Another attack in Sydney, this time on the eve of a breakthrough in the Gaza war (“High-profile Jewish leader lived at home targeted in eastern suburbs attack”, January 17). This homegrown conflict is no longer about the plight of Palestinians. This is now about attacking Jews anywhere. The local perpetrators would be more comfortable in 1930s Europe than they are in democratic Australia. I await our politicians to decry this latest act with their usual “it’s not the Australian way”, but platitudes like that are meaningless. Who knows, maybe it is the “new” Australian way. But each time it happens, my hope and pride in our nation is diminished, one step at a time. Patrick McGrath, Potts Point
While we feel deep sympathy for Israeli hostages in Gaza and their families (“After 18 months of agony, Eli’s ordeal nears end”, December 17), we should also remember the suffering of Palestinian hostages who have been taken in much greater numbers before, during and since the October 7 attacks. They include Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospital, who was arbitrarily detained in December. The return of all hostages on both sides is essential for the ordeal to really end. Martin Cousins, Lindfield
Alex Ryvchin, Co-CEO of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, with his wife Vicky outside their former home in Dover Heights, which was vandalised overnight. Credit: James Brickwood
I had hoped the ceasefire deal in Gaza would help bring an end to antisemitic attacks on Australian citizens in Sydney, but there were more attacks overnight in the eastern suburbs. So much for hope. When will this hate end? These people, many the family members of Holocaust survivors, have done nothing to deserve this. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh
Train drivers don’t have it easy I can understand the frustration of commuters who feel let down by recent disruptions, but as the wife of an ex-driver, I know firsthand the workplace conditions drivers and guards face. There is no consistency in shifts: a driver may start at 12:06 am one day; 3:13 the next; work seven to 10 days straight; work three hours without a toilet break. If trains are delayed for some reason, you might get no break at all. These conditions result in driver fatigue and they endanger the staff and the public, yet they are rarely publicised. I can think of few other jobs that place such a strain on employees, and few employees who would work under such conditions. Let them be compensated fairly, and let the safety of these workers prevail. Drivers’ and commuters’ lives could depend on it. Jen Hacker, Ettalong Beach
Working from home has many benefits, as outlined by Tim Chapman (Letters, January 17), however, there are thousands of workers who simply can’t: nurses, ambos and police to name a few. The rail union leaders appear to have forgotten that these essential workers need to get to their workplaces, and on time. In addition, the housing crisis has condemned many of these same workers to long commutes, making transport disruption doubly hard to bear. Another reader, Ron Sinclair, pointed out that union bastardry made the election of a conservative government more likely. Do we really need another Mussolini to get the trains running on time? Stephanie Edwards, Leichhardt
Study in economy While it would certainly be a struggle to survive on less than half the average full-time wage, there is no n
Read More