Neo-Nazis are the problem, not Welcome to Country

THE FORUM

An evolving land
Re the discussion about Welcome to Country, I was born at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, and I’ve lived a good life so far, raising a family with my wife and making a reasonable contribution to Australian society. Even so, I don’t feel like I belong here, partly because my name is not anglicised and so I constantly get reminded that I’m different. Small examples through my life reinforced a disdain for where my parents came from, be it a teacher telling me I should only speak English at home and not learn my parents’ mother tongue; the disgust, back in the day, at the food I ate at home; or the name calling that highlighted my otherness. These slights one can ignore, but you never quite feel part of the dominant culture.
My parents were forced from their homes and the place generations of their families had lived because of war, eventually migrating to Australia to escape political turmoil. I have an inkling of dispossession having travelled back and stood in front of my parents homes now occupied by others and feeling a deep sense of alienation.
I’ve felt Welcome to Country has been overdone, particularly when it’s used to open every meeting I attend, however it’s important to use it to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples of this land at significant public and cultural events as there’s no escaping the fact they were here when the British took over. Subsequently, the poor and dispossessed from all over the world have come here to start a new life, including those from Britain, and we now stand in a cultural milieu that while still dominated by British political, economic and social institutions is nonetheless evolving.
Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale

Value in remembering
The booing during Uncle Mark Brown’s Welcome to Country at this year’s Dawn Service was troubling. Anzac Day is fundamentally about remembrance, and something that should be inclusive. My grandmother served as a military nurse, surviving the torpedo sinking of her troopship in 1942. She floated in oily water for eight hours as fellow survivors cried out in the darkness. Her story taught me that war’s true enemy is war itself.
The Shrine of Remembrance stands on land where another conflict unfolded: the Frontier Wars that devastated Aboriginal populations. Yet many Australians remain unaware of this history. I know I was during school history that seemed to focus only on gold rushes and explorers.
Remembrance isn’t something we ration. Including First Peoples doesn’t diminish our respect for Diggers; it strengthens our collective story and makes it more just.
Anzac Day could honour all who suffered in conflict, regardless of uniform or background. If we can’t embrace a complete remembrance that acknowledges all aspects of our history, how can we truly learn from the past and avoid repeating its tragedies?
Sean Elliott, North Melbourne

The wrong message
On Friday The Age published a big yellow banner ad on the front page stating “We don’t need to be welcomed to our own country” (and many other days previously). On Saturday The Age front page read “Neo-Nazi Anzac ambush condemned but unlikely to breach hate laws”. Will The Age keep running those ads?
Marita Baum, Mount Waverley

Honouring the anthem
The Australian national anthem is played before many AFL matches, in particular the finals. Watching the weekend’s Anzac matches, it is obvious that only a few AFL players on each team know the words as they fail to join in singing the anthem. Perhaps the AFL can give the players lessons to learn the words and mandate that they sing along to show their respect for this country. If they fail to show this recognition and respect, perhaps they could be fined and made to sing the anthem solo after the next match in the clubrooms. Now that would make great TV.
Ross Kroger, Barwon Heads

Show us the policies
There is something wrong with an electoral system where policies and costings aren’t made public before people vote. Early voting and postal voting see people making judgments without the full facts being presented for scrutiny and analysis. The independent Parliamentary Budget Office legislation means that parties and candidates need only submit their policies and costings by 5pm the day before the election. The verification of these by the PBO is released at the latest 30 days after the election!
For politicians to say that people only really pay attention during the last week of an election campaign shows they think the public don’t care about or value their vote. Politicians are applying for jobs. The closing dates for their full applications should be at the bare minimum two weeks prior to the decision being made.
Greg Tuck, Warragul

Not enough time
Gary Nunn (“I’m an election lover, but in Australia, they just come along too often”, 28/4) clearly argues the deficiencies with Australia’s current three-year terms and how they hamper the federal parliamentary system. Australia has complex problems in the areas of taxation, health, aged care, education, defence and trade, and three years is no time at all to develop and legislate adequate solutions. The Parliament of Australia website shows the average is just 67 House sitting days since 1901.
Ross Gittins has highlighted Australia’s enviable democratic electoral controls – compulsory voting, preferential voting, independent electoral commission (“This election is one of the worst I’ve seen”, 14/4). Yet, while the fragmentation of the Labor/Coalition duopoly is a welcome trend for more robust government, we are held back by our outdated Victorian-age Constitution Section 28 limiting House of Representative terms to three years.
David Cramond, Mornington

