Andrew DysonCredit: .
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Arguably, the most bizarre aspect of the US Supreme Court’s decision to grant substantial immunity to Donald Trump is that it represents on the face of it a betrayal by the conservative majority of justices of their own much vaunted legal philosophy of ″originalism″. That is, the theory that judges are bound to interpret the Constitution as it would have been interpreted in the historical era when it was written. This literalism has clearly not been adhered to in the latest seminal judgment, widely seen as a potentially king-making exercise. As expounded by founding father Alexander Hamilton, a United States president, in contrast to the corrupt monarchs of the old European world, was not to be considered ″sacred and inviolable″. The framers of the US Constitution were only too keenly aware of the then existential dangers posed by kings, such as Britain’s George III; and an anti-monarchical ethos characterised the State Conventions leading up to the ratification of the federal Constitution in Philadelphia in 1787. To employ a modern phrase, the Supreme Court’s latest judgment could be seen as distinctly ″un-American″.
Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza
For the sake of the country, Biden must go
Does anyone think Joe Biden’s cognitive abilities will improve? He has done the people of the US and worldwide democracy a grave disservice by stating he is the only one who can defeat Donald Trump. Those close to him should not worry about keeping their jobs and do the right thing for the greater good. Biden is a decent man but people vote on perceptions and his image is not strong.
Pete Sands, Monbulk
A less violent path to power
The Supreme Court of the US, in effect, has created a dictatorship with its ruling. As defined, a dictatorship is an autocratic form of government that is characterised by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no limitations. Donald Trump didn’t need to organise the January 6 coup. He could have just waited until 2024 and allowed the SCOTUS do it for him.
Greg Tuck, Warragul
Waiting on new hope
In the wake of the staggering US Supreme Court decision to allow the president wide immunity from prosecution, the only hope for a stable US democracy now is for a win by the Democrats in the November election. This will allow a responsible administration to work out how to save American democracy, for instance by appointing additional responsible Supreme Court judges, to overturn this dangerous and unprecedented decision.
Matthew Hamilton, Kew
Next up, Biden refuses election result
What a baffling day as the US Supreme Court has ruled that the president has wide-ranging immunity from almost anything. Donald Trump claims that this excuses his attempt to overturn the last election result. However, if that is true then the same immunity must also apply to Joe Biden, who as the current president can simply ignore the next election results if he loses, and keep ruling for as long as he chooses. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
Ray Pilbeam, Camberwell
Radical, dangerous, terrifying
The ruling of the highly politicalised US Supreme Court, declaring presidents are entitled to presumption of immunity from prosecution for all official acts, even if they’re criminal offences or against the Constitution, is radical, dangerous and terrifying.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham
If only they had lost the war
If America had lost the War of Independence it might now well be governed under the Westminster system of government with the possibility that it would be a way better country than it currently is.
David Eames-Mayer, Balwyn
THE FORUM
Matter of principle
Principles are funny things. Often we hold them without having to act on them and sometimes principles conflict with each other.
Senator Fatima Payman has recently experienced this having to choose between her commitment to a Palestine state and her membership of the Labor Party which she signed up to and in whose name she was elected to the Senate. She chose the former, which is her prerogative.
The real test is what she chooses to do next. Does she move to the crossbench or another party or return the Senate seat to Western Australians who voted Labor?
Naomi Brown,
North Perth
Labor needs to change
Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party could easily deal with the problem that has surfaced because of a principled stance taken by Senator Fatima Payman. They have at least two options.
One, remove the archaic and outdated requirement for all caucus members to vote as one on all issues. In today’s world the blind adherence to ideology is no longer sustainable or for that matter sensible.
Some issues require a more nuanced, personal touch and the current issue surrounding Israel/Palestine is a prime example of ideology being out of step with the broader community.
And second, simply (correctly) articulate a stronger position in support of the Palestinians in their war with Israel. The current insipid stance is weak-kneed and heartless in the extreme.
Jack Morris, Kennington
Thank the senator
At the last election Labor promised to support Palestinian statehood. At its national conference in 2023, where the short and long-term aspirations of the Labor Party were set out, it confirmed its support for recognition of Palestine as a state.
Now Labor has backpedalled and is not standing up to its promise to recognise Palestine as a sovereign state, despite 145 of the 193 United Nations member states doing so.
Senator Payman has shown up Labor to be outlier amongst countries concerned with averting the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. She should be thanked for this, not expelled.
Leigh Ackland, Deepdene
Nationalise assets
How ironic that we may be forced to import gas (“Nation could be forced to import gas”, 3/7) when we are one of the top exporters of liquefied gas. It is yet another example of Australia selling off its assets and resources to private companies who then make record profits.
The move towards greater use of renewables and the continuing electrification of our homes is welcome, but gas usage will still be required in Victoria as the transition continues. Rather than developing new gas fields and expanding storage, we should nationalise what were originally our own assets. Privatisation has only worked for the companies afforded these money-making opportunities and rarely for us, the consumers and original owners of the asset.
Denise Stevens, Healesville
Absurd situation
Only in Australia would you find the absurd situation where one of the largest producers and exporters of gas in the world is facing such domestic shortages that we are going to be importing gas.
Further, we are only getting a fraction of the tax revenue and, unbelievably, we are giving the industry billions in support such as the diesel rebate.
However, it would be unfair to only blame Labor as the LNP has been complicit and has thwarted attempts to increase resource taxes.
The underlying cause has been the successful lobbying in Canberra by multinationals and the generous funding to both Labