We must reject the double standard – all lives matter

Sympathy for family
There is a moment in the 2007 grand final as Geelong are on their way to a thumping win. It’s raining goals and Joel Selwood has a flying shot that just misses. The camera pans to the crowd and centres on the Selwood twins, Adam and Troy, who are in a joyous mood as they watch their champion younger brother on his way to the first of his four premierships with the Cats. My heart is broken just visualising that scene and I extend my deepest sympathy to the Selwood family.
Phil Alexander, Eltham

Paying seems optional
A good political move from an unpopular government about to face an election (“Children ride free in budget package”, 18/5) but my observation of children travelling on trains and buses is that the vast majority don’t pay anyway. The savings estimate is probably overstated. Non-payment for metropolitan transportation is also true from my observations for adults travelling on buses and trams and for train travellers not exiting city stations.
A thorough analysis of fare avoidance should consider whether the cost of running the financial side of public transport makes sense. Perhaps free transport would be a better alternative and this would certainly reduce emissions.
Howard J. Brownscombe, Brighton

Conditions, please
We can only hope that the government will put conditions on children under 18 riding for free on public transport. Respectful behaviour to fellow travellers, giving up seats to those who need them, and a code of conduct to understand this privilege.
Somehow, however, I anticipate a new pastime for some young people: roaming the city, unruly and unsupervised. Especially during the school holidays.
Ruth Davis, Carrum

Better value than F1
Giving free public transport to under-18s at a cost of $380 million is of more value for the taxpayer dollar than a $350 million pit building expansion at Albert Park. The further encroachment of parkland will reap F1 owners an extra $30 million annually from corporate revenue on top of the annual exorbitant contract fee and revenue they already receive.
While the free public transport initiative is a vote winner, it will also not help reduce state debt.
Joan Logan, South Melbourne

Funding inequality
The article on the teals (“Package teal: The independent movement, three years on”, 18/5) misses an important point: the unequal funding and public judgment of political campaigns.
Yes, Zoe Daniel’s campaign raised about $1.8 million. But although Climate 200 provided roughly $500,000 of that, more than two-thirds was raised in mostly small donations from within the Goldstein electorate.
That is the meaning of independence, not dependence on a national or state party whose funding for that particular electorate is unknown.
Compare this with Tim Wilson’s campaign which was financed “out of his own pocket” – something few could afford to do – and by the Liberal Party which did not have to be declared before the election.
Why should Daniel and the other independents supported by Climate 200 be hounded while Liberal candidates – supported by unaccountable groups like Advance, Repeal the Teal and Australians for Prosperity – get a free ride?
Amy Bachrach, McKinnon

Real transparency
The community independent movement is based on genuine participatory democracy. However, money is a necessary resource in an election campaign.
Community independents raised money for their campaigns via local fundraising activities. Many also demonstrated their leadership and integrity by real-time disclosure of donations from Climate 200. Unlike the hidden fossil fuel and corporate donations to the major parties, community independents are committed to transparency.
Sarah Russell, Mount Martha

Ivory tower executives
Marvellous expose by Caroline Wilson (“Leadership crumbling: Dillon needs to stand up”, 17/5). She depicts the AFL executives in their ivory tower who have completely lost touch with the supporters they are there to actually serve. True, they have successfully done deals with betting and media companies to fill the coffers but mostly to the detriment of the game’s fans.
The most appalling decision was to remove Saturday games from those supporters who couldn’t afford subscriptions to streaming services. Wilson calls this arrogance, I think it is just treating supporters with contempt, and it may yet come back to bite them.
Tony Jackson, Fitzroy

Gambling scourge
Australians are obsessed with sport, as they are with gambling – representing world-leading losses.
The two are interlinked to the extreme detriment of families. The massive amounts of money involved must be drastically reduced for the good of our society.
The Albanese government must in all conscience enact the recommendations of the late Peta Murphy to ban gambling advertising. The AFL and NRL codes need to wean themselves off gambling revenues, then reduce their excessive demands for bloated broadcasting rights. This will enable broadcasters to continue free-to-air coverage of matches.
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn

Walls a great mentor
Before full-time AFL coaching, Robert Walls was a teacher at Rosanna Golf Links Primary where he demonstrated a remarkable empathy with his young charges.
My son, Greg, was captain of the cricket team that Walls coached to a Melbourne Metropolitan Premiership in 1978. Greg remembers “Mr Walls” saying that premiership meant more to him than his earlier Carlton premierships. My daughter, Kate, was taught by “Mr Walls” in 1980, and he remains her favourite teacher of all time. “He seemed to see every kid for who they were … it made me realise the amazing things we can do if there is someone like Mr Walls in your corner,” she said.
David Powick, Rosanna