Not ‘match fit’
Re Sean Kelly’s recent analysis on Peter Dutton’s campaign mistakes (“What fuelled Dutton’s rise is now derailing his bid to be PM”, 29/4), Dutton is behaving exactly as we should have expected. You do not become match fit by only running with runners from your own club. Dutton has refused for years to test himself by engaging seriously with neutral media, preferring safe conservative platforms. His headline-grabbing promises reveal his unseriousness. Proposing to axe 40,000 public servants – when Canberra’s entire federal public service is about 70,000 – demands the question: which essential services would he decimate? Medicare? Veterans’ Affairs? The NDIS? Social Services?
Yes, Albanese has disappointed me. A John Howard-style gun laws response to gambling ads would have gladdened almost everyone. But Dutton instead champions huge trucks on our roads, which everyone hates, and even encourages them with temporarily not much cheaper petrol.
Catherine Ross, Sandringham

Good clean fun
Rather than a new way of doing politics, it seems the teals still do old politics, it’s just that they do it much better than their opponents (“Party atmosphere without the party machine”, 28/4).
Doorknocking is a traditional method, but it takes on a different tone when conducted by a small army of enthusiastic volunteers. Creating so-called dirt files about opponents is also old-style politics. However, if the dirt is facts collected from freely available public records, it loses much of its negative image.
The teals have really exploited the social aspects of politics. By turning their campaigns into a stimulating activity for many retired people, the teals have almost turned elections into fun. All this must be very frustrating for the teals’ political opponents because it is difficult to attack.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills

Relevant details
Why is contradicting Amelia Hamer’s attempt to present herself as a struggling renter referred to as “dirt”? It’s an issue that she raised unprompted in an attempt to gain votes. Surely uncovering her actual wealth is relevant in that context.
Denny Meadows, Hawthorn

Fees for EVs
Senator Bridget McKenzie says “everyone who uses our roads should contribute to actually making sure they’re maintained”. Fair enough, but should we not be applying this principle proportionately? There are more bigger vehicles than ever: SUVs are now almost 57 per cent, and utes 22 per cent, of Australia’s new car market. How about owners contributing proportionately to the costs to the community? For the extra damage large SUVs and utes cause to the roads; the extra space on roads and car parks; the extra risk to other road users, and escalating insurance for that; and extra particulates and carbon emitted?
Jackie Yowell, Glen Iris

Electric blues
At a pre-polling booth in Bendigo I witnessed Senator Bridget McKenzie arrive in a huge black twin cab ute that dwarfed my Hyundai all-electric Kona. I am now wondering about the impact on our “deteriorating” roads of oversized transport such as McKenzie’s in comparison to my little car. There are numerous “tax breaks” to assist these big ute drivers. McKenzie’s divisive comments about “wealthy” EV drivers seem reminiscent of previous attacks on “wealthy” rooftop solar owners.
Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk

Alternative views heard
If the organisers of the “SWF off-piste” (CBD, 28/4) had attended the Sorrento Writers’ Festival, they would have witnessed an informed contest of ideas. With speakers such as Greg Sheridan, Paul Kelly and Josh Frydenberg, it was hardly a “lefty literary event”. In contrast to the lacklustre election campaign that relies on slogans and talking points, speakers at the Sorrento Writers’ Festival debated the major issues of our time.
Sarah Russell, Mt Martha

AND ANOTHER THING

Voting
If you go into the election polling booth and the pencil shakes in your hand, that’s good – it means you’re taking care how you allocate your preferences.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon

Only a few more days and Peter Dutton can end his tour of Australian petrol stations.
David Fry, Moonee Ponds

Hate media
Peter Dutton calls the ABC and The Guardian “hate media”. What does he call Sky News, the Murdoch press and 2GB?
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South

I’m disappointed The Age wasn’t included in the “hate media”.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor

“Hate media”: Is this Dutton’s Trump card?
John Crossley, Oakleigh

On Sunday Mr Dutton said the ABC was part of a “hate media”. Yesterday, he accused the Greens of being a “Jew hating” party. Dutton seems to see hate everywhere. Could it be in the eye of the beholder?
Jane Edwards, Peterhead, SA

Welcome to Country
Although politeness isn’t the primary reason for the Welcome to Country, Peter Dutton’s comments that they are overdone is akin to saying manners should be used sparingly or else “thank you” will lose its meaning.
Shelley Rowlands, South Yarra

I consider the Welcome to Country a respectful way of asking the citizenry to acknowledge the original custodians of this beautiful land. Where’s the problem?
Helena Kilingerova, Vermont

Peter Dutton wants Welcome to Country “reserved for significant events of our country”. So Anzac Day is just a normal day?
James Lane, Hampton East

Finally
I’m really enjoying Europe correspondent Rob Harris’ beautiful writing about the Pope’s death and funeral. It’s evocative and interesting and I look forward to his reporting on the conclave.
Fiona White, Alfredton

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