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As a life-long Labor voter, I was sickened to read that not only is the party receiving substantial donations from gambling companies, but members will also be drinking champagne and eating canapes at a party fundraiser paid for by a hospitality and pokies giant (“Labor’s millions in gambling donations revealed amid last-ditch push for reform”, July 22). These luxuries are being funded by the misery of the very voters who rely on these MPs and officials to look after their interests. I would like to see a list of those attending such functions to ensure I never vote for them again. Shame on any Labor Party member who feeds on the sour fruits of gambling addiction. It’s time the party had the intestinal fortitude to take on these companies, not benefit from their questionable largesse. Jim Richardson, Croydon

Anthony Albanese at the NSW Labor conference this month.AAPIMAGE

Well, at least we now know why despite promising to bring gambling under control at the 2022 election, the government hasn’t done anything meaningful: it’s in the pocket of the gambling industry, having accepted $4 million in the past five years. If we thought the Coalition was in a better position we’d be wrong there, too – they accepted $2.6 million over the same period. It just goes to show how insidious and determined the gambling industry is. It seems that for all his promises, the prime minister is under the thumb of the party machine. It will be interesting to see how this revelation is handled at the Labor national conference. Ian Adair, Hunters Hill

Labor appears to be lining its electoral war chest with blood money. A great deal of the gambling industry’s most lavish political donation has come from the pockets of addicted gamblers, which in turn is leading to misery, broken families and suicide. John Millard, Mullumbimby

Last night on Annabel Crabb’s ABC Kitchen Cabinet, Prime Minister Albanese said he was driven primarily to develop policies that would benefit people and the country, not the Labor Party. I was impressed. Now I read your headline about gambling donations and wonder. People and the country first? Not the party? Hardly. Albanese’s actions speak louder than his words, which now sound simply hypocritical. Jennifer Fergus, Croydon

It seems that when it comes to gambling, the main difference between Australian citizens and the Labor Party is that Labor’s addiction leaves them financially better off. Colin Stokes, Camperdown

Outside intervention

Mathew Knott’s report shows yet again that the Israeli government thinks it should have a say in what Australia does (“Israel accused of “extraordinary” intervention in Labor politics”, July 22). There have now been a number of totally inappropriate attempts to tell the Australian government, our prime minister and now the Labor Party, what to do in relation to events in the Middle East. I can’t recall any other country trying so persistently to make such interventions. Our Jewish citizens have every right to the same protection under our laws as anyone else, and clearly we should have done better with that, but that doesn’t mean we need Israel to tell us what to do. Here in Australia, we have a democracy that allows opposing points of view to be expressed. May it always be so. Garry Feeney, Ashfield

Fix medical mayhem

Your editorial is a harrowing read (“Our medical devices are not fit for purpose”, July 22). It details the difficulty in getting meaningful data out of the Therapeutic Goods Administration regarding the number and nature of incidents involving people wearing failed medical devices. The TGA defends its position and claims to treat its stakeholders (patients) as a priority. Another group of stakeholders that fail to get a mention is the public. This was recently evident in a tragic accident in country Victoria in which five people were killed by a driver wearing a failed blood glucose monitor. It’s simply not good enough. An urgent intervention is required to fix this mess. Mike Keene, Mollymook Beach

Wrong priority

I can’t help but wonder about the urgency to build data centres in NSW to prop up our economy when we are facing “one of the toughest construction markets in decades” (“Signature Labor housing policy at risk of falling thousands of homes short of target”, July 22). It’s baffling that housing for computers takes precedence over housing for people. I wonder if Labor ministers actually talk to each other. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

Sardines? Can do

I’m dismayed but not surprised by all the announcements about additional high-rise towers being planned and the number of apartments that will be squeezed into them (“Car yards, churches and bowlos: sites earmarked for new towers”, July 22). Soon they’ll become so small you won’t be able to swing the proverbial cat in one. Sydney is often called Emerald City or the Harbour City. I’d say a name change is in order. How about Sardine City? Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood

A proposed 186-apartment development at St Francis Xavier Church in Lavender Bay has attracted fierce opposition from residents.

Stop dress dross

Just as we need to break the social media algorithms that feed hate, we must break the business model behind ultra-fast fashion that is drowning Australia in poorly made plastic clothes (“Australia’s hooked on fast cheap gear”, July 21). France is legislating against this, but all we have is a voluntary stewardship scheme with a pitiful 4¢ levy. Environment Minister Murray Watt needs to get serious and pass legislation to tackle this problem. Jill Robinson, Randwick

It seems to me that the effects of fast fashion are wider than just waste. I recently tried to donate clothing to a well-known, church-based op shop and was told that they weren’t taking clothing because they had too much stock. What am I supposed to do with perfectly decent but unwanted clothing? Randi Svensen, Wyong

Costs of clearing

In the context of threats to biodiversity and the impact on climate change, it is disturbing to read that the rate of land clearing in NSW is increasing (“Land clearing spikes despite government reform pledges”, July 22). Nearly half targets native woody weed, a type of plant that was not as prevalent under traditional Aboriginal land management by fire. However, some western graziers appreciate its benefits through reducing localised dust storms, providing shelter for lambing ewes and providing some nutritional relief during droughts. The need for frequent cleaning of critical water-troughs is substantially reduced and the wool achieves higher returns as contamination from sand and dust is minimised. Roger Epps, Armidale

Better than bullets

With the brumby cull now over, it seems a more humane method of controlling feral animals in Australia would be to put them on “the pill”. There must be a way of delivering long-lasting contraceptive medicine via food drop, injections or darts. Yes, it may take longer to make achieve results, but it’s far less cruel. Helen Howes, Collaroy

