AAA<\/p>\n
Angus Taylor seems to want to have a two-bob-each-way bet regarding Welcome to Country (\u201cWelcome to Country devalued through overuse, says Taylor<\/a>\u201d, April 27). While stating it was \u201cabsolutely inappropriate and un-Australian\u201d to have booed during the Anzac Day ceremony, he disappointingly added that he could \u201cunderstand the frustration Australians feel about the overuse of Welcome to Country\u201d. By stating the latter at this present time, he only gives succour to the racists among us. Con Vaitsas, Ashbury<\/p>\n Opposition Leader Angus Taylor\u2019s dog whistle on Welcome to Country ceremonies is disgraceful. He condemns the Anzac Day booing in one breath, then tacitly supports it in the next. Alynn Pratt, Grenfell<\/p>\n Angus Taylor says booing of Welcome to Country at Anzac Day dawn services was due to \u201coveruse\u201d. In fact, it\u2019s clear it was organised by a group of neo-Nazis. The act itself was repugnant, so should be an attempt to excuse it. Stephen Bright, North Avoca<\/p>\n While Angus Taylor condemned the booing of Indigenous figures at Anzac Day dawn services when they were delivering speeches, he also complained that Welcome to Country ceremonies have been devalued through overuse. My challenge to him is to name occasions where he would embrace the Welcome to Country at a national level, as a potential prime minister. I would like to give the boo-ers the benefit of the doubt \u2013 that they were simply ignorant about how many Indigenous soldiers had sacrificed themselves for our nation as far back as World War I \u2013 therefore I ask Angus Taylor to address this problem now, to explain to those who object to the Welcome to Country ceremonies at our Anzac Day dawn services, to prove his potential to be a unifying figure for a future Australia. Kim Woo, Mascot<\/p>\n Angus Taylor says Welcome to Country ceremonies have been devalued through overuse. However, during parliamentary sittings, he is quite content to publicly recite a Christian prayer before every morning\u2019s business. Robert Christie, Cleveland (Qld)<\/p>\n Angus Taylor\u2019s failure to focus on the importance of the Anzac Day dawn service is breathtaking. He casually passed over the booing and was more intent on leveraging discontent over Welcome to Country ceremonies. There are 364 other days of the year to debate such issues. Politicians talking out of order is overdone. Michael Blissenden, Dural<\/p>\n Not much shocks me these days when it comes to the behaviour of our political \u201cleaders\u201d, but Angus Taylor has surely hit a new low for the leader of a major political party in echoing those who booed the Welcome to Country aspects of Saturday\u2019s Anzac Day events. A real leader would have criticised these co-ordinated actions without qualification, and noted the long-term participation by Aboriginal Australians in the defence of this land. A true statesman may have argued not just that the first Australians have a special connection to this land, but that they have suffered because of the invasion that began in 1788, and that it is up to our generation to bridge the gap that exists in too many ways between Aboriginal and settler Australia. But no, Taylor and by extension the Liberal Party have taken the low road, surely the road to Hell. Colin Hesse, Nowra<\/p>\n Angus Taylor\u2019s comments about when to have a Welcome to Country at an event miss the point: Country does not mean Australia, it is a welcome to the particular area on which the event is being held. His interpretation would mean that only the clans of the capital city centres would conduct such welcomes. I am happy to have members of the Birrpai share a Welcome to Country at our events. Lesley Forbes, Kew (Vic)<\/p>\n Memo to Angus Taylor, who is reported as saying \u201che could understand the frustration Australians feel about overuse\u201d. Mr Taylor, last time I checked, Aboriginal people are actually Australians too. Pam Fichtner, Dunbogan<\/p>\n They shoot, he scores<\/p>\n Such is the constant spew of propaganda from the White House, this household seriously discussed whether the ruckus at the Correspondents Dinner was organised by Trump and his supporters to avoid his impending ribbing (\u201cHow gala for White House press turned into bedlam<\/a>\u201d, April 27). With his gargantuan ego and ability to turn any news to his advantage, the only thing we can count on is that we can\u2019t trust whatever he says. Wendy Crew, Lane Cove North<\/p>\n Never one to miss an opportunity, Donald Trump almost immediately used a possible assassination attempt to promote himself and his White House ballroom. But his alleged remark that the would-be assassin \u201chad a lot of hatred in his heart\u201d sounded anomalous from someone for whom incessant retribution against perceived enemies and a cruelty towards undocumented migrants has defined his second presidency. Is this an example of psychological projection, where someone else is accused of a failing the accuser shares? Bernard Moylan, Bronte<\/p>\n Is Trump the most shot at \u2013 and missed \u2013 US president in history? Of course, he has a way to go before he beats French president Charles de Gaulle with about 30 attempts. Patricia Philippou, Charlestown<\/p>\n Are we now to be deluged with yet more delusional claims of God-granted immunity from harm? Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s new red hat movement: MADA (Make America Duck Again). Nick Andrews, Bellevue Hill<\/p>\n As always, Trump makes everything all about how great he supposedly is. \u201cWhen you\u2019re impactful, they go after you. When you\u2019re not impactful, they leave you alone,\u201d he said. Hasn\u2019t he heard of the many ordinary men, women and children massacred in gun violence in America each year while going about their daily lives? Richard Grant, St Leonards<\/p>\n It normally takes a lot longer at those events before guests wind up under the table. Peter Fleming, Northmead<\/p>\n Humanity first<\/p>\n I urge the government to allow the Australian women and children to return home under strict security measures (\u201cTicket to ride: Islamic State brides secure flights back to Australia<\/a>\u201d, April 27). We don\u2019t know the facts of why the women, willing or unwilling, left, but we do know some details of their hardship of incarceration in Syria\u2019s al-Roj camp.To survive that and keep their children safe is remarkable and, I might add, noble. The kids had no say: they are victims and probably traumatised. We must care for them, long term. And the women have said they accept they may be imprisoned. So let justice run its course. Jennifer Fergus, Croydon<\/p>\n Honour the brave A year after the death of Virginia Giuffre, Australia should ask what courage we choose to honour (\u201cA year on, Giuffre remembered as \u2019hero to the ages<\/a>\u2034\u2063\u2063 , April 27). Giuffre spoke out against powerful abusers at enormous personal cost, helping to expose systemic sexual exploitation and emboldening survivors worldwide. A national bravery award for Virginia Giuffre would send a clear message: that speaking truth to power, even when it comes at great personal risk, will not be forgotten. Roz Townsend, Queanbeyan East<\/p>\n Dogs deserve better on ferries<\/p>\n I stand beside the residents of Dangar Island (\u201cFerry charges have left dog owners in lurch<\/a>\u201d, April 27) fighting to take their dogs on the ferry uncrated and muzzled. On a visit to Dangar Island, as we don\u2019t own (or need) a muzzle we crated my Pomeranian. On arrival, we had nowhere to store the bulky crate so left it by the wharf, but it disappeared and were forced to take our dog back uncrated and unmuzzled (the crate was later returned by the lovely residents of the island). But when Transport NSW declares their rules must be consistent, to do so would require them to allow dogs on trains. Australia is so backwards in treatment of our best friend, the dog, who in most cases bring joy and people together. Let the little old ladies have their dogs uncrated. And allow dogs on the trains. Anne Matheson, Gordon<\/p>\n This makes no sense. One of the assumptions of not allowing dogs on public transport is that other vehicles (like cars) can be used instead. But that\u2019s not possible in this case. Whoever decided to suddenly ban uncrated dogs from the ferry to Dangar Island has clearly never done the trip. I have done it many times and the biggest problem is luggage, not dogs. Dangar Island is a different world, relaxed and easy going, and it doesn\u2019t need some bureaucrat making life difficult for responsible residents with dogs. Ingrid Haydon, Long Jetty<\/p>\n Suburban self-expression<\/p>\n Jo Stubbings\u2019 piece (\u201cBlows my mind why these jet skis of suburbia even exist<\/a>\u201d, April 27) mixes two problems into one. Leaf blowers are fine when used sparingly, like once every three weeks. Then, the other part of her article links leaf blowers to the narcissistic tool of self-expression, the jet ski operated by people who exhibit repetitive behaviour often observed in mental institutions. One figure eight after another, unable to stop until they run out of fuel. These same people often have other tools of narcissistic expression, such as the American motorcycle that causes them to twist the throttle incessantly to create noise but no movement. Keeps them entertained for hours. And finally, they have a dinosaur American pick-up to tow a trailer to carry said jet ski, even though a Corolla could do the job. Philip Dowle, Wickham<\/p>\n I\u2019m with you on leaf blowers, Jo Stubbings, even though my husband has one and thoroughly enjoys using it. It did, however, come in handy during our grandson\u2019s COVID-19 birthday. To avoid anyone blowing on the cake, my husband produced his leaf blower to magic away the candle flames (also the icing, top layer of the cake and a few champagne flutes). Alison Stewart, Riverview<\/p>\n Inheritance tax time<\/p>\n Peter Hartcher (Letters,<\/a> April 27) demonises those over 65 for \u201cselfishness\u201d in holding wealth through their homes and other legitimate investments. He fails to mention that the majority of those older citizens live in modest homes that they worked hard for many years to acquire and pay off and that many have only modest superannuation balances or exist on barely adequate government