source : the age
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Credit: Illustration: Cathy Wilcox
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FEDERAL POLITICS
We often hear from people of ‘the left’ like Richard Flanagan (“Albanese’s inaction drives his own party towards extinction”, 18/1), that Labor should have policies more like those of the Greens. Well, we have a Greens party, and we know that they got 12.25 per cent of the vote at the 2022 election. Labor got 35.7 per cent.
Undoubtedly, much of the Greens vote came from disaffected Labor voters. However, if the Greens do have the magic mix of policies that Labor should have, then they are going to need a lot more than 12.25 per cent of the vote to win an election, and given recent polls, many of those votes will have to come from conservatives.
No social democratic government anywhere has saved itself from “extinction” by moving to the left. Conservative parties have “recruited” previous social democratic voters by abandoning any sense of integrity and playing the race card, inventing and exploiting fears – as Dutton did with his “African Gangs” slur.
This fear is exploited every day in the Murdoch media and, alas, on commercial radio owned by the publisher of this masthead. Until and unless that media landscape changes, then Labor will be swimming against the tide.
Paul Kennelly, Caulfield North
No credit given for Albanese’s achievements
Another day, another column denigrating Anthony Albanese. This time it is Sean Kelly’s turn; “Albanese once called John Howard the worst PM ever. Now he’s trying to emulate him” (20/1).
Does this mean that the prime minister is endeavouring to lead his party to a second term in office or, is it just another critic disappointed that he has failed to walk on water and turn the good ship Australia around completely after a decade of poor navigation?
No credit is given for the considerable achievement of taming the inflation dragon. No credit for budget surpluses. No credit for getting the NDIS and the NBN back on track. No credit for improved relations with China. No acknowledgement of the relentless negativity of the Dutton’s opposition, nor the spoiler role played by the Greens.
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully
If salmon industry goes, so will ALP in Tasmania
Further to the pertinent points raised by your correspondent (Letters, “Bigger fish to fry”, 20/1), salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour reportedly provides some 395 jobs.
What alternative employment, if any, is available for those people? Richard Flanagan’s article (“Albanese’s inaction drives his own party towards extinction”, 18/1) omits this crucial factor.
Also, a government-funded breeding program for the Maugean skate is underway at the University of Tasmania, with 19 young successfully hatched so far.
Meanwhile, industry data values Tasmanian salmon farming at $838 million, supporting 2,200 equivalent full-time jobs, plus 5,200 jobs in associated businesses.
Even partial closure of this industry by the Albanese government may well foment Labor’s wipe-out in Tasmania. This would empower the Dutton Liberals – who would do what for the environment in Tasmania or elsewhere?
Barbara Chapman, South Yarra
Context missing in Albanese criticism
The media is quick to provide an article about Albanese’s sluggish economy without including the context of the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts and the US election result and infer the country’s economic results are solely due to him. The populus has become numb to what is really happening and articles without context are of no consequence other than to add to despair. The media contributes to this on a daily basis.
Bruce Watson, Clifton Springs
THE FORUM
Australia day date
The Institute of Public Affairs’ recent report showing that 69 per cent of Australians support the current date for Australia Day is not the end of the story. They are wrong to imply that this shows that there is no need for change. Whilst for most political decisions, this would be seen as a very comfortable majority and hence strong support for whatever is being suggested.
However, for any decisions around the day we all come together and celebrate our common connection to the country we call home, there needs to be full agreement. Forget about all the arguments for and against January 26 as the most appropriate date to celebrate Australia Day. It will never be possible for First Nations peoples and their supporters to accept an invasion as an event worth rejoicing.
Hence, we are facing future Australia Days as a time for ongoing argument and division. It will always be a dispiriting day of shame for 31 per cent of Australians and a moment of bemusement for the rest of the world. These indisputable facts are sufficient reason for changing the date.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North
State Liberal from Labor
The Victorian opposition has now resolved its internal troubles, elected a new leader, and formed an alternative front bench.
