Taylor’s sad view of the Welcome to Country ceremony

Angus Taylor seems to want to have a two-bob-each-way bet regarding Welcome to Country (“Welcome to Country devalued through overuse, says Taylor”, April 27). While stating it was “absolutely inappropriate and un-Australian” to have booed during the Anzac Day ceremony, he disappointingly added that he could “understand the frustration Australians feel about the overuse of Welcome to Country”. By stating the latter at this present time, he only gives succour to the racists among us. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s dog whistle on Welcome to Country ceremonies is disgraceful. He condemns the Anzac Day booing in one breath, then tacitly supports it in the next. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell

Angus Taylor says booing of Welcome to Country at Anzac Day dawn services was due to “overuse”. In fact, it’s clear it was organised by a group of neo-Nazis. The act itself was repugnant, so should be an attempt to excuse it. Stephen Bright, North Avoca

While Angus Taylor condemned the booing of Indigenous figures at Anzac Day dawn services when they were delivering speeches, he also complained that Welcome to Country ceremonies have been devalued through overuse. My challenge to him is to name occasions where he would embrace the Welcome to Country at a national level, as a potential prime minister. I would like to give the boo-ers the benefit of the doubt – that they were simply ignorant about how many Indigenous soldiers had sacrificed themselves for our nation as far back as World War I – therefore I ask Angus Taylor to address this problem now, to explain to those who object to the Welcome to Country ceremonies at our Anzac Day dawn services, to prove his potential to be a unifying figure for a future Australia. Kim Woo, Mascot

Angus Taylor says Welcome to Country ceremonies have been devalued through overuse. However, during parliamentary sittings, he is quite content to publicly recite a Christian prayer before every morning’s business. Robert Christie, Cleveland (Qld)

Angus Taylor’s failure to focus on the importance of the Anzac Day dawn service is breathtaking. He casually passed over the booing and was more intent on leveraging discontent over Welcome to Country ceremonies. There are 364 other days of the year to debate such issues. Politicians talking out of order is overdone. Michael Blissenden, Dural

Not much shocks me these days when it comes to the behaviour of our political “leaders”, but Angus Taylor has surely hit a new low for the leader of a major political party in echoing those who booed the Welcome to Country aspects of Saturday’s Anzac Day events. A real leader would have criticised these co-ordinated actions without qualification, and noted the long-term participation by Aboriginal Australians in the defence of this land. A true statesman may have argued not just that the first Australians have a special connection to this land, but that they have suffered because of the invasion that began in 1788, and that it is up to our generation to bridge the gap that exists in too many ways between Aboriginal and settler Australia. But no, Taylor and by extension the Liberal Party have taken the low road, surely the road to Hell. Colin Hesse, Nowra

Angus Taylor’s comments about when to have a Welcome to Country at an event miss the point: Country does not mean Australia, it is a welcome to the particular area on which the event is being held. His interpretation would mean that only the clans of the capital city centres would conduct such welcomes. I am happy to have members of the Birrpai share a Welcome to Country at our events. Lesley Forbes, Kew (Vic)

Memo to Angus Taylor, who is reported as saying “he could understand the frustration Australians feel about overuse”. Mr Taylor, last time I checked, Aboriginal people are actually Australians too. Pam Fichtner, Dunbogan

They shoot, he scores

Such is the constant spew of propaganda from the White House, this household seriously discussed whether the ruckus at the Correspondents Dinner was organised by Trump and his supporters to avoid his impending ribbing (“How gala for White House press turned into bedlam”, April 27). With his gargantuan ego and ability to turn any news to his advantage, the only thing we can count on is that we can’t trust whatever he says. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North

Never one to miss an opportunity, Donald Trump almost immediately used a possible assassination attempt to promote himself and his White House ballroom. But his alleged remark that the would-be assassin “had a lot of hatred in his heart” sounded anomalous from someone for whom incessant retribution against perceived enemies and a cruelty towards undocumented migrants has defined his second presidency. Is this an example of psychological projection, where someone else is accused of a failing the accuser shares? Bernard Moylan, Bronte

Is Trump the most shot at – and missed – US president in history? Of course, he has a way to go before he beats French president Charles de Gaulle with about 30 attempts. Patricia Philippou, Charlestown

Are we now to be deluged with yet more delusional claims of God-granted immunity from harm? Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale

Trump’s new red hat movement: MADA (Make America Duck Again). Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill

As always, Trump makes everything all about how great he supposedly is. “When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” he said. Hasn’t he heard of the many ordinary men, women and children massacred in gun violence in America each year while going about their daily lives? Richard Grant, St Leonards

It normally takes a lot longer at those events before guests wind up under the table. Peter Fleming, Northmead

Humanity first

I urge the government to allow the Australian women and children to return home under strict security measures (“Ticket to ride: Islamic State brides secure flights back to Australia”, April 27). We don’t know the facts of why the women, willing or unwilling, left, but we do know some details of their hardship of incarceration in Syria’s al-Roj camp.To survive that and keep their children safe is remarkable and, I might add, noble. The kids had no say: they are victims and probably traumatised. We must care for them, long term. And the women have said they accept they may be imprisoned. So let justice run its course. Jennifer Fergus, Croydon

