Queen’s jubilee could finally herald the road to republic

About 40 years ago, an Australian colleague shyly told me that he was going to vote for a republic. “Go ahead,” I said. “It’s your country, but before you vote, find out what sort of president you want.” In modern terms, is it a [German President] Steinmeier with little power or influence, or a Biden, theoretically with enormous power but, in practice, unable to effect any changes, or an elected monarch like Macron or even a Bolsonaro or a Putin? Find out which it is to be before you vote. But then perhaps, you might stick with a hereditary president, like you have at the moment. - David Latimer, Surrey (UK)

How appropriate is it to have the artificial Aspen Island, in Canberra’s artificial Lake Burley Griffin, renamed after Australia’s artificial head of state, Queen Elizabeth II? - Lindsay Foyle, Stanmore

As a monarchist, I have only two words to say regarding new Assistant Minister for the Republic Matt Thistlethwaite, “nominative determinism”. - William Lloyd, Denistone

Cranbrook’s co-ed ambitions uncover entrenched misogyny

I was amused to discover recently that one of the early arguments against education of girls was that male egos would be bruised if females were to outperform them academically (“Old boys back girls to join the Cranbrook classroom”, June 4). Not amused but rather horrified to read that in 2022, Cranbrook’s survey of parent attitudes to potential co-education included the possible objection that “girls will take boys’ places in academic rankings”. Others fretted about boys missing out on leadership roles to girls. Well, at least this is honest – presumably some respondents would unabashedly view those high academic rankings and leadership opportunities as belonging to males by right. Scary that a competent female could take that away from you! Are these the attitudes that we want our future business and political leaders to hold? - Liz Button, Maroubra

I am appalled by the views of some parents and alumni of a certain private school concerning the introduction of a token ratio of girls to foster more acceptable attitudes in male students. Girls should not be regarded as commodities to be enrolled at a stage when they are considered to have a beneficial effect on male behaviour and attitudes. As for objections that girls will distract the boys or take over leadership roles or top academic rankings, it is not surprising that these problems exist in broader society! - Ruth Magoffin, Cheltenham

Why would any parent want to send their daughter to such a backward place where a “boys will be boys” mentality is promoted and girls are regarded as a “distraction”? - Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

The discussions and uncritical reporting around admitting girls to Cranbrook are an embarrassment. Not a breath was spared on the question of what the school might offer any young woman brave enough to accept such a raw deal. Instead, the sole focus was how a deliberately outnumbered minority might serve to mend the cultural rot at the heart of another elite, patriarchal institution, and so improve the prospects of its male patrons. It is a disgrace, but unsurprising, that the point still needs to be articulated after the reckoning of recent years: it is not the responsibility of women to fix men. - Thomas White, Wyoming

Any parents considering sending their daughters into years 11 and 12 at Cranbrook, if the school decides to go co-ed, would be advised to think again. The criteria being considered where there would be five boys to every two girls could severely disadvantage their daughters. If girls are to be admitted, it must be on an equal basis if this “experiment” is to work. - Mary Lawson, Marrickville

Spin cycle no longer washes with voters

Peter Hartcher’s article illustrates all that is wrong with Australian politics (“Defying the teal tide for the next wave”, June 5). Peter Dutton’s talk of “target audiences” and “market share” has the ring of a major marketing campaign. Hasn’t this election demonstrated that the public don’t want political spin, but rather political parties with strong core values, integrity and a vision for Australia? Demonstrate those and you may well win our confidence and our vote.
John Mizon, Collaroy

The next few months should tell us if dogma will overwhelm insight in the Liberal Party. It should tell us if the party is interested in representing its community or its factions. It should tell us if it wants to govern, or rule. Finally, it should also tell us if the Liberal Party will offer an acceptable alternative or be condemned to the wilderness. - Rowan Godwin, Rozelle

Low-cost energy sources

“If electricity prices rise by 100 per cent, then climate change won’t be as big a priority as it is now,” says Peter Dutton. But the solution for energy price rises and climate change are identical. Zero emissions solar and wind power were the lowest cost energy sources in Australia even before the Ukraine invasion and Europe’s abandoning of gas supplies from Russia, which has led to catastrophic price rises for this commodity. Labor must urgently enact and enforce a science-based emissions reduction policy or be tarred with the same “climate fail” brush as the Coalition government. - John Bushell, Surry Hills

