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I was deeply saddened to hear Nyadol Nyuon (ABC National Forum, 14/9) talk of her renouncing her citizenship and leaving Australia. Her explanation is spot on when she says what historically made and makes Australian culture differs to what some believe should be an Anglo-Celtic culture. Historically, we are all migrants including Indigenous Australians, from many diverse backgrounds. Australia will be a poorer culture without voices such as hers.
Liz Jackson, Croydon
The cruel portrayal of refugees
Your correspondent (Letters, 16/9) underscores the great value of people like lawyer Nyadol Nyuon to any society. It was gut-wrenching to see Nyadol on the ABC’s Immigration Forum explain the grief from bad experiences which is forcing her to leave Australia, the country where it once meant so much when an airport official said, ″Welcome home.″
Such pain has been a leitmotif for African humanitarian refugees for decades, starting post-arrival with the politically desperate Howard government crassly and cruelly portraying them as supposedly ″not integrating″. Yet, thanks to Pauline Hanson et al, here we are again. Migrants and refugees, flesh and blood human beings, are being portrayed in terms of inconvenience and disposability, as people to be lorded over and numbers to be cut, while they are dehumanised with each iteration. Irony is certainly not dead as the same political class professes to value mental health, with no apparent awareness that their own actions and words are also tearing the social fabric asunder.
Barbara Chapman, South Yarra
A role model for migration
How disappointing, and distressing, to hear Nyadol Nyuon talk of leaving Australia. Not only is Nyadol a lawyer involved in human rights and has been awarded an Order of Australia, but she is just the sort of role model we need to show what Australia gains with migration. It is so easy to blame migrants for all the ills of society – crime, lack of housing, cost of living, disregard for the rule of law. However, not enough focus has been on the Sovereign Citizens movement, who openly reject the Australian rule of law, who refuse to comply with laws and regulations. These people are often white, Australian-born already living here.
Wendy Logan, Croydon North
Turning tragedy into political opportunism
The ABC series Tampa: the Turning Point has reminded us of Australia’s treatment of refugees. A boatload of more than 400 asylum seekers was rescued while in distress by the Norwegian ship the Tampa in 2001. The Tampa captain decided to bring them to Australia’s Christmas Island. The then prime minister John Howard was faced with the prospect of allowing them into Australia and encouraging similar boatloads of people or allowing them to come. He refused entry. It is a complex problem, but the ruthless way in which this was done, including the myth that the refugees threw their children overboard, will always be a stain on his government. This tragedy was politicised for the federal election, which he won.
Again we are seeing the demonisation of migrants by One Nation to harness fear of migrants and it seems to be working (“Voters strongly back deeper cuts to immigration intake”, 15/9). A true “turning point” would be for Australia to continue to accept their current number of refugees and skilled migrants, celebrate them and allow them to help build national wellbeing and wealth. Migrants have made great sacrifices to come here and are certain to work hard and be innovative.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
Nation still feeling legacy of shameful policy
The ABC program on the Tampa detailed the shameful behaviour and beliefs that were developed, implemented and fuelled by John Howard and Tony Abbott. Australia is still suffering the influences of those policies.
Chris Anderson, Malvern
THE FORUM
Just do it, premier
In trying to please everyone, Ben Carroll has to be careful “not to throw the baby out with the bath water”. Delaying infrastructure projects for political reasons won’t help Victoria in the long run nor instil confidence in businesses.
Some projects might be unpopular with some at the moment but future generations will be thankful that they were completed.
Politicians are there to get things done especially when it comes to infrastructure, security, housing, climate change solutions and clean, affordable energy. Sir Henry Bolte, Jeff Kennett, John Cain and Daniel Andrews all realised this and got on with it.
Please, Ben Carroll, we need boldness not stoicism. Get on with it and forget about the election. It’s only a distraction.
Paul Chivers, Box Hill North
Stick to your guns
Ben Carroll’s decision to delay the Western Renewables Link reflects a lack of political integrity (“Transmission line under review until after election”, 16/9). The truth is no matter who wins the coming election, this transmission line is essential if Victoria is to have an adequate electricity supply after the closure of the Yallourn Power station in June 2028. This decision, while based on political considerations, will prove not to be in the best interests of Victorians because there are no alternative electricity supply options to these renewable energy projects in the western half of the state which can be brought online before 2030.
