The process of national reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is a national priority, and the Australian Parliament has expressed its sincere regret for the injustices suffered by indigenous people under the practices of previous generations.The improvements in reducing indigenous disadvantage are not being achieved through increased funding alone. Australia is one of only 10 countries in the world that does so. Over the past 50 years more than 620,000 refugees and displaced people have been resettled in Australia. Last year alone, Australia granted 12,525 refugee and humanitarian visas to people in need.Your editorial also failed to acknowledge a number of facts in relation to the clear focus on, and the progress in overcoming, disadvantage among indigenous Australians. As part of that non-discriminatory immigration programme, Australia operates a dedicated resettlement programme for the world’s most needy refugees and people in need of humanitarian assistance. I don’t look forward to the day when a raincoat manufacturer uses “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”.And the award for mockery goes to .. Tomorrow the winners of the Olivier Awards are announced.

I have noted before that the Olivier awards for opera are a joke, as there are only two dedicated opera houses in London (and only London is eligible); so the Royal Opera House and English National Opera are always in the frame But now there is worse. The chairman of the awards committee, Peter Wilkins, has admitted West End producers and other Society of London Theatre insiders can add names to the shortlist without the inconvenience of having to turn up for the performance. This, he said, may explain why more people voted for Helen Mirren, in Mourning Becomes Electra, than her co-star Eve Best. They may not all have seen the show, but they know Mirren has the bigger reputation.Perhaps critics should write reviews without seeing the shows. It would save time and money, and they know plenty about the actors’ reputations. If what Mr Wilkins says is true, then the Society of London Theatre has debased both the awards and the name of Laurence Olivier.¿ The GMB has launched a campaign to unionise roadies.

While the rock stars can make millions, their road managers make a pittance, it is claimed. But does the GMB realise what it is taking on here? It is not just that union officials might have to take over responsibility for a steady supply of groupies. They will also, presumably, have to ensure that there are no changes to the roadies’ traditional pre-concert work routine. They must test the mikes, move the mikes, test the guitars, move the guitars, signal to each other, receive signals back, and then do it all over again, and again, and again.

And members of the road managers’ fraternity must have 1970s haircuts All this needs to go into the next GMB rule book
More from David Lister. A complacent government allows the BNP to flourish

A complacent government allows the BNP to flourish
Sir: Like Michael Howard, I believe Burnley is important. So much so that I am taking a group of students there on a field trip. The issue we wish to understand is how, in a prosperous country, a town of 80,000 people can have 5,000-6,000 houses nobody wants.