Source : the age
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WORLD ORDER
The Age’s North America correspondent, Michael Koziol, writes Washington “is a grand city of monuments to American endeavour and excellence” being turned by Trump “into monuments to his own ego” (“In Washington, temples to Trump’s ego lie ruined. And another is on the way”, 22/9).
The president’s heritage vandalism epitomised by the overblown White House ballroom, similarly monstrous triumphal arch, botched reflecting pool renovation and threatened demolition of the Kennedy Centre, pales into insignificance though alongside his other outrages.
These include dismantling American democracy and the country’s machinery of government, incompetently and lethally enforcing immigration, imposing illegal and economically damaging tariffs worldwide, making war on Iran and exploiting the presidency to increase his personal wealth by more than $1.2 billion so far.
Trump’s solipsistic ego, unleashed by his second presidency, seems on the way to destroying America’s credibility as a nation: politically, socially, economically and militarily.
His egotistical tinkering with buildings and monuments in Washington, is superficial by comparison.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Histrionics instead of leadership
I am convinced that history repeats itself in many different ways over time if one has ever read any history and compared events. I refer to the falling of two empires in recent times, the fading hegemons of Britain and France, both of which have all but disappeared before my eyes since I was born as a ‘Baby Boomer’.
Now, in such a short space of time, we have the passing of the American empire, crashing down like the last of those tripods in H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds.
The last teetering tripod is steered by a transactional Donald J. Trump, seemingly determined to wreck the world economy before he leaves with histrionics reminiscent of the now reviled Benito Mussolini, who once strutted the world stage.
Derek Costello, Belmont
Some light amid the gloom
Given the current state of the world, it is tempting to succumb to despair. Yet, this week in Washington and Jerusalem, two uplifting, positive events occurred. When Trump banned a number of left-wing news outlets from the president’s public events because he disliked their coverage, the rest of the news corp stood with them in solidarity – including right-wing organisations like Fox News.
In Jerusalem, orthodox hooligans attacked a progressive synagogue and harassed the congregants. In the aftermath, several orthodox rabbis reached out in support of this synagogue.
The proverbial glass is never completely empty.
Sue Fisher, Coburg
Do as US media has done
Finally, we see some solid action. The US media – ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox – (“Networks refuse to cover Trump, 22/9) have stood up to Trump’s bullying of the press, and censorship of reporting that he doesn’t like.
We have a similar situation. Pauline Hanson is following Trump’s every move and has blocked The Guardian and the ABC from her press conferences. The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, along with The Australian, the Australian Financial Review and the Herald Sun, must follow the US media’s lead and boycott Hanson and the rest of the One Nation MPs and candidates in support of those media outlets so Australians get the full range of news.
Amy Bachrach, McKinnon
Race to bottom on immigration
No matter how low Labor goes with its immigration policy, Pauline Hanson and One Nation will go lower. How low do we have to go in this ugly debate full of misinformation to set our migration policy?
Anne Maki, Alphington
THE FORUM
What limitless resources?
Re ″More power to the redheads″, 22/9. Exclusive Brethren’s Bruce Hales, who says he is “so close to the Lord Jesus that he can feel his heartbeat”, advocates – like Gina Rinehart and ‘the redhead’ – digging up our “limitless resources”. On what planet are resources limitless? In what universe is our planet not burning up?
Bearing arms is against Brethren doctrine, but by all means pray for it and advocate for it, via God, in the political sphere.
Hales’ support for Hanson is now on the record. One Nation national director Ashby will not comment. The Coalition continues to defend the Brethren. Will the “intense scrutiny” now being applied to examine their activities – including ties with neo-Nazis – curtail their actions at polling booths next time around?
Fiona Colin, Malvern East
Intergenerational report
It is ironic that Australia’s net migration is being cut just as the Intergenerational Report (IGR) finds that in coming decades the nation will “rely more heavily on migration as fertility rates drop” (“Future living standards at stake in numbers game”, 22/9). The Pauline Hanson effect will have a lot to answer for.
