source : the age
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ONE NATION
Pauline Hanson stands in front of a banner proclaiming, “Take Victoria Back” (‴In prison by Christmas’: One Nation attacks Andrews, Allan in campaign launch″ 4/10). One wonders if she realises just how accurately this epitomises her approach.
One Nation would take Australia back to a mythical golden age, somewhere around 1953, when the population was a little over 8million; very few people went to university, no one had heard of a bahn mi, inefficient internal combustion engine cars ruled the roads, and the white Australia policy manned the borders.
It was a narrow, inward looking society and, if we are wise, it’s never coming back.
Alan Whittaker, East Kew
Labor government has lost all credibility
The sentiment behind ‴In prison by Christmas’: One Nation attacks Andrews, Allan in campaign launch″ (4/10) is nonsense given how our justice system works.
More importantly, Victoria is in the invidious situation of the possibility of One Nation holding the balance of power in the upper house. This is extremely alarming.
The tragedy in all this is that the state Labor government has rightly lost all credibility, having been neglectful of the needs of many communities. One Nation’s rhetoric has no understanding of the climate crisis, how immigration has benefitted Australia and the success of our multiculturalism.
The world of yesteryear is not what is required today. The political landscape is fallow.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Conspiracy politics must be rebuffed
Labor and Coalition voters thinking of switching allegiance to One Nation at the Victorian election need to read the senseless and destructive rhetoric of its Victorian leader Warren Pickering and others to see the threat the party represents to our country and our social cohesion. ″
″This is an opportunity to shake the established order to its core″, Pickering said, giving the impression One Nation is the ″real″ Australia.
But it’s a con. Pauline Hanson might claim she understands the anger of her supporters, but this is a fallacy. How else to explain her anti-worker rhetoric?
One Nation offers solutions without truth.
Its racial grievances (a return to the ″good old days″ of white Australia) and conspiracy politics need to be rebuffed by Victorian voters.
Neil Hudson, East Melbourne
A show of Trumpian kitsch
One Nation’s Victorian campaign launch at the weekend alarmingly reflected Trumpian politics – right down to the kitsch ″bobble-head″ Hanson dolls, the corny copycat MAGA caps (″Make Albo Go Away″), and the threats to jail political opponents.
Hopefully, there are still enough rational, discriminating voters around to ensure that this divisive populist movement doesn’t end up holding the balance of power. And Jess Wilson also needs to ensure that no concessions are made to One Nation for her to become premier, which would send the state down a very dangerous and turbulent pathway.
Bruce Watson, Belgrave
MAGA with a local twist
The US has its orange MAGA man, and now our own orange lady is touting MAGA with her “Make Albo Go Away” slogan. Neither orange holds much a-peel for me.
I suggest the compost bin.
Mark Cherny, Caulfield North
THE FORUM
Greens’ flawed strategy
I am sorry to hear that new Greens leader David Shoebridge is intending that the Greens replace, rather than work with, Labor. The idea of the two main left of centre parties fighting each other for supremacy in the face of a growing threat from the far right is reminiscent of Germany in the 1930s.
Cooperating with a moribund and reactionary Coalition to make life more difficult for Labor only opens the way for One Nation to further exploit people’s frustration and anger. Similarly, I wish that Anthony Albanese would put all his energy into fighting Tories rather than indulging in his well-known loathing of the Greens. A whole lot of energy and resources aimed at flipping a couple of Labor seats to the Greens or vice versa is only lessening what is available to tackle the real threat, which comes from the right.
Ron Exiner, Northcote
Heed history Shoebridge
Greens leader Senator David Shoebridge has said no to providing arms to the democratically elected government of Ukraine. Meanwhile, North Korea and Iran send arms and support to Russia as it invades and tries to overthrow the Ukrainian government.
In the 1930s, England and other allied countries said no to providing arms to the democratically elected government of Spain while Germany and Italy supplied arms and support to Franco as his troops invaded from North Africa to overthrow the Spanish government.
