Latest news with #LidiaThorpe
The Guardian
a day ago
- General
- The Guardian
Lidia Thorpe urges Albanese to ‘do his homework' as PM insists Dorinda Cox allegations have been ‘dealt with'
Lidia Thorpe has urged Anthony Albanese to 'do his homework' on bullying allegations against Greens turned Labor senator Dorinda Cox, claiming the prime minister was 'wrong' to publicly declare the matters had been dealt with. The independent Victorian senator – previously a member of the Greens – revealed on Wednesday she had formally filed a bullying complaint against Cox in March 2023, months after she first notified the then Greens leader, Adam Bandt. Cox was the subject of a number of workplace behaviour complaints with 20 staff having left in just three years, as first reported by the Nine newspapers in October 2024. Earlier this week, Albanese said formal complaints lodged to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) against Cox had been 'dealt with appropriately' as he announced her defection to Labor from the Greens. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email When asked by media on Thursday why he would welcome Cox into his party despite the allegations against her, he reiterated that they were 'dealt with'. However, Thorpe told Guardian Australia her complaint against Cox had stalled and was 'never resolved' after Cox declined to attend a mediation session the PWSS offered in early 2023. On Thursday, Thorpe told the ABC's Afternoon Briefing program she made her complaint public because the prime minister had claimed the issues had been resolved. '[Albanese] should have done his homework before he opened his mouth because there is still an ongoing issue with bullying in the workplace and there is a lot of work to do, and Labor needs to take that seriously,' she said. 'If the prime minister does not even know that there is a problem then there is a lot of work to do on their end.' Thorpe added 'you cannot force people to mediate' but she remained open to a 'conversation and conciliation' with Cox. Guardian Australia has contacted the prime minister's office for a response. Cox's office did not respond to questions on Wednesday. In October last year, Cox apologised for 'the distress this may have caused' but said there had been 'significant missing context' in the reports of bullying allegations within her office. The WA Greens launched an investigation into grievances against Cox in mid-January but confirmed it would no longer proceed after the senator switched political parties. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Thorpe said on Wednesday the PWSS had limited powers and the process had been 'far from satisfactory' and referring the matter to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission (IPSC) would require 'jumping through more hoops with no real guarantee of an outcome'. 'Parliament should be setting the standard for the rest of the country,' she said. 'We need a safe, accountable workplace, especially if we want to see more young people, First Peoples and people of colour stepping into politics.' The PWSS was set up as an interim body before being made permanent in late 2023 and functions as a HR body for parliamentarians, their staffers and others working in the building. The IPSC was established in September 2024 and has the power to investigate complaints and sanction those working within Parliament House. A spokesperson for the PWSS said people could not be forced to attend mediation but that complainants could use other avenues, such as referring issues to the newly established IPSC. 'Mediation is one of the local resolution processes that the PWSS can facilitate to resolve a complaint. Mediation is a voluntary process and parties cannot be compelled by the PWSS to participate,' they said. The spokesperson confirmed complainants are 'advised when the matter is closed'. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the 'honourable thing' would be for Cox to resign from the parliament for defecting to Labor. 'It's not fair to the voters and indeed any of the parties involved that if somebody is elected as one party and then jumps ship later on,' she said in Canberra on Thursday morning. 'I do think the honourable thing is to resign from the parliament. But, you know, that's not the rules and we're left where we are.' Do you know more? Email sbasfordcanales@
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Lidia Thorpe reveals complaint against Dorinda Cox, Victorian Liberals accused of hypocrisy, Putin ‘has to' respond to drone attack
Good morning. Lidia Thorpe says she was one of the people who made a bullying complaint about former Greens senator Dorinda Cox to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service. Staying with politics, the Guardian can exclusively reveal several Victorian Liberals have criticised the party for engaging lawyers in an unfair dismissal claim while the former opposition leader John Pesutto faces bankruptcy. And Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin told him Russia would 'have to' respond to Ukraine's drone attacks. Money troubles | Several Victorian Liberals have accused the party of 'hypocrisy' after it paid lawyers to represent its administrative wing in an unfair dismissal claim, while so far declining to save former party leader John Pesutto from bankruptcy. Politics | Lidia Thorpe has revealed she was one of the people to complain to the parliamentary watchdog about the former Greens