What actually irks me about going cashless is the observe by small retailers of charging you a payment for utilizing EFTPOS tap-n-go and claiming they’re merely passing on the charges the banks cost them.
There is no such thing as a point out of the offsetting financial savings they get via not having to deal with, type, depend, retailer, insure and financial institution the money takings. Nor any point out of the chance that these charges, like all their different prices, are already in-built to their costs. No, simply pocket the financial savings however hit the general public for any extras you assume you will get away with whereas blaming another person for forcing it on you.
Then once more, that’s no completely different to what the banks themselves do. It could be small potatoes, nevertheless it’s simply as irritating. Adrian Connelly, Springwood

We nonetheless want money. I do, for one, and I’m positive others do as nicely and even in metropolis areas, not simply within the bush. I make money transfers onto a debit card that I then use for many purchases, particularly on-line, however not all, so I carry a spare $50 in my pockets for emergencies. We have been rid of telephone cubicles however look what has returned. Gordana Martinovich, Dulwich Hill

If a enterprise refuses money, it has no proper to cost a payment for utilizing EFTPOS. Sadly, many massive companies additionally cost prospects for utilizing a debit card, which is analogous to money as a result of it’s a direct cost from an account, not like utilizing a bank card. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill

The banks could also be doing themselves, their prospects and the nation a disservice by slicing down on branches. Ought to there ever be a profitable cyberattack on our banking system, money might are available very helpful. Tony Brownlow, Glebe

Good mines would save billions

If comparatively low-cost “good” sea mines are such a potent weapon and an efficient deterrent to army vessels intruding in disputed waters, is there any level in Australia spending as much as $200 billion on nuclear-powered submarines (“Sea mines purchased as deterrent to China”, January 23)? Our submarines, if they’re ever acquired, will likely be a straightforward goal for the 100,000 or extra Chinese language mines. Moreover, one can anticipate that anti-submarine expertise will develop enormously throughout the subsequent 20 years whereas we watch for our costly toys. Geoff Harding, Chatswood

Day by day we learn of crises in healthcare, schooling and housing on account of lack of ample funding, but billions might be discovered to spice up our army capability for fabricated enemies. Tragically for us, our leaders have purchased into America’s conflict neurosis. Jimmy Carter referred to as the US “essentially the most warlike nation within the historical past of the world”, and stated that “peaceable China is forward of us in nearly each means”. Time for us to reset our priorities. Anne Shay, Ballina

Psst … don’t inform the Chinese language about sea mines, they may need to use them towards our multibillion-dollar nuclear submarines after we lastly get them. Greg Baker, Fitzroy Falls

Bridge closure

Brilliantly stated by your correspondent (Letters, January 23) relating to the arbitrary closing of the Harbour Bridge for a lot of hours, by this so-called “authorities”, the chief of which declared {that a} protester towards inaction on local weather change deserved incarceration. Clearly, wealthy Individuals have rights in NSW however not Australians involved about our future. Roll on March. Ian Usman Lewis, Kentucky

Talking of the current selective legislative withdrawal of the appropriate to protest, there’s one proper governments can’t contact. In the event you don’t like how our leaders and Ryan Gosling’s crew went about inconveniencing Sydney site visitors by closing the bridge, simply boycott the movie when it’s launched right here and ship a transparent message why. Fred Jansohn, Rose Bay

Whatever the inconvenience to many, Ryan Gosling and his staff had approval to shoot their movie. The general public was knowledgeable. The local weather change activist broke the regulation and the general public was not conscious it was about to occur. There was no injustice on this event, only a Justice of the Peace making use of the regulation. Denis Suttling, Newport Seashore

Though the Harbour Bridge is my neighbour, on Sunday not solely might I not drive, journey or stroll over it, I couldn’t even stroll to the southern finish of adjoining Alfred Avenue on the water’s edge to begin my common morning stroll on account of street and footpath closures. Others have been in the identical boat. Absolutely, overkill? Edward Loong, Milsons Level

