OK, Dominic Perrottet, stage one nearly complete – tick (“Schools poised to release the RATs”, January 23). However, it would appear stage two is to be left to principals and schools to implement. We all know how quickly one positive case, not isolated, can turn into hundreds, so this stage is most crucial. With many primary schools having more than 1000 students isn’t it being overly optimistic to presume all parents will test their children twice a week? Mary Lawson, Marrickville
Perrottet’s latest smoke and mirrors masterplan involves every school student and staff member completing a rapid antigen test twice a week for the first four weeks of term without families being required to upload test results anywhere. Sheer brilliance. Daily COVID-19 updates won’t reflect anything worthwhile and we’ll all be able to enjoy life “in a COVID-smart way”, irrespective of the pressure on our hospitals, lack of RAT kits available to the wider community and real impact of easing restrictions in the name of the economy. George Zivkovic, Northmead
If twice weekly RATs are to be introduced for primary school children, I sincerely hope that common sense prevails and the lollipop or spit tests are the versions to be used. If the potentially uncomfortable nose and throat swabs are used I can see many small children becoming quite traumatised about going to school. This could have many long-term detrimental effects that could even influence their future educational outcomes. Wendy Lowe, Enmore
Hats off to teachers
NSW education is in good hands, especially the initiative of Year 12 students sitting the 2021 Higher School Certificate, to rehearse their mathematics examinations under the guidance of the teachers (“Maths students band together to lift results”, January 23). The teachers of the schools who initiated this program show how dedicated they are to their profession by educating our youth of the future. I wish every success to all the students who sat the HSC in 2021 (under trying circumstances) in their careers of choice. Gloria Velleley, Belrose
Scare tactics
Scott Morrison’s claim that fuel and electricity costs, as well as interest rates, will rise if Labor wins indicates his desperation and the scaremongering we should expect as the election nears (“Grocery bills top our cost of living concerns”, January 23).
As your editorial points out, average petrol prices have soared 80-90 per cent since May 2020 and the seven-day rolling average is in real terms the highest in seven years. Like interest rates, rising petrol prices are not entirely a government’s fault. Morrison knows this and yet he is choosing a mendacious scare campaign to attack Labor. It is a reminder of what he did to win in 2019 and what he is prepared to do again. Alison Stewart, Riverview
Koala threat
It breaks my heart to see articles that tell people where to see koalas ( “Where to have a close encounter of the wild kind”, January 23) while the plight of the Mount Gilead koalas near Campbelltown is ignored. Sydney people, you don’t have to go to Port Stephens to see koalas, in a sanctuary. We have them on Sydney’s doorstep, a wild and thriving population. But sadly not for much longer, due to the NSW state government and Campbelltown Council’s refusal to protect their habitat from a LendLease housing project. Lisa Dixon, Croydon
Premier’s plan for school testing certain to fail
Source: Philippines Alive
