The legitimacy of the appointment of Stephen Cartwright to the place of agent basic in London has been referred to as into query when different candidates that have been rated extra appropriate for such jobs have been missed. Once more, the spectre of “jobs for the boys” is raised. Is there any proof that these taxpayer-funded, extremely paid positions present any actual profit for NSW? Leo Sorbello, West Ryde
It’s time the Perrottet authorities revealed to the NSW public precisely what are the financial advantages generated by our extremely paid commerce commissioner in London. How a lot new enterprise, what number of new jobs and what new strains of commerce have been opened up by this workplace? We have already got Austrade working in Britain to fulfil this function, and this duplication is pointless. For each greenback spent on Cartwright’s wage, bills and employees, there ought to be a a lot better return flowing to the NSW financial system or else it’s simply one other sorry story on this litany of waste and hubris that’s swamping the state authorities. Peter Cooper-Southam, Frenchs Forest
It could be fascinating to see an neutral evaluation of the prices and advantages to NSW of the commerce envoy and the agent basic positions. Possibly the Productiveness Fee ought to look into it. John Barry, Oakdale
The choice course of for commerce commissioners and brokers basic has given a brand new that means to “The Final Shall Be First”. Tony Re, Georges Corridor
Cartwright’s appointment ought to be rescinded and the federal government ought to reassess whether or not such a place is even mandatory. State and federal Coalition governments have proven little respect for due course of just lately, so guidelines have to be modified to forestall future dodgy choices. Governments of all persuasions are going to have a troublesome job regaining our belief. Graham Lum, North Rocks
Sense behind subsidies subsides
Tim Buckley’s article must be answered by the federal treasurer (“Time to rein in fossil gas profiteers”, August 22). We learn that almost all of fossil gas giants working in Australia “have paid exactly zero company tax within the final seven years” and there’s no must proceed fossil gas subsidies whereas the 5 “tremendous majors” earn staggering income. The federal authorities ought to reply to this text within the affirmative and get on with the job of harvesting apparent taxes the place and when wanted. Fairly a revelation for a lot of, little question. Thanks, Tim. Klaas Woldring, Pearl Seaside
It’s arduous to consider that our legislators nonetheless permit fossil gas subsidies to proceed unabated within the face of incontrovertible proof that they need to be stopped now. Tim Buckley’s article states clearly the large price to Australians financially, environmentally and morally of continuous alongside this path. Holding again catastrophic international warming requires dramatically decreasing fossil gas manufacturing and subsidies to fossil gas firms. The subsidies undermine that objective and ship the fallacious message about what warrants authorities help. Tax minimisation/avoidance of nearly all of fossil gas giants working in Australia, who’ve paid no tax to the ATO over the previous seven years, is outrageous. A lot-needed tax from the large income of the fossil gas giants is not out there and its absence deprives all of us of profit from what are our sovereign sources. Please cease the fossil gas subsidies and let’s have $11 billion again into the federal price range yearly. Liz Macfie, Crows Nest
Inky darkness
I used to be 14 (“In love? Assume earlier than you ink”, August 20). We have been assembly up frequently on the localmilk bar in Melbourne. George was eager on me and I had butterflies in my tummy. He was so grown up at 16. Someday, he walked me house and held my hand. Then he turned up one Saturday with a tattoo. A coronary heart with “Mary” ribboned throughout it. I walked exterior and threw up into the gutter. I haven’t been capable of stand tattoos ever since. Mary Porter, Watsons Bay
Gimme shelters
It’s all very nicely to explain the brand new shelters “with know-how to maintain commuters cool in summer time” (“Self-cleaning inexperienced bogs simply a part of a $100m new look on the streets of central Sydney”, August 20) however what about when it’s moist, windy or chilly? The promoting panels, the place there are panels at each ends of the shelter, obscure the view of the bus arriving and the driving force seeing if there are passengers ready. Then there’s the lack of awareness. We’d like detailed timetables and a readable map of the bus routes detailing the place they go. Peter Kahn, Coogee
Wing and a scare
Feeding Indian mynahs (Letters, August 22) is akin to feeding rats, the one distinction being that birds have wings. The mynahs are an official pest and are preventing our native chook species by taking up their pure territories and breeding websites. The less round, the higher. Terry Bugden, Wauchope
Right here at Hallidays Level, persons are trapping and euthanising Indian mynahs. These birds havea devastating impact on our native chook populations. It’s disappointing to study that in Marrickville persons are feeding them. You might as nicely miss meals for the rats and cockroaches. Invoice Gillis, Hallidays Level
Can we pinch it?
