Eviction of Peng activists a capitulation to Beijing
Greg Baum is right to call out the hypocrisy of Tennis Australia (“Appease in a pod: TA, 1573 and the CCP”, January 25). Evicting activists concerned with the whereabouts of Peng Shuai while allowing squaddie louts to boo any opponent of Nick Kyrgios and authorising political appearances by Josh Frydenberg – clearly TA have used up all their political capital with the Novak Djokovic debacle and don’t want to upset their Chinese sponsors. Brian Hastings, West Ryde
Fresh from their part in the Djokovic debacle, Tennis Australia appears to have learnt nothing and have gone all in by ejecting two spectators for wearing “where is Peng Shuai” T-shirts. Not satisfied with the adverse publicity this reaction received, they have doubled down and announced they will do likewise to potentially 1000 T-shirt wearers. Or perhaps it’s just a clever plan to highlight Peng Shuai’s plight while appearing to appease their Chinese sponsors. Stephen Manns, Woollahra
No, Greg Baum, I back Tennis Australia all the way to ban political protesting at the Australian Open. The handing out of a 1000 T-shirts is contravening the Australian Order charter. Let’s leave politics out of a wonderful sporting occasion. The tennis circuit is an excellent example of multi-racial acceptance with players from any country in the world being free to participate without political pressure. Christina Foo, Wahroonga
Let me get this straight. Tennis Australia denies access to any spectator promoting questions as to the safety and whereabouts of a highly ranked Chinese tennis player, yet is happy to allow access to a group of yobbos intent on upsetting the game of highly ranked Russian tennis player, Daniil Medvedev. Well done, TA. Bill Young, Killcare Heights
Tennis Australia is not experiencing its finest hour, is it? Priorities, please. Genevieve Milton, Newtown
Memo to makers of the supposedly offensive T-shirts at the Australian Open: just add, in small print “for we are one and free”. Megan Brock, Summer Hill
I don’t understand how “where is Peng Shuai?” T-shirts can be classed as political. The question is about human rights and social justice failings by a foreign government. Other social justice/human rights questions for our government would be: where is the Murugappan family and why aren’t the refugees who were locked up with Djokovic in the hotel also released from incarceration? Howard Clark, Ryde
I had a little chuckle when I read TA does not allow, among other things “clothing that is commercial”. I wonder how many shirts are clean skins, free of ticks, crocodiles, waves, crowns, roosters and all manner of instantly recognisable symbols of commercialism? Heather Lindsay, Woonona
Tests may be free but no available
As a concession cardholder I approached a pharmacy yesterday to acquire the free rapid antigen tests to which I am now entitled (“Rapid test reporting hit by shortages”, January 25). The pharmacy had tests in packs of 20, and as my husband and I are both cardholders, this was the correct number for us. The pharmacy said they did not have the free tests at the moment but expected them in a couple of weeks. I was gobsmacked as my understanding was the pharmacy would receive a subsidy through Medicare for issuing these tests to concession cardholders. What special supply is expected in a couple of weeks? And will this supply be reserved for concession cardholders only? Judith Moore, Shortland
Hoarding, Barnaby Joyce? How dare you (“Businesses lash hoarding claim by Joyce”, January 25). Did I avail myself of the one per customer limit at Coles when they had them? You bet, because Mum’s aged care facility, which I used to visit at least once each week, required it. Do I still have them? Sadly, yes, because the facility banned visitors when they were unable to secure sufficient boosters for residents/staff and RATs for staff before their shift.
The 10 tests I will be permitted as a pensioner will be insufficient to cover a weekly visit, so excuse me if I hang on to my “hoard” so that I might once again be able to visit my frail, elderly Mum. Sue Hoad, Merewether
If people really are taking rapid antigen tests off the shelves and selling them at inflated prices as Barnaby Joyce claims, isn’t that just an example of “can-do capitalism?” Craig Jory, Glenroy
China line a stretch
It is obvious that President Vladimir Putin is sensing that the power of the US is diminishing as outlined by Peter Hartcher (“Putin and Xi are testing the West”, January 25). However, it is a matter for debate how relevant the actions of Putin are to Australia.
For some time, many have argued it is in the best interests of Australia to decouple in foreign policy from the US. The case for such action becomes stronger when the situation in Ukraine is considered, contrary to Hartcher’s assertion that “what Russia is doing today has a lot to do with Australia’s future”.