As political editor Peter Hartcher notes, another Hanson effect is a 60 per cent decline in Labor MPs’ mentions of “climate change” (“Labor’s enemy … with benefits”, 19/9). But using the term is not the same as enacting policy. When the Coalition and One Nation use “climate change”, “emissions” and “net zero”, it is largely as criticism.
At least the government’s IGR acknowledges “overwhelming evidence that human-induced climate change is occurring” and its potentially increasing negative economic effects. Its Energy Transition section is able to point to Treasury’s Net Zero Plan modelling, the 2025 National Climate Risk Assessment and the Climate Change Authority’s 2025 Annual Progress Report. This contrasts with the 2015 and 2021 IGRs under the Abbott and Morrison governments, when climate change received far less attention.
But approving new fossil-fuel projects undermines that message. If climate change is an intergenerational threat, 37 new fossil-fuel approvals is an odd response.
Ray Peck, Hawthorn
Albanese out of step
Anthony Albanese certainly has a credibility problem on climate change (“PM warns on climate ahead of UN summit”, The Age, 22/9).
Speaking about global cooperation on climate at New York Climate Week while leading one of the world’s largest fossil fuel-exporting nations, and while on the verge of approving another carbon bomb in Woodside’s Browse gas project, smacks of hypocrisy.
Australians are already showing the way forward through strong support for a gas export tax, countless objections to new gas projects (Letters, “Gas, coal and petrol? No, we don’t need it”, 22/9), and the rapid uptake of solar panels and home batteries. The public is ready for a clean energy future. The government needs to catch up.
Larni Dibben, Glen Iris
Some chutzpah
Prime Minister Albanese warning the United Nations about climate impacts while his government refuses to release a commissioned report on the security risks to Australia from climate impacts is one thing. To then lament ″escalating climate catastrophes″ (″PM warns on climate ahead of UN summit″, 22/9) while spruiking gas– well that really takes some chutzpah.
Brenda Tait, Northcote
Superannuation fantastic
If the past few decades of Intergenerational Reports from Treasury have taught us anything, it’s that superannuation is fantastic. It gives us a well-funded retirement.
It also, for most people, relegates the pension to something more like a safety net for our ‘very, very old age’, should we live that long and need it.
The other lesson the IR teaches, each and every time, is that the Liberal Party deeply resents the middle-class having a comfortable retirement, and they’ll never give up their mission to undermine and dismantle the superannuation system, at every opportunity they get.
Geoffrey McNaughton, Glen Huntly
Hands off super
Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg seems determined to undermine the integrity of Australia’s superannuation system, to encourage first home buyers to stretch themselves even further in pursuit of the great Australian dream, and to boost the fortunes of property vendors and related enterprises at the same time.
Looking back 30 years, when the property market was last enduring an extended soft patch, it was property industry luminaries who stepped up and called for home buyers to gain access to their superannuation funds. Politicians usually only popped up with these kinds of proposals during property market peaks.
While respecting his work ethic and commitment to advancing the coalition’s prospects, I can only conclude that Andrew Bragg represents a bold new strain of politician who combines the slightly questionable instincts of both property spruikers and vote chasers.
Fraser Faithfull, Caulfield South
Noisy neighbours
I heard the CEO of data centres Australia on ABC radio (22/9) explaining that the new rules around their establishment in Victoria will discourage investment in Victoria. Good. Who really wants a giant, noisy, energy greedy, monolith in their backyard? And to what end?
All of this “investment: is for the advancement of AI. Again, to what end?
We must all question why tens of billions of dollars are being spent by the “Tech Bros” in this race for power. Anyone who has carefully considered their motivation for this race should be scared of the possible outcomes. I know I am.
Bill Proctor, Launching Place
Death, taxes, premierships
Trying to predict where Australia will be in 40 years’ time is rather pointless. About all we can be certain about is that our population will be larger and St Kilda will still be looking for their second premiership.
Tony O’Brien, South Melbourne
Yobbos all over
Not just at the MCG. The bottle throwing at the end of the NRL semi-final in Auckland on Sunday night, when the referee and colleagues were subjected to the same spectator abuse, should be equally condemned.
Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley
Decent blokes all
The AFL has rules, and according to the letter of these rules, free kicks were awarded against three Hawthorn players (decent blokes all) in the last two minutes of that spectacular preliminary final, turning the tide in the game. Lachie Neale intentionally punched an opponent in the chest behind play, knocking him down. The rules say he should not play this week. Decent bloke or not.
Lynn Corcoran, Carlton
Don’t shut your mouth
I agree with the letter about the content and presentation of the national anthem (21/9), but when will the czars of football realise the very bad look of AFL footballers standing side by side when it is sung before a game, with few opening their mouths?
Margaret O’Connor, Balwyn
Croydon report
I quite agree with writer Angus Delaney that Croydon’s very ordinariness is its strength. I also thank him for adding a new word to my vocabulary, namely the term ″eshay″ for a certain kind of local lad (″My suburb lacks an appeal to young adults. But moving back gives fresh perspective″, 21/9).
It must be obvious that I do not follow social media and had not heard of the Audie Hillman song about Christmas time in Croydon.
I think Angus has a lively writing style, but I also found a couple of grammatical mistakes which jarred.
For instance, in the fifth paragraph he writes: ″Growing up, Croydon station had a reputation″. Croydon station was not growing up, Angus was; and so the sentence could start like this: ″While I was growing up, Croydon station had a reputation…″.
He begins his lament about housing affordability: ″Like many Melbourne suburbs, rising house prices…″.
House prices are not like suburbs. This sentence can only make sense if recast to read: ″As in many Melbourne suburbs, rising house prices have resulted…″.
Janna McCurdy, Northcote
Trams to cuddle
Your correspondent (Letters, 22/9) says the European Tram Driver Championship shows Melbourne’s tram network is not world-class.
In response, I draw my fellow Victorians’ attention to the grand old town of Bendigo, where lovingly restored heritage trams ply their trade among tourist destinations, 19th-century architecture and the graceful Rosalind Park.
Theirs is a stable that has brought us the meticulously painted Sistine Tram, the Blues Tram that hosts live bands, a 1920s machine so heavily yarn-bombed as to be the only 20-tonne vehicle you can actually cuddle, the restaurant trams of course, the tram café where a pre-world war one tram car parked in a leafy side street serves coffee and toasties to all comers, and, my favourite, the Friday Night Drinks Tram.
Yes, Bendigo is the only place that truly puts the “pub” back in public transport.
Bendigo’s trams might not dominate the championships’ official events, but they could certainly be judged the most fun.
Peter Bear, Mitcham
AND ANOTHER THING
Political bedfellows
Exclusive Brethren continue to lobby politically. Now they’re backing ″the redheaded lady″ (″More power to the redheads″ 22/9). I’m alert and alarmed, and I’d like someone to create an appropriate fridge magnet.
Jane Ross, San Remo
Religious sect leaders seem to have missed the point when Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions”, going by the massive compounds they live in.
Mark Kennedy, Sebastopol
Bruce Hales may be called the Exclusive Brethren’s “Elect Vessel” but the only vessel he emulates is a submarine where all his activities are below the surface.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Pauline Hanson’s views that domestic crime “is a two-way street″, speaks loudly to the fact that she has made no public comment on what has happened in NSW over the last short while. Not a leader in any way, shape or form.
Philip West, Jan Juc
In years to come, when One Nation and Pauline Hanson are long forgotten, our falling birthrate and shortage of workers will see Australia competing with other countries for migrants.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
If Angus Taylor’s obfuscation that ″union officials determine how superannuation is invested″ were true (it’s not), a cursory look at comparative returns between industry super funds and those in the retail sector, might encourage circumspect investors to applaud that endeavour.
John Dickson, Glen Waverley
AFL
Congratulations Nick, you represent what’s good in young men. Humble, kind, family values and you are pro-feminist. Good on you, Peter and Colleen Daicos for raising wonderful young men who have not allowed the spotlight to tarnish them.
Irene Alexandrou, Williamstown
What would Digger from the “Coodabeen Champions” say about the umpires’ decisions from last Saturday’s preliminary final?
Kerry McInerney, Mornington
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