Vote-chasing politicians created scourge of the super-sized ute

As well as costing us all, dual-cab super-utes are little more than statements of macho indulgence and folly (“Hate all the monster utes on our streets? Your tax dollars helped pay for them”, October 24). Regrettably, misguided tax breaks from vote-chasing politicians have fed into this foolishness. Remember Michaelia Cash’s impassioned plea to “stand by our tradies” and “save their utes”? Spare me. The trouble is, the utes we’re saving are actually pretty ute-less. Many tradies need to add a trailer to the back to carry their tools, as the ute’s tray section is not big enough. And tellingly, the biggest tool in the box is often stored right up front in the driver’s seat. Pam Timms, Suffolk Park

Shane Wrights’ article wonderfully highlights the absurdity of a government policy that on the one hand encourages economic growth through generous tax concessions on oversized gas guzzling vehicles, while simultaneously trying to reduce carbon emissions in other ways. However, many have pointed out that these tax concessions do not fully explain the massive decline smaller-sized passenger vehicles sales to only 15 per cent of the market. The belief is that the increasing sales of these oversized utes in turn now encourages even more people to buy them, not because they really want one, but rather because they no longer feel safe on the road in a “normal” passenger vehicle surrounded they these massive utes. John Slidziunas, Woonona

The conversion of blue-collar workers to small business owners throughout the 90s set the scene for our monster ute world. This occurred on the back of globalisation and the breakdown of trade union effectiveness. Manual tradespeople and labour became contractors or subcontractors, they required business names, companies, equipment, accounting. With all this prosperity, including property ownership in booming markets, conservative government seemed good for them. A tax write-off is now grist for the mill. The latest blurring of traditional structures is the battle of the “elites”, not the bone they are fighting over but simply who is elite, as it more suits the conservatives to break this one down too. Utes, elites, what next? Brian Jones, Leura

From my observations, the huge numbers of these utes on the road cannot be explained by business or farm use. Wright doesn’t mention pollution; he focuses more costs. It’s a no-brainer to have a pollution tax on these vehicles when the buyer is not a business owner or farmer. If we choose to over-pollute without good reason, a tax is justified. Hopefully, this tax would bring the number of these vehicles on our roads down. The planet would benefit and we’d all breathe cleaner air. Dennis O’Hara, Wanniassa (ACT)

As we pull out all stops to decarbonise the economy, encouraging the purchase of large fuel-inefficient vehicles seems misplaced. Not everybody can drive a Corolla, but one can only wonder how much urban traffic flows would improve if that was the case. Any consideration to increasing the size of parking spaces will only add to motorists’ frustrations. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Australia is becoming the dumping ground for the world’s large SUV gas-guzzlers and pedestrian killers. Forget about lengthening parking spaces to accommodate these vehicles. All that is required is a tax change that would make these vehicles prohibitively expensive. If this were done, then vehicles would cost us less and we could all breathe easier. Geoff Black, Caves Beach

Wright didn’t even need to reiterate the safety concerns of utility behemoths on our roads. It’s unfathomable that governments are providing the largesse or incentive. So much for safety and environment: that’s called lip service. Ted Bush, North Epping

We need public housing before parks on golf course

The recent announcement to cut a golf course in half to create more parklands beggars belief. You’re going to cut in half a big park where people hit golf balls so you can create another park there where they don’t hit balls (Letters, October 24)? How ’bout this idea: plonk in some much-needed public housing there instead of another park. I mean, whether you hit a golf ball, walk your dog or throw a frisbee, it’s still a park, right? And I guarantee the park you’re going to create will more than likely attract the poor folks that need the housing in the first place. I’m a train guard, always seeing two ends of the spectrum of our society. I feel so sad to see poor people shuffle off from my train at 3am when I have to work it empty into our depot; I feel like the cruel landlord evicting them from their temporary home. Where are they going? How will they cope? Will they survive the cold, the rain or the intense heat? I understand there is no quick fix for this tragically layered homeless problem in Sydney, but this would be a positive step forward and would give some people a roof over their head and a place to feel human. Please prioritise, we need public housing before parks. Gary Philips, Penshurst

