Virginia Bell, who will lead the royal commission into antisemitism, is a distinguished jurist who, like other justices in Australia, can be trusted to be both professional and impartial (“Albanese to announce antisemitism royal commission, Virginia Bell to lead”, January 8). Former Liberal politician Josh Frydenberg’s attack on her suitability to head a commission is completely unwarranted. It follows his earlier outrageous accusation that the prime minister was personally responsible for the deaths at Bondi. If we are to move forward as a community, these gratuitous attacks need to stop. Genevieve Kang, Glebe

On what grounds does Josh Frydenberg object to the appointment of former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the royal commission? Is there any evidence from her career as an esteemed judge that she would lack objectivity or integrity? On the contrary, a learned woman who rightly commands such respect will be impervious to external pressure. That will make her a sterling choice. Timothy Ashton, Katamatite (Vic)

Former High Court judge Virginia Bell will lead the royal commission.Credit:

The rumblings of dissatisfaction over Virginia Bell leading a royal commission are a clear sign that the PM’s initial hesitation to call for a commission was well founded. There are ways of addressing all the issues raised by the shootings at Bondi without sowing division and feeding acrimony. Now that Albanese has called a commission, dissatisfaction with the appointment of Bell will be just the beginning. Arguments and criticism over the term of reference, the definitions and the time frame will ensue in quick succession, as will horror at the cost and dissatisfaction with the entire exercise. The only winners will be the lawyers and, of course, the Liberal Party, for whom it will provide years of opportunities for criticism, whingeing and finger-pointing. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point

Hopefully, someone with a better memory than mine, after 55 years in the legal profession, can identify how many royal commissions have been held where one of the parties has been allowed to choose who the commissioner should be. Nicolas Harrison, Evans Head

Frydenberg, after his highly politicised and personal attacks on the prime minister, tries to dictate who may or may not head the royal commission into the Bondi massacre. His audacity is amazing. Bob Nicoll, Hat Head

Teach tolerance

Any new legislation to outlaw hate speech will only make it a prosecutable offence (“Families plead with Labor MPs to end hate”, January 8). A royal commission, on the other hand, will make a series of findings, make recommendations and propose new laws regarding hate speech and antisemitism. There will be inevitable arguments about too much or too little by way of response, but none of these things alone will stop hatred and racism. Children learn to hate from others – parents, peers, siblings, the media. What must be delivered is properly formulated education programs for all parts of the community specifically addressing hatred and racism. The only way we become better as a country is when Australians, one and all, truly respect each other, recognise of all the things we have in common, and through greater tolerance of the differences that make us all individuals. Tim Overland, Castle Hill

Unfortunately hate, prejudice and intolerance cannot be legislated away. These feelings are learned within the family and from the people who socialise us. Love, acceptance, empathy and tolerance begins with each of us. We need to live out those values we claim to espouse and then, just maybe, we’ll come to live in the harmonious community we say we crave. So “let it begin with me”. Vivienne Mackenzie, Port Hacking

What, exactly, is the royal commission going to investigate? Ethnic/racial/religious prejudice and hatred? Or the specifics of the wave of attacks on Jewish institutions and religious events in Australia? The nature of racist hatred, its psychological and historical causes, are well understood and are studied in thousands of universities throughout the world. The specific circumstances of the Bondi terrorist attack need to be forensically analysed by the expert security organisations that failed to prevent it. That does not need a royal commission. It would be better to redouble our investment in education and preventative measures to address the specific character of current Australian racism. But let the Bondi atrocity be the focus of honest, rigorous investigation without being overshadowed by vague platitudes about “hatred”. Philip Bell, Bronte

