Wasteful offshore detention policy taints ‘Lucky Country’

Allowing refugees to rot in offshore detention centres for years is regarded by the world as cruel and inhumane (“Detention millions splashed in Pacific”, July 24). It is also illegal, since Australia is a signatory or the UN Charter on Human Rights. Now an SMH exposé reveals that our offshore detention system is also corrupt. It is only by accidents of birth that we are all residents of the “Lucky Country”. We need to abolish expensive offshore detention centres and process refugee applications more expeditiously. Geoff Black, Caves Beach

Why are we not surprised? Every aspect of the offshore detention plan seems to involve eye-watering sums of money. Even now that the Nauru facility has no people it is still costing hundreds of millions to maintain, how is that even possible? We now find large sums of money went to lining the pockets of Pacific politicians. Sadly, despite months of investigation the stalwarts at the AFP have not found anyone to charge. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha

Perhaps finally we can put to rest the argument that the Coalition is the better money manager. Paying out millions of Australian taxpayers’ money to block the entry and support of another vulnerable group of people into Australia is unbelievable. The current bleating of the LNP leadership about government assistance for the average Australian in this time of economic hardship pales into insignificance with this investigation as we again see millions of dollars wasted – money that could have been spent to support so many sectors of the Australian economy. Again private contractors are making millions at our expense with the added twist of money going into the pockets of politicians in overseas governments. I’m looking forward to the explanations that will be provided by the Liberals who were in charge of this program. Robert Mulas, Corlette

For years refugee agencies have been urging the federal government to get rid of offshore processing. The human cost of centres on Manus and Nauru has been well documented with mental illness, a sense of hopelessness and, in extreme cases, suicide being the outcome of years of confinement. Let’s hope that the latest revelations concerning misuse of taxpayers’ dollars finally convinces the Department of Home Affairs that offshore processing was never a good idea. It has been a drain on the public purse for far too long. And as for spending $315 million to keep the empty Nauru centre open as a “deterrent” … words fail me. Judith Reynolds, Leura

We should have been aware that involving particular parties in offshore processing would increase the risk of corruption. Apart from the moral objections to the policy is there anywhere that it might have been implemented without such a risk? It’s ironic that we’re prepared to lock up innocent people indefinitely, but we don’t like the process being tainted by corruption. Says a lot about our values. David Rush, Lawson

With each additional headline trumpeting more acts of corruption, I am reminded of the son who advises his father of his intention to make a career of organised crime. “Sounds like a good plan,” says dad. “Corporate or government?” John Richards, Turramurra

Opposition to change will cost us dearly

For weeks the news has carried reports of record heatwaves in the northern hemisphere that are expected to continue throughout August (“Scorched by burning questions”, July 24). Wildfires are raging in Greece and California at the same time as torrential rain and flash flooding have caused havoc and destruction in South Korea, Colorado, India and Italy. Extreme weather events are occurring worldwide exactly as predicted by climate scientists decades ago. It is particularly galling to know that we are a decade behind in our climate mitigation action due to climate deniers and obstructors within the previous Coalition governments, who deliberately blocked action to transition from fossil-fuelled energy to renewables by casting doubt on the science and highlighting the cost of doing so. As Sean Kelly points out, the same negative tactics are now being used against the Voice. “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”, and “if you don’t know, vote no” are conservative mantras designed to prevent progressive action that is well overdue. Whether this opposition to change is genuine or politically based, it is costing future generations dearly and will be judged harshly by them. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl

Thanks, Sean Kelly for your well-articulated warning to Australia; your headline says it all and we must act, now, or be damned. The climate change impacts we are already suffering can’t be denied or ignored any longer by our inactive “leaders”. Barry Laing, Castle Cove

The climate crisis we’re facing is a collective crime - the world has long ignored the need for urgent action and we’re paying the price. The Voice is our moment and as Australians, we own this opportunity to make a positive change, it’s a request so simple that it shouldn’t need asking. Yes to engagement, Yes to commencing reparations long overdue. It’s the first step. Should No be our response, we will walk alone with the weight of that decision. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill

Sean Kelly is correct that both the Voice and climate issues aim at making people’s lives better, so we must vote Yes to the Voice, and stop fossil fuels. Barbara Fraser, Burwood

Sean Kelly’s article reminded me yet again about the boiling frog syndrome. When I first heard this more than 30 years ago, I was fascinated by the concept but thought “oh well, just an unperspicacious frog”. For heaven’s sake, isn’t it time to realise we are all boiling frogs? Ellie Fitz-Gerald, Orange

Coalition bulldozed heritage

No one should be surprised at the lack of protection of heritage assets in NSW (“Heritage watchdog’s database in woeful state”, July 24). The previous NSW government, with its thinly disguised contempt of all things heritage, made it a mission to eradicate any historic building or structure that was in the way of its ill-conceived and unwanted pet projects. A lot of damage has been done: Windsor Bridge, Willow Grove, Royal Oak Hotel, Parramatta Park and more. The current government needs to act swiftly to prevent further damage and protect our precious heritage assets. Bob Edgar, Westmead

Thank you so much, the Herald, for exposing how bad the care of heritage has been in NSW for years. So now surely something will happen. What is left of old Parramatta might survive, perhaps the Powerhouse will survive as the world-class museum it was, perhaps Sydney Living Museums might get back on track and look after the state’s most important domestic buildings, including the historic towns on the Hawkesbury River. The NSW Coalition government was a disgrace when it came to heritage. Clive Lucas, Neutral Bay