The state government made the same announcement at Gordon Golf Club some years ago before we found out that part of the plan for additional green space and sporting ovals included a new shopping centre. Members and local residents were strong enough to override the council.
Golf courses are by their very nature green spaces. When half of the Moore Park golf course gets carved up we will be left with a sporting oval, a children’s playground, lots of concrete pathways and car parking. Loads of car parking because, if you know the site, it’s currently hard to access other than by a bridge from the other side of the course. So there will be less green space in an area that already has Centennial and Moore Parks. Why? Because in Sydney, where there is a push for more green space there is a developer. Watch this space! Norm Lurie, Hunters Hill

Apologies to your correspondent, but “companionship, fresh air, exercise and fun” can be gained from going for a walk with friends. You should be proud that losing just nine holes of this “magic” golf course in Moore Park could benefit so many, especially if your letter was penned from your own comfortable home. I write this from London, where I am fortunate to be visiting and where, after paying for housing, one in four people are living in poverty. Is that the direction you would see us go in? We “haves” need to get real about the housing crisis. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

I don’t see any mention of Royal Sydney Golf Course being divided for green space. Imagine! Patricia Spooner, North Turramurra

Police can’t close the gap alone, but they can help

I was disappointed with the police commissioner’s response to the challenge of closing the gap on Indigenous incarceration (“Police should not be responsible for Closing the Gap targets”, October 24). That challenge is clearly a complex one that can never be the responsibility of the police alone. But the police could be solely accountable for targets like increasing the representation of Indigenous people across all police ranks, lifting the standard of holding cells in specified areas or ensuring 100 per cent of all deployments to areas with high numbers of Indigenous people receive cultural sensitivity training. Need I go on? We are where we are because too many leaders emulate Pontius Pilate and simply wash their hands of it all.
Brian Barrett, Padstow

Long look

Who’s kidding who here, blaming the 60/40 referendum result on the Coalition “misinforming people what the referendum was all about and what it could or couldn’t do” (“Yes campaigner Mayo speaks amid debate over PM’s role”, October 24). The fact the Coalition was smashed last election reflected what voters truly thought of it and to now suggest that more than 60 per cent of that same voting public was swayed by Coalition argument is, at best, rashly simplistic. If we’re entering a phase of truth-telling as we all try to recover from a long, spiteful debate then lets both sides have a good look in the mirror. Russell Murphy, Bayview

I was ashamed when I read the Open Letter from First Nations peoples to all Australia. I voted Yes, but this letter is a stark reminder that we need to be more educated about the significant place of First Nations peoples in our history, and about the true role that colonisation has played in their lives, from then until now. Seeing the role of colonisation from their perspective (and from the actual recorded facts) seems to have been very difficult for No voters. Australia is worse off for experiencing the negativity of Peter Dutton, Warren Mundine and Jacinta Price. Anita Lawrance, Scone

The referendum result has left me heartbroken and disillusioned. Although there seemed to be a consensus on aspects of the proposal, as a country we weren’t able to rise above our differences to unite on a simple principle. Sadly, the “perfect became the enemy of the good”, but at what cost? My only hope now is that something better can come from this & we can move ahead together. Judy Stringer, Merewether

Super subs

It’s not just women that the government is prioritising submarines over (“Equality report urges ALP to fund parental leave super,” October 24). It’s everyone and everything: women and men; children and the elderly; schools and universities; healthcare and aged care; housing and social welfare; the environment; and the arts. Miranda Korzy, Clareville

Less desirable

It may seem very noble adding extra Metro stations so people have less distance to walk between stations (“Billions will be needed for extra Metro West train stations”, October 24). However , this will ultimately extend travel times, making the metro a less desirable form of transport. Has this been considered? Katriona Herborn, Blackheath