senator Dorinda Cox and has . Health | Transgender advocates have criticised the panel assembled to conduct the Queensland government's review of puberty blockers for lacking experts in gender affirming care or people with lived experience of trans healthcare. Pokies | The New South Wales government has failed to prevent serious gambling harm with $2.7bn lost to poker machines in the first 90 days of this year, according to a charity group pushing for tougher regulation. Healthcare costs | The cost of an initial dermatology appointment is nearly $300 on average, new data shows. It reflects a broader problem: that Medicare rebates are not keeping up with the pace that specialist fees are rising. Russian invasion | Donald Trump has spoken for more than an hour with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, but he said the talks would not lead 'to immediate peace' in Ukraine and warned that Russia says it will respond to Ukraine's successful attacks this week on its airfields. Middle East | A US-backed group operating food distribution sites in Gaza announced it would not give out any provisions on Wednesday, a day after Israel killed dozens of Palestinians waiting for food and with the Israeli army warning that roads leading to distribution centres were considered 'combat zones'. China | The world will never forget the Tiananmen Square massacre, the US secretary of state and Taiwan president have said on the 36th anniversary of the crackdown, which China's government still tries to erase from domestic memory. El Salvador | A former defence minister of El Salvador and two retired colonels have been convicted of the 1982 killings of four Dutch journalists during the country's civil war, a lawyer for families of the deceased said. Madeleine McCann | Searches for Madeleine McCann have ramped up in Portugal, with police using radar technology and a digger to clear debris around an abandoned building a mile from where the British toddler was last seen in 2007. Five years since Black Lives Matter – has anything changed in Australia? In 2020 tens of thousands of people took to the streets, demanding accountability and racial justice in solidarity with First Nations Australians. But five years on, and after a failed referendum on constitutional recognition, campaigners mourn the lack of progress. Indigenous affairs reporters Sarah Collard and Ella Archibald-Binge join Nour Haydar to discuss the recurring calls for justice. A disaster is slowly unfolding in Australia's Limestone Coast. Groundwater levels are declining, leading to freshwater diving and swimming spots starting to dry up. Ponds are being threatened by algae outbreaks while the region is responsible for a third of South Australia's agricultural input. 'If we don't do something about it in the next few years, it rests upon our soul,' one local says. A new exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria delves into the storied history of the kimono. It showcases the garment's diverse history, with pieces from Japan's Edo period and interpretations from Western brands such as Alexander McQueen. Soccer | The Socceroos haven't beaten Japan for 16 years but coach Tony Popovic insists his team is prepared to beat the team to guarantee admission for the World Cup. Tennis | French wildcard Loïs Boisson, ranked No 361, has defeated Mirra Andreeva in Boisson's first French Open. Premier League | Liverpool are attempting to finalise a deal to sign Milos Kerkez with Bournemouth demanding £45m for the Hungary international. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The no-confidence motion in the Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, will continue today, the ABC reports. According to the Brisbane Times, a data bungle at Forensic Science Queensland has caused inaccuracies in 37 police cases in at least 69 results. In the West Australian, planning authorities have approved a Perth seven-storey apartment building with some as small as 26sqm. Gold Coast | The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic organisers will give an update South Australia | The state's budget will be revealed this afternoon Geelong | Brittany Higgins will speak at Conversations that Matter Enjoying the Morning Mail? Then you'll love our Afternoon Update newsletter. Sign up here to finish your day with a three-minute snapshot of the day's main news, and complete your daily news roundup. And follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Lidia Thorpe reveals she made bullying complaint about Dorinda Cox which remains unsre
Lidia Thorpe has revealed she was one of the people to complain to the parliamentary watchdog about the former Greens senator Dorinda Cox and has disputed Anthony Albanese's claim that allegations about Cox had been 'dealt with'. The WA Greens confirmed on Tuesday the party would end its independent investigation into allegations of bullying by Cox after she announced on Monday she would defect from the Greens to Labor. Cox, a Noongar Yamatji woman, was elected as senator in 2021 to fill a casual vacancy left by the Greens. Cox has been the subject of a number of workplace behaviour complaints, as first reported by the Nine newspapers last October. At the time, the WA senator apologised for 'the distress this may have caused' but said there had been 'significant missing context' in the reports of bullying allegations within her office. The WA Greens launched an investigation into grievances against Cox in mid-January after a number of state party members made complaints about the workplace culture in her parliamentary and electorate offices. On Monday, the prime minister said formal complaints lodged to Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) had been 'dealt with appropriately'. Thorpe, a former Greens senator who is now independent, said she raised a complaint against against her then-Greens colleague Cox in late 2022 to the Greens' leader's office and PWSS. Thorpe formally submitted the complaint to the PWSS in March 2023. Thorpe said on Wednesday her case remained unresolved because Cox declined to attend a mediation. Thorpe said the PWSS had limited powers and the process had been 'far from satisfactory'. 