The states should lead, not Canberra

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The state must lead
Nick Bryant (“This is not the time for partisan anger”, 27/12) makes the disturbingly sharp observation that “for the right-wing press, praising NSW Premier Chris Minns has become a way to vilify Albanians”. Of course, it is worth asking the question: Why can’t our nation, as a federation, be politically literate enough not to always reflexively look to a prime minister for leadership in emergencies? In the case of the recent Sydney massacre, it was certainly appropriate and even natural for the NSW premier to be allowed to immediately reassure NSW voters given his geographical proximity to the tragic events and the ease with which state bureaucrats and security services were informed of the rapidly evolving situation.
Federalism should be seen as something that allowed Canberra-based political leaders such as Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong to initially take a lower profile in the immediate aftermath of a state-based tragedy; just like it has been for a long time and sometimes when natural disasters occur. At this point the Premiers should be allowed to lead. It will be a less volatile and worrying time when the Australian Prime Minister can deliver a powerful, FDR-style or Churchill-like address to the nation that is fully informed and healing. Whatever impassioned media commentators or enthusiastic opposition leaders may recommend, performance-oriented backlash from national leaders and federal ministers should be avoided in these testing times.
Jon McMillan, Mornington

A very long commission
I disagree with your correspondent’s reasoning about the need for a royal commission into antisemitism (Letters, 26/12).
Bondi, he says, is not about guns, but violent antisemitism. But he may not accept that ultra-violent jihadists are beyond redemption when it comes to anti-Semitism.
There would be no harm in setting up a royal commission into antisemitism, but it would probably take a very long time and there may be other intelligence and security measures the government has taken and will take that would have a more immediate effect; and a royal commission will not reduce the current terrorism threat level from August 2024 to “possible”.
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick

PM please forward
Anthony Albanese needs to be our leader. So why not lead? We need a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism.
Brian Marshall, Ashburton

Conflicting facts
Your correspondent (Letters, 27/12) blames Benjamin Netanyahu for the rise of antisemitism in Australia, while excusing the antisemitism of those who blame all Jews for an Israeli Prime Minister who responds to Hamas’ determined determination to destroy the Jewish state. Perhaps your correspondent would like to compare the Jewish experience here with that of a similar number of Australians of Russian descent who have been able to live peacefully in this country despite Putin’s ongoing destructive war against Ukraine.
Geoff Feren, St Kilda East

Jewish born
Reactions to the attack in Sydney, and Australia more generally, show that many people do not understand what makes a person Jewish. Many people have expressed to me their hope that my faith will guide me through this difficult time. It’s a gesture I greatly appreciate, but it assumes that my Jewishness is a choice. Actually, I don’t believe in God.
I am Jewish because I was born Jewish. Jews have been targeted throughout history regardless of whether they practice their religion, practice certain cultural traditions like my family, or are not open about it.
You can’t just wake up and decide not to be Jewish. How useful this would have been many times throughout history.
Judaism is a religion, culture, and nation of diverse people. While most Jews in Australia are of European descent, the majority of Jews in Israel are of non-European descent.
Nick Rose, McKinnon

incredibly unique
For your correspondent (Letters, 26/12), there are a few other misappropriations of our language that I would like to point out and focus on. When did the short and clear “yes” become “definitely”? How did it come to be “incredible” to do something properly, and when did that single, lone qualifier “unique” produce more shades of comparative gray than Hades himself, so many that it must be said to be absolutely incredible and somewhat unique?
Vincent O’Donnell, Ascot Vale

Faith and education
Your correspondent (Letter, 24/12) identifies the threat to social cohesion posed by underfunding of our public schools, which is exacerbated in disadvantaged areas. It is encouraging that religious institutions are expressing interfaith solidarity in response to the crisis reflected in the Bondi attack. However, it is also time for these bodies, which are largely responsible for our relatively well-equipped, tax-funded private schools, to consider the consequences of Australia’s unusually religiously segregated education system. In addition to its obvious inequality, such separation must also hinder the development of understanding and goodwill between those of different religions and those of no religion.
Angela Munro, Carlton North

I can’t pay for this
Lobsters were once called “poor man’s chicken” and “sea cockroaches.” In fact, crustaceans were so overpopulated that they were once even used as fertilizer.
No more, and no wonder. It can currently sell for well over $100 per kilogram; This means that, relatively speaking, only the well-to-do can afford to buy it at Christmas. Lobsters were not part of my Christmas dinner. I ate “real” chicken. At $6 per kilogram.
Michael Gamble, Belmont