Empowering option
It is hard to believe that after almost six years of operation, there are still many Victorians unaware that Voluntary Assisted Dying is a legal end-of-life option.
Thank you to the Walls family who so generously and selflessly shared the tragic story of Robert Walls’ illness and eventual decision to seek a death in a manner and at a time of his choosing, surrounded by loved ones (“AFL great Robert Walls dies, aged 74, using voluntary assisted dying laws”, 15/2).
As a result of his story being publicly shared, many more Victorians have been informed about this compassionate and empowering option afforded to those suffering at the end of life.
Jane Morris, Dying With Dignity Victoria president

Pricing hard to justify
The veterinary profession undoubtedly provides an invaluable service in ensuring the health of our animals (“The price of love”, 18/5) and while I appreciate the fact that many veterinary clinics are small, and cannot compete with online veterinary pharmacies, some pricing practices are of concern.
For example, I was charged $5.45 a tablet for an antibiotic. The same medication retails online for $1.35. Further, I incurred a $30 fee for writing a prescription even during a consultation already costing close to $100. While I understand clinics need to be profitable, these pricing practices are difficult to justify.
David Fox, Beaumaris

Missed opportunity
I enjoyed the article by Matthew Purdy about George Orwell (“Cry, Liberty”, Good Weekend, 17/5). However, I was surprised and disappointed to see no reference to Anna Funder’s book, Wifedom, which surfaces the critical (but largely invisible) role that Orwell’s wife, Eileen, played in his life.
Crediting her contribution to the key ideas that Orwell is known for would paint a fuller and more honest picture of the partnership behind books like Nineteen Eighty-Four and Animal Farm.
Thea Snow, Prahran

Bring on the change
Bec Wilson (“Tax on $3m super balances wake-up call”, 18/5) worries that the government is trying to “slow down the use of super as a more extreme wealth creation tool and start to shape the system into an ordinary person’s retirement fund”.
If that’s what it is trying to do, I’d say “bring it on”. Super shouldn’t be a “long-term wealth building tool”. Nor was it designed to help people who are well-off leave more money to their descendants.
Super was designed to help ordinary people weather old age more comfortably and to take the heat off the pension system as a larger proportion of Australia’s population got older. It wasn’t meant to be yet another way to avoid paying tax.
Floyd Kermode, Preston

Inspiring role model
Buying my lactose-free milk will never be quite the same again after this year’s Eurovision, but Australian Go-Jo’s song won’t be his only legacy (“Australia’s milkshake man Go-Jo crashes out of Eurovision semis”, 17/5).
There’s plenty of discussion about us not getting into the final, but how about discussing Marty Zambotto, a boy from outback WA, taking a musical path and becoming an inspiring role model, sending a sorely needed message, especially to young men, to go for it. Go Go-Jo!
Marie Weiss, Ivanhoe

AND ANOTHER THING …

Donald Trump
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard declares “Trump and Saudi’s crown prince truly deserve each other” (17/5). If you could have a world free of the US president, Russian President Putin or China’s President Xi, whom would you choose?
Kevin Burke, Sandringham

Donald Trump must feel like a pauper among all the conspicuous wealth of the Gulf states.
Helena Kilingerova, Vermont

Memo POTUS: Beware of foreign governments bearing 747s.
David Francis, Ocean Grove

Economy
Re “Stamp duty cut helps top end, not first home buyers” (18/5): Gosh, a housing policy that helps those who already have a house? I can hardly believe it.
Lindsay Zoch, Mildura

Dream on, Ross Garnaut (“Australia must now seize the day on energy security”, 18/5). Australia’s wage structure cuts us out of any export industry unless it is a raw material.
Murray Horne, Cressy

Politics
Queensland, NSW, Western Australia and now the Victorian government spruik free public transport for children. Give lollies to the kids, and the parents are happy and distracted from their bigger needs: Politics 101.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill

Best of luck leading the Coalition, Sussan Ley: a bunch of climate sceptics or deniers, split over nuclear and 2050 net zero, and afflicted with a tinge of misogyny.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading

Furthermore
In response to the article by Ian Cuthbertson (“A dog’s life”, Good Weekend, 17/5), leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans. So it is not a canine-exclusive disease.
Dr Kerry Bail, Beaconsfield Upper

Finally
As the cold weather comes, it reminds me of that wonderful saying (only we oldies will remember): “Summer nicks off … Winter draws on.”
Myra Fisher, Brighton East

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