'Parliament should be setting the standard for the rest of the country,' she said. 'We need a safe, accountable workplace, especially if we want to see more young people, First Peoples and people of colour stepping into politics.' Cox's office was approached for comment but referred Guardian Australia to the prime minister's media team, which did not respond to questions. A WA Greens convenor said it was their understanding the independent inquiry into the Cox grievance matters would now cease. It is not yet known whether an incomplete report will be delivered to the state division's leadership, but it is unlikely to be made public. A spokesperson for the PWSS said people could not be forced to attend mediation but that complainants could use other avenues, such as referring issues to the newly-established Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission. 'Mediation is one of the local resolution processes that the PWSS can facilitate to resolve a complaint. Mediation is a voluntary process and parties cannot be compelled by the PWSS to participate,' they said. The PWSS was set up as an interim body before being made permanent in late 2023 and functions as a HR body for parliamentarians, their staffers and others working in the building. The IPSC was established in September 2024 and has the power to investigate complaints and sanction those working within Parliament House. Where more serious misconduct occurs, it must refer it to the privileges committee – made up of government and opposition members – to consider the appropriate sanctions. Those penalties can include a fine of between 2% and 5% of a politician's annual salary, suspension from parliament or being sacked from parliamentary committees. It's understood the former Greens leader, Adam Bandt, personally received complaints from staffers in Cox's office and referred them to the PWSS and IPSC. The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, who played a part in establishing the two parliamentary workplace watchdogs, said it was important that political parties not investigate themselves for staff matters. 'Independence helps to ensure all involved in a grievance process feel that they have been heard and their concerns taken seriously,' she said. 'Since the IPSC was established at the end of last year, it is now the watchdog responsible for parliamentary conduct. It has been in operation for six months now, and it's important that all parliamentarians take on feedback about improvements that can be made. In my role as Greens leader, I'll be watching its processes closely to ensure it is performing as we intended.'
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Greens internal investigation into Dorinda Cox over now she's left the party
The Greens have ditched their internal investigation into West Australian senator Dorinda Cox, saying they have no jurisdiction over her and cannot apply any sanctions now she has left the party. Senator Cox spectacularly quit the minor party on Monday to join Labor, announcing the move alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth. Following her defection, state director of the WA Greens Dean Smith told ABC News the investigation had not been concluded on Tuesday. But a party source now says the probe — which began after multiple staff made complaints about the senator's workplace conduct — can no longer continue. Multiple staff also complained to the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) about the senator, with one telling the ABC she felt it was unfinished because there was no resolution. Now, independent senator Lidia Thorpe also says a complaint she made against her former colleague remains unresolved, three years after it was lodged. Senator Thorpe — who left the Greens in 2023 over the Voice — said her complaint hit a dead end because Senator Cox was unwilling to mediate. The ABC contacted Senator Cox who directed questions to the prime minister's office, which is yet to respond. Senator Thorpe had considered withdrawing her complaint because it remained unresolved, but the ABC has been told that process was not finalised and she still considers the complaint live. Her claim is in direct contradiction to statements from Mr Albanese who insisted complaints against his new recruit had been "dealt with". In a statement, PWSS said it was unable to provide any information about the details of matters under consideration. Senator Cox previously issued an apology after staff complaints, citing "challenging conditions both politically and personally", while also arguing the media reports were "missing context". Following Senator Cox's defection there are no Indigenous representatives left in the federal Greens, something the party says it is working to address