Warranty debacle just the latest transport derailment
How much overview does the manager of the inner west light rail have over the maintenance of the trams and, importantly, the maintenance of the tracks (“Expired warranty: Taxpayers may have to foot bill for cracked trams”, December 2)?
In October 2013 two trams derailed at separate locations within minutes of each other due to incorrectly laid track. Now we have 12 trams out of service.
It would be better for the one organisation to manage, control and maintain all aspects of the line. Ian Brady, Chatswood
Why would any government agree to such a short warranty for expensive trams? Most new cars have a better warranty than the warranty for these cracked trams. We now await to hear who will foot the bill if the taxpayers are not responsible. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
It would seem that former transport minister, Andrew Constance, exited state politics just before it all hit the fan. With warranty expired by mid-2017, there seems little doubt that NSW taxpayers will have to foot the repair bill. Perhaps Constance could put his hand up for the transport ministry if he wins a seat at the upcoming federal election. He has the experience. He could build on his record in NSW. Glenn Johnson. Leura
Buses currently replacing the out-of-service inner west light rail have extremely low patronage during the day and often carry no passengers at all. Further to saving costs would be to limit this service to peak times only. Carmen Fenech, Frenchs Forest
The Spanish trams may be out of warranty and NSW taxpayers may be out of patience when it comes to tolerating the consequences of this government’s overseas procurement decisions. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills
Cracks, cracks and more cracks: buildings, ferries and trains. The cheapest job is rarely the best and ends up being paid for over and over again. Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek
The state government’s challenge on how to resolve the cracks on its light rail trams is easily fixed.
It should do what all governments do, and just paper over the cracks. Tony Powell, MacMasters Beach
Cracked trams out of warranty? That’s not all that’s cracked in this state. How’s the government’s warranty looking? Kathleen Hollins, Northmead
Women’s heritage not valued
Is the Hyde Park Barracks a start-up hub (“Colonial women’s prison retained as city’s next museum”, December 2)? No. That would be a heritage crime. Why, then, is the Female Factory, the women’s equivalent of the Hyde Park Barracks, being turned into a start-up hub with the museum option coming long after the NSW government has carved up this site of world heritage significance for offices, high-rise apartments and a development deal with Sydney University? If it’s good enough for the Hyde Park Barracks to be a museum about itself, why is women’s heritage not worthy of the same? Under cover of the Female Factory announcement, work is already under way to turn the site into offices for a tech start-up. Museum uses, women’s history and heritage conservation are an afterthought. This year, when the grotesque scale of sexual assault and a culture of toxic masculinity has been on painful display, it is no surprise that women’s history and heritage at Parramatta is deemed unworthy of conservation. The reality is that women’s history still counts for nothing when it comes to development deals in Parramatta. Kylie Winkworth, Newtown
The announcement of Sydney’s next museum showcases the pervasive obsession with colonisation that endures in the chambers of state government. Addressing cultural inequity in NSW should not be about balancing the investment in bricks and mortar between eastern and western Sydney, but rather about acknowledging a 65,000-year-old story and celebrating that cultural value equitably across the state. While Minister Don Harwin revels in his arts portfolio, he has some way to go to catch up on with his spending announcements under the Aboriginal affairs portfolio. Chris Andrew, Turramurra
One set of laws for us …
Rather than commissioning Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins to rush out a snazzy report on the problem, maybe Scott Morrison could have just distributed the link to the Commonwealth Sex Discrimination Act that the rest of the country has lived with since 1984 (Letters, December 2). Yep, 37 years and a piercing demonstration of the growing disconnect between pollies and punters. Russell Murphy, Bayview
I take issue with the story that drinking alcohol is not a cause of sexual harassment in Parliament House (“Alcohol not the cause of sexual harassment: former staffers”, November 2). Alcohol is a major cause of sexual assault and harassment and violence everywhere. Alcohol is a mind-distorting drug. That’s why we have laws against drink-driving. Alcohol is so imbued into Western culture we refuse to recognise its deleterious effects. Bob Vinnicombe, Sefton
Our MPs would have us believe that they don’t have problem with booze when it is obvious they only have a problem without it. John Grinter, Katoomba
Where are our mates?
