Premier must show vision and give Metro West the green light

I really want Chris Minns to know that any thought of cancelling the Metro West train line is short-sighted (“$25b line hangs by thread”, July 26). Transport infrastructure is never easy, cheap or quick, but we desperately need boldness of vision for future generations rather than simply appeasing the bean counters.

Today’s commuters stand on the shoulders of past generations who built rail corridors, tracks and stations that we use every time we get on a train. If we backtrack on the Metro commitment, future generations will look back and lament such a wasted opportunity in much the same way we lament the destruction of Sydney’s tram network in the 1950s.

Cancellation or delay of the Metro today kicks the can down the road for future commuters who will struggle with increased populations and city densities. The Metro development will never be more doable than it is today – it will only get harder and more expensive. Please, Chris Minns, be a premier of vision and commit to boldness that rewards our future rather than stymies the liveability and potential of our great city. Rebecca Semple, Abbotsford

The potential cancellation of the Metro West is entirely consistent with the previous NSW Labor approach to infrastructure under Bob Carr, Morris Iemma etc: do nothing. We had years of this failure to spend on public transport, and now it starts again. I would much rather see a budget overrun which actually delivers a service than seeing potentially billions of dollars in compensation paid to the contractors who find their services are no longer required. Troy Anderson, Surry Hills

The Berejiklian government left a real metro mess for Minns. I hope his government do the right thing and provide rail, or metro, to areas currently under serviced, like Sydney Olympic Park. It’s all very well to consider more development, but many already-constructed high-density precincts lack good public transport and basic infrastructure – shame on the previous government, and their developer mates. It’s time to stop the T3 metro conversion at Sydenham, as recommended after the Upper House Inquiry, and simply complete station upgrades for accessibility. Insist on contractual flexibility and transfer work to new routes and public money on strengthening our public transport network and signalling. Marie Healy, Hurlstone Park

Having been around for quite a few years one gets the opportunity to observe many things. It is blindingly obvious to me that all large projects suffer blowouts, whether they be trams, ferries or roads. The issue is the idiotic practice of accepting the cheapest options chosen with little real chance of anything else other than a massive overrun. How about some viable and realistic planning. If you side with cheap you or your successors get to wear it. John Beattie, Eastwood

The previous government’s policy of seeking to fill as many Sydney rail tracks as possible with single-deck metro trains, come what may, was misguided, but at this stage Metro West needs to proceed as fast as prudent financing will allow, and while it will obviously add to the cost, additional stations (especially between Olympic Park and Parramatta) will surely be cost-effective in the long run. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Comm Games funding would be better spent on Olympics

Liz Ellis suggests the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games could affect athletes’ preparation for the Olympics, leading to potential losses in medal counts (“Commonwealth Games fiasco will cost us Olympic gold”, July 27). Nonetheless, it is essential to acknowledge that the Commonwealth is a political association comprising 56 member states, predominantly those of former territories of the now defunct British Empire. In contemporary times, empire may be considered an anachronism. The Commonwealth Games could also be seen in the same light, therefore it becomes imperative to prioritise the Olympics as the pre-eminent international athletic and sports event capable of significantly straining a country’s financial resources. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Ellis’s comments are very measured and accurate from someone who has done the hard yards in her sporting career. Perhaps a more realistic goal should have been set by the organisers, keeping the spirit of the games and competition focused on the sporting side and less on the hoop-la which often overwhelms modern athletic meetings. Victoria has disappointed a lot of athletes, their supporters and the sporting world in general. Kath Maher, Lidcombe

The plea by Ellis that Australia will miss out on Olympic gold medals if the Commonwealth Games are dropped ignores the fact that many of the major medal tallies in the Olympics belong to countries not in the Commonwealth. John Elder, Annerley (QLD)

FIFA’s own goal

Interesting to read about the Women’s World Cup 2023 and how “figures will boost Australia’s ambitions to host future tournaments” (“Tickets, pleased: World Cup smashes record”, July 25). Can those governing bodies please ensure that games and replays can be viewed on free-to-air?