It’s patently obvious that Peter Dutton and David Littleproud are not going to accept any responsibility for the current energy crisis, let alone make some useful suggestions. Nine years of neglect have contributed to the parlous position we are now in and its seriousness should be above politics. It may be too much to expect while their focus is totally on the next election.
They had their opportunity and stuffed up so let’s give the other mob a chance and put the nation first. - Margaret Ashenhurst, Willoughby

How good is opposition. After nine years in control overseeing an impending energy crisis without meaningful action, one week in opposition has enlightened the Coalition as to the way to remedy the looming crisis. In the cause of co-operation, they are even offering such advice to the new government. Brilliant. - Bob Cameron, Coffs Harbour

If Australia is at last on the right policy track for a massive shift to renewable forms of energy, an end to dependence on fossil fuels and an environment favouring limitless research and investment in new technologies, isn’t it possible that we could reach climate change targets before 2030, let alone 2050? Free from indefensible political constraints and with the support of the great majority of us, this country has the resources, scientific and intellectual capacity, and corporate willpower to achieve anything it sets out to do.
Gillian Appleton, Paddington

Happy to lose

Reading Peter Hartcher convinced this Bennelong voter even more that the Liberals, and more particularly Peter Dutton, were more than happy to lose the recent election. The “deadweight” of Scott Morrison is now history and the NSW Libs are regaining control of their branches and future preselections. Barnaby Joyce is also gone. Australia is facing escalating energy and fuel prices, inflation is set to go through the roof and interest rates are already advancing in the only direction they can. As Hartcher points out: “The sheer coincidence of unlucky timing might be enough for the Coalition to exploit and blame Labor.” And let us not forget, Dutton’s only possible chance of leading the Liberals, and possibly the country, required the removal of Josh Frydenberg from the scene. - Ken Webb, Epping

Snouts in the trough

I look forward to learning how a horde of Coalition MPs were allowed to effectively cheat neighbouring non-government electorates out of millions of dollars (“Grants scheme was ‘industrial’ pork barrelling”, June 4). - Peter Mahoney, Oatley

Taxing measures

You are to be congratulated on your suggestion to the NSW government to “seize the moment for a joint push on urgent reform” (Editorial, June 4 2022). You noted that “states and territories are stuck with a raft of outdated and wasteful taxes”. An increase in the GST to say, 15 per cent could assist here. Indeed, such a move could enable a reduction in the currently excessive stamp duty on property transfers to an acceptable level, possibly in conjunction with the introduction the already suggested broad-based land tax. - Geoff Dunsford, Wahroonga

Country doctors

Peter Nelson (Letters, June 4) suggests country councils should sponsor a medical student in return for five years’ country service. If you want country doctors, you need to get medical students from the country, not the eastern and northern suburbs of Sydney. The country kids are used to the country life and will stay. My sibling and cousin are medical specialists who grew up in the country, trained in Sydney, and now practise as specialists in western NSW. There are more on the way. - Eva Elbourne, Pennant Hills

Crown of thorns

One is left wondering what offence would be considered serious enough to result in a casino operator being refused a licence (“Poised to deal: Crown starts recruiting for Barangaroo”, June 4).
David Grover, Chatswood

Fatherhood statements

I read Maree Valder-Conn’s piece with dismay (“How I lost my name and five days’ pay to the patriarchy”, June 4). My husband and I only realised our middle names were missing from our NSW driving licences (we’d had them for 25 years) when applying for working-with-children checks. When we went into Services NSW to get the licences reissued in our full names, we were told that Australian passports did not count as one of the acceptable forms of identity. We were both born in Britain and had to provide our citizenship certificates instead! - Teresa Cayzer, Frenchs Forest

It’s a losing battle, Maree. Your “maiden” name was your father’s. Your first married name was your husband’s. Your current name is your latest husband’s. Patriarchy is the name of the game. - Betsy Brennan, Wahroonga

After a divorce, I decided to revert to my maiden name and my solicitor told me he’d have to prepare a legal document. But I told him there was no need as my birth certificate was a legal document and all I had to do was write a statutory declaration. Once I provided the stat dec and birth certificate to the transport office, my new licence was changed and I then altered my bank accounts etc. - Carole Baxter, Woodgate (Qld)

The digital view

Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au “The platinum jubilee is a non-event, but so is the push for a republic”
From grumpyom: We really should separate the popularity of the monarchy from the republic debate. The monarchy will continue regardless of what Australians think or do. We can enjoy the spectacle and pageantry all we want without having the colonial embarrassment of a British monarch as head of state. Our members of parliament swear allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, not to us.

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