Legitimate visit

Labor Friends of Palestine (LFOP) are quoted as accusing Israeli President Isaac Herzog of “incitement of genocide, and complicity in war crimes and crimes against humanity” (“Visit of Israeli president prompts Labor unrest and headache for PM”, January 8). Nowhere is the source of all the tragic deaths in this conflict mentioned – the original October 7, 2023 invasion, murder, incineration, rape, mutilation and kidnapping of innocent, predominantly Jewish, people by fundamentalist Islamist Hamas-led terrorists. President Herzog is the legitimate head of state of the internationally recognised democratic state of Israel, rightfully invited to commiserate with Australians after the appalling terrorist atrocity at Bondi, in which predominantly Jewish people were murdered and injured. Alan Slade, Dover Heights

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog is due to visit Australia.Credit: Getty

I’m confused. If consolation for Jewish communities after the killings at Bondi is what is required, wouldn’t the appropriate thing be to invite chief rabbis from around the world? Inviting a representative of the Israeli government conflates Jewishness with Zionism. And that plays into the view that the flare-up in antisemitism is a response to Israel’s destruction of Gaza. David McMaster, Mosman

Freedom of expression

I am concerned by the personal attack on Cathy Wilcox over what has been described as her cartoon’s insult to those of the Jewish faith (Letters, January 8). Perhaps we all need to accept that Cathy is a satirical cartoonist, not a political figure, and satire is an edgy method of commentary. While she might push ideas to their limit, generating savage reactions and pushbacks (as seen in these letters pages), do we have to vilify her so mercilessly? Her role as a “social irritant” stands her by a risky moral cliff, but angry accusations often say more about the accuser than the cartoonist. Labelling her antisemitic is both an exaggeration and unwarrantedly cruel. Satire is a precious freedom of expression and we censor it at our peril. Continue to paint it as you see it, Cathy, as the public must learn to accept legitimate, albeit acerbic, opinions that might not correspond with theirs. Trevor Somerville, Illawong

I was disappointed to see a cartoon published that draws on imagery long associated with antisemitic stereotypes. This is particularly concerning in the context of repeated violent acts and intimidation directed at Jewish Australians since October 7, 2023. Whatever one’s views of events overseas, it is on our own shores that these consequences are being felt, and decisions by the media that risk reinforcing prejudice warrant greater care. James Walker, Sydney

What an over-reaction to Cathy Wilcox’s cartoon criticising the cheap opportunism of John Howard and the Coalition (gun laws are a distraction?), the unprecedented interference in our politics by Benjamin Netanyahu, and the seemingly orchestrated campaign for a royal commission. Have any of those complaining seen any of the “offensive” cartoons about Albo that appear almost every day in the Murdoch press? Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

Wilcox’s cartoon was way out of line. To suggest that the large number of Australians who support a royal commission are “marching” to the Israeli PM’s drum is offensive in so many ways. Mark Latchford, Seaforth

Lazy housing plan

The problem with Premier Chris Minns’ housing reforms is that they don’t achieve their stated aim (“What mid-rise housing means for your suburb”, January 8). They don’t make housing affordable, particularly for young people, nor do they provide housing for the less well-off. These provisions are a gift for developers in that choice sites can now carry density way beyond the suburban norm in areas that bring higher prices. Sale prices for apartments in places such as Mosman, Drummoyne and Pittwater on the northern beaches will be in the millions. Particularly, as the article points out, under the ludicrous “affordable housing” provisions of the regulations. There is also the destruction of streetscapes and community. It leaves you wondering how much thought has gone into all this. Where are the government-supported rent-equity and other schemes for young people designed to result in eventual home ownership? This is planning by political decree, not by careful and considerate thought for people’s lives. This is lazy government, Mr Minns. Australians deserve better. David Catchlove, Newport

Whose idea was it to end discounted rents for essential workers after the first 15 years? This implies that the need for essential workers magically disappears after 15 years. Really? Why not extend the offer in perpetuity? The current policy benefits developers and needs to be changed. It’s hard enough to find essential workers, but, once we do, then we also need to sustain their availability as well as rewarding their service. Larry Woldenberg, Forest Lodge

Peas in a pod

It seems that former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and US President Donald Trump are not that different (“ICE officer shoots woman dead”, January 8). Wake up America! Julius Timmerman, Lawson