Refusal didn’t float

The proposal to scrap another retired Manly ferry deserves greater public scrutiny (“Retired Manly ferry to be scrapped”, July 22). More than 14,200 people signed a parliamentary petition supporting the creation of a new artificial dive reef, yet the NSW government has never fully explained why this option was rejected. If cost was the determining factor, the government should release the figures. Preparing a vessel for scuttling as a dive attraction is widely understood to cost a similar amount to scrapping it, but with the potential to create environmental, tourism and recreational benefits for generations rather than producing only scrap metal. No one suggests that every retired ferry should become a dive wreck. However, when a publicly owned asset is disposed of despite a substantial expression of public support for an alternative use, the community deserves a clear explanation.
Good government is not simply about making decisions. It is about openly explaining them. John Rowe, Exeter

The Collaroy, right, tied up beside the Freshwater ferry at Cockatoo Island on Tuesday.Sam Mooy

It’s the end of the line for the Collaroy, the iconic ferry that carried the Olympic torch across Sydney Harbour in 2000. Another large Manly ferry, the Freshwater, will be towed to Yamba for refurbishment and then back again at a cost of $200,000. May I suggest that Transport for NSW allow the Freshwater to make her own way to and from the Yamba shipyard. She has often crossed the heads in huge seas, so the voyage should be a breeze and taxpayers will be spared the hefty towing fees. Kay Abrahams, Freshwater

Midterm madness

I wouldn’t get too excited that the US midterm elections in November will rein in Donald Trump’s madcap lawlessness and maverick behaviour (“Midterms to steer Trump’s agenda”, July 22).
He’s clearly already laying the groundwork for declaring any adverse results as rigged against him, just like the tiresome nonsense he still spouts about his loss in 2020. He and his slavish minions have a manic determination to trample on anything that diminishes their stranglehold on power. And if gerrymandering congressional districts in friendly states and dirt files on their opponents aren’t enough, they will simply ignore any outcome they don’t like or use legal contortions to invalidate unwelcome results and get yet another spinelessly compliant Congress. The US, at least at a federal level, no longer has a government of, by or for its people – if it ever did. The outlaws have squatted in city hall, tied up the sheriff, installed their own judges and pointed loaded weapons at anyone who even looks like they’re wearing a white hat. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

If the midterm elections are fair and square, there seems little doubt that the Democrats would secure control of the House, at least. However, it seems Trump plans to rig these elections in favour of the Republicans. The question is whether he can get away with it. Historians argue that he is one of the most corrupt presidents in US history and can’t be trusted to respect the will of the people. For the sake of America and indeed the rest of the world, the Democrats need to secure both houses. Voters have the power to make this possible, provided Trump is prevented from interfering in the midterms. Graham Lum, North Rocks

Down boy

The fuss about Barnaby Joyce yelling at his dog is overblown (Letters, July 22). Farm dogs operate at distances up to 500 metres away from the farmer and it is normal that instructions are yelled. Although distances are shorter around the house, loud commands help to convey that instructions are serious. Farm dogs understand that. It is all about communication with a trusted offsider. Anthony Healy, Centennial Park

It seems that those who are protesting the way Joyce shouted at his dog have not owned a barking dog, or worse, had neighbours whose dog barked all day after they left for work. As a former street “dog marshal”, I thought his language to be temperate. Indeed, he was the perfect gentleman by making it clear at whom he was shouting. A real drover might not have been as polite. Les Sisley, Kelso

We really should cut Joyce some slack over yelling at his pooch. The poor man was live on ABC radio with Hamish Macdonald at 9.30am doing the difficult job of defending his illustrious leader, then 10 hours later he was doing the same thing on 7.30. That would be enough to make anyone yell at their dog. Tony Bennett, Broke

Even greater divide

The growing number of rough sleepers on our streets is the flip side of the growing number of the very rich (“Albanese must echo UK PM’s pledge to end rough sleeping”, July 22). Both are symptoms of an economy that is destructive to the community and is not working for its people. Fixing the economy to more equitably divide the pie will mean this problem – the very rich versus the very poor – will wither away. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

If the need for accommodation for the victims of domestic violence and long-term homeless is as great as is being expressed, perhaps some lateral thinking is required. How about using the currently vacant Defence sites dotted around the cities and regional areas? In the short term, demountable units could be installed. Think of the quarantine “villages” outside Darwin and at Toowoomba. In the medium term, the existing, substantial structures could be converted into studio apartments. Each of these sites would need a manager to administer the site, oversee security etc. The sites could be augmented by including spaces for support services, such as social and mental health workers. A quick and easy way to provide accommodation for our disadvantaged. Graham Hansen, Denistone

Political shift

The most encouraging part of new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s address in London was his honesty, his admission of political failure by his generation of politicians, and his pragmatism (“Big surprise on Andy Burnham’s first day as UK PM,” July 21). He spoke of how he wanted to work with all political parties and listen to what people wanted. He has appointed experienced people to top cabinet positions and left a lot of others out, not bound by the factions of the past but recognising both ability and loyalty. It was a breath of fresh air, one we could use too, especially the call to stop focusing on politics and get back to people’s needs. There was an openness that resonated with me, as opposed to the secrecy and sneering we have become used to. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh

Britain’s new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Tapped off

I’m inquiring through your good auspices if other people have shared my experience when travelling by public transport. Often small groups of teenage girls get on board without tapping on, provoke everyone nearby with loud and nasty comments where their only adjective is f--- and noun is c---. A group on my most recent trip, when asked to show their tickets, declared they were 12 or under, even though they were all dressed for clubbing in the city and appeared at least 16 or 17. The inspector told me that although he knew they were lying, his hands were tied. Any action by him would result in accusations and abuse and wide-eyed victim-playing. I’d pity such children’s parents, except it is they who have created the increasing number of these little monsters. Rod Lander, Stanwell Park

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