Carroll should have made this argument, and stuck to it, because it is the absolute reality of the situation.
He would have been given credit for sticking to his guns.
Dan Caffrey, Traralgon
Show more spine
Can’t agree more with the sentiments expressed in CBD (16/9) by Labor staffers, “true believers” and the like in relation to Ben Carroll’s distancing from former Labor leaders. Pandering to the noise made by people who are never going to vote for you is hollow, poor form and ultimately futile – and may even encourage some of those still on-board to look elsewhere.
If all that Carroll can offer is Liberal Party policies, it may encourage many people to jump ship to the Liberals so that we don’t end up with a coalition that includes One Nation.
The conservatives are doing a good enough job on their own of tainting the Labor legacy, they don’t need any assistance from the current Labor leadership.
Carroll should show more spine, otherwise his own legacy may well be very hollow indeed.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir
Setting right goals
It’s heartening to read your correspondent’s letter, “Clueless political class” (16/9), in which they pinpoint our country’s current desperate malaise. It seems that politicians have forgotten how to run the country for the good of the people. Putdowns of marginalised groups, attacks on political opponents, or worse, on their mother, is not why we elect politicians. How about we start with re-energising our workforce by training young people to work in crucial and important fields in our communities?
We don’t need a fixed migration figure to achieve this. On the contrary, we can plan for the future and focus on achievable goals.
Marisa DiGiacomo, Beaumaris
Sub-surface problems
Although the seriousness of Victoria’s pothole epidemic was self-evident, it has been brought into tragic focus by the recent motor bike fatality. And yet nobody seems to be talking about why such a situation has arisen.
Answer: Unsatisfactory sub-surface road preparation, either out of ignorance or done on the cheap. Either way, it is not good enough.
Perhaps new Road Safety Minister Paul Hamer would do well to pay a visit to some of his counterpart state ministers in Germany to see what is possible, even in the land of ice and snow.
Victoria deserves better.
Geoffrey McCallum, Seville
Immigration reliance
I work as a volunteer in the aged care sector, and as a consequence have met others, now friends, in the same industry. My own experience is that about 90 per cent of care staff are immigrants; my friends report similar figures.
It is a certainty that One Nation’s poorly thought-through immigration policies would be devastating for aged care providers, their residents and the thousands of families whose loved ones live in those homes.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
The greater good
I believe in human rights but in saying that, I also agree with the proposal allowing a search of weapons on a person. The move has come about because of the number of attacks in the community. Some might say this is not fair, but is it fair to be stabbed in the street or be the victim of a home invasion? It is certainly not fair to those who are the victims.
People carrying knives, machetes and other killing devices are the perpetrators, not the victims. The proposal may act as a deterrent to actually not go out with a concealed weapon.
Nola Cormick, Albert Park
Save St Kilda Rd precinct
We commend The Age for supporting next month’s Melbourne Assembly, and its coverage of issues regarding Melbourne’s urban development.
A key example is the future of the St Kilda Road precinct, created with the same regard for future generations that inspired the formation of the Botanical Gardens in 1846. The early development of St Kilda Road, flanked by parklands and lined with elegant houses, schools and public buildings, reflected the achievements and ambition of “Marvellous Melbourne”.
In her book, Melbourne’s Grand Boulevard (1996), historian Judith Buckrich compared the street with the Champs-Elysées. The sacrifice of notable houses for bland office buildings in the 1970s and ’80s led Buckrich to warn that the character and amenity of the area were under threat.
Sadly, the past 30 years have seen a rash of apartment complexes in St Kilda Road, Queens Road and cross streets, dwarfing older buildings and creating dark, wind-swept canyons, while doing nothing to relieve the pressing demand for affordable housing. There is now an urgent need to safeguard the entire area.
The sheer width of the boulevard remains a saving grace. The precinct, as first conceived and developed, showed a fine intuitive grasp of how to balance buildings with foliage and open spaces, respecting human scale.