It is incredibly disappointing that these World Cup games are being held in Australia and New Zealand and we have to use a streaming service because just a quarter or so of the games are on free to air. Gail Newman, Willoughby East

Why are we not seeing all the Women’s World Cup matches live on free-to-air television. All men’s World Cup matches are shown live on SBS, so why is FIFA discriminating against the women. All the women’s matches in Australia are sold out, so there is no reason not to televise them all live. Shame on you FIFA, you talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. An own goal. Anthony Ryan, Randwick

The broadcasting of the FIFA World Cup women’s matches is totally unfair. How come I can only see the matches if I sign up to a subscription service? It is being played here, after all. Marjie Williamson, Blaxland

Last Sunday, I was privileged to be at the women’s World Cup match between France and Jamaica at the Sydney Football Stadium. The excitement started at the gates when I was asked to show the bags to security. They were interested in what brand of water bottle I was carrying into the stadium. While inquiries were made, the security guard said that it is a requirement that no brands other than a particular brand were allowed in. Then they stripped the label off my water bottle. A family with two children behind me had the same treatment. All this while there were queues waiting to enter the stadium causing many delays. On entering, I protested to a stadium usher regarding FIFA’s silly tactics. How could a European-based organisation impose such monopolistic trade at a venue and silly rules on the soccer fans? Ranjith Samaranayake, Hunters Hill

No time for box ticking when it comes to our wellbeing

If government decision-making and spending was consistently shaped by the five wellbeing measures mentioned in Ross Gittins’s article, Australia would be a world leader in quality of life (“Measure what matters, then fix it”, July 26). Unfortunately, the emphasis on economic growth above all else, has meant that a substantial proportion of the population is struggling on a range of wellbeing fronts. This is probably especially apparent regarding the second dimension of wellbeing – “A society where people live peacefully, feel safe, have financial security and access to housing”. It is evident that government needs to intervene on a massive scale to begin resolving the housing crisis. Alan Morris, Eastlakes

Labor’s wellbeing framework is a tick box exercise. Like most of Labor’s current policies, it has the right intent – that is to strive for a more egalitarian and fulfilling life for all. Trouble is we haven’t time to tinker around. The world is ticking like a time bomb and not just in boxes. We need courage and audacity in our leaders to forge ahead with necessary and visionary reforms, despite the many loud naysayers with their own agendas intent on keeping the deadly status quo while Rome (literally) burns. But that costs votes n’est pas? Judy Finch, Taree

Despite the jibes of nay-sayers the framework for national wellbeing, assuming up-to-date information on its five components, will be better understood by most people than dry economic jargon like GDP. For some time now the Herald itself has used the term as a helpful measure of general satisfaction with life here. As Gittins persuasively argues it will need governments to finance and act upon specific targets to reduce the inequalities afflicting society’s most needy. Ron Sinclair, Windradyne

I suggest to Gittins six dimensions are needed to account for human wellbeing. The sixth is the search for meaning. Mark Porter, New Lambton

Wasted space

Yet another article on housing in NSW (“YIMBYs unite to find solutions to Sydney’s housing shortage”, July 26). But few that consider how it is that despite considerable densification and vast greenfield developments we still have, apparently, a housing shortage and unaffordable rentals. Perhaps one reason is that many homes are empty, just waiting for prices to rise even further. There are several houses near me that have been empty for years. Where are the publicly obtained, reliable data on the number and location of wasted (empty) housing stock in Sydney? Waste not, want not. Norman Carter, Roseville Chase

Kudos to CFMEU secretary Zach Smith for telling it like it is (“Leading union calls on ‘circuit-breaker’ policy to fix housing crisis”, smh.com.au, July 26). Corporate greed is being allowed to flourish while ordinary people are suffering. Australia would have been in an enviable place now if the mining tax had continued. Let’s tax fairly and properly once and for all. Julius Timmerman, Lawson

