Letters

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday December 11, 2008

Crime prevention gives value for money

Your "captive state" series highlights the failure of hard-line "law and order" policies to reduce crime and address recidivism.

An example of a successful program is the NSW Drug Court. Prison has failed to deter the offenders it deals with. The Drug Court aims to treat their health issues, as well as justice and social issues, to prevent them offending as a result of drug dependency.

Studies have found this program is more cost-effective than prison in reducing drug-related crime. For years the Law Society has called on the Government to expand the Drug Court beyond the current catchment area of western Sydney.

The society is also concerned that the number of children held on remand has risen dramatically since amendments to the Bail Act came into effect in December 2007. The average daily numbers of juvenile detainees in November was 447, compared with 331 for 2006-07, even though juvenile crime is falling or stable in all categories. Only a small percentage of children held on remand go on to receive a custodial sentence.

The immense resources required to accommodate children in custody would be better spent addressing the causes of juvenile offending, providing more accommodation for young people and on rehabilitation and intervention programs.

Hugh Macken President, the Law

Society, Sydney

The decision to abolish the position of inspector-general of prisons in 2003 reflects the attitude of a Government that is not concerned with bringing the prison system into the 21st century ("Prison watchdogs lose their teeth", December 9). As an official visitor, I was appalled when this position ceased to exist and the battened-down operation of the service prevailed. I bet the Ombudsman's office is groaning under the weight of complaints against Corrective Services - unless concerned people are afraid to register them. I did so, and my position was not renewed.

Cherie Imlah Mongogarie

Not a minute to waste

We are giving away billions and investing in road building to stimulate the economy, yet there is talk of scaling back carbon reduction targets as a result of the financial crisis ("Wong to resist calls for greenhouse cuts", December 10). Rather than scaling back, we should speed up the retooling of our energy industry for renewable generation. This is the one investment we cannot afford to delay.

Why not a war footing to combat both climate and financial crises? Kevin Rudd has called for infrastructure and other urgent spending by governments to stave off recession. He should call for similar investment in this vital coming year of climate debate.

Gordon Christie Melbourne

Barnaby Joyce says he cannot support an emissions trading scheme in the current economic climate ("Emissions scheme 'will cause job loss' ", smh.com.au, December 10). The US and Australia are suffering job losses in the car industry now because they are still building gas-guzzlers, which the public no longer want. Keep up with the issues, Barnaby, or people may no longer want you.

Robert Domone Denistone

A lesson in double standards

Kristin Moore's apparent outrage (Letters, December 10) at the scandal involving elite private schools speaks more about their good name than any want of values. The delight displayed by those opposed to non-government education at adverse media coverage of those schools is evidence of a glaring double standard. During my 13 years in the public education system, I was often dumbfounded when the discovery of drugs in a private school led to public outrage; in my school, drug abuse was a daily reality that had long ceased to raise concern.

The heightened expectations imposed upon private schools reflects their higher standards and should not be used to denigrate their legitimacy.

Marcus Coleman Kingston (ACT)

Josh Shrubb (Letters, December 10) demands that the schools condemn, investigate and mete out "consequences" for members of the Facebook group. But why should a school be accountable for actions of its students on the internet, outside school hours? And why should these young people face summary discipline at the hands of school administrators who have nothing to do with the matter? The furore highlights an appalling double standard imposed by the public, both on young people and on independent schools. Those who are concerned should contact the Anti-Discrimination Board, rather than whinge about the failure of schools to act as around-the-clock nannies.

James Sin Eastwood

So the principal of Scots College blames Summer Heights High and South Park for his students' behaviour. The character that displays the least tolerance in Summer Heights High is Ja'mie, the product of a private girls' school. The writer, Chris Lilley, himself the product of an elite school, seems to have a very perceptive insight into the way these schools impart values.

Brian Reynolds Darlington

Residents of the eastern suburbs should be grateful the Scots' students were acting out the "sarcasm and humour" only of the type picked up in South Park and Summer Heights High. Thankfully, the subtleties of Underbelly seem to have been beyond them.

Tom Nash St Ives Chase

Let me get this right. When the students do the right thing, it is to the school's credit. When they do the wrong thing, it is the fault of popular culture. If I was spending a lot on a private school, I would be worried.

Cathy Cole Jilliby

Chinese reject bribery

Qinghua Pei and Xiandong Lu say they were told by members of the Chinese community that they should pay teachers to help their son get into selective schools, and that getting into those schools is "more important than having a house" ("Cash lands pushy parents before ICAC", December 10).

That does not reflect the views of the vast majority of the Chinese community. If this proves more than an isolated incident, we will work with other organisations to correct any misconception by recently arrived immigrant parents.

Anthony Pang President, Chinese Australian Forum, Turramurra

Be glad for what we've got

The story "Youth need $1000 more than elderly do" (December 8) does not inspire my sympathy. The list of 12 "essentials of life" from the Australian Council of Social Service report, which includes "presents at least once a year, a week's holiday away, a bedroom for each child over 10 and up-to-date school books (not second hand)" makes me cringe.

In the same day's paper we are told of a projected 3000 deaths from cholera in Zimbabwe due to a lack of drinking water. Harare's biggest hospital is closing its doors to the dying, and the number of newborn children surviving has halved in recent years.

Perhaps ACOSS should spend some time in the rest of the world to help decide what really is essential.

Glenn Pereira Forbes