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January 3, 2026 — 9.00pm

Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s insightful analysis of both the history of antisemitism and its sources in contemporary Australia, as well as the need for specific solutions rather than a “one size fits all” approach, is very enlightening (“Tackling three kinds of antisemitism”, December 28). In particular, it is “the dangers posed by neo-Nazi ideology” that I find especially troubling, given that this ideology is not only dangerous to our Jewish community, but also “to migrant communities and other groups including Indigenous and queer Australians”. The protests of those ominous black-cladded figures “on the steps of both the Victorian and NSW parliaments” was outrageous and extremely concerning at the time, but the reasons these displays of hatred were allowed to happen in the first place, including any systemic or procedural failures by police, must be examined and investigated much more thoroughly now. Surely, after all the acts of violence that are still being committed against Australian Jews, any “talk of a neo-Nazi political party running at the next election” must be silenced by changes in existing laws that would allow this to happen. Kerrie Wehbe, Blacktown

Pro-Palestine agitators cause police to push back those gathered to pay respects at Bondi Beach after the terror attack. Credit: Oscar Colman

I would suggest there is a fourth type of antisemitism. The fourth type of person is appalled by what happens in Gaza but has no intention of killing anyone. They are disgusted with the illegal West Bank settlements but will not bomb a synagogue. They are reviled by Netanyahu and his right-wing Zionist supporters but do not harass Jews. Call them “Designated Antisemites”. They are designated antisemitic to allow Netanyahu to put them into the same category as prison camp commandants or the shooters at Bondi. This fourth type makes up the vast majority of Australians who are opposed to Israel. Their problem is what Israel is doing today, not some lingering hatred from the past. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea

Moore-Gilbert’s op-ed contains some glaring omissions. She is as guilty of theological selectivity as those extreme minority Islamists she accuses. The Australian National Imams Council issued a statement declaring ISIS an “evil and dangerous terrorist organisation with no connection to Islam”. They affirmed that ISIS does not represent Islam or the Muslim world. Groups such as ISIS hate Hamas, they oppose Palestinian statehood, they are ignorant of Islam and have no similarities with those protesting against the sadistic genocide. There is an extremely simple cure for antisemitism: remove the blue and white flag (end the “cleansing” of Palestine by Zionists) and it would magically disappear. Shayne Chester, Waterloo

Traffic snarls at safety

Traffic jams and snail-paced vehicular lines add to the daily trauma of everyday living, even in regional centres such as the Northern Illawarra (“All jammed up”, December 28). With one road in and one road out of the area, the traffic snarls can cause particular concern in times of emergency from beaches, bushfire or general health emergencies. Discourse with politicians and the local council offer no solution, and lives are held at ransom as a result. Recent housing developments have exacerbated the problem. At least in Sydney there are alternative routes often available. In our linear development, bounded by escarpment and sea, solutions must be found before lives are lost in a crisis. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Wish of the day

David Barwell’s story (“Food safety stats reveal dirty spoons, trace of rats”, December 28) shines a light on health breaches at many Sydney eateries, and calls for a requirement for businesses to display inspection reports on their shopfronts. Bravo! What your article also points out is that only 62 of the 128 NSW councils make food businesses take part in the inspection program. Perhaps the local government minister can ask the other 66 councils to include this program. Paul Reid, Campsie

Listen up, hospos!

I agree with the call for less noise in restaurants (Letters, December 28). Being able to engage in conversation without straining to hear one’s dining companions has become a rarity. But being a “waitperson” must be a challenging role with not the greatest financial reward, so mostly the choice and volume of music is probably that of the staff to help get through their shift and bugger the rest of us. Judy Finch. Taree

Thanks to your correspondent for drawing attention to the problem of being able to hear in the average restaurant these days. I have given up going to most restaurants, unless they have an outside quieter area, or absorbent furnishings. And I have only minor age-related hearing loss. I understand that restaurants struggle to make a profit these days. Perhaps they need to ask if hearing amenity is part of the problem. There is a growing cohort of customers being driven away from your doors. Chris McGregor, Cabarita

Rest match cricket

For any organisation to succeed, you need to manage its operations and financial management effectively (“Stokes blasts MCG strip as Greenberg flags head office intervention”, December 28). While Cricket Australia did an effective job employing down-to-earth, low-profile unsung hero Andrew McDonald as a coach (unlike his predecessor: flamboyant, high-profile tantrum thrower Justin Langer), it failed miserably in ensuring that all curators provided pitches that allowed for high-scoring Test matches to run for five days. While CA has no control over the various state bodies, it needs to work with them to provide entertainment for five days rather than two- or three-day Test matches. CA’s $10 million hole in revenue can be attributed to the pitches, and hopefully, all have learnt lessons with this fiasco. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

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