The NSW Auditor-General’s findings are a timely and sobering read. This dire situation is no surprise to all who have fought for years for the state heritage listing of the Powerhouse Museum. In fact, the 2022 Robertson & Hindmarsh report, Architectural Heritage of the Last Quarter of the 20th Century, commissioned at the request of the Heritage Council, recommends its listing. However, the nomination of the museum has been constantly “deferred” for more than two years by the Heritage Council. Meanwhile, the previous government’s plans for the demolition and destruction of this much-loved museum are still in play. Minister Penny Sharpe should ensure that members of the Heritage Council have professional expertise and knowledge in the field. The people’s museum, one of NSW’s four foundational cultural institutions, deserves better. Jennifer Sanders, Russell Lea

Hot houses

Why have planning authorities continued to allow huge houses with no gables and dark Colorbond roofs to be packed into newer suburbs over the last few decades (“Summer heat stress worst in treeless suburbs, new estates”, July 24)? Is it the greed of developers? Is it the aspiration to have a large house with little gardening maintenance required? Tree cover will never be possible in these estates as tall trees all invade gutters and drains if planted close to houses. Street and park planting have to be presented as an alternative. Katriona Herborn, Blackheath

Surely it is obvious that houses, masses of them all together with no trees in sight, is a huge contributor to unbearable heat in summer. What is needed is a canopy of green to stop the heat on roofs. Where was the planning for this? It should be obvious by now that our summers are getting longer and hotter. Building codes must be changed as soon as possible, if it is not already too late. Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek

Really? Who could possibly have thought? In my area of Sydney, existing canopy continues to disappear, presumably with permission from our alleged planners, to be replaced by the inexorable arrival of the hideous, overblown, concrete-encrusted McMansions. Rod Hughes, Epping

Eye for the absurd

Thomas Mitchell should be doing more serious reporting (“Have you scattered ashes before? It’s harder than you think”, July 23). He clearly has an eye for the absurd. Political reporting needs him. But if he had been caught in the rip, I suspect the headline would have been “Adult grandson joins grandma in watery death while honouring his grandmother’s last wish”. David Neilson, Alice Springs (NT)

Recognise the custodians

They lived in the arms of nature, didn’t need the wheel, took only what they needed until Western settlers arrived and taught them the sad experience of private land ownership and gunpowder (Letters, July 24).

The First Peoples are asking for recognition of their custodianship of this island continent for thousands of years through drought, floods and fire. The Voice will give them a say in the debate about continuity and belonging at the most difficult time for the country since the sea level rise of 100 metres after the mini ice age 20,000 years ago. The new weather being experienced around the world will benefit from their indigenous thinking and experience. George Clark, McMahons Point

I feel that in the future we might look back with disbelief that our overwhelmingly non-indigenous population was tasked with deciding what’s good for our First Nations folk. And we’ll be profoundly ashamed if that vote denied them a mechanism that might make a huge, positive difference to their lives. Yeserendum! Tim Parker, Balmain

For those voting in the referendum, please think hard about the morning after. If the Yes vote gets up, will you be distraught and broken-hearted? Probably not. If the No vote gets up, will you be smugly delighted with yourself while seeing the look of devastation on the faces of the 3 per cent of our population? Don’t fall into the trap of being responsible for the inability of fellow citizens to simply be recognised. Peter Hudson, Manly

Some people think that acknowledging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the constitution and listening to them is too much; others think it is not enough. But many think it is just right. It’s in the centre where most people feel comfortable, where we can all hold our heads up high and say “Yes” to this generous invitation to walk together and make a better future for all Australians. Deb McPherson, Gerringong

The Test of time

To all the people complaining about Test cricket: give yourselves time, nothing worthwhile is learned overnight (“Cruel end to an all-time best Ashes performance – but England did not lose the urn at Old Trafford”, smh.com.au, July 24). When I was about 18, my then boyfriend, a first-class cricketer, landed me with the job of scoring for his team. Being forced to concentrate in those years as scorer, I came to love it; the skill of the batsmen and bowlers, the brilliant catches, the run-outs, the tactics, the drama, the downright fun of Test cricket. I am now 91 and still learning the finer points. Coral Button, North Epping

Lyon and The GOAT

Congratulations to Joan Brown on her 500th letter to the editor (Postscript, July 22). In my quest to have 100 letters published on the subject of cricket I am wondering whether Joan ever suffered any injuries to her writing hand which delayed her progress to the 500 figure. If so, perhaps she could pen some words of encouragement to Nathan Lyon whose current leg injury sees him stuck on 496 Test wickets. Bernie Bourke, Ourimbah

As I’m so far behind Joan Brown’s 500 published letters, can I “win” in a different category, with a letter before Joan’s first in 1997? I found my letter of April 5, 1988, courtesy of Herald archives, about random breath testing and a police officer who failed his test. Geoffrey Williamson, Woollahra

Eejit wind

Reading Malcolm Knox’s article (“With the C-bomb defused, we’re swearing blind”, July 22), reminded me of an incident as a young teacher. A Year One girl informed me that one of the older boys had sworn – “he said the ‘e’ word!” – she exclaimed. After searching my extensive swearing vocabulary I finally had to ask what exactly was said. She whispered confidentially, “idiot”! Jo Martin, Figtree

The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au

Millions of dollars in detention money went to Pacific politicians

From Tilting at Windmills: “No evidence yet that public servants and external consultants are going to be held to a different standard under the new government. Reason for this is behaviours have become so entrenched it may take a decade to change. If there was an appetite for change that is”.

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