before the next election. Trish Frail, a Ngemba woman and co-secretary of the Australian Greens International, said the party would work hard to ensure there is Aboriginal representation at the federal level. "She was representing all of us First Nations people in Australia, and now we don't [have that], so it's something that we had an urgent meeting last night … and so we are going to be addressing that in the next couple of months," she said. Ms Frail added she was "shocked" by the defection of the party's only federal Indigenous representative. "We got a five-minute warning," she said. "Considering the fact that on Saturday night I had been in touch with her about another matter and there was no indication at all that she was going to be resigning from us. "I sent her a message yesterday just saying I was disappointed, however wishing you all the best." From a personal perspective, she said, she "never came across" any alleged bullying.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Political defectors are thumbing their noses at the electorate
There is currently no legislation or requirement in Australia that addresses political party defections or imposes sanctions (' PM defends Greens defector after allegations ', June 3). And yet I'll wager, if you ask the average person they'll say there should be. Lidia Thorpe, Fatima Payman, David Van, Tammy Tyrrell and now Dorinda Cox – all yanking the voters' chain, one after the other. Trust in elected officials is hard to find as it is, more so when politicians decide to switch parties midterm. Politicians should be discouraged from changing parties to avoid leaving voters with buyer's remorse. Turning against the platform that got them elected shouldn't be up to the politician's discretion. Party switching must be done with voters in mind, not on personal whims or (wait for it) to gain more power. Change in this system is especially necessary amid this string of high-profile politicians switching parties to ensure elected officials do represent voters' needs. With trust so scarce, anything that can reassure confidence should be implemented. Inconsiderate politicians need to prioritise their constituents and, if they won't, rules must change to hold them accountable. Bob Konig, Shell Cove As a member of the Greens, I say good riddance to Dorinda Cox. Labor can have her – she clearly shares their values more than those of the Greens. To defect so soon after Environment Minister Murray Watt made the egregious decision to approve the North West Shelf extension indicates she doesn't care a fig about the Murujuga petroglyphs on the Burrup Peninsula. As for the accusations of bullying her staff, they may have been dealt with, but losing 20 staff in three years says a great deal. Jenny Goldie, Cooma Once again I am astounded that electoral rules allow someone to be elected as a member of one party, and then they can change parties. And don't start me on the ethics of Dorinda Cox's situation. Glad I'm not a WA Green. Aidan Cuddington, Umina Beach The prime minister's welcoming of that political turncoat Dorinda Cox to the ranks of the ALP adds insult to injury and begs the question of what he promised her to defect, and whether her memory is so bad she cannot remember why the people of Western Australia elected her to the Australian senate in the first place. Labor should respect the wishes of the people of WA and refuse to accept her vote in the senate. James Fliece, Kensington 'The elected Australian legislators' (Letters, June 3)? Hardly. The teals will have zero real influence over this government and get to legislate precisely nothing. Which is why Greens senator Dorinda Cox saw the light and jumped into a party where she could. Peter Thornton, Killara I suspect that many people who voted teal would never have voted Labor in a fit, but their decision will probably keep Labor in power for decades to come because the teals only targeted conservative seats. But try telling them that. David Sayers, Gwandalan Where there's (cheap) smoke It is hard not to shake one's head at the boneheaded approach taken in Australia to curb tobacco consumption, principally by introducing the 'world toughest regulations' and the 'world's highest' taxes' (' Premier calls for tobacco tax review ', June 3). Then, fearing tobacco companies might find a market for vaping, a safer alternative to smoking, Australia introduced the 'world's toughest' vaping laws. Now Australia is awash with cheap illegal tobacco and unregulated but now more expensive vaping products. As a result, smoking is, at least anecdotally, on the rise. Australia's response to smoking takes the cake for politically motivated, dumb policymaking. Peter Barrett, Woonona It seems that the illegal tobacco operators have worn the state government down by flooding the NSW community with their outlets, while the government claims it is too hard for the Health Department to regulate and too disruptive for the police to investigate. Perhaps penalties and a few tweaks in the areas of law are required so that judges and regulatory authorities aren't left without any meaningful paths for prosecution and significant financial penalty. Donald Hawes, Peel Bad values, good response Peter Hartcher's article on Donald Trump's bastardisation of 'American values' and redefinition of 'natural rights', and attempts by the US administration to directly interfere in the politics and policies of other countries, is another chilling indication