She moves, it runs; she doesn’t, it’s pushed

I was a bit taken aback by Anika Wells and her trip to New York, and then all the fuss about dissecting each trip (“Wells charged taxpayers to take family to Thredbo,” December 7). Our ministers work hard and often need to travel without their families, so sometimes families are allowed to join them. Journalists can serve us better by directing their scrutiny to government procurement contracts and why taxpayers are paying $90,000 for three plane tickets to New York. I have heard no explanation as to how such an amount is possible when the government has contracts with both travel agencies and airlines to ensure value for money. Government work is a very lucrative and highly sought-after job, but clearly taxpayers are still being taken for a ride, and it’s not to New York. Elizabeth Darton, Lane Cove West

What is the motivation behind trying to find out about Anika Wells? Because he was at the forefront of the social media ban? The fact that Sussan Ley agrees with the criticisms, which are completely unfounded in this case, may be enough for me to change my vote. Jenny Greenwood, Avcılar Hill

For all the reporters who are so upset about Secretary Wells’ travel expenses, compare this to U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who closed down all of Disneyland for the day so his family could go there privately and apparently released water from an Ohio lake into the river to provide a more exciting birthday cruise and kayaking experience for his family and friends. If Australian politicians start behaving like this your complaints will be valid. Mark Berg, Caringbah South

restless riders

Injury statistics continue to be about the trauma of (mostly) young e-bike riders (“The ‘craze’ for e-bikes increases trauma,” December 7). Hidden cost to seniors? E-bikes carry the overload of multiple riders and often surfboards, travel at speed on trails and roads, ignore any rules or considerations, and create greater anxiety for many elderly and disabled people with slower response times. Many elderly people are now afraid to even walk in shopping areas. (Theft is becoming a problem in many places.) Instructional manuals, licenses, and strict codes of conduct (restrictions on a single rider and surfboard, for example) can be easily administered to keep everyone safe. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

Basic instinct is right

I applaud Cranbook’s decision to ban its students from owning smartphones and instead direct parents to equip their primary school-aged children with basic phones (“Phone use ‘limits’ set for middle school,” December 7). A basic phone is a useful communication tool, especially between parents and their children. A quick call from Samantha to her mother letting her know she’ll be home late from school because she missed the bus can save a lot of parental worry. A smartphone, by comparison, can open a Pandora’s box to pornography and the toxic shouts of racists, misogynists, and assorted lunatics. It also provides access to a large message board where kids can post hateful things about other kids and/or read hateful things others have posted about them. Young minds don’t need such things. Maybe Christmas 2025 would be a good time to put a non-smart phone under the tree for young Justin or Samantha. Mike ReddyVincentia

The social media ban and smartphone ban for under-16s, pioneered by at least one private school, is not likely to come anytime soon. I saw a problem 10 years ago, when devices were introduced as an additional resource for learning (quickly replacing other resources, including teachers). Now what we’re trying to get back is out of control. Jenny Greenwood, Avcılar Hill

Take your foot off the gas