Whereas I agree that it could be higher to go away the fuel within the floor, and insanity to truck 1430 tonnes of salt monthly into the Darling basin catchment (“Santos salt waste provides to fuel challenge’s air pollution issues”, August 20), I’m questioning whyno one sees the salt as a helpful useful resource.
Is it a sodium salt that might berefined for our tables? Is it apotassium salt that could possibly be used like a battery to retailer photo voltaic warmth for later use in firming turbines? Is it a precursor that could possibly be utilized in some industrial chemical course of? Can we get some worth added to it, as a substitute of simply including to the salt air pollution of our catchments and water tables? Alan Stanley, Higher Corindi
Demise defining
Cultures and people differ of their angle to dying (Letters, August 22). I really feel sorry to your correspondent who feels his psychological well being is threatened by memorial plagues in parks and different public areas. Most of my household dwell in Vancouver and every time I go to and stroll alongside its foreshores I’m comforted by the messages of affection on the seats. A kind of messages is for a nephew, “AJ”. He cherished the foreshores and died in that space. My sister and our prolonged household rejoice that AJ’s plaque is a testomony to residing reminiscences. Therese Curtis, North Sydney
What about just a few divorce plaques on beachside benches? Tim Schroder, Gordon
Your correspondent means that to unravel the monument dilemma, the statues ought to be divided into these individuals who have been “good” and those that have been “unhealthy”. Who would be the decide? Ross MacPherson, Seaforth
Not grateful, simply grating
The query can be: “Gratitude for what?” (Letters, August 22). In my a few years of voting, I’ve seen a wide range of PMs and I’d price our most up-to-date departure because the worst on nearly any scale. Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West
There may be nothing unnatural about gratitude besides amongst those that lack any semblance of it. Jeffrey Mellefont, Coogee
Naming rites
A pal informed me that when her granddaughter began at a ladies’ highschool final yr, six others in her class shared her first title, Lily (Letters, August 21). However wait, there’s extra. Apparently, my pal’s son, a barrister and a cricket tragic, initially wished his daughter’s title to be “Lillee”. Edward Loong, Milsons Level
Maybe, 4 of Casey, Casei, Kasey, Kaisi and KC have been moonlighting because the Sunshine Band? David Gordon, Cranebrook
Why have you ever omitted poor outdated me, Kersi, in your listing of Casey, Casei, Kasey, Kaisi and KC? Kersi Meher-Homji, St Ives
Asleep on the joystick
Failing to get up at Strathfield station now feels so inconsequential (“Pilots ‘fell asleep at 11,000 metres’, miss touchdown”, August 22). Mustafa Erem, Terrigal
Dishonourable point out
Re parliamentary conventions, the usage of “honourable” for parliamentarians may do with some scrutiny. Chris Moon, Katoomba
Useless proper
To misquote Ernest Hemingway: obituaries (Letters, August 22) are reminders that individuals who have died hadn’t died earlier than. Col Shephard, Yamba
The digital view
On-line remark from one of many tales that attracted probably the most reader suggestions yesterday on smh.com.au
Australia’s most in-demand professions revealed, however migrants
cautious of returning
From Nonsense: ″The demand for many of the occupations listed is due to migration. If we carry in additional individuals to fill the roles, it should solely create extra demand. We have to actively have a look at stopping migration and inspiring individuals to go away. We’d like a smaller sustainable inhabitants of people who find themselves nicely skilled and rewarded.″
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