of the liar-in-chief's megalomania and wrecking-ball lunacy (' Team US redefining megalomania ', June 3). We should be thankful that Australia's democracy was robust enough to overwhelmingly reject the promotion of Trumpist right-wing 'big thinking' in our recent federal election, and that Anthony Albanese has the quiet courage to stand up to the would-be despot in Washington. Rob Phillips, North Epping Until recently I was planning to go to the USA this year with a sibling to visit our relatives in New York. However, having read of travellers arriving there and being asked to give access to their phones and social media, plus being taken away to be body-searched, I have decided it was too much of a risk. My social media is littered with anti-Trump material and I don't want to waste my money and time on the possibility I could be put back on a plane, having only be allowed to set foot in their airport. How many others will be censoring themselves from going to the USA? Con Vaitsas, Ashbury With the US playing fast and loose with human rights, it is high time we passed our own Human Rights Bill into law. Andrew Macintosh, Cromer Human cost People in Kennett City, Missouri are up in arms about the arrest and potential deportation of Carol, a popular resident (' A Missouri town was solidly behind Trump. Then Carol was detained ', June 3). So they should be, but one of their responses is instructive: 'No one voted to deport mums … just the gangs'. In other words, 'We are OK with him being mean to people we don't know or whom we disapprove of, but not to us or people we know'. Farmers who are going to lose their farms because their workers have been deported will be feeling buyer's regret, but they still support Trump. His supporters still have a long way to go before they return to humanity. Nicholas Triggs, Katoomba Your correspondent who accuses Donald Trump of 'falsehoods, bullying, tantrums and intimidation' in his attempt to achieve regal stature needs brush up on his history (Letters, June 3). Weren't the ancestors of Charles III ruthless plotters and 'thuggish despots' determined to get their bottoms on the throne, and once there, ruled using the same insidious methods of which Trump has been denounced? Who knows, if the dear Donald manages to establish a US House of Trump, in a few hundred years his descendants may have wangled the same level of media manipulation and public acceptance the House of Windsor currently enjoys. Grant Heaton, Port Macquarie Cheap tech gives defence more bang for buck Defence Minister Richard Marles could learn a few things from Ukraine's incredible bomber-destroying mission (' Anger over drone attack shows Ukraine hit Russia where it hurt ', June 3). First, it proved that today's wars can be won by nimble, cheap kit. Expensive bombers and nuclear submarines can be destroyed or thwarted by cheap drones and clever use of information technology. Doubling Australia's defence spending, as the US wants us to do, will not necessarily make our defence force twice as effective. We should emulate Ukraine and aim to get good bang for our buck. Second, the Ukraine attack demonstrated that military intelligence is essential to military success. Ukraine did its homework and knew where and when to hit Russia to inflict maximum damage. Most importantly, however, was the ability of Ukraine to keep its plans secure. This had to be a surprise attack. The mission was 18 months in the making but, crucially, no one leaked it to the Russians. Just as importantly, Ukraine did not share its plans with its allies. Zelensky obviously calculated the risk of telling the US, in particular, was too great. Loose lips sink ships, and there are none looser than those of Putin's good friend Donald Trump. Mike Reddy, Vincentia I wonder how much of the 3.5 per cent or 5 per cent increase on defence spending demanded by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth do the Americans expect to flow to their military/industrial businesses. A nice little earner behind a hidden agenda (' Albanese won't just roll over to Trump on defence budget', June 3). Ross Coleman, Glenbrook The USA wants us to spend more on defence. Sure, maybe we should. But let's buy all our new defence material from Europe, not expand the American arms industry. After all, with all these tariffs, anything 'made in USA' will be more expensive. Barbara Grant, Castle Hill I don't want my PM taking advice on national defence spending from an ex-Fox News presenter and a draft dodger. Wayne Fitness, Rankin Park Identity, crisis Another marvellous pairing of Herald articles today. In the first, by Roby D'Ottavi, he surmises that the young and culturally diverse people who have been converging on Paris have seemingly altered the outward French persona for the better (' Parisians shattered my stereotype. How rude ', June 3). And in the second, according to Sophie Gee, this is what Seamus Heaney is 'asking us to think about national identity as changeable, volatile and complex' (' Trump fears Harvard's excellence ', June 3). We are all now 'in a moment of crisis' if we allow Dangerous Don to enforce his warped idea of monoculture on esteemed institutions or, indeed, anywhere at all. Helen Lewin, Tumbi Umbi Reading Sophie Gee's delightful defence of universities reminds me that it's not just populist American presidents that take aim at centres of educational excellence. Knowledge is power, but for many politicians power is sadly an endgame in