Perhaps now, it’s time to inform the public just how it will distinguish itself from Labor. It could start with a very topical issue; its attitude to Australia Day given further support for the day, particularly among the young, revealed in a recent survey.
Does it unequivocally endorse the day and will it reintroduce the people’s favourite, the Australian Day parade, and ensure that public servants observe the day by not showing up to work on the day. Will it support Peter Dutton’s call for councils to be obliged to hold citizenship ceremonies on the day?
Silence on the issue may imply the Liberals still remain a pale shadow of Labor.
Martin Newington, Aspendale
Caroline Kennedy
As a child, I observed from afar, a little girl clinging to her mother after her father’s public assassination and have been fascinated with her ever since. The report card – “Camelot, saw a lot but failed to conquer” (20/1) on JFK’s daughter, Caroline, was harsh.
I followed the US ambassador’s social media page and was impressed by her determination to understand Australia’s history and its people. She championed our Indigenous peoples and visited many onsite, and she endeared herself to many Australians by actively participating in the ‘shitbox rally’ helping to raise funds for cancer research.
I also recall impassioned speeches about climate change and the effect it is having on our Pacific neighbours. I thought she was inspiring and unpretentious as she reached out to many Australians as she traversed the country. I’m somewhat surprised at the expectations as expressed in Matthew Knott’s piece: What did her predecessors achieve that she didn’t? After all, for two years, President Trump didn’t even appoint an ambassador to Australia. It will be fascinating to see what he’ll do this time.
Sally Davis, Malvern East
Lincoln’s healing words
In 1865, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President of the USA, a man who has long fascinated Donald Trump.
Now 160 years later, Donald Trump is to be inaugurated as president of the USA at a time of deep, bitter division within the country.
Lincoln’s inauguration speech was delivered just after the conclusion of the American Civil War, and it was a speech not of triumph for the Union over the Confederate states, but one of healing: “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds…… to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations”.
Trump is not a gifted speaker, but a rambler, whose speeches are full of hubris, threats and vitriolic abuse. His pronouncements as president-elect further reinforce that view.
Trump’s inauguration speech will be in that same vein. It will not be gracious or ‘healing’ but further wound and divide the country.
Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe
Keep parkland free
Your correspondent (Letters, “Preserve Royal Park”, 18/1) makes a very valid point. Every facility constructed on parkland robs the community of access to public open space. The tennis centre (a magnificent facility) is constructed on parkland where once you could kick a footy, jog or walk your dog. Furthermore, to gain access, you now have to pay. So much for public open space.
For me, there should be a law that states that when parkland is built on restricting access, it must be replaced by an equivalent area adjacent or nearby. This would mean compulsory acquisition funded by what developers contribute to public open space which strangely goes missing.
Vince Vozzo, Elwood
Suburban battery network
I hear the frustration of your correspondent (Letters, “Tit for tat”, 18/1). However, I suggest a far better option would be for the power companies to build multiple small-scale batteries throughout the suburbs to service local areas, buying power from their customers with rooftop solar when the sun is shining, at a fair price, and then selling it back to them to meet demand when the sun isn’t shining, making a reasonable profit in the process.
And, if the power companies won’t do this, maybe this could be a role for the newly established State Electricity Commission of Victoria.
Ken Sussex, Lilydale
Bird monitoring
Anyone else in a flap anxiously watching for when, not if, bird flu arrives in Australia? (“Scientists scan Antarctica for deadly bird flu”, 19/1). It’s good of Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to send extra staff to Antarctica to monitor the issue. Perhaps, as the election looms, all parties could also keep an eye on other environmental threats due to climate changes that affect migratory patterns and viral outbreaks in birds and mammals, including humans. Acting to ensure humans are not the last species standing – or lying – would be helpful. What world would it be without birds, mammals, and all the beauty of nature?