Keep calm

Anglican Community Services won’t even provide literature on VAD for their patients in case they might learn about it (“Up to 250 doctors sign on to deliver new assisted dying laws”, October 24). I thought Christianity was about love, tolerance, support and acceptance, not narrow-mindedness and control. Surely if belief in the scriptures is so wonderful, then the church has no need to be anxious about patients throwing away their chance to go to Heaven, by taking their own lives. Rosslyn Jeffery, Castle Hill

Quiet zone

Every suburb within 15 kilometres of the airport shares some noise of aircraft taking off (“Sydney Airport’s flight paths shaken up to clear way for rival in west”, October 24). Not, however the lower north shore which is the only area not having to share any noise from aircraft taking off from either of the north-south runways. Rod Rimes, Breakfast Point

The Hills district is set to be a winner in the Sydney flight path stakes - if you enjoy plane spotting. We already have Bankstown flight paths, most large jet departures from the north of the main Sydney runway and many southerly arrivals, and now we are to get more jet departures heading east, more from the cross runway and, to top it all off, flight paths to and from the new Western Sydney Airport. There must be a way large jets to New Zealand or the west coast of America can avoid flying from near the coast in a wide arc so far west, adding extra fossil fuel residues to Sydney’s atmosphere. And I just hope there’s room up there for all those planes! Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Truth casualty

In your article the beheading of babies by Hamas is mentioned (“What’s next in Gaza? Let’s recall what happened to Islamic State”, October 24). This is a claim from which US President Joe Biden walked back and which Israel did not support after the initial reporting. Is truth continuing to be a victim of this war? Louise Dolan, Birchgrove

Peace house

Lord Mayor Clover Moore was right to disagree with Premier Chris Minns’ decision to light up the Opera House sails in the colours of the Israeli flag (Letters, October 24). The sails should never have been used for political purposes. The Opera House is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Australian government nominated the Sydney Opera House as “a masterpiece of modern architecture and an iconic building of the 20th century, admired internationally and treasured by the people of Australia.” World Heritage places are nominated for their cultural or natural heritage and are said to be of Outstanding Universal Value. The Opera House is for peace, not politics.
Anne Bickford, Lilyfield

Red kettle

Is Donald Trump’s description of Anthony Pratt a case of the pot calling the kettle red (“Trump swings at ‘weirdo’ Pratt, denies leaking US secrets”, October 24)? Gordon Lambert, Kiama Downs

The eponymous Mr Pratt? Graham Steel, Ballina

Woman power

Man’s inhumanity to man seems perpetual and unchangeable (“If more women were in charge, the world would be better”, October 24). The author Barbara Kingsolver put it eloquently in her book Demon Copperhead : “There is no kind of sad in the world that stops it from turning.” Perhaps we women and kids should be shouting; stop the world I want to get off. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi

I am grateful to feminism and all the changes it facilitated, but I can’t support the thesis that “if more women were in charge, the world would be better”. It may provide a better balance for many reasons, but women, I believe, are just as subject to the prejudice and emotion that leads to conflict. Consider the leadership of Margaret Thatcher and what that resulted in for the striking coal miners, and her support for the Falklands War. Carol James, Cronulla

Pint of mother’s milk

Your correspondent reckons Guinness tastes like mother’s milk . In 1967, when my large baby boy was born in the old cottage hospital in Hexham, UK, the motherly sister in charge plied me with Guinness, which she insisted would improve the quality and quantity of my mother’s milk (Letters, October 23). It certainly improved my recovery and the large lad did not grow up to be an alcoholic either. Denise Mountford, Avalon Beach

I wouldn’t mind a pint of Guinness mother’s milk, as long as it served with a few slices of grandmother’s leg ham from the deli. Ciaran Donnelly, Lane Cove

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