It’s time to recognise that achievement, and to halt further indiscriminate development.
We should not allow the same fate to befall “Melbourne’s World Famous Boulevard” as happened to Collins Street.
John Gregory, Geoffrey Edwards, Philip Meyer and Bruce Allen, Melbourne
Lesson of history
In dismissing Indigenous culture as primitive, Pauline Hanson would appear to be ignorant of the fate of the Burke and Wills expedition across Central Australia. The only survivor was John King, who was the only one who accepted help from a local tribe, who had survived the harsh conditions for thousands of years.
Barrie Bales, Woorinen North
Cry of civilisation
I suggest Pauline Hanson reads the poem, Civilisation, by celebrated Indigenous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal. It outlines the destructive force of colonisation in the name of so-called progress. It speaks of class structures, meaningless materialism, violence and adherence to conformity.
Hanson claims First Nations people didn’t ″build″ anything. This is demonstrably wrong and mirrors the approach by the British at the time of colonisation who saw no fences, churches or houses which was used as justification to declare terra nullius. Overlooked were extensive kinship lines, a deep knowledge of the environment and numerous cultures that enabled the inhabitants to thrive for more than 65,000 years.
Perhaps the final line in the poem is one that Hanson and the rest of us could apply today – ″But remember, white man, if life is for happiness, you, too, surely have much to change.″
Craig Jory, Albury, NSW
Political strategy
″If I’ve offended people by using that, yes, I will apologise″ – Pauline Hanson’s cursory apology to her description of Indigenous Australians as the ″most primitive race on Earth″. But where was the apology to the people most offended, Indigenous Australians? That will not happen. Her tirade against Indigenous Australians is a (One Nation) tactic to normalise racial grievance within the boundaries of public discourse, each provocation generating outrage while energising her base. Hanson’s political instincts have been honed over three decades. She knows her base will interpret that outrage as proof she is speaking truths others lack the courage to say. What is implausible becomes debatable.
Neil Hudson, East Melbourne
Good for democracy
It is fair to say most Letters correspondents are critical of One Nation. Personally, I would choose to be shot out of a cannon than vote One Nation. However, their existence is evidence of a healthy democracy at work. The party is expressing views held by many in quiet and can only be good for promoting open, honest and critical debate.
Peter McIntosh, Golden Point
AI, and then what’s left?
We are told that artificial intelligence has the potential to wipe out the human race. I don’t want to appear flippant about such a serious concern, but such drastic action might appear rather pointless. Without us, what would AI do then?
Courtney Pern, East Malvern
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
In just seven weeks, it seems Ben Carroll has done more TV press days in the north and west of Melbourne than our two previous premiers did in 11 years.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
It is, indeed, fortunate that Ben Carroll is not minister for roads.
Richard Sykes, Bell Park
In terms of potholes, how about some accountability of the private companies that now construct our seemingly poorly laid roads?
Peter Baddeley, Portland
We need new roads, but surely potholes are insignificant given the challenges of climate change and war-induced economic disaster? Voters and politicians need to get a real focus.
Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills
Pauline Hanson’s ″I am sorry if I offended anyone″ apologies are really just Clayton’s apologies.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Furthermore
Great news the container ship using the northern sea route, in record time, and bypassing the Suez and the Red Sea (“Chinese ship takes Arctic shortcut – Smart business, or geopolitical flex?”, 12/9).
John Walsh, Watsonia
With the aim of getting those fat-wheeled electric bikes off the footpath and back on to the road, could we pass a law to remove the pedals and call them what they are – motorcycles?
Paul Custance, Highett
Please, whatever it takes, save Whyalla (″Taxpayer billions fail to save Whyalla jobs″, 15/9).
Ann Young, Chirnside
Governments and “captains of industry” have forgotten it’s not their money.
Andrew Bostock, Melbourne
Born in 1948, I grew up in East Broiton. People there now live in Brarton East.
Terry Black, Black Rock
Finally
Can self-driving cars recognise potholes?
Barbara Hilling, Watsonia Nth