itself. We've had our fair share of pollies who have promised to stamp out any dissident thinking within universities – especially when it questions the veracity of their own thinking, ideas and values. The paradox is that some of these individuals (but not the US president) were themselves a product of the very culture they aim to cancel. Cleveland Rose, Dee Why Double the work To imply that parliamentarians only work when they are sitting in parliament is facile (' Part-time parliament to make law for just 40 days ', June 3). All good MPs experience a doubling of workload when they return to their electorate offices, having to attend to both their parliamentary and electorate duties. Senator David Pocock is fully aware of this and is just taking a cheap shot that he knows will resonate with those members of the public who do not appreciate just how gruelling the life of an MP is. Gwynn Boyd, Mosman Lesson saved and learnt The University of Sydney allows students to harangue a captive audience with their pet political peeve at the beginning of lectures (' New rules for Sydney uni students ', June 3)? When I went to lectures I expected to be taught for the allotted 50 minutes. If students wanted to talk about politics – and believe me, there was plenty to talk about in the 1970s – they'd put up posters and invite people to a lunchtime meeting somewhere on campus. Taking time out of lectures or tutorials to wind up a few students, or distract and annoy the majority who couldn't care less, is, and thankfully now was, a dreadful idea. Andrew Scott, Pymble Name the problem Perpetrators of domestic violence are emboldened by a feeling of power over their victims (' What happens to men who have cause women harm?' June 3). Things need to change, starting with the practice of the wife taking her husband's surname, which suggests ownership and superiority. There could well be less domestic violence if this was no longer the case. Brian McDonald, Willoughby Glebe fits the bill Claims that Glebe Island is an important working port are a complete furphy (' Glebe Island firms as 'Plan B' for housing boost ', June 2). The Port Authority's own 2024 annual report shows that the number of trade vessels visiting Glebe Island last year fell by 17 per cent to 63 vessels, and accounted for 1 per cent of the total 5221 trade vessels visiting NSW ports in 2024. The principal use of Glebe Island over recent years has been leasing land to Sydney Metro, Infrastructure NSW (Sydney Fish Market) and the WestConnex project. The site is also being used for the Western Harbour tunnel construction project. WestConnex is complete, as will be the Fish Market by end 2025. With the planned completion of the Western Harbour tunnel in 2028 and the Bays West Sydney Metro in 2032, the site will fall into disuse again. To continue to argue that Glebe Island should be retained as a full working port, while housing supply in Sydney is at a critical shortage, flies in the face of the reality that Glebe Island is not used for any material industrial purpose. The redevelopment of harbour foreshore both east and west of the Harbour Bridge over recent decades demonstrates that a more functional, liveable city is possible for those with the vision to strive for it. Jennifer Owen, Pyrmont Please, explain how building Sydney Harbour waterfront apartments will help young people get on the housing ladder. To this jaded eye, it seems more like an opportunity for the extremely wealthy to get even richer. Anne Cooper, Undercliffe Yet more plans based on the cosy government/developer relationship. Private landowners caught up in unnecessary land zoning constrictions are again ignored. Thousands of small blocks exist on Sydney's perimeter, which could provide additional housing if freed of restrictions. If the government was serious about increasing housing supply it would consider options beyond their developer friends' wish list. Diane Davie, Summer Hill Aurora's bad omen Geomagnetic storms caused by coronal mass ejections (CME) from the sun can give rise to spectacular aurora at mid-latitudes such as Sydney (' Aurora's burst of winter colour ', June 3). However, these should not be taken as marvellous events to be looked forward to. They should be a cause for trepidation since they mean that the CME was massive enough to breach the Earth's protective magnetic field and showers of high-energy particles could be powerful enough to destroy the electronics of satellites and even disrupt our power grids. Apart from the serious effects here on Earth, there are now tens of thousands of GPS and communications satellites in orbit, and thousands more are being launched as part of Starlink and other internet providers. This creates the potential for a powerful CME to knock out these satellites, causing them to tumble out of control and even collide with each other. Each impact would create thousands of fragments of space debris, and soon there could be a complete barrier of high-speed objects that would make rocket launches extremely hazardous. This is not a highly unlikely scenario and is being taken seriously by many in the science community, though less so by entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, who are launching the fleets of vulnerable, low-cost internet satellites. So while we can enjoy the aurora, let's be aware that there can be serious consequences for our increasing reliance on GPS, internet and space technology. Dr Darrall Cutting, Forestville