Historical historical past

When the founders of the US wrote the Structure, longevity was within the 50s and 60s and so they most likely by no means thought geriatrics would dangle round of their 90s and proceed their political careers (“Sprightly Biden embraces golden age”, January 23). In any other case, these founding fathers would have put an age restrict on the Senate and on Congress and the judiciary. We now have to be grateful that our legislators gracefully retire early and don’t make a nuisance of themselves in parliament. Likewise, with our judges. It’s baffling how somebody may give their finest of their 80s and 90s. No surprise there’s such a disconnect between ageing politicians and Gen X and Y. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Privateness coverage

Your editorial (“Golf equipment should not be given key to any gaming card information”, January 23) is right. Information have to be managed independently in accordance with privateness rules and solely within the pursuits of gamblers and stopping prison exercise. The ClubsNSW privateness coverage is unsatisfactory in stating: “The place we not want the non-public data we maintain about you, we’ll take cheap steps to securely destroy that data or to make sure that the data is de-identified.” I just lately wrote to ClubsNSW to ask what meaning in observe and the way lengthy my driver’s licence and different data could be saved. I’ve but to obtain a response. Alex Byrne, Glebe

Bitter grapes

It have to be unhappy residing on this planet of a conservative commentator (“The large guarantees Jacinda didn’t preserve”, smh.com.au, January 23). Jacinda Ardern is universally well-respected. She is caring, cherished, admired and, most significantly, a reliable and sincere politician, judging by the numerous accolades from leaders world wide. This stands in stark distinction to what occurred when Scott Morrison was pushed off the stage. Roshena Campbell, nevertheless, can solely carp and complain about Ardern and nit-pick about perceived coverage failures. Why be so essential? What hurt has she ever carried out to you, Roshena, or the individuals of New Zealand? Why not rejoice in a primary minister that the majority Australians would have been pleased to name their very own if the chance had arisen. Ross Hudson, Mount Martha (Vic)

Prepare v aircraft

Extra calls for a quick prepare merely don’t stack up (Letters, January 23). I took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kyoto in September: 445 kilometres in 160 minutes. Incredible service (5 trains leaving inside a 30-minute interval). At that charge, nevertheless, the 880 km from Sydney to Melbourne would take 5 hours and 20 minutes. This may not be an alternative choice to flying, which takes simply over an hour, for somebody travelling to Sydney or Melbourne for one or two days. Dale Bailey, 5 Dock

A gender skewed

The Liberal Celebration appears to assume that MP stands for Male Parliamentarian (“Wall-to-wall males: Liberal candidates nearly all male”, January 23). Charles Hargrave, Elizabeth Bay

To its peril, the NSW Liberal Celebration ignores the numerous shrewd voters which might be conscious of the paraphrased quip that politics is just too critical a matter to be left to solely male politicians. Steve Ngeow, Chatswood

New PM in Kiwi-speak

It’s the New Zealand model of Hopkins (“Ardern ally takes reins of celebration, NZ”, January 23). Don Leayr, Albury

Allow them to eat cake

Buckingham Palace desires the pomp and ceremony of the coronation to exhibit the relevance of the monarchy to a nation combating cost-of-living and funds cuts (“Palace orders pomp, participation”, January 23). Is that rational? Mark Porter, New Lambton

Yard tennis

Why watch for permission to scrap the “let” serve (Letters, January 23)? I urge all social tennis gamers to take issues into their very own palms as we did 15 years in the past. We additionally don’t cease play throughout a rally when the web turns into concerned. What number of different guidelines will we settle for just because that’s the means we’ve all the time carried out it? Jim Lavis, New Lambton

The digital view
On-line remark from one of many tales that attracted essentially the most reader suggestions yesterday on smh.com.au
Australia buys ‘potent and highly effective’ sea mines to discourage China
From Bhenson: ″⁣China has the world’s largest navy and is including a brand new warship each month. It’s prudent that Australia take steps to allow us to defend ourselves within the occasion of a battle. Nobody desires a conflict, however nor ought to we be complacent within the face of China’s large army build-up and declare of the South China Sea.″⁣

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