Credit: Cathy Wilcox

Energy tide has turned

Javier Blas’ article highlights exactly why the world needs to move away from reliance on fossil fuels towards renewable energy (“Trump now has his very own oil empire”, January 8). The control of such an essential commodity gives too much power to individuals and governments. It is clear that President Trump’s obsession with oil is all about helping the US maintain its power to bully other nations. Sustainable forms of energy are not vulnerable to such manipulation. Duncan Anderson, Gladesville

If Maria Corina Machado wants to turn Venezuela into an energy powerhouse with oil, she’s two decades too late (“Nobel winner backs Trump on raid”, January 8). The global rise of EVs is already cutting petrol and diesel demand. Chinese manufacturer BYD is targeting South America as a key growth market. Even mining magnate Gina Rinehart is swapping mining machinery running on diesel with EV alternatives to save money. The tide has turned. Neil Ormerod, Kingsgrove

Cut older vehicle speed

Raphael Grzebieta makes several worthwhile suggestions to reduce the road toll, including tougher speed enforcement, lower limits, average-speed cameras and hidden cameras (“I know how to lower the road toll, but politicians aren’t listening”, January 8). However, he overlooks an approach widely used in Europe but not recognised in Australia. Newer cars, equipped with modern safety features such as adaptive cruise control, are designed to travel safely on freeways at speeds of up to 140km/h. At the same time, older vehicles and trucks that are less safe at higher speeds are clearly marked and restricted to lower limits, often 100km/h. This system strikes a practical balance between safety and efficiency. If Australia adopted a similar approach, long-distance travel would be faster and more efficient. A Sydney-to-Melbourne drive at 140km/h would take just over six hours, compared with the current nine to 10 hours, reducing the case for a massively expensive high-speed rail link. John Kempler, Rose Bay

Your correspondent lists a range of incremental changes to lower the death toll on our roads. Let’s think outside the box. Why not install all new vehicles with government-issued dashcams that feed continuous live data to Crime Stoppers? This could also include a speeding, tailgating, negligent driving and hooning. I’m sure contravention rates will plummet. Pixellation could be used to protect the innocent. Revenue from fines would go through the roof and be used to improve our roads. Dennis Pisk, Darlinghurst

There’s one more thing government can do to lower the road toll – improve our rail system to encourage people to travel by train. Apart from moving a greater number of passengers per kilometre than cars, rail travel is by far the safest form of motorised land transport. Chris O’Rourke, Bathurst

Trees also cool

Your tips to keep houses cool in summer ignores trees (“Small, simple steps can keep your home cool in the heat”’, January 8). They might not be much good for short-term remediation but they are invaluable for long-term planning. I live in a fairly flimsily designed cottage, which luckily is surrounded and shaded by mature trees. My house remains 10 to 15 degrees cooler than the outside air, and I very rarely have to resort to air conditioning. It is distressing these days to see acres of new housing construction where every tree has been cut down, leaving the houses totally exposed to the sun’s heat. Heather Johnson, West Pennant Hills

Walls that divide

If politicians are claiming taxpayer-funded allowances to stay in their second homes in Canberra, and that is within the rules, those rules need to be changed (“The tab for MPs living away from home in their own homes”, January 8). There is a whiff of entitlement here. Vicky Marquis, Glebe

Three’s a crowd

To carry a pillion on a motorcycle one has to have held a motorcycle licence for 12 months and both rider and passenger are required to wear helmets (Letters, January 8). Seeing young children riding two-up on an e-bike is common, three-up on occasions, four-up seen once. Neil Craddock, Wollongong

All stitched up

I had quite forgotten the “doll hospital” (Letters, January 8). My mother also took my sister’s and my dolls there. On one occasion I was with my mother when we went to pick one up. I still recall my bitter disappointment to not find wards of tiny beds with dolls in them, all white and pristine. Instead, there was just a counter with shelves behind containing lots of rather old, decrepit-looking dolls. Including mine. Victoria Heffernan, Walcha

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