Sydney’s tolls debacle is driving us to distraction

If Sydneysiders were like Parisians,we would be taking to the streets this weekend and subsequent weekends to demand the government rectify the debacle that is the motorway and tolling systems that bedevil motorists all over the city (“Roads shake-up includes two-way tolls on Harbour Bridge and Tunnel”,July 17). As it is,it appears there may be room for some improvement to tolling following Allan Fels’ report,however,the overall ideologically driven concept behind the development of motorways has been exposed to be deeply flawed. Government decisions and agreements with operators who facilitated the introduction of tolled motorways had scant regard for the best interests of road users,and the actions of relevant premiers and ministers verge on malfeasance.

As the primary perpetrators of this mess,the Coalition should be carefully formulating some appropriate apologies instead of trying to suggest Fels’ good work would place further burdens on motorists.Ross Butler,Rodd Point

In considering a change of tolls on the Harbour Bridge,people should remember that it was changed to one-way in 1970 and the toll was doubled on the theory that most people going one way in the morning would have to return in the afternoon. While this simplified toll collection somewhat,people found a way around the return toll by taking circuitous routes. So,can we presume that two-way tolling will halve the cost of the bridge tolls for a one-way trip? I won’t hold my breath.Lynn Booth,Ashfield

If we follow Allan Fels’ advice to charge motorists travelling north as well as south across the Harbour Bridge,the Victoria Rd gridlock will worsen. Do we actually need an Anzac Bridge toll – or perhaps a city congestion charge?Mark Allerton,Huntleys Cove

In response to the final report on road tolls,the minister says this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address the issue. Well,why not think outside the box,scrap all tolls and introduce an all-embracing,road-use charging system? Surely it is possible to come up with a way of capturing the mileage every vehicle is doing and charging accordingly. Billing for mileage instead of just for toll roads must have a lot of advantages and surely is fairer for road users.John Duff,Lavender Bay

Allan Fels obviously lives in the eastern suburbs. Didn’t we of the north shore pay off the bridge sometime last century,and hasn’t the tunnel been amortised this century? The proposed two-way tolling on both of them and the outrageously expensive Eastern Distributor is presumably a way the government can repay Transurban for fairer tolls elsewhere on that company’s network. Now,the north shore pays for that failure. How about road pricing in the eastern suburbs (and CBD)?Jeremy Eccles,Clifton Gardens

The only reason Transurban will agree with the proposed toll changes is if they end up with more revenue from the changes. We already live in the most heavily tolled city in the world thanks to previous state governments,but at least these changes will see those who can afford to pay more and those who can’t.Peter Miniutti,Ashbury

State of the union

John Sutton’s article clearly outlines the history behind the formation of the CFMEU and how some former BLF elements have responded through the difficult merger process (“I witnessed the rot set in at the CFMEU. Here’s how it happened”,July 17). As a former member who trained NSW delegates in the ’80s and ’90s,I was most conscious of the responsibility that the union had to its representatives and their responsibilities to potential recruits and existing members. The NSW leadership at the time believed that a union delegate had to show the membership that he worked harder and behaved ethically and honestly. When there was a strike,union officials went without pay. The saddest thing about the current allegations is the damage it does to trade unionism generally and to the struggle of other unions to recruit new members. The issues with the CFMEU are issues that concern the whole of the union movement,and not least of all the ACTU,which has a special responsibility to ensure unionism is clean and remains proud of its achievements.Byron Comninos,Waverley

For over a century,Australian trade unions have actively represented their members,working to achieve better employment conditions. In the building industry,the CFMEU (and predecessors) worked with employers to significantly improve workplace health and safety. Everyone deserves to return home from work uninjured. But for all the good it has achieved,the CFMEU has long been on the dodgy side of union business. The revelations of your joint investigation should surprise no one,not least senior Labor Party officials. To suggest they were unaware of what the CFMEU has been doing is disingenuous at best.Tim Overland,Castle Hill

The CFMEU problem is more complex than it appears. The thuggish and corrupt actions of union reps have encouraged a matching response from builders and developers. They have ramped up their approach to match the union’s actions. You might argue it is chicken and egg,but that does not mean equality will be restored by winding back union corruption and standover tactics. For both parties to resume civilised businesslike negotiations will require time. There is no point in defanging the union and leaving developers and builders to still bare their teeth. This has been going on for a decade or more,but the Liberals were not game to get involved when they were in power. A culture change will take years,and an independent administrator is just the first step.Neville Turbit,Russell Lea

Causes of cancer are well known

Being told you have cancer is always tough and I wish Margaret Gordon the best as her treatment and care continue (“Glad I have breast cancer,not long COVID”,July 17). However,her list of possible cancer causes is incorrect. The main causes of cancer in Australia as documented by Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in descending order of impact are tobacco smoking,obesity,alcohol drinking,all diet-related factors combined and high sun exposure. There is no burden of cancer in Australia attributable to electromagnetic fields (either mobile phones or overhead power lines),chemicals (specifically pesticide residues in food or pollutants in drinking water) or stress. Risk of cancer may be reduced by never smoking or quitting,weight control,not drinking every day,reducing intake of high-caloric food and processed meat and/or avoiding deliberate sun exposure. The vast majority of reports on cancer “potentially” caused by consumer products can be ignored and cancer clusters are never caused by the insidious impact of an unrecognised carcinogen(s).Professor Bernard Stewart,Bronte

Culture wars

Peter Dutton has said he could have large-scale nuclear reactors operating by 2037 (Letters,July 17). But this is not the real problem. Our problem lies in the culture wars,the denial of the science and the politicising of the climate/renewable energy debate in order to win elections. Every time a Labor government is elected and tries to implement its energy policies,the Coalition when re-elected tears down everything Labor has done (as Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison did) and the process has to start over. Nearly 10 years of denial,delay and obfuscation by the Coalition has put the breaks on the renewable train once again. To date,the Coalition has had 22 failed energy policies. Will the dismantling cycle commence again if the Coalition wins the next election? Will this ideological warfare ever end so that the science can settle the matter?Ray Armstrong,Tweed Heads South

Housing crisis

For years we have been reading how various governments have come up with a plethora of “solutions” to the housing crisis,including various types of grants,incentives and taxation offsets,while the prices of houses have quickly increased to a level which is permanently out of reach for the average home buyer. Professor Cathy Sherry has spelled out the main problem,namely that “our laws need to change to promote an equal distribution of what is a finite and essential resource among the population” (“To fix housing crisis,rebalance property rights”,July 17). Sadly,I fear that neither the federal government nor the opposition have the guts to make such a change so,tragically the would-be homebuyers of today and our future populations will never have the opportunities afforded past generations.Peter Nash,Fairlight

Cathy Sherry has provided such a clear and simple summary of the ethics issues involved with investors owning multiple real estate via the excessively favourable tax laws. As a society,we should justify how those investor-conducive tax laws enable her fundamental conundrum:with half of all strata title apartments owned by investors,“every time someone buys an investment apartment,someone else does not become a homeowner.”David Hickie,Lane Cove.

Finally a common-sense,logical commentary on the real cause of our housing crisis. Cathy Sherry nails it – now for a political party to have the courage to do the right thing.Simon Farr-Jones,Woollahra

Construction noise

In theHerald article about the Fish Market construction noise,Infrastructure NSW commented,“an offer of acoustic treatment to the property has been available for four years” (Letters,July 16). INSW did offer a cheap ventilation system (a fan in a metal box) so that residents could close their windows at night to lessen the Fish Market operational noise when the construction was finished. They did not include any offer for the glazing that was needed to mitigate the construction noise which has been going on for almost four years. The noise has exceeded their allowable noise limit during the day by nine decibels,which is almost double the noise limit in their consent.

INSW “consultation” consisted of denying there was any significant daytime construction noise. Even when the peer reviewer determined that the consultant had used the wrong noise levels in September 2023,INSW continued to maintain they had no reason to provide glazing for the construction noise until June 2024,when the Department of Planning instructed them to.

INSW has not ever worked collaboratively with the residents affected and has still not made any attempt to offer any glazing and ventilation program or details. Their response to all concerns has been to deny and delay.Malcolm Morrison,Glebe

Spoiler’s role

Adam Bandt condemns our Prime Minister for criticising pro-Palestine protesters outside MPs’ offices following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump as “an outrageous,cynical move” (“‘New low’:Bandt claims PM politicised Trump shooting”,July 17). I think the PM is right to voice that concern. When passions become so inflamed that protesters would inflict vandalism on several MPs’ electorate offices it is only a matter of time that bloodshed would ensue. Instead of playing a spoiler’s role,Bandt should begin to exert a positive influence on Australian politics and society at large. It is Bandt who is cynically exploiting pro-Palestine sentiments in the community.Kim Woo,Mascot

Hold the line

The story about AI and jobs would be no surprise to anyone who has contacted any large and many smaller businesses (“Warnings AI technology taking jobs”,July 17). You are immediately transferred to a “virtual assistant”,which is some kind of AI device. It usually gives you a few options to identify your issue,if it is not there you are stuck,crying out to speak to a human. Eventually,after many anguished minutes you may get to talk to someone,but usually you will be told to leave a message.
AI has already taken over jobs better done by humans,but the businesses are saving money.Phil Kerrigan,Speers Point

In toon with times

Australians are renowned for their wicked sense of humour (“These are the cartoons that kept Australia laughing for a century”,July 17). And our cartoonists are to be congratulated for the past century of expressing that humour in art form.Graham Lum,North Rocks

Congratulations on the centenary of the formation of the Australian Cartoonists Association. Often a political,satirical cartoon by the likes of Cathy Wilcox sums up recent events perfectly.Sally Spurr,Lane Cove

Not tenacious

Kung faux panda,Jack Black (“Jack Black ends Tenacious D tour after bandmate’s Trump assassination joke”,smh.com.au,July 17)?Jeff Apter,Keiraville

Ted time

Gareth Southgate resigns following Euro final defeat (“‘I have given it my all’:England manager Southgate’s big call after heart-breaking Euros defeat”,smh.com.au,July 17). It’s time to send for Ted Lasso.David Boyd,Bondi Beach

Pen confusion

I recently sawDeath of a Salesman at the Theatre Royal. At least one line could have used an update – one of the sons steals a fountain pen. Only those in the audience over about 65 would know what a fountain pen is.Helen Howes,Collaroy