Apology for abuse welcome but those at top must pay

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Apology for abuse welcome but those at top must pay

Illustration: Cathy Wilcox

Illustration: Cathy WilcoxCredit:

A very moving day on Monday, but an uncomfortable fact remains. Almost without exception, those in the upper levels of the institutions, they who enabled and covered up the wrongdoing, have not been held legally responsible ("No healing but a hearing: when Parliament House stood still", October 23).

Illustration: John Shakespeare

Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit:

What's the betting that the banking royal commission will produce a similar outcome? - Des Mulcahy, Orange

PM Scott Morrison's apology to sexually abused children in institutions should extend to the improper, cruel treatment that occurs with refugee children in Nauru ("Chance for real change with Nauru's last children", October 23). Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Scott Morrison's change in rhetoric from the one he used as minister for immigration overseeing the cruel and inhumane refugee program on Nauru and Manus to that of his apology on Monday to the generation of abused children must suggest that his political instincts outweigh his ethical principles. We are entitled to ask who is this man who can expound two such radically different approaches. Is he a complex person capable of holding a mix of viewpoints or is he just another cynical political animal who takes advantage of any political situation as it emerges? - Nedra Orme, Neutral Bay

It seems the indirect price that Malcolm Turnbull has had to pay for his knifing by Peter Dutton et al has led to the Coalition finally accepting that asylum seekers should be removed from Nauru and the children in need of medical attention are to be brought to Australia ("PM feels heat on refugee children", October 23). - Rosemary Breen, Inverell

Yes Prime Minister, we are grateful that you apologised publicly to victims of horrendous crimes against humanity, yet you allow similarly appalling and illegal treatment of humanity to propagate daily in offshore detention centres ("The situation on Nauru was the elephant in the room", October 23). I hope that you have the backbone to promptly show leadership, as Julia Gillard did when she had the opportunity. - Peter Merrington, Rozelle

Chrissie Foster and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard during an address to survivors in the Great Hall after the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse in the House of Representatives.

Chrissie Foster and former Prime Minister Julia Gillard during an address to survivors in the Great Hall after the National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse in the House of Representatives.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Sadly, the children detained on Nauru may never receive an apology. - Philip Cooney, Wentworth Falls

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While other ex-PMs rant, rage and hurl insults at those they blame for their downfall, Julia Gillard stands with dignity to embrace, and be embraced by, victims of institutionalised child sexual abuse ("Gillard the only 'politician' survivors really wanted to see", October 23). One can't imagine Rudd, Abbott or Turnbull ever receiving such warm applause and reverence. The lady has real class. - Rob Phillips, North Epping

Try as he may to tear down Gillard, Kevin Rudd picked the wrong day to do it. Nothing can be said to diminish what an amazing woman Gillard is for ensuring Australia said sorry on Monday. - Diana Buttigieg, Bondi Junction

The apology was needfully sensitive but my screen of Scott Morrison's delivery had the Liberals in seemingly inescapable machismo mode - it was 99 per cent male - with five of his male MPs visible on the benches behind him and only fleeting part-glimpses of the sole female, revealed when he swayed on one or two occasions. - Colin Booth, Narrabeen

Phelps' election heralds a new style politician

It seems a new political class is evolving. Kerryn Phelps epitomises this shift in political values (Letters, October 23). She does not feel bound to the tired old values of our political class. She has said she will "absolutely work with other crossbench MPs to gain the release of children and their families, and could assist Kelly O'Dwyer to back out of a confrontational approach to industrial relations and build bridges between workers and their employers.

Aggression and conflict should play a minimal role in our governance. - Bill McMahon, Lennox Head

When normality probably returns to Wentworth at the next elections, Kerryn Phelps may have a very short stay in parliament to make a difference ("'Go to an early election': NSW Liberal's advice to Morrison", October 23). - Denis Suttling, Newport Beach

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, just wondering if you are still having that "conversation" about moving our embassy to Jerusalem? - Ray Smith, Blacktown

It is very inconsistent of the Liberal Party, on the one hand to insist that Malcolm Turnbull was not worthy to remain as prime minister, yet on the other hand, insist that his participation in the Wentworth byelection was worthy enough to have helped them win. - Pasquale Vartuli, Wahroonga

Cheaper energy, lower taxes for workers, better care for the elderly and refugees. The tongue is such a flexible organ. - Mustafa Erem, Terrigal

The Abbott/ Turnbull/ Morrison government were "hung" between its moderate and hard right factions since the demise of John Howard's "broad church". With the current hung Parliament, we might at last achieve action on climate change and asylum seekers. - Lynne Poleson, Kingsford

Tony Abbott, I want to nominate you to receive a knighthood for services to increasing the number of Independents in Canberra. - Mark Olesen, Ryde

As a resident in the Warringah electorate, I am pleased to announce the formation of the ABA Party which intends to contest the coming election.

The Anyone But Abbott Party believes it can better represent the residents of Warringah than the very out-of-touch incumbent.

Unlike Abbott, ABA believes in climate change. supports same-sex marriage and does not believe in knighthoods. ABA is hopeful of replicating the result in Wentworth, to unseat the unpopular incumbent. - John Hamer, Mosman

The smallest measurement of time I'm aware of is the nanosecond. But I think I found a smaller one. It would be the " Morrison". And that would be the length of time it took to convince the government to cancel question time on Monday. - Peter Bourke , Rockdale

Feathers fly for MPs

The "incredibly aggressive" magpies around Parliament House seem to be doing the job on our pollies that many of us would like to do if able ("Peckish magpies wreaking havoc in Parliament", October 23). - Judy Finch, Cedar Party

If you're looking for birds attacking while you're eating lunch, apparently it is the seagulls in Sydney and magpies in Canberra. Here in the Hills district, we have the native miners banding together to threaten human, bird and beast.