The end result of that was 40 years of repressive fascist dictatorship in Spain, the deaths of innumerable Spanish people and arguably the emboldenment of the Nazis leading into World War 2.
Sometimes if you want peace, you need to learn the lessons of history and fully support the fight to stop the aggressor.
Graham Phelps, Ocean Grove
Follow SA lead
Here we go again. ″Big money dodges election laws″ on The Age front page (4/10). When will the penny drop that we can’t have a true democracy and allow political donations, the two are diametrically opposed? Simple logic suggests donors overwhelmingly give money to politicians and political parties to curry favour – there is no such thing as a free lunch.
South Australia’s Premier Peter Malinauskas, understood this and successfully campaigned in 2022 by pledging to ban political donations in his state. Once elected, his law received unanimous support in the SA parliament.
There, the state pays for political campaign costs on an equitable basis depending on party size etc. Malinauskas also severely curtailed the influence of political lobbyists in his state and enacted laws to make them accountable.
When will the rest of Australia follow that lead?
Jack Coffey, Camberwell,
Downsizer downdraught
It is simplistic to say that the only people who are negatively affected by falling house prices are investors. Many are regular owner/occupiers and, while it is true that if you are selling and buying into the same market there is little real impact, many retirees are downsizing, and have bought an apartment or unit off-the-plan, up to two years out from occupation. Their purchase was probably conducted at prices near their peak, say early 2025, while their settlement might be in early 2027, with returns down maybe 15 to 20 per cent off the peak.
The developer of their off-the-plan purchase is not about to offer a discount because the market has dropped, so if the home owner’s sale return is necessary to finance their purchase, they are compromised.
Pete Dunne, Highett
Doctors’ complaints
Your doctor correspondent (Letters, 4/10) probably knows better than most about the brutal hours and shifts that our young doctors work in the public system. They never stop training. They probably earn less in their 12-hour shifts than someone working at a Big Build site. And our lives and wellbeing are in their hands. If their union (which has to be one of the most conservative) calls a strike, the rest of us should stop and think about what we want from these brave young people.
Hamish McTavish, Brunswick East
Medical charge shock
I feel sorry for the women anaesthetists; it seems like the old boys’ club culture, which women have been subjected to in many fields.
But I was more shocked by the $10k a day fee headline; is that what they can earn? Specialist doctors, dental and eye surgeons etc are charging exorbitant fees, and the out-of-pocket expenses are rising at an alarming rate, even if you have private health cover.
Every other industry seems to get mentioned if they price gouge, but not in this field.
Darren Oliver, Daylesford
Who succeeds Boomers?
The article on boomer life expectancy (″Death numbers are climbing as Australia’s Baby Boomers reach their 80s″, 3/10) was a surprisingly good use of statistics, although decimals of a year were unnecessarily precise.
I’m a 1949 Boomer. One feature was the steady introduction of new vaccines in my time, and compulsory injections. The polio and diphtheria epidemics were recent history: we avoided them. We were protected from measles, smallpox and tuberculosis.
I have never understood the thinking of the anti-vax brigade. One feature of the Boomer generation: we started multiple community cultural and preservation organisations, involving regular work sessions or club meetings. Most of the committees of management are still run by the same founders: now into their 70s and 80s.
The younger generation are generally not joiners, or attendees, or volunteers. As we die, many of those clubs and projects will die. Succession is a constant topic at annual general meetings.
There are however some younger people involved. Mixing with enthusiastic and energetic younger generations keeps my brain alive far more than shifting into a retirement home where there might be one death per week.
Roderick Smith, Surrey Hills
Book retreat
The article ″In the age of Kindle, books are making it back to our shelves″, (4/10) warmed this old librarian’s heart. Walking into my study I’m surrounded by books about beautiful places, inspiring art, fascinating people and history, and novels that temporarily cocoon me from the problems of the real world. I feel that I’m among old friends, even if they do need dusting. Give me the physicality of a real book and, yes, a print newspaper before another screen any day.
