The article by Ban Saul should be compulsory reading for all (“Anti-protest laws are using a hammer to crack a nut”, February 11). Premier Minns, I’m looking at you. Street protest is the only option for political speech for the powerless. We see humanitarian, environmental and in this case, pro-Palestine protesters rally and march. These are the powerless, without political influence. We never see fossil fuel magnates, for example, protest in the street. That’s because they have political influence. They make donations. They have governments and like-minded media on speed dial. Their calls are answered. They are not ignored, prosecuted or vilified. They are the powerful. Alan Kesby, Casula
Ben Saul’s opinion piece is an outstanding analysis and a great comfort to those of us branded rabble protesters, antisemites and disruptors of social cohesion, when what we thought we were doing was protesting against genocide. Our PM should have appointed someone of such scholarship to be the special envoy against antisemitism. Carolyn Quadrio, Randwick
“None of these are adequate reasons to restrict protest,” opines Ben Saul, “absent proof of a serious risk to life…” Honestly Ben, is Bondi not proof enough? Joanna Auerbach, Kensington
PM and premier to blame
While I normally support both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns, this week’s street violent clearly shows they are out of touch with the general population (“Chaotic scenes in CBD”, February 10). The PM and premier need to take accountability for what happened. First, for the invitation to such a controversial person, and second for the attempt to deny NSW citizens their right to protest. Israeli President Isaac Herzog was not at Parliament House where the marchers were headed, he was safely away at the ICC, so what on Earth was the point of trying to stop the march? They were extraordinarily bad decisions made by politicians I normally respect. Lee Taylor, Ramsgate
Witnessing the brutality with which the police attacked demonstrators in Sydney on Monday felt akin to watching violent crackdowns in Iran or the United States. I could not believe this was happening in Australia. While the prime minister defends his badly misjudged invitation for Isaac Herzog to visit Australia (“Social cohesion shattered as Sydney streets turn into chaos”, February 11), Chris Minns asks us to disbelieve the video clips showing policemen repeatedly punching a defenceless man in the gut, and a man face down on the ground being hit in the back. The political spin wouldn’t be out of place in a dystopian novel. Part of the blame lays with certain right-wing politicians who foment racial hatred. Then there are Chris Minns’ anti-protest laws, stifling legitimate protest and enabling the police to assault demonstrators in the name of peace-keeping. Bring on the investigation. Marilyn Lebeter, Smiths Creek
Protesters not above the law
I seem to be one of very few people who were disgusted by the behaviour of the demonstrators while a commemoration for 15 members of the Jewish community was taking place just a few blocks away. Why should police be used as punching bags by disgruntled demonstrators, and why did they refuse to gather in Hyde Park on Monday as they had been advised by premier? Why? To amplify their disdain and refusal to accept the rule of law in NSW. They are simply troublemakers and agitators, nothing more. Lynn Nadjarian, Forster
It is probably true that police were in a difficult situation and that some, but by no means all, protesters were violent, but the constant justification that police did the best they could in a difficult situation must stop. We’ve probably all seen the sickening video footage by now. A protester, face down and with his arms pinned behind his back, being kidney punched by a police officer over and over again while other officers just stood by and watched. Chris Minns and NSW Police Chief Mal Lanyon would do well to temper their rhetoric and admit that some police officers went too far in their handling of the protesters, rather than lay all the blame for violence on the protesters. Susan Threlfall, Minto
My sympathies are totally with NSW Police. What an impossible situation they face with a protest group determined to get maximum publicity from their rally. Leaders inciting them to march toward NSW Parliament when they know that is illegal. Stopping supposedly in prayer when told to move on. They are delighted with the outcome and the publicity, so let’s not waste too much sympathy on them. Geoff Wannan, Dawes Point
I was at Town Hall on Monday to protest against the invitation of Isaac Herzog. I was in for a surprise. I don’t even know what intifada means, but there were many posters being held up by other protesters calling for worldwide intifada. And then I was encouraged to chant the words “from the river to the sea”. What happened to the two-state solution? This wasn’t what I came for, so I went home early, very disappointed that the goalposts had been moved while I wasn’t looking. Could someone please explain this change in agenda to the thousands of perplexed and well-meaning people who came out to protest against Herzog’s visit? Monica Turik, Mona Vale
Having lived in Sydney for over 30 years, the sight of Minns’ goon squad reminded me of China’s brutal crackdown in Hong Kong not so long ago. The police are not arms of the government. They are meant to look after the peace, not to create violence. We need to take a depth breath to decide what sort of country we are before it is too late. John Rome, Mount Lawley
How dare those politicians sitting up enjoying dinner and drinks at taxpayer expense claim the demonstrators incited violence at the Town Hall. The riot police aren’t called that for nothing. They came with the intention of causing one. I am 74 and was pushed and thumped by one officer twice my size, while doing exactly what the police ordered us to do. We were fenced in with no escape. I would like to hear any politician who was actually there say we incited the violence. Victoria Heffernan, Walcha
The video of a protester being punched by two police officers while being pinned to the ground is disturbing enough. The justifications for this conduct by Premier Minns is alarmingly similar to US politicians defending ICE’s thuggery in Minnesota. This should not happen in a civil democracy. Murray Patchett, Kentucky
Will the two NSW policemen who punched a young man 18 times in the head and kidneys while he was held face-down on the ground with his arms behind his back be brought to account for their assault? Dr Enda Murray, Marrickville
Can someone tell me why people who are demonstrating against war end up fighting and biting policemen, who are just doing their job? Janet Scilly, Waterloo
Dear Prime Minister Albanese and Premier Minns, what a triumph. “Heal the wounds of Bondi” and “avoid discord in our society”, both achieved in one police riot, proudly broadcast around the world. Well done. I’ve got my popcorn awaiting Mr Hertzog’s appearances in Melbourne and Canberra. Les Schmalzbach, Potts Point
Barnaby’s sanctimony
Sorry, but regarding Grace Tame’s participation in the protests, One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce really isn’t someone who should be lecturing us about how public figures need to conduct themselves honourably. It’s a clear case of the pot and the kettle. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown
Barnaby Joyce is right, Grace Tame should be stripped of her Australian of the Year award for chanting “globalise the intifada”. The current concept of intifada is to incite violence against Jewish people, even going as far as killing them and annihilating the Jewish race. It is also distressing to see Coalition members’ responses. They sit on the fence, neither supporting Joyce’s call nor rejecting it. No wonder their poll numbers are so dire. Ian Morison, Forrest (ACT)
How wonderful to read Scott Bolles’ article about the Sydney hotels getting rid of their poker machines (“New wave of Sydney pubs go pokie-free”, February 11). NSW has more than one poker machine for every 88 people in this state, more than 10 times the number in Western Australia. Poker machine addiction is rife in NSW, so I take my hat off to all the Sydney pubs listed and will make sure I visit at least some of these pubs who care about their patrons, for lunch or dinner. I encourage more Sydneysiders to do the same. Paul Reid, Campsie
Good care matters
I’m happy to see healthcare become more affordable through increased bulk-billing, especially if it’s reaching the disadvantaged. But putting the financial squeeze on GPs to achieve this is troubling. I’d prefer to see better-funded, targeted Medicare support for those in need. The serious erosion of public outpatient options and outrageous specialist fees are troubling factors that affect access to care. There is no longer a public orthopaedic clinic for people in the Sutherland Shire or St George area. We doctors have to ask “favours” of our specialist colleagues to bulk-bill those who can’t pay consultation gap fees of $200 or $300. This is usually on top of big gap fees for radiology such as CTs and MRIs. Another concerning element when solely focusing on GP universal bulk-billing is the complete lack of any measure or concern regarding quality of care. Making GPs rush and feel poorly paid would surely impact this. Governments love bulk-billing rates, but what about clinical outcomes? Dr Lucy France, Cronulla
Abbott’s deficit
The Productivity Commission is right to lament the absence of a carbon tax or an emissions trading scheme in Australia (“Productivity advisers slam climate policies,” February 11). Instead of an efficient pricing mechanism to regulate the decarbonisation process, we are left with a combination of the grossly inadequate safeguard mechanism, which covers only the nation’s top 215 emitters, and a hodgepodge of government incentives and initiatives. Professor Ross Garnaut estimates that had our short-lived carbon tax not been repealed in 2014, it would be raising $70 billion a year by now – enough to fund the transition to net zero plus cut our national debt. And who do we have to thank for that? The man who once described climate change as “complete crap” and who is still touring the world with the same message – Tony Abbott. Ken Enderby, Concord
Back to basics
It would appear that Sydney Grammar has made a good choice in their new principal if his early thoughts about education are any guide (“New Sydney Grammar head’s warning on coaching colleges”, February 11). Stuart McPherson supports uniforms, thinks that the tutoring phenomenon is way out of control, regards technology as an adjunct to education rather than the centrepiece, and supports a broad selection of school subjects. This may seem that he is behind the times, but I would advocate that a return to traditional values in schools and rejection of educational fads so beloved of the “experts”, things that he seems to espouse, is long overdue. Grammar’s progress over the next few years will be interesting and I suspect, successful. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne
The interview with the new headmaster of Sydney Grammar was interesting, but turning to page 6, his pose was confronting. There he was in a well-tailored blue suit, but with black shoes. Good grief! I bet he didn’t do that at Eton. No sir. Brown shoes with a blue suit before 5pm, black shoes thereafter. Questions are likely to follow in the House. Les Sisley, Kelso
Tests await Takaichi
Peter Hartcher rightly calls the rise of Sanae Takaichi’s rise a political earthquake (“‘Sanakatsu’, a political earthquake”, February 10). As Japan’s first female prime minister in a country ranked 118th out of 148 nations on gender equality by the World Economic Forum, and worst among all G7 countries, her ascent alone is historic. But there is cause for concern. Takaichi has promised expansionary fiscal packages including exempting food from the consumption tax and boosting military spending, all on top of a public debt already exceeding 235 per cent of GDP, the highest in the developed world. Navigating tensions with China while managing relations with a transactional Trump administration adds further geopolitical risk. Takaichi’s rise offers genuine hope for a country where women hold barely 10 per cent of parliamentary seats, yet hope alone does not balance budgets or steady alliances. Can one leader shatter a glass ceiling and steer a fiscal and geopolitical tightrope simultaneously? Hyun Son, Rozelle
Take note of hindsight
The federal Liberal Party and the party room would do well to remember that it was not under the moderate leadership of current Liberal leader Sussan Ley that the Liberals suffered one of their worst defeats. It was right-wingers such as Peter Dutton and his mates Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie who did that. Robert McCormick, Bridgewater (SA)
Trump gambit
Trump has already moved Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower security prison, but he says he has never actively considered ruling out a pardon for her in return for the “truth” of his innocence (“Maxwell offers to clear Trump”, February 11). Please, the gall of this man knows no bounds; the only surprise is the pardon issue has taken so long. No consideration for what this may do to the welfare of the victims. Elizabeth Kroon, Randwick
Views in full view
Is correspondent Graeme Stewart implying that we Herald correspondents should keep our “ignorance” to ourselves (Letters, February 11)? That would make for a very dull existence. Here on the letters pages, having one’s ignorance (read “opinion”) published is bliss. Meredith Williams, Baulkham Hills
To the letter
For heaven’s sake, mercy, please (Letters, February 11). I’m hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobic. George Manojlovic, Mangerton
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