Commenting on the story: God of many names: Council’s ‘multifaith prayer’ amid Christian row

For heaven’s sake, why is this even a debate?

Even as a practicing Christian I can see that it’s bleedingly obvious that neither a Christian prayer, nor any other form of reference to an external power has any place in the running of the Adelaide City Council or any other secular, democratic organisation whose job it is to represent and work for people of a wide range of beliefs and worldviews. – Clive Conway

Why are Council praying? Can they not just get on with job of being elected members and make wise decisions on their own on behalf of our city? – Andrew Wallace

In 2023 the idea of any religious influence or acknowledgement at council meetings is outdated and out of touch with modern Australia.

By comparison, the non- denominational pledge, particularly pledge 2, is appropriate and respectful.

Efforts by the Australian Christian Lobby to hijack council meetings and attempt to enforce their religious views on council members and ratepayers is an example of the importation of strategies employed the the ultra conservative right wing American ideologists, which has led to the awful mess that America is in today.

As over 50% of ratepayers have no religion and a further 10% have no declared religion, why is a prayer even part of council procedure? Surely, council members have more relevant issues to deal with without the grandstanding theatrics from Councillor Davis. – Mary Reid

Commenting on the story: Rebuilding lost SA markets key focus of China trade trip

Surely what we have learned from recent years of trader with China is that we shouldn’t be placing our eggs all in that basket. They have and will again pull the rug out from under us in various industries when it suits their political needs.

They’ve been playing this game with the meat export industry for at least the 15 years I’ve been working in it. Not only with banning certain abattoirs, but changing regulations while produced shipments are in transit and being unreasonable about it, making things difficult in general as an effective political sanction.

Trade with China is great, but we should learn from what has come before and not give them the power over our industries again. We should spread the goods across new/more markets. – Kati Jenkins

Commenting on the story: Ex-vice chancellor slams rush to uni merger

Warren Bebbington’s explanation makes good sense. For instance, the once-proposed merger between the University of Western Australia and Murdoch University some 30 or so years ago and the subsequent abandonment of that proposal comes back to mind.

The reasons for its abandonment were much like the reasons stated by Warren Bebbington. The move towards amalgamation and educational uniformity is a move in the wrong direction. The Dawkins fiasco attempted to create a multitude of replica look-alike university institutions offering the same kinds of orientation and and offering the same courses. We should have learnt something  by now.

The opposite to amalgamation is a direction holding educational opportunities, a greater variety of educational institutions offering students a wider variety of educational approaches and a wide variety of courses. – Ron Shapiro

Commenting on the Your views and ‘No Manhattan in Magill’: Minister’s call on uni campus development

Stephen Morris’s letter typifies the anti-development NIMBY mindset – and yes, NIMBY is exactly what it is.

Mid-density housing of 4-6 stories in height is perfectly suited for sites such as the current Magill campus. What would these NIMBYs propose instead? Endless urban sprawl enveloping more and more greenfield land connected by highways, so the car remains king for a century to come? Because that’s a catastrophic outcome for the environment – including native wildlife, and future generations more broadly.

Instead, the planning laws must encourage good quality infill development – which includes native trees and vegetation, as well as buildings better suited to the harsh Australian climate. The government also needs to invest considerably more in improving public transport. – Louis Rankin