The rapid reaction
It will certainly be quicker to toughen gun laws than change antisemitic attitudes, or get recommendations from a royal commission.
John Groom, Bentleigh

Please, no commission
The fact that 8 per cent of people surveyed oppose tougher laws and restrictions on hate speech is reason enough to not hold a royal commission into antisemitism (″⁣Majority back harder approach on extremists″⁣, 26/12). What the figure suggests is that there are an appreciable number of people who would resent Jewish Australians for putting the country through the trouble and expense of a royal commission. As the history of hatred towards Jews shows, resentment can grow and lead to more hatred, And, at the moment, we can do without that.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East

Focus on Netanyahu
I accept that Josh Frydenberg’s suggestion that our PM must accept responsibility for the terrorist attack was due to the fact that he was speaking from pain and anger. The question everyone is asking is why has antisemitism risen in Australia and what could have been done to stop it? It seems to me the obvious has not been mentioned. Antisemitism has risen because of the unmeasured response in Gaza to the terrible killing and capture of Jewish people, followed by the unmeasured killing of many thousands of Palestinians, including seeing images of starvation. If anyone wants to blame a person for the rise in antisemitism, let’s look at the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu. He has divided and angered people like no other.
Clare Canty, Shepparton

Don’t fear differences
One understands the personal tragedy, community hurt, and feelings over the Bondi massacre, but politicisation, lack of bipartisanship, personal criticisms in such an overlay of complex circumstances, local and global is wrong.
The nation must come together to understand and deal with this atrocity, not further divide. The bellicose claims of local political and community leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu’s blame game when he avoids liability for the October 2023 massacre and the aftermath, including what impact that has on Bondi, detracts from sensible analysis and considered future policy settings in Australia.
The mantra of Australia as a shining example of successful multiculturalism requires reappraisal. Rushed kneejerk laws and unbalanced constraints on freedoms of assembly and expression will, according to some Jewish thinkers, worsen tensions. As a nation we must build into our education system, understanding of those different from us. Conflicting communities and religions in Australia are largely separated, geographically, culturally and socio-economically. Personal inter-friendships and community interaction is rare. We must all be shown from early on as part of education and community programs, that difference can be understood, not feared.
What we don’t know causes fear, resentment, leads to conflict and repeats historical fears and hatred. If we are to live the song “We are one, but we are many” we can’t just rely on multicultural success clichés.
Michael Rickards, Caulfield South

Visit ill-conceived
Why is Anthony Albanese inviting Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Australia? This is more likely to further inflame tensions and divisions in this country. If the prime minister wants to address antisemitism in Australia, then inviting the head of state presiding over the continuing killing of Palestinians is not the answer. Please reconsider your decision prime minister.
Dean Virgin, Strathmore

Peering at danger
The new St Kilda Pier has become a great attraction for tourists, but unfortunately it’s also become a place where large quantities of alcohol are being drunk especially on warm nights. Parks Victoria will need to think seriously about the safety of all those using the pier and swimming off the pier. There needs to be police patrols and life guards on regular duty before someone is killed.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North

Drip-fed service
There is nothing great about Greater Western Water (“Western Water’s $200m deficit”, 26/12). Its system issues have become my issues. I can’t prove who I am as my landline details don’t match its details. I haven’t had a landline for over a decade.
I can’t get through the privacy settings via the call centre, chat bot, SMS or online (ironically called customer care). All I want to do is pay a bill. I’m not the only one apparently. To the manager, customer experience, who wrote to me, thanking me for my patience and understanding, it’s not a good experience. And it’s still not resolved. And the bill keeps mounting.
Rosslyn Jennings, North Melbourne

Who is responsible?
Clearly the long-running debacle of Western Water has legs in it yet. One has to wonder though, now that it looks like the taxpayer may have to bail it out from its mega IT stuff-up, how many of those involved will suffer any actual consequence. Have executives at GWW been sacked? Has the IT company responsible been forced to refund monies paid to it?
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha

Downhill run
Skiers are facing an uphill battle (″⁣Climate, funding force rethink″⁣, 26/12).
Lack of snow on the ski slopes is somewhat problematic, particularly if snow-making machines cause emissions, and in any case won’t work if air temperatures are too warm. This situation must be one of the clearest signs of global heating, one which may be more generally understood and observed than, say, ocean temperature rises.
Two years ago, in the face of unpredictable snow due to climate change, some of the world’s top skiers appealed to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to take emergency climate action.
Sporting groups such as Protect Our Winters, Skiers Against Climate Change, Patrick Cummins’ Cricket for Climate and Australian Sports Climate aim to reduce their emissions – by travelling less, powering facilities with solar etc. They have also appealed to governments to take action. But until our lives are directly and unequivocally impacted by heat, will we continue to support governments who allow the burning of coal, oil and gas?
Fiona Colin, Malvern East

Answer is in Tasmania
Here at the St Helens caravan park in Tasmania I am watching youngsters from many nationalities and backgrounds playing happily together on the jumping pillow. Perhaps we should get our national leaders and commentators down here to learn about co-operation and goodwill and how to create a positive environment.
Jim McLeod, Sale

They’re banking on it
Does Westpac think its logo is big enough on the Australian cricket team’s uniform?
Leoni Mather, Melbourne

Farewell, and hello
Nearly time to say goodbye to 2025. For me, it was a family sorrow. For Australia, it was a national tragedy and shame. Wars, famine, fires and droughts.
But on Christmas night I watched Love Actually. So funny, romantic, frantic, zany, heartbreaking and so British. And my heart sang a little, and I marvelled at the joys and sorrows of “the human condition” and how we all muddle along somehow.
So here’s to 2026 and may we, living on this little planet, find peace on earth and goodwill to all.
Myra Fisher, Brighton East

AND ANOTHER THING

Trump
Trump steals Greenland. Greenland becomes Trumpland. Job done.
Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley

If Trump “liberates” Greenland, will he with characteristic modesty allow it to be renamed Trumpland?
Barrie Bales, Woorinen North

Teacher: Define oxymoron. Student: Trump Class.
Neil Champion, Moonee Ponds

Once Trump has invaded Greenland and Venezuela and learnt the Russian language, he will have fully emulated his hero Vladimir Putin.
Max Langshaw, Sunbury

Trump Class? He doesn’t have any.
David West, Essendon

Furthermore
What is it about the word “bipartisan” that so many people, especially members of the federal opposition, are unable to understand?
John Cummings, Anglesea

The late Tom Lehrer said it best in his intro to National Brotherhood Week: “There are people who do not love their fellow Man … and I hate people like that!“
Les Aisen, Elsternwick

I’ve been a letter writer for more than 30 years and have not gone on holidays (Letters, 24/12). I just cannot find any words to describe the way our country is changing so rapidly and not for the better.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East

While the federal opposition dithers over its climate policy “review”, Labor funds the Delburn wind farm, 33 turbines powering 130,000 homes. Rejoice!
Greg Curtin, Nunawading

Thanks, King Charles, but I think most Australians no longer need a Christmas message from you.
Susan Munday, Bentleigh East

All political leaders should take a leaf out of NSW Premier Chris Minns and opposition Liberal leader Kellie Sloane in their bipartisan approach to the Bondi massacre. Neither is trying to score political points – they are united in grief.
Christine Hammett, Richmond

I’d never thought I’d say it about an English cricket team, but I miss Geoffrey Boycott. He knew how to bat continuously for a whole day.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill