Entering murky waters over Chinese plan for naval base

I read the headline about China and Vanuatu and dismissively turned my attention elsewhere, saying to myself, "It will never happen". The thought then occurred to me, "Is this what my parents' generation said about Japan (and Germany for that matter)" in the 1930s? - Genevieve Milton, Newtown

At last, a bulwark for us against American aggression! - Robert Hosking, Paddington

Coalition finally flocks to cause in case of animal cruelty

The Agriculture Minister, David Littleproud, is to be congratulated for taking action over cruelty to sheep being transported to the Middle East ("Minister calls for investigation over cruelty", April 10). However, having seen the Channel Nine footage of the dreadful conditions on board, I fail to see how sheep can ever be shipped in acceptable conditions in such large numbers. Most of the sheep packed into the confined space would not have been able to reach water or food, so were always doomed to an appalling death. - Lee Andrews, Faulconbridge

Who can forget the outrage of the industry and the opposition when the Gillard government shut down down live sheep exports over a failure to implement humane standards? Now we have a National Party Agriculture Minister threatening executives with jail and another Coalition MP foreshadowing a shutdown of the industry if things do not improve. Worryingly, the report did not match the reality, the new minister was misled. Was there a failure of oversight or a deliberate turning of the blind eye? Perhaps Barnaby Joyce had other things on his mind last year.  - Arthur Cooper, Alstonville

How could it ever be humane to send thousands of sheep, penned in for weeks at sea, to stifling Middle Eastern temperatures? What happens on the majority of ships where there is no principled whistleblower to record the suffering? Time to ban this morally bankrupt trade. My parents ran a sheep farm, and would never have sent their sheep to such a fate. - Tanya Hall, Newcastle

Every time cruelty is exposed to sheep or cattle – and it happens often – there is a fuss, then it dies down and nothing changes. Those in charge tut tut and say there should be changes, but nothing happens. Aren't there vets on board these vessels? Are they paid to keep quiet? Live animal export needs to be stopped now, right now, we don't need another useless inquiry. - Janet Griffin, Breakfast Point

The cruelty is not just confined to the overcrowded, under-ventilated ships. I've no doubt the fate that awaits surviving sheep is equally, if not more, cruel after they reach their destination. It is well and truly time for Australia to 'own' this issue and make a stand once and for all. If the humane treatment of beast from paddock to plate can't be guaranteed, then live export should be banned. - Viv Munter, Pennant Hills

New Zealand does not export cattle for slaughter and its last export of sheep for slaughter was in 2003. NZ exports live animals, but mainly for breeding purposes. We seem to be some way behind. - Ian Ryan, Dee Why

Joyce hardly in a position to lecture

It’s a bit late for Barnaby Joyce to be lecturing Malcolm Turnbull on doing the ‘‘honourable thing’’ (‘‘Joyce sets deadline for Turnbull to improve in the polls’’, April 10).  - Don Smith, Ashfield

‘‘The first thing you’ve got to be with the electorate is truthful.’’ Is Barnaby having a laugh? His sheer hypocrisy coming so soon after his affair was revealed is truly breathtaking. - Diane Erickson, West Ryde

With reference to the Liberal Party and recent stunts such as polly-pedalling and playing with coal, it seems that WB Yeats could foretell the future. He wrote, ‘‘The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity’’. In the light of a former PM’s hopes, it’s also intriguing that Yeats wrote the poem in 1919 and called it The Second Coming. - Peter Krinks, Waverton

One fact that seems to have escaped the many wise political journalists who are crowing about Malcolm Turnbull’s polling is that somewhere in the middle of that 30 Newspolls he was involved in a more significant poll: in which he came first. It was called an election: it is the only poll that counts.  - Chris Keay, Kenthurst

Vexing, taxing times

Surely, high time for the Inspector-General of Taxation, as independent statutory agency, to initiate and fully investigate the Herald’s exposé on high-handed, if defective, ATO’s administration (‘‘ATO whistleblower exposes cruel debt collection tactics’’, April 10). - Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

Now that we know that these are so easy to enact, what possible barrier could there be to issuing garnishee notices to all multinationals and other large entities and the super-rich who currently shirk their tax responsibilities? - John Hackett, Alexandria

So we have a ‘‘toxic culture’’ in the ATO. Nothing to do with the current head, recruited from one of the big four accountancy firms? Long-term ‘‘efficiency dividends’’, with no corporate knowledge left? An overly complicated tax act? No implementation of the recommendations from reviews? Australia is in debt. We need to face the fact the only way out is through running surplus budgets and all of us paying our rightful taxes. Using ‘‘artificial’’ means to avoid tax is bludging on your fellow Australians. - Stephen Dunn, Bonnells Bay

We could go even slower

If speed is so directly linked to the incidence of fatal crashes, why stop at a 30km/h limit in built-up areas? (‘‘Speed the key factor in road deaths, OECD review finds’’, April 10). Why not 20, or 10? We are witnessing a creeping and inexorable trend in this direction, as governments, having vacated the field on so many other public interest policy areas, try to look as though they’re doing something useful. Fiddling with traffic rules fits the bill.