Vikki O’Neill, Ashburton
Writers’ write back
As an avid reader, as well as a buyer of books, mostly non-fiction, it’s great to read that books are making a comeback, (4/10). If I read a book that really impresses me, I will write a letter to the author to tell them.
I have written many such letters. Most authors do reply. Two authors that stick in my mind, are famed crime novelist Donald Westlake, and the Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Caro.
Mr Westlake wrote to say: “You’re letter made my day.” Mr Caro, not only thanked me for my letter on his book “The Power Broker”, but also asked for me to let him know what I thought of the first volume on his biography of Lyndon B. Johnson.
It’s obvious that authors appreciate hearing from the people who read their books for pleasure, not as a critique.
Chris Burgess, Port Melbourne
Noisy children
Recent letters about noisy children disturbing the peace reminds me of a story I heard once. A couple were overheard talking about having children. They decided they didn’t want children, and were going home to tell them.
Sue Fisher, Coburg
Your voting choice
Your correspondent (Letters, 3/10) does not appear to understand how each political party’s “How to Vote” cards actually function. They state that “the preferential system advantages the parties that preference each other”.
However, the numbered lists on these handouts are not mandatory, it is OK for each of us to make up our own minds about which party we prefer first, second and so on.
Sandra Weller, Mount Helen
Pot and parma option
Rising prices and cost of living pressures are two topics that, understandably, appear daily in our newspapers and television. Why, then, do many newspapers continue to run with columns of luncheon interviews with famous people, the total cost of such lunch for the interviewer and interviewee often amounting to a staggering $180 to $300?
It would be more realistic in these times of falling real purchasing power for these interviews to be conducted over a ″pot and parma″ pub meal – total cost $85. As another option, the interviews could be held in warm spring weather or autumnal bliss, with fish and chips on a park bench at $40. Shareholders would be happy.
James Henshall, Richmond
You’re not in an ad
During the recent rain storms (I refuse to call them ″events″), there were repeated warnings for motorists to not drive through flood waters.
However, ads for massive SUVs currently on sale in Australia inevitably depicts them conquering rugged terrain and negotiating their way through creeks and waterways of varying depth. Is it any wonder the drivers of these vehicles think they are invincible in flood waters?
Narelle Murray, Glen Waverley
AND ANOTHER THING
Leadership
I wish we had an Australian politician like Bernie Sanders in the United States. Old but articulate, wise, smart, savvy and super intelligent, with the ability to read the room and offer cautions that are very real. I think everyone could learn from this long-serving independent congressman.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
The attempted execution of Christa Pike, even 30 years after her imprisonment in the US, shows just how uncivilised and abhorrent that country is.
David Eames-Mayer, Balwyn
One Nation
It is apparent that some of One Nation’s political operatives don’t understand the separation of powers given their threat to imprison former Labor premiers. Another concern to add to the many should they form government next month.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Gosh, I bet former premiers Dan Andrews and Jacinta Allan are quaking in their boots.
Fiona White, Alfredton
One Nation’s Warren Pickering rails against foreign ″globalists″, yet his party’s threat to imprison Dan Andrews and Jacinta Allan is straight out of US President Donald Trump’s playbook. And look what he’s done to his and the world’s economies.
George Djoneff, Mitcham
Perhaps Pauline Hanson was unaware when evoking Ned Kelly at her launch that Kelly and his gang were bank robbers who murdered three policemen. Not ideal role models for an aspiring leader.
Sandra Torpey, Hawthorn
When One nation voters (as with Brexit) have emotionally blown up traditional government, will they accept responsibility for any negative results?
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
Finally
Rich people are using multiple businesses to circumvent the $4970 cap to donate to state political parties. The solution is simple: only registered voters can donate. No businesses. That means no loopholes. No non-citizens.
Rob Skelton, Ballarat
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