home (“Albanese has finally woken up to the reality that he needs to change, and fast”, August 8). He delivered the Voice referendum as promised, then failed to effectively explain the need for it, failed to expose the No campaign and its leadership, and failed to adapt to the erosion of support for it.

He has kept attacking Dutton’s nuclear energy proposal on its likely costs without any more detail than Dutton, rather than exposing its overall silliness for this country relative to alternative energy.
He has backed out on his promised Makarrata Commission that could have provided very useful lines of communication for Aboriginal communities to express their views on long-time and generational disadvantages. He has failed to get real movement on the Future Made in Australia plan while many other countries get on with developments and innovations that bypass our natural advantages.

Then worst of all, hiding behind cost of living, housing and other problems we face, but likely to make them worse, is his failure to act effectively against climate change by continued subsidising of fossil-fuel industries, not taxing their excessive export profits, permitting new and expanding gas and coal projects, not forcing exporters to supply local gas needs, and so on. We all face direct and indirect financial and personal climate change costs that can only get worse without leadership in acting against them. Failure to act as needed is clear negligence, as will be exposed at the next election.

He is even letting down his own ministers, most of whom have been working well in government. Get on with it Albo, we need leadership! Russell Julian, Port Macquarie

Plastic rap

Results of new studies into the harmful effects of plastics come as no surprise to many of us, who for decades have been averse to plastic packaging due to its environmental impact, and have avoided heating food and drinks in plastic containers for health reasons (“The common food packaging ingredient linked to autism”, August 9). There is broad agreement that plastics are a huge environmental problem. They choke rivers and waterways and the creatures that live in them; they overwhelm landfills and pollute ecosystems. More recently, scientists are discovering the prevalence of microplastics in the food chain and examining their negative effects on human and animal health. The UN proposed plastic treaty can’t come soon enough. It is to be hoped that lobbyists for the fossil fuel industry do not derail the talks with their usual insistence that any treaty should not address primary plastics production, but rather focus on efforts to recycle and dispose of the material. Conversion and management of plastic waste has minimal capacity and itself generates greenhouse gas. The world must wean itself off plastic. A binding treaty is absolutely essential.
Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills

Won’t work

Premier Minns, attentive to the needs of the NSW property industry, orders public servants back to the office (“The crazy WFH experiment is over. Water coolers are the biggest winners”, August 8). But don’t forget – among the long commutes, the frantic mornings and evening pickups, and the crushing costs of childcare – to have more children, ladies and gentlemen.
Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay

Crowd chaos

I read Nick Newling’s article on the City2Surf event. It should be noted that maps provided by Transport for NSW, Waverley Council and the event organisers actually are in conflict with one another about road closures and tow away clearways.

About the 90,000 participants, you can add maybe an extra 30,000 people who will travel to the finish line to watch the event. Those people have to get home somehow. If 20 per cent of those involved live within walking distance, that still leaves 80,000 people who will need to catch a bus, as there is no available extra parking in the area. If using route 333 buses, that is, 18-metre articulated two- or three-door city buses, with a capacity of 110, around 900 bus journeys over around six hours will be needed to get people to Bondi Junction Station or to the city. So that is about 150 bus trips an hour, or one leaving Bondi to go up Bondi Road every 20 seconds. That will not happen. It will be chaos. This event has become too big. People actually live in Bondi / Tamarama / Bronte. These are suburbs, not just destinations and venues.
Doug Richards, Tamarama

Big problem

May I suggest avid Letters readers go to the online version of Alicia Dawson’s letter regarding big-breasted women? Sounds very personal and painful (Letters, August 9). Angie Miller, Bondi Junction

Clued in

Is our Friday Quick cruciverbalist, the esteemed DA, finally softening his heart toward us mere mortals? I was able to complete the entire puzzle today without resorting to cheating. Claire Edmonds, Floraville

Postscript

Do the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald have crossover readerships? Judging by the reaction to Kim Williams’ analysis of the broadcaster’s news priorities, I think so.

Our letter writers strongly agreed with the ABC chair when he criticised the organisation’s digital news platforms, saying lifestyle stories were given too much prominence on the web and mobile sites at the expense of hard news.

Former journalist and host of the ABC’s Media Watch, Stuart Littlemore QC, agreed.

“In duplicating the trivial, crime-obsessed, ‘human interest’, celebrity-worshipping, formulaic, solecism-riddled, badly spoken and undignified quasi-journalism of the advertising medium that is commercial television, the ABC has proved the necessity of enforcement of that duty it owes to its community. Kim Williams has made a start,” he wrote.

Irene Thom concurred. “I couldn’t agree more with Kim Williams. Police reports of fires, murders and road crashes are not national news.”

Later in the week, it was a column by our veteran economics editor Ross Gittins about the parlous state of our universities that sparked a reaction.

His succinct analysis of the decline of our increasingly corporatised universities, along with the rest of the Herald‘s coverage, graphically illustrates “the costs to Australian education and society generally that are being paid for fattening the profits of the tertiary sector’s export-earning degree factories”, Philip Bell wrote.

Jack Flanagan agreed. “The question remains whether Australia’s mega-universities, with large proportions of overseas students, increasingly internet-based learning, increasing cheating and extensive casualisation of the academic workforce, provide a sustainable model into the future?”

Kamala Harris’s choice for VP, Tim Walz, is clearly a dangerous left-wing radical, Stephanie Edwards wrote. “He probably believes Black Lives Matter, climate change is real and women should be in charge of their own bodies.”

The Olympic Games’ closing ceremony starts at 4 o’clock on Monday morning, which means the window of opportunity to lie on the sofa with a drink and become an instant expert on a sport you’ve never previously encountered - like sport climbing and breakdancing - is now closing. It’s been great.

Margot Saville, deputy letters editor

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