Removal of shark nets puts human life at risk

The decision to remove the shark nets at the end of March before the end of the patrolled season and while the ocean is still warm and swimming and surfing popular puts human life at unacceptable risk and places additional strain on surf lifesavers (“Shark net strategies come with a catch”, August 1). Beyond dispute, shark nets save human life: nine people at a median age of 17 were mauled to death by sharks on Sydney beaches in the decade before netting began in 1937 and none at a netted beach in the subsequent 87 years. Similar irrefutable evidence was found in South Africa. The fatal attack in February 2022 at the un-netted Little Bay ocean beach shows that a clear and present danger persists (Little Bay is now netted). All marine life matters but, as a physician and a volunteer surf lifesaver, I must place the protection of human life above all else. As must the NSW government. Graeme Stewart, Avalon Beach

The NSW Agriculture Minister, Tara Moriarty, claims the government’s shark management program is “evidence-based” yet we read that of the 255 marine animals caught in these nets in the past year, only 15 were “target” sharks, the rest were harmless, threatened or protected species, including turtles. Given these statistics, how is the government’s management “evidence-based”? The clear evidence is that these nets are dangerous to all the wrong marine animals and they should be removed immediately to ensure the safety of sea animals who deserve all the protection we can give them. Stuart Laurence, Cammeray

Instead of nets, which kill all and sundry in the sea, how about signs warning swimmers of a tiny risk of injury or death by shark attack, so swim at your own risk. It’s impossible to remove all risk in living. We eventually die, so get used to it. Anne Matheson, Gordon

We expected better from this Labor government

Jenna Price shows by her writing and reasoning skills just how valuable a humanities degree is in educational terms (“Students are starving. One man could fix it with a keystroke”, August 1). But please do not misunderstand me: I do not mean, in any way, to justify the abhorrent rise in costs for such a degree, as imposed by the previous government. We all had such hopes for the new Labor broom sweeping away the dire disregard for the inequities in education at all levels shown by the Coalition government. But what we are seeing is a depressing lack of practical acknowledgement that a good education throughout the system not only should be the right of all – and not just for those able to afford sumptuously accessorised schools from which they are able to stroll into any university degree they’re capable of, regardless of cost – but would also be a massive investment in the future good of our country. We expected better from this government. And it is not too late. Anne Ring, Coogee

Price’s article on student poverty shows the lasting effect of the HECS debt. A family member, having done two degrees and finally earning a high salary, finds herself unable to get a home loan, while her siblings, some younger, but not university-educated, are able to do so. Her older sister had her HECS generously covered by an industry association. Despite paying off part of the HECS debt and continuing her payments, indexing has raised the sum owed to almost the original debt, and banks are reluctant to lend to someone who already has a debt of any kind. Meanwhile, the rents keep rising. Donald Hawes, Peel

Of course HECS debts are too high. Professor George Williams, as an educator, should focus on how to revitalise the Arts degree to make it more diverse and attractive; delivering knowledge, research and communication skills. Such attributes can be invaluable in a variety of occupations. I would never trade in my Arts/Law degrees, having been so integral over my working life. So stop complaining about government inaction and turn attention to making these degrees about educating students for the future. Michael Blissenden, Dural

If ever there was a time to use the term “no-brainer” it would be now, to describe the failure of the previous government’s tertiary education Job-ready Scheme. To increase the cost of Arts degrees to that of Law and Business degrees in an attempt to discourage young peoples’ choice is a flawed policy. Arts students are dropping out or suffering massive HECS debts. Another failed marketing strategy from our failed marketing expert prime minister Scott Morrison. Politicians retire from our parliament but unfortunately leave their failed policies for others to solve. Eric Sekula, Turramurra

Your correspondent writes of a young friend who has a $100,000 HECS debt and who has started a family (Letters, August 1). He asks, “When and how do she and her husband buy a home and build assets?“. They have already started. She has invested in herself. Her years of training enable her to work now “in a profession where her skills are sought after and in short supply”. Is your correspondent saying this was an unwise investment?
Ross Drynan, Lindfield

It may be the case that “unlike in other countries students aren’t bankrupted over student debt” as a correspondent says, and I can imagine this applying in the USA, but many other countries have free tuition. You could look enviously at Germany whose technical and engineering skills among other achievements certainly seem to have paid dividends. I doubt we will go back to free tuition and while the debt payment does depend on income it is always there and is a brake on the capacity of the student to use all the benefits of their education and training. Linked to this is the large amount of debt never to be recovered. I know a number of people trained here, who now have very well paying jobs in UK and who will probably never repay anything. If nothing else, encouraging able people to get a diploma or degree in anything usually results in a higher income so more tax is paid and so the upfront cost is diminished. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights

Rex egos

In 1988, when I worked as a pilot for Rex predecessor Hazelton Airlines, the admiration and respect by rural NSW residents towards this family-owned and operated company was palpable (“Rex appeal? It can only travel so far”, August 1). It was run by country people, for country people from a country town (Cudal). One night I blew a tyre on landing at West Wyalong and advised the company that the next morning’s flight to Sydney would likely have to be delayed until the local maintenance company opened. However, when I arrived at the airport the next morning, not only had the tyre been changed but the aircraft was cleaned, refuelled and ready for an on-schedule departure to Sydney. The owner and airline founder, Max Hazelton, had flown out around midnight and personally performed these tasks. It’s a shame that Rex’s management have jeopardised this legacy of commitment to rural communities by allowing an ego-driven desire to match it with the big-city boys to cloud sound financial and operational judgment. Col Burns, Lugarno

