Governing for all
The government’s penchant for acquiescing to sectoral interests came to naught last week with the defeat of two bills in Parliament (11/2).
Governments must govern for all Australians and although it is difficult to strike this right balance, all legislation should be guided by this principle. It is important that they aspire to a just and inclusive society, not one that will cause pain and hardship and further marginalize people by its actions.
Anne Lyon, Camberwell
Waste of time checking in
If we want to continue using QR code check-ins in supermarkets and stores, we need to understand what its possible use is. While it served some purpose before the COVID numbers got so high, it’s surely a waste of time now.
Julian Guy, Mount Eliza
No tracing, no use
If QR codes are no longer used for contact tracing, can someone from the government tell us what they are used for? It seems like a pointless exercise, much like the vaunted COVIDSAFE app. Other than showing your vaccination status which is required in some circumstances and can be done in other ways, it seems unnecessary.
Alan InchleyFrankston
The evil next door
The report “Nazis next door” (The Age, 12/2), and in particular, ASIO’s general manager Mike Burgess asking what drives young people to Nazism is disturbing. The evil and murderous terror and destruction which the Nazis inflicted on European Jewry and other non-Aryan groups should by now be known to all, but this is not enough to deter young people from Nazism: and it is this banality of hatred and evil which is the most disturbing; and he lives next door.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
Receipt logic
Another election is looming, and Attorney General Michaelia Cash is launching another one of her totally baseless claims. In 2019, it was “Work takes our utes away from us” as a fear campaign against electric vehicles. And last week it was that single-sex schools couldn’t accommodate transgender students because there were no toilets for them. Seriously, are we supposed to believe that these schools only have single-sex teachers and there are no toilets for parents of both sexes who might visit the school. It is sad that someone who is supposedly smart and holds the high office of Attorney General can be seen spouting such nonsense.
Brian Glass, Montrose
To the gunboats
Given the dismal state of the coalition government and the upcoming federal election, can we expect Prime Minister Scott Morrison to deploy the ADF to Ukraine soon? Declare war on China? The tactic worked a treat for John Howard in 2003.
Elaine Hill, Warrnambool
The shorter the better
The Coalition’s plan to have the federal parliament sit for just 10 days in the first six months of this year could still prove to be a smart move.
After all, he won’t want too many more weeks like the one he just suffered in Canberra, where what happened only demonstrated the lack of leadership, the lack of political agenda and the internal leaks – presumably caused by desperation at the possibility of electoral defeat.
Kate McCaig, Surrey Hills
Some require patience
Labor leader Anthony Albanese tells anti-vaccine protesters to go home as Scott Morrison tells them to blame state premiers. An urgent change in national leadership is needed and the next election is probably still three months away. Lots of patience needed.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Urgent reforms
Jon Faine (Commentary, 2/13) asks why we don’t seem to be able to move forward with judicial reform.
Part of the answer lies in the way many politicians argue that any change causes us to become soft on criminals, and that attracts public support.
When we can lock up people who are found to be genuine refugees for years, it seems unlikely that the living conditions of those found guilty of crimes will change.
Having worked with prison chaplains, I know their frustrations with the pointlessness of the system working (not working).
If we want to call ourselves a civil society, radical reform is necessary.
Graham Reynolds, Soldiers Hill
remember the story
″Russia could invade Ukraine ‘within days’″ (2/13). Once again, we suffer from historical amnesia. Let us remember in 1962 the concern of American President John F. Kennedy that Cuba would accept Russian missiles and join the Warsaw Pact. He didn’t want Russian missiles on America’s doorstep. A compromise was negotiated, Cuba did not receive Russian missiles and America withdrew its missiles from Turkey. Let us also remember that it was said that NATO would not extend to Eastern Europe, “not an inch to the east” declared James Baker, then American Secretary of State. It would seem that Russia does not want NATO on its doorstep.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Go to source
When it comes to concerns about a third runway at Melbourne Airport, it would be best to deal with the problem at its source for the benefit of everyone everywhere. The world needs the next generation of quieter aircraft.
About 50 years ago, the US government imposed substantial noise and smoke reductions on new commercial aircraft. At that time, most large aircraft were made in the United States. This meant that the new, much quieter planes were imposed by default on the whole world.
The US is now less open to regulatory improvements than the EU and China. However, Airbus is based in the EU and China plans to build large commercial aircraft.
Industry has reduced aircraft noise before and can do it again, but only if the world demands it.
Mark Freeman, MacLeod
Elderly care training
Australian standards of aged care cannot improve simply by allocating more money and more staff to the existing system.
Like pediatric care, geriatric care requires specialized knowledge that will only be acquired through extensive and specific education and training.
Dental care, nail care, eye care, skin care, physiotherapy and cognitive care, to name just a few areas of allied health, all require different and more extensive knowledge and expertise over the years. beyond the level sufficient for adults who are not yet affected by the aging ravages of the last stage of human life.
Australia will not have a high quality aged care system until the training required to become an aged care professional is much more comprehensive, specialized and informed by new medical research.
Ruth Farr, Blackburn South
Lost authenticity
Authentic leaders don’t need miracles; they have a vision, a goal and a plan. Authentic leaders confront and address crises; they do not avoid them and blame others. Genuine leaders don’t do political stunts like washing a young woman’s hair in a salon, being a passenger in a Bathurst supercar, or playing the ukulele around the kitchen table for a staged TV interview. Authentic leaders don’t need empathetic consultants and currying favor with anti-vaxxers. Authentic leaders truly believe and show that they “carry the pipe” for all.
Susan Constable, Elwood
Love thy neighbor
Growing up, I was taught that being a Christian meant striving to be Christlike in our lives. If you believe the story, then you know he made no distinction with who he walked and dined with or fed and blessed. “Love your neighbour” was his maxim.
Marion Pritchard, North Ringwood
No uke!
Scott Morrison may have scored an own goal by allowing himself to be filmed playing the ukulele. I doubt I was the only one recalled his vacation in Hawaii.
Gaye Boswell, Wantirna South
AND SOMETHING ELSE
Politics
Hawaiian shirts, Hawaiian vacations, and now the ukulele. Where will this end? Aloha can mean hello or goodbye.
Richard Opat, Elsternwick
Now I understand why the PM went to Hawaii. I’m stupid. He learned to play the ukulele. I can’t wait to see her hula hula.
Myra Fisher, East Brighton
The Prime Minister’s Family 60 Minute Show will have the same impact as watching Bill Shorten’s daily jogging routine before the last election.
Ian Hetherington, Moama
Will the barrel be big enough for all the pig – and the ukulele?
Rosemary Lithgow, Maryborough
How about trying out a real guitar, Prime Minister, and real politics?
Bernd Rieve, Brighton
Scott Morrison’s ukulele stunt was up there in the commendable stakes with his hair-washing stunt. This man is supposed to be the prime minister of Australia.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Sorry Geoff Lipton (Letters, 12/2), respect has to be earned, and from where I sit Scott Morrison has done absolutely nothing during his time as Prime Minister to have earned any.
Glenn Murphy, Hampton Park
Stephen Jones MP for Australian Father of the Year
Linda Driscoll, Armadale
If Anthony Albanese is China’s candidate of choice, surely Peter Dutton is the CIA member.
Matthew Kelly, Upwey
Since the 1950s, the religious right has had too much political clout. So much for differentiating between religion and politics.
Michael McKenna, Warragul
Finally
″Workers use their own means, not unions, to get a raise″ (9/2). With real wages falling, this is exactly what conservative governments want.
Peter Baddeley, Portland