pensions. Might we say that those younger people who Hartcher claims are being disadvantaged are reacting selfishly? They want their forebears\u2019 assets now instead of when they pass them on as inheritance. Brian O\u2019Donnell, Burradoo<\/p>\n Once again, the hoary myths about Boomers are being trotted out. \u201cFree university\u201d? Most Baby Boomers (1946-1964) didn\u2019t even finish high school. Free university was introduced in 1974, so those born before 1956 missed out. Working-class Boomers had no hope unless you scored a Commonwealth Scholarship. Only one in eight Boomers has a degree. The average candidature for the Leaving Certificate\/HSC, 1964-1982, was 29,418. Last year there were over 73,000 HSC candidates. \u201cSecure jobs\u201d? Not if you got a job in one of those many industries that shipped jobs overseas during the Hawke\/Keating restructure, or you saw your job disappear to a call centre overseas or taken up by a computer. Most Boomers, particularly working-class ones, did not travel overseas, they only had one car and did not have an investment property. Superannuation? Paul Keating brought that in when most Boomers were more than halfway through their working lives (mine only started in 1993 and the current balance is less than $500,000) so I would surmise that most Boomers are or will be dependent on the pension. Yes, it was easier for Boomers to buy a home, and we didn\u2019t have to fork out for pay TV, mobile phones or internet connection, but only 33 per cent of households own their home outright. Not every Boomer is as well off as some would suggest. Ryszard Linkiewicz, Caringbah South<\/p>\n The R word<\/p>\n In all the brouhaha over the proposed changes to the NDIS, I have been surprised that one word has not been mentioned (\u201cBeing bold is flavour of the month<\/a>\u201d, April 27). With health and disability minister Mark Butler promising that the reassessment of all NDIS participants and applicants will be \u201cobjective\u201d and \u201cscientific\u201d , it is inevitable that after filling in myriad new forms, applicants\u2019 needs will be determined not by a caring human, but by some sort of AI. Oh, that word? Robo-debt. Andrew Scott, Pymble<\/p>\n Protect roo neighbours The highlight for us after a very pleasant late afternoon Runway Walk (more like a wander) (\u201cRunners get cleared for take-off at new airport<\/a>\u201d, April 27) was seeing an impressive line-up of kangaroos or wallabies on top of the hill beside the exit road inspecting their new neighbours. Hopefully, the mob(s) can continue to thrive in the area, although we wouldn\u2019t want any flying kangaroos out of bounds on the runway. Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills<\/p>\n To submit a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald, email letters@smh.com.au. Click here<\/a> for tips on how to submit letters.The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform. Sign up here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":634714,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,41,39,42,40],"class_list":["post-634713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=634713"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/634713\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/634714"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=634713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=634713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=634713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Opposition](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/7bbf278bb8308cce05a25da21819389db81e3afe.jpeg\")
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor wanting a bet each wayWolter Peeters<\/p>\n![\"<p>\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/afa3d4ef9463ed315fb4c060ca5d047116407f01.jpeg\")
Cathy Wilcox<\/p>\n![\"Guests](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/04aa132ca4a3eda20c96fcc8bbcb73d3fbb3a1fc.jpeg\")
Guests dive for cover at the sound of gunshots at the Washington Hilton.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Virginia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ad615e7824a95755dbe4c93209bd41b678be8259.jpeg\")
Virginia Giuffre: remember her name, and her deedsAP<\/p>\n![\"Janel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/c063de6c9c824639ad2ba19155556cebdbde1624.jpeg\")
Janel Pratt and Ben Martin, with Lynne McCarthy, and her Australian Kelpie, Azule, at the Dangar Island Terminal.Audrey Richardson<\/p>\n
The idea of a crate is to provide somewhere that the dog can go, away from other animals. It is not a transportation device. We are talking 35 kilograms of dog here. How is the owner expected to carry that? The likes of some airlines are even allowing pets in the cabins. This seems to be a move in the opposite direction. Hopefully, a bureaucrat will see the error of their ways. David Rush, Lawson<\/p>\n![\"<p>\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9b36c72d14b6b37d24e66d7073e740f5b85e88ca.jpeg\")
John Shakespeare<\/p>\n![\"Neighbours](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/d68e9e9aa93f965bd59dea8a2a87bbf797d9ebd9.jpeg\")
Neighbours rushing to make their flight<\/p>\n