What am I missing? PM Morrison stirred up the Chinese, Australia then lost billions of dollars of trade, much of which the US took (“US and China do business without us”, December 2). I don’t understand why we were sold out. We have ended up in a diplomatic mess with the French and a significant loss of trade. What is being hidden? Roz Townsend, Bathurst
Rainy day heroes
It looks like the humble Australian household manages the economy better than anyone, including this government (“Household savings to fix budget: Treasurer”, December 2). Kristina Vingis, Church Point
All the way with USA
Not surprising that Scott Morrison has hijacked from young American social media users the cloying advertisement-like catchphrase “thank you for your service” (“Don’t tell veterans ‘thank you for your service’: memo”, December 2). But don’t stop with that phrase because for historical accuracy the inevitable tag “and thank you for keeping us free” has to go as well. Sadly, it’s not just American military phraseology that we so easily adopt, it’s their wars, too. Right, Minister Dutton? Trevor Somerville, Illawong
Just as glib American phrases should be relegated to the dustbin, I hope the equally empty-sounding “sorry for your loss” is as well. Sally Spurr, Lane Cove
Spare us Aunty community
Good grief, Peter Lewis: an officially instituted, artificially designated, bureaucratically structured, committee-designed, politically sanctioned, ideologically approved, morally fumigated, rainbow-inclusive, broad church, un-intrusive, bespoke, woke, hip, slick, chic and charter-friendly town square, generously presented to us hillbilly mug punters by our ABC, complete with the thickly sanctimonious condescension of self-important journalists, and the 24-7 tinny muzak that is the worst unofficial national anthem ever written (“Imagine, a citizen’s network via your ABC”, December 2). What could possibly go wrong? Jack Robertson, Birchgrove
Gladys all over
“He [Scott Morrison] is desperate to get Berejiklian to run against independent Zali Steggall in Warringah”, writes the remarkable Niki Savva (“Morrison’s winning ways once more on show”, December 2). Here in Zali-land, all we can say is “bring it on — beam her in, Scotty!” But do recall what happened to Tony Abbott here after he’d become an embarrassment to his party and prepare for tears before bedtime on election night. Steve Cornelius, Brookvale
Flop of the pops
Shaun Carney asks whether Scott Morrison and his current bunch of hitmakers will be regarded as akin to the Beatles or the Bay City Rollers (“Morrison building his re-election on old hit tunes”, December 2)? To most people they will be remembered more as Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Peter Nash, Fairlight
In response to Carney’s concluding provocation, it is most assuredly the Bay City Rollers. James Laukka, Epping
I think Carney is being at bit hard on the Bay City Rollers. Michael Deeth, Como West
No, Shaun Carney, the PM’s hitmakers will not be remembered as The Beatles or the Bay City Rollers. More likely the Black Sabbath. Ray Alexander, Moss Vale
Never did I envision an occasion would arise when I’d publicly defend the musical integrity of the Bay City Rollers. However, if we’re using the analogy of rock band status to describe the likely legacy of the Morrison government, Carney’s lower benchmark should have been Milli Vanilli. Col Burns, Lugarno
Elusive goal
Graham Arnold’s improved leadership needs to be accompanied by increased skill levels of the team if Australia is to move up and secure the second World Cup spot (“COVID made me better”, December 2). Mustafa Erem, Terrigal
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
‘No choice’: WTA suspends tennis tournaments in China amid concern for Peng Shuai
From gfish: ″Congratulations to the WTA and, especially, the Chairman Steve Simon. What a great example to the world of putting people before money and politics. He is a shining light in a world where so many leaders espouse great principles but do not take any meaningful action.″
- To submit a letter to The Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here for tips on how to submit letters.
Was Porter pushed or did he jump from Parliament?
Source: Philippines Alive