Tania Cossich, East Brighton
Victorian disgrace
It was reported in the Warrnambool Standard (18/1) that a total of 846,900 ducks and quail were killed in our wetlands by duck shooters in the most recent season. Countless others would have been wounded and suffered an agonising death. An absolute disgrace for Victoria with WA, NSW and Queensland having banned this anachronism years ago. The predominantly male shooters and the weak Allan government members who enable their cruel assault on our innocent and defenceless waterbirds should hang their collective heads in shame.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Permanently transient
I recently wrote to Tony Burke MP asking that my refugee friends might be considered for permanent residency in Australia. A married couple, they arrived in Australia in 2013 and spent the following seven years on Christmas Island, Nauru and Darwin, followed by 12 months confined to a Melbourne hotel room. They were moved to another motel for three weeks in January 2021 before being released empty-handed.
With community support, they now have jobs and rental accommodation, but in my reply from the minister, they were labelled ‘transitory’ persons who are ‘temporarily’ here, without ‘a permanent settlement pathway in Australia’. They were advised to apply for resettlement in New Zealand.
My friends, however, were informed by the UNHCR in Canberra, that the New Zealand resettlement arrangement is at capacity and that they should try another country like the United States or Canada. We know where they both stand on immigration now. How long do we have to wait for our government to show compassion to these ‘transitory’ long-term refugees who have established themselves in Australia and seek a future among us?
Di Appleby, Fairfield
Womens’ cricket
England should not be playing Afghanistan in the Champions Trophy at the end of next month
Until Afghanistan chooses to field a women’s team, they should remain scarecrows in the field.
The Afghan men play mostly from Dubai. The Afghan women are now in Australia. As a start, they could play as a refugee team.
The Afghanistan Cricket Board determines if the girls and women are allowed to put up teams. The Taliban aren’t likely to green-light that any time soon.
Cricket Australia have admirably put their back into this one. It’s baffling the ICC have gone so off message.
The women in these parts are happy to hit the phone and give the ICC an education.
Which the young girls of Afghanistan can’t get because they are banned from school.
Nina Wellington-Iser, Hawthorn
Club rules
Michael Bachelard’s article on the Melbourne Club (20/1) brought to mind a late Catholic professional friend of mine who was on the waiting list for membership of an exclusive interstate golf club for some ten years or more and was finally called for an interview which happily proceeded towards a conclusion when my friend was asked did he have any questions. He did ask how many Jewish members the club had and after an uncomfortable silence he said, “I thought so. Please withdraw my application”.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick
AND ANOTHER THING
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Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Djokovic and Jones
Thanks, Tony Jones, you saved us from having to listen to another post-game interview from a self-promoting narcissist. You have done us a great service. Tony, keep up the great work.
Randall Bradshaw, Fitzroy
More Djokovic and less, much less, Tony Jones.
Philip Henseleit, Glenlee
Just a quick message to fellow countryman Nole and his supporters: Grow up and get out of victim mentality.
Bosko Marojevic, Williamstown
I have zero sympathy for Novak. Jones’ humour may have been misguided, but Novak had almost two days to let Nine know he wouldn’t do an interview after his fourth round game without an apology. Instead, he left Jim Courier high and dry.
Philip Rich, Fitzroy
So, the nation’s prime minister apparently feels the need to join the pile-on around a spat between a TV journalist and a tennis player. I despair.
Mark Morrison, Kew
Furthermore
That powerful piece by Richard Flanagan (″Albanese’s inaction drives his own party towards extinction″, 18/1) and the passionate follow-up commentary in Letters (20/1) is a hopeful sign that perhaps all is not yet irretrievably lost.
Jim Spithill, Glen Waverley
Any rational, intelligent and liberated woman would not want to be a member of such a misogynist club as the Melbourne Club.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster
Donald Trump: Reminds me of the old saying we have down at the temple: non veritas; non veritas; tanicum ignito (liar; liar; pants on fire).
Bruce Crowe, Sunbury
Americans deserve Trump, but the world doesn’t.
Bill Otte, Beechworth
Finally
The only winners in Gaza are the arms’ manufacturers and dealers.
Gretel Lamont, Aireys Inlet
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