In one location, a sizeable stick is an obligatory defence against one particularly aggressive specimen, which lines up for attack like an approaching jet. - Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills

Never thought I'd write, "Go the magpies". All we need now is a murder of crows for a perfect "Hitchcockian" end to this government. - Roger Cameron, Marrickville

A parliament of magpies, the people's choice, swoop on non-compromising parliamentarians. Is this democracy at play? - Stephen Wilson, Kangaroo Valley

Israel's Italian job

If the Israelis can claim Palestinian lands because they lived there 2000 years before, even more so the Italians could claim most of western Europe (Letters, October 23). For Julius Caesar conquered France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Austria, part of Germany and most of England. - Norman Broomhall, Port Macquarie

Fed up workers challenge inequality

Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer presents a string of clichés about thuggish unions disrupting the economy in defiance of the rule of law ("ACTU wants a return to dark days of mass union militancy", October 23). However, she omits some inconvenient facts.

Under the Fair Work Act (shamefully, introduced by the ALP) withdrawing one's labour is illegal, except in very limited periods and after enormous bureaucratic hurdles are jumped. We have fewer strikes. We also have corporate profits rising rapidly while wages stagnate. And we have workplace laws broken frequently – not by unions, but by employers underpaying workers. There is no equality before the law for workers and that is being challenged.

O'Dwyer might also consider that had the suffragettes not been prepared to break laws to achieve justice, she might not even have the vote, let alone a seat in parliament. - Al Svirskis, Mount Druitt

The alarmist and hysterical warnings from O'Dwyer over the union movement mobilising shows how out of touch the government actually is to the realities of everyday life for working Australians.

When a few hours of work can be included in statistics as almost "full" employment nationally, how does O'Dwyer think those employees feed their families? How do they pay rent? How do they buy school uniforms for their kids?

When business after business are found to be underpaying and exploiting their employees, why does O'Dwyer think that the legislated rights of these employees should not be upheld?

The shrill language is nothing but a cover for upholding the policies that favour the Liberal Party's coffers. - Lee-Ann Groblicka, Turramurra

As I read the O'Dwyer's article, I asked myself, what does the minister want?

To paraphrase the minister, she wants there to be no rules. No regulator. And no check on employers' power. - George Rosier, Carlingford

Rhetoric is a large part of politics. Sally McManus of the ACTU can learn a little from O'Dwyer ("Workers deserve a fairer share of health", October 23). All Ms McManus has to do is replace any use of the words "we" and "our" with "Australians", and she'll be streets ahead.

It's Australians who need a fair go and it's the current right wing – not conservative – government that will never give it to us. - Tom Mangan, Woy Woy Bay

Anglicans a lost cause

Like many religious organisations, the Anglican Diocese of Sydney has always been uneasy about sex ("Sydney Anglicans set to ban gay weddings", October 19).

When I was a teenager in the 1940s some hardline Anglican parishes banned dancing in church halls and when a violent hailstorm hit Sydney in 1999 a prominent cleric beggared belief by claiming it was God's judgment on the Mardi Gras, even though Moore Theological College was also damaged.

The synod has now banned from church property same-sex weddings and receptions and promotion of homosexuality and other purposes deemed to contravene the beliefs of the diocese.

I've heard "rally the troops" sermons saying that Christians face persecution in Australia, but what is clear is that same-sex marriage has been legalised and the sky has not fallen in. - James Moore, Kogarah

I have just returned from Europe where I saw so many examples of lost civilisations, ruined churches, long forgotten dynasties, to be confronted by our Anglican church hierarchy saying no to marrying two people of the same sex who simply want to have reaffirmed that they want to live a loving life together.

New rules not acknowledging our recent popular vote on same sex marriage will slowly send these old religions and institutions the same way as all the lost causes I recently witnessed.

Of course there are many places same sex loving couples can seek a warm, welcoming, outlook to their marriage vows, but it's the principle of the Anglican proposal that indicates we are going the same way as those "lost civilisations" with the church's misunderstanding of human nature in these early years of a new century. - Greg Vale, Kiama

Ship has sailed​

The $1.75 billion Mike Baird got for the sale of Newcastle port has been spent long ago ("Barilaro's terminal stance pitches him against policies", October 23).

You can't alter the sale conditions now because you feel you would like to use the port, especially when you spent $75 million in the first place to get a good contract.

Sorry John Barilaro and Gladys Berejiklian. Selling assets is great till you need them. - James Rickards, Wyong

Race a non-starter

As a voter, I can put up with money from the Community Development Fund being granted to boost Sydney's profile as a film making destination ("Pokies cash funded Jackie Chan flop", October 23).

Funding a greyhound race, however, with unclaimed gambling winnings, is unacceptable to the majority of taxpayers. - Michele Nicholas, St Ives

Put this money towards the legions of volunteers who, at their own expense, rescue, rehabilitate and re-home these same greyhounds which are cruelly discarded by the industry. - Janine Burdeu, Mona Vale

Matter of opinion

According to Kevin Rudd, he and Herald journalist Peter Hartcher have an infinitely complex relationship ("Fallen PMs always blame the media, never look in the mirror", October 23). Typical Rudd: he does like to see himself on the big stages.

Hartcher, for his part, has done a brilliant job in condensing their relationship and advertising Rudd's book in his latest opinion piece. Reading the headline, I thought someone was at last about to recognise Turnbull's contribution to the Liberal Party's loss of Wentworth. Silly me. - Ross Drynan, Lindfield

Substance abuse

I have just spent a few minutes watching question time in the House of Representatives. After a brief and uncharacteristic outbreak of dignity surrounding the national apology on Monday, we are back to the normal nastiness and political theatre. No substance was evident. - Robert Fisher, Leichhardt

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