Russia’s exact intentions in relation to Ukraine are yet to be clarified, but it is undeniable that history is a strong influence in its thinking, and Australia has no real connection or involvement in that history. Accordingly, while we may oppose bullying of Ukraine, it is a long bow to draw to suggest events in eastern Europe will make Australia more “vulnerable” on the basis that the Chinese President will possibly be more emboldened. Ross Butler, Rodd Point
Only big steps will do
Luara Ferracioli and Ryan Cox’s polemic about rights would be much more convincing if we had a bill of rights in Australia that guaranteed freedom of movement or association (“WA Premier is violating rights of fellow Australians”, January 25). As it stands, there are no plans for such a document despite recent arguments about border closures, vaccinations and religious freedoms.
Instead of arguing about what minimal constitutional changes we can get across the line, surely at some point Australia needs to make the big changes by becoming a republic, instituting an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and drafting a bill of rights. The day we make that leap will be a day worth celebrating together. It’s time to grow up as a nation. Colin Stokes, Camperdown
Thank goodness Mark McGowan has based his decision to keep WA’s borders closed on the realities of COVID chaos in the eastern states and the advice of his frontline medical staff rather than the musings of philosophers at Sydney University. Temporarily giving up a few basic rights is a small price to pay for avoiding the multiple deaths, grief, community distress and system collapses we are experiencing in NSW. Greg Horne, Narellan
Philosophers Ferracioli and Cox both correctly conclude that the worst that COVID-19 can inflict upon us is to be the cause of our eventual death, albeit with the odds very low indeed — one in very many thousand even among the most susceptible of us. Apparently, McGowan believes he can lead West Australians to a different fate altogether. If he succeeds, no doubt global fame awaits him as our greatest ever Australian. Peter Bower, Naremburn
Park powers on
Wonderful to see the award-winning design of Bicentennial Park recognised for its environmental remediation and sustainability by the conservation innovations of Dr Sebastian Pfautsch (“It’s easy to keep your cool with park’s new AI system”, January 25).
A small but important history note is that the 1988 design was instrumental in saving the critical mangrove estuary ecosystems of Homebush Bay. Opened on January 1, 1988, by Bob Hawke, the park is a legacy of the Wran and Hawke Labor governments, not related in any way to the Sydney 2000 Olympics some 12 years later. In fact, the subsequent Millennium Park works damaged the park’s award-winning buildings with unsympathetic additions and unnecessary colour modifications. Lionel Glendenning, Russell Lea
Labor pulled punch
Your correspondents criticise the government for the cost of housing but ignore the Labor Party’s dropping of its negative gearing policy which would have pricked the housing bubble (Letters, January 25). When political courage was needed, they wimped out. Roger Cedergreen, South Hurstville
Republic’s own goal
The Australian Republic Movement won’t need to worry about removing the monarch as the head of state when Charles comes to the throne (Letters, January 25). After all, what Australian government would want someone who all his adult life has been a very successful and innovative organic farmer, climate change warrior and highly vocal critic of poor architecture and town planning. He’ll certainly have to go. Barbara Simmons, Mirador
Growing pains
My mother-in-law had a much better definition of defining “older” than that proposed by Trevor Sommerville of Illawong: “You know you are old when you have to sit down to pull up your knickers” (Letters, January 25). Bill McCaffrey, Concord
My mother epitomised the forever young mind-set. On her 85th birthday she quipped, “On the inside I still feel 20; it’s just the packaging that’s changed”. Cath Hunting, MacMasters Beach
Breaking news
Your correspondent reminds us it was not until January 26, 1788, that the Good News of Jesus Christ reached this great land (Letters, January 25). Why weren’t the Good News made available for the first 65,000 years of habitation? Held up in the post? Ken Preece, Breakfast Point
Wilcox wisdom
Cathy Wilcox can only be held in awe and wonder. All the anger, frustration and incredulity engendered by our Prime Minister over the last three years so artfully distilled into one small box (Editorial cartoon, January 25). Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills
The digital view
Online comment from one of the stories that attracted the most reader feedback yesterday on smh.com.au
‘Britain open for business’: All COVID travel tests scrapped for UK entry
From Macca: ″Fair enough. The UK handled the first waves badly, devastatingly so. However, at some point, people need to live their lives and things must go on. If the UK has modelled that the healthcare system can cope, then so be it. Good luck to them.″
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Uluru Statement is a true gift for all Australians
Source: Philippines Alive