Honour the brave

A year after the death of Virginia Giuffre, Australia should ask what courage we choose to honour (“A year on, Giuffre remembered as ’hero to the ages‴⁣⁣ , April 27). Giuffre spoke out against powerful abusers at enormous personal cost, helping to expose systemic sexual exploitation and emboldening survivors worldwide. A national bravery award for Virginia Giuffre would send a clear message: that speaking truth to power, even when it comes at great personal risk, will not be forgotten. Roz Townsend, Queanbeyan East

Dogs deserve better on ferries

I stand beside the residents of Dangar Island (“Ferry charges have left dog owners in lurch”, April 27) fighting to take their dogs on the ferry uncrated and muzzled. On a visit to Dangar Island, as we don’t own (or need) a muzzle we crated my Pomeranian. On arrival, we had nowhere to store the bulky crate so left it by the wharf, but it disappeared and were forced to take our dog back uncrated and unmuzzled (the crate was later returned by the lovely residents of the island). But when Transport NSW declares their rules must be consistent, to do so would require them to allow dogs on trains. Australia is so backwards in treatment of our best friend, the dog, who in most cases bring joy and people together. Let the little old ladies have their dogs uncrated. And allow dogs on the trains. Anne Matheson, Gordon

This makes no sense. One of the assumptions of not allowing dogs on public transport is that other vehicles (like cars) can be used instead. But that’s not possible in this case.
The idea of a crate is to provide somewhere that the dog can go, away from other animals. It is not a transportation device. We are talking 35 kilograms of dog here. How is the owner expected to carry that? The likes of some airlines are even allowing pets in the cabins. This seems to be a move in the opposite direction. Hopefully, a bureaucrat will see the error of their ways. David Rush, Lawson

Whoever decided to suddenly ban uncrated dogs from the ferry to Dangar Island has clearly never done the trip. I have done it many times and the biggest problem is luggage, not dogs. Dangar Island is a different world, relaxed and easy going, and it doesn’t need some bureaucrat making life difficult for responsible residents with dogs. Ingrid Haydon, Long Jetty

Suburban self-expression

Jo Stubbings’ piece (“Blows my mind why these jet skis of suburbia even exist”, April 27) mixes two problems into one. Leaf blowers are fine when used sparingly, like once every three weeks. Then, the other part of her article links leaf blowers to the narcissistic tool of self-expression, the jet ski operated by people who exhibit repetitive behaviour often observed in mental institutions. One figure eight after another, unable to stop until they run out of fuel. These same people often have other tools of narcissistic expression, such as the American motorcycle that causes them to twist the throttle incessantly to create noise but no movement. Keeps them entertained for hours. And finally, they have a dinosaur American pick-up to tow a trailer to carry said jet ski, even though a Corolla could do the job. Philip Dowle, Wickham

I’m with you on leaf blowers, Jo Stubbings, even though my husband has one and thoroughly enjoys using it. It did, however, come in handy during our grandson’s COVID-19 birthday. To avoid anyone blowing on the cake, my husband produced his leaf blower to magic away the candle flames (also the icing, top layer of the cake and a few champagne flutes). Alison Stewart, Riverview

Inheritance tax time

Peter Hartcher (Letters, April 27) demonises those over 65 for “selfishness” in holding wealth through their homes and other legitimate investments. He fails to mention that the majority of those older citizens live in modest homes that they worked hard for many years to acquire and pay off and that many have only modest superannuation balances or exist on barely adequate government pensions. Might we say that those younger people who Hartcher claims are being disadvantaged are reacting selfishly? They want their forebears’ assets now instead of when they pass them on as inheritance. Brian O’Donnell, Burradoo

Once again, the hoary myths about Boomers are being trotted out. “Free university”? Most Baby Boomers (1946-1964) didn’t even finish high school. Free university was introduced in 1974, so those born before 1956 missed out. Working-class Boomers had no hope unless you scored a Commonwealth Scholarship. Only one in eight Boomers has a degree. The average candidature for the Leaving Certificate/HSC, 1964-1982, was 29,418. Last year there were over 73,000 HSC candidates. “Secure jobs”? Not if you got a job in one of those many industries that shipped jobs overseas during the Hawke/Keating restructure, or you saw your job disappear to a call centre overseas or taken up by a computer. Most Boomers, particularly working-class ones, did not travel overseas, they only had one car and did not have an investment property. Superannuation? Paul Keating brought that in when most Boomers were more than halfway through their working lives (mine only started in 1993 and the current balance is less than $500,000) so I would surmise that most Boomers are or will be dependent on the pension. Yes, it was easier for Boomers to buy a home, and we didn’t have to fork out for pay TV, mobile phones or internet connection, but only 33 per cent of households own their home outright. Not every Boomer is as well off as some would suggest. Ryszard Linkiewicz, Caringbah South

The R word

In all the brouhaha over the proposed changes to the NDIS, I have been surprised that one word has not been mentioned (“Being bold is flavour of the month”, April 27). With health and disability minister Mark Butler promising that the reassessment of all NDIS participants and applicants will be “objective” and “scientific” , it is inevitable that after filling in myriad new forms, applicants’ needs will be determined not by a caring human, but by some sort of AI. Oh, that word? Robo-debt. Andrew Scott, Pymble

Protect roo neighbours

The highlight for us after a very pleasant late afternoon Runway Walk (more like a wander) (“Runners get cleared for take-off at new airport”, April 27) was seeing an impressive line-up of kangaroos or wallabies on top of the hill beside the exit road inspecting their new neighbours. Hopefully, the mob(s) can continue to thrive in the area, although we wouldn’t want any flying kangaroos out of bounds on the runway. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

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