The legitimacy of the appointment of Stephen Cartwright to the place of agent common in London has been known 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 traces 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 needs to be a a lot larger return flowing to the NSW economic 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 might be attention-grabbing to see an neutral evaluation of the prices and advantages to NSW of the commerce envoy and the agent common positions. Possibly the Productiveness Fee ought to look into it. John Barry, Oakdale
The choice course of for commerce commissioners and brokers common has given a brand new that means to “The Final Shall Be First”. Tony Re, Georges Corridor
Cartwright’s appointment needs to be rescinded and the federal government ought to reassess whether or not such a place is even vital. State and federal Coalition governments have proven little respect for due course of lately, so guidelines should be modified to forestall future dodgy selections. Governments of all persuasions are going to have a tricky 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 gasoline profiteers”, August 22). We learn that almost all of fossil gasoline giants working in Australia “have paid exactly zero company tax within the final seven years” and there’s no must proceed fossil gasoline subsidies whereas the 5 “tremendous majors” earn staggering earnings. 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 doubt. Thanks, Tim. Klaas Woldring, Pearl Seaside
It’s laborious to consider that our flesh pressers nonetheless permit fossil gasoline subsidies to proceed unabated within the face of incontrovertible proof that they need to be stopped now. Tim Buckley’s article states clearly the massive price to Australians financially, environmentally and morally of continuous alongside this path. Holding again catastrophic world warming requires dramatically lowering fossil gasoline manufacturing and subsidies to fossil gasoline corporations. The subsidies undermine that objective and ship the mistaken message about what warrants authorities help. Tax minimisation/avoidance of nearly all of fossil gasoline 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 massive earnings of the fossil gasoline giants is no longer out there and its absence deprives all of us of profit from what are our sovereign assets. Please cease the fossil gasoline 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. In the future, he walked me dwelling 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 properly to explain the brand new shelters “with expertise 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 may be the lack of expertise. We want 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 combating our native hen species by taking on their pure territories and breeding websites. The less round, the higher. Terry Bugden, Wauchope
Right here at Hallidays Level, individuals are trapping and euthanising Indian mynahs. These birds havea devastating impact on our native hen populations. It’s disappointing to be taught that in Marrickville individuals are feeding them. Chances are you’ll as properly omit 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 per thirty days into the Darling basin catchment (“Santos salt waste provides to fuel challenge’s air pollution considerations”, 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 may very well be used like a battery to retailer photo voltaic warmth for later use in firming mills? Is it a precursor that may very well be utilized in some industrial chemical course of? Can we get some worth added to it, as an alternative of simply including to the salt air pollution of our catchments and water tables? Alan Stanley, Higher Corindi
Dying defining
Cultures and people fluctuate of their perspective 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 stay 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 beloved the foreshores and died in that space. My sister and our prolonged household rejoice that AJ’s plaque is a testomony to residing recollections. Therese Curtis, North Sydney
What about a number of divorce plaques on beachside benches? Tim Schroder, Gordon
Your correspondent means that to resolve the monument dilemma, the statues needs to be divided into these individuals who have been “good” and people who have been “unhealthy”. Who would be the choose? 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 quite a lot of PMs and I might fee 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 good friend instructed me that when her granddaughter began at a women’ highschool final 12 months, six others in her class shared her first identify, Lily (Letters, August 21). However wait, there’s extra. Apparently, my good friend’s son, a barrister and a cricket tragic, initially wished his daughter’s identify 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
Lifeless 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 essentially 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 a lot of the occupations listed is due to migration. If we deliver in additional folks to fill the roles, it would solely create extra demand. We have to actively take a look at stopping migration and inspiring folks to go away. We want a smaller sustainable inhabitants of people who find themselves properly skilled and rewarded.″
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