No doubts

Warren Mundine states that a successful No vote will unite the country (Letters, July 27). Fine, but how will a No victory address the significant disgraceful chronic and often third world living circumstances of many Indigenous Australians. Do nothing, or No, just doesn’t cut it. Murray Patchett, Kentucky

I have been waiting for the No vote to stoop even lower and there you have it. A sorry, long gone Labor identity demanding that Indigenous Australians submit to a blood test to prove their Aboriginality. Clearly this tactic is aimed at those of us who believe people are assuming Aboriginality as an advantage. How sad. Donna Wiemann, Balmain

School of life

I was always jealous of families taking their kids away on holidays in school time as I could not do so myself, but I could hardly blame them for it (Letters, July 26). I occasionally had parents asking for text books and tests to take, but like your correspondent suggested, open eyes and a camera would be sufficient. When I pointed out how much texts weighed (this was pre digital and internet-based ones) and asked who would be supervising, their interest waned. One parent did take a copy of an exam but lost it. Tony Sullivan, Adamstown Heights

My father always said that we go to school and university to get an education not an HSC or degree. Lifelong learning and a rounded view of the world helps wonders. Tim Schroder, Gordon

Many years ago we took our young teenage children out of high school to live in Greece for five months from October to February. I consulted the deputy head of the local high school who said they would gain far more from the experience of exposure to another culture than from staying at school.

So it was. They went on to gain good ATARs at the end of their schooling, qualify with honours university degrees and become successful professionals. We didn’t expect the teaching staff to make up for any missed learning time. John Court, Denistone

What’s in a name

Rashell Habib, you have made your father proud with such a beautifully written article (“I changed my name from Habib to get a job. Here’s why I changed it back”, June 25. Hopefully, in this day and age, we can succeed and live with no fear in this glorious country, whatever our surnames. Ruth Pojer, Double Bay

Gold standard

I grew up watching everything from Mr Ed to Number 96 (“‘Golden age’ of TV could be ending”, July 26). However, it was the series Twin Peaks that totally blew my mind. I couldn’t believe I was watching something so cinematic, complex and weird on television, and it kept me enthralled. I totally support the strike in Hollywood because it’s upsetting to think great series with complex characters and story lines might become a thing of the past. Lisa Clarke, Watsons Bay

Host with the most

It was disappointing to read that Stan Grant will not be returning to host Q+A (“Stan Grant exits Q+A permanently”, July 25). He was an excellent host and moderator who always allowed all sides of an issue raised to be covered fairly by his panel. Antoinette Hirst, Double Bay

Red letter day

Five hundred letters is truly gold, Joan Brown (Letters, July 26). I’m starting to think I’m the baby of the group: I started writing letters in 2019 and, at what seems to be the “young” age of 61, have had just over 30 letters published. Obviously, I have quite a way to go! Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

Our poodle Biddy (deceased) wrote her first and only letter to the editor to protest against the French nuclear tests on Mururoa atoll about 1980. It was published with a cartoon of a poodle leaving its châteaux to poo on the doorstep of a Polynesian hut. Incensed, Biddy swore off pate, to dine on Pal. It was the days of the phone book and she received at least 50 lovely calls from poodle admirers – and not one troll. Christina Foo, Wahroonga

With numerous letter writers claiming success in getting letters published in the Herald, is there a writer who can claim the most number of letter rejections? Has anyone kept a tally? Anyway, this letter might add to my sizeable tally. Ron Brown, Wallsend

Can I claim 500 unpublished letters? Including one in the “Unpublished Letters” book? Of course, if you publish this one it won’t help. Robert Hosking, Paddington

The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
Any delay to our city’s much-needed Metro West rail line would be a disaster
From Outsider: “So far, I’ve had a lot of respect for Chris Minns. His comments on the misdemeanours of his political opponents have been restrained. But, sadly, the Labor Party’s infrastructure record has been atrocious. Here’s hoping he doesn’t turn into another Labor ‘do nothing’ premier.”

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