I am not the only Australian who has found Rex provided a reliable and friendly service (“Capital folly must not ground Rex’s regional services”, August 1). Over the years they have provided great service on rural trips. When Rex began inter-city flights on the eastern seaboard, I was pleased to support a company which was more likely to fly as scheduled. Your editorial points out that rural routes may have been the core of its business but it was the failure of the Albanese government which has led to the collapse of Rex. The stranglehold on lucrative intercity routes should by now have been loosened. Instead, the federal government favoured the duopoly which was being shown up by the newcomer in both service and reliability. The prime minister is wrong if he thinks that Rex is only important to rural Australians. It has been an active choice by city Australians who want a better aviation industry. The intention of this Labor government to only permit the survival of Rex if it restricts itself to rural routes is a very narrow mid-twentieth solution and will be a disservice to both rural and city dwellers. Sandra Rogers, Glebe

Dutton’s insult

In her opinion piece Niki Savva quoted Peter Dutton’s statement using migrants as a weapon (“Rate rise fears give Labor pains”, August 1). In Dutton’s electorate of Dickson there are a great many migrants hailing from India, South Africa, Sudan and many other overseas countries who run successful businesses, work at jobs which are less than pleasant, pay taxes and contribute to Australian society. In my mother’s nursing home in this electorate at least 80 per cent of the wonderful staff are migrants. Dutton’s statements against migrants are surely an insult to these hard-working people. Christine Tiley, Albany Creek (Qld)

Metro money

I would like to know the true cost of the oft-quoted $21.6 billion new metro line, between Chatswood and Bankstown, bearing in mind that that is 21,600 million taxpayer dollars, largely spent under a cone of silence (“More buses laid on to soften blow of metro line delay”, August 1). Does this figure include the financing of the metro authority, the replacement bus services, legal fees, consultation sessions, inquiries and other “incidentals”?
Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park

I wonder if with the Metro criticisms, it is a bit of “fear of the unknown” that has readers looking for problems where there are none (Letters, August 1). If a passenger on any line has a heart attack, the other passengers would ring the appropriate emergency number. The call would go to the network supervision who would then dispatch the first responders. The driver might be informed but more urgently the train is stopped by the signals system, i.e. the next signal turns red and the driver stops and sits in his cabin until other help arrives. In a driverless train, the people controlling the network system remotely would do the same, probably bringing the train to a standstill a little faster than trying to contact the driver. The driver remains in the cabin until the rescue is complete then moves on when the signal turns green. With the driverless train the people in remote control just restart the train. Brian Collins, Cronulla

Terrible words

I would like to think that if any Australian politician hurled offensive and slanderous insults at opponents like Donald Trump and J.D Vance have, that it would be career-ending (“Donald Trump questions if Kamala Harris is black at meeting of black journalists”, August 1). What kind of liberal democracy accepts Kamala Harris being denigrated as a childless cat-loving female who suspiciously “turned black”? Lorraine Hickey, Green Point

Trump is concerned that Harris once identified as “Indian” and now identifies as “black”.
Yet Trump used to identify as “white” and yet is now clearly orange. Mark Beacom, West Pennant Hills

Ordinary opening

Ric Birch’s comments on the Paris opening ceremony resonate with me (Letters, August 1). Indeed, the athletes should be front and centre of any Olympic opening ceremony and allowed to march proudly into the arena representing their country. The flag bearers should have the joy of leading their team and enjoying the honour of their role. Instead, poor Jessica Fox and Eddie Ockenden looked like drowned rats floating down the Seine River in the torrential rain along with their fellow Australian team members. Who would ever forget the majesty of Australia’s Cathy Freeman carrying the Olympic torch and lighting the breathtaking cauldron in the arena at the Sydney 2000 Olympics? The image inspired all the athletes on the day and will for future generations. Narelle Ryan, Woollahra

To add to the discussion about the use of the Last Supper at the Paris opening ceremony I have a drawing, brought in London many years age which depicts the Last Supper with Jesus standing up saying: “Look, why don’t we just split it 13 ways?” One seated apostle calls out: “Because I didn’t have a starter!” and another, raises his hand and says, “I only had one glass of wine”. I enjoy a good laugh every time a look at it. Joy Heads, Wollstonecraft

If anyone deserves an apology it’s Dionysus. Imagine the magnificent faux outrage the god that gave us theatre and wine could muster if they chose to be insulted by their divine feast being mistaken for a humble carpenter sharing a bread roll. Peter Fyfe, Enmore

Olympic kiss

Sacre bleu (“Sports minister’s kiss for Macron causes a stir”, August 1). A kiss reminiscent of Rodin’s marble masterpiece, The Kiss. The intimacy of a kiss with a hook to the neck. Emmanuel Macron and Amelie Oudea-Castera immortalised in full view of the world. So what? After all this is Paris. A show for the ages. And the show must go on. Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood

Negative coverage of the affectionate embrace between Macron and his sports minister during the emotional setting of the Paris Olympics is disappointing and instead their actions should be applauded. In this era of hyperbolic party political hatred, more public displays of affection can only be of benefit and should be encouraged. Dare we hope for a similar Trump/Harris photo? Hugh Wolfenden, Bellevue Hill

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