And so we see, among other things, 40 km/h school speed zones in force when no one is at school, 70 km/h speed limits on wide open country roads, and an ever-widening ambit for double demerit point periods. - Michael Hinchey, New Lambton

It beggars belief that the point-to-point camera system has not been implemented for all vehicles. A cynic might say, what about the lost revenue? An altruist might say, what about the lives to be saved? Apparently the politician says, what about the lost votes. - Paul Stevens, North Epping

Our Opera House

Re Philip Drew’s article, ‘‘Sculpture by the sea’’ (Spectrum, April 7-8). A number of errors and inconsistencies need to be corrected. The platform was not ‘‘covered’’ as some sort of bad accident. The podium and the shells were conceived as one composition. ‘‘The interiors of concert halls must be prioritised over the exteriors.’’ Says who? Why couldn’t both be developed in unison? ‘‘Utzon crippled the interiors of the major and minor halls.’’

If that was the case where does Drew’s comment later that ‘‘Utzon interiors would have been as a truly fitting climaxes to the spectacular exterior’’ sit? As a historian, how can Drew not mention that it was a decision by the SSO that they would not tolerate the main hall as an opera theatre and the instruction to change its use that placed almost unsolvable pressure on the team who had to change midstream. ‘‘The sad saga of the Opera House since’’ is an unnecessarily bleak view. Drew should know that, for example, Gothic cathedrals were built, modified, and added to without loss of their architectural authenticity. Time simply tells a story. - Paul Huxtable, Forestville

BUPA goes missing

Jenna Price has been lucky to get answers from her health fund to questions about her cover (‘‘What happened when I asked for a better deal from my health fund’’, April 10). On March 19 I asked BUPA through its contact form how removal of obstetrics would affect my premiums (my wife is 72). On March 26 an email came asking for a convenient time to receive its call and discuss the best course of action and to perform a full-cover review. Next day I reply with some convenient times. No reply to this day. -  Jacek Olszewski, Faulconbridge

Migrant blame game

So it’s come to this. Reading Tuesday’s letters it seems many Australians have joined Trump supporters in the US, Brexiteers in Britain and the right-wing populists sweeping Europe in blaming immigrants for all our economic and social woes. And where exactly do we cut our immigration levels? Skilled migrants? Family reunion? Refugees? - Daniel Maurice, Glebe

Vale Angela Bennie

I am sad to hear of the death of Angela Bennie (‘‘Arts journalist Bennie dies’’, April 10). In an area of literature where it’s too easy to be unfairly critical she was not. She brought poise, humour and cosmopolitism to an editor’s role. Interviewed by her once about growing up in Regents Park, she talked about how much she loved Italy.

Saying goodbye, I asked what she thought of her job. She replied: ‘‘It’s the best job at the newspaper.’’ A beautiful mind if ever there was one. Grazie.  - Peter Skrzynecki, Eastwood

Making a comeback?

The answer to 21, 6 across, ‘‘Aussie captain’’ in Tuesday’s cryptic was Steve Smith. Does DH know something the rest of us don’t? - Colin Beszant, Moss Vale

Replays all too Common

Of course they are the Com Games! Com for commercial. It is a test of stamina and endurance to watch Seven's coverage when it is peppered with ads and if that is not enough we have replay after replay, even replays of interviews, and anything to avoid actually showing an event that does not feature Australia. I am sure there would not have been coverage of Duncan (no relation) Scott's gold medal swim had there not been three Australians in the final. - Eric Scott, Bondi Junction

Why do reporters insist on trying to make athletes answer questions after a race when they can't talk for puffing? Can't they wait a few minutes until the get their breath back. They also ask stupid questions. For instance: how do you feel about winning? What were you thinking on that final lap? "I am puff pleased puff-puff to have won puff-puff. Get that puff mike out of puff my puff face." - Ken Thompson, Lithgow

Gold, silver, bronze for one two, three. How about a brass for the best PB?​ ​- Bob Arnold, Berry

Cheeky suggestion

Settle down Rosemary O'Brien (Letters, April 10). The fourth place is obviously 'cheek'.
Uh, oh ... I see what you mean. - Diane Turner, Bowral  

Cease being flustered Rosemary. The fourth 'kissing point' is the earlobe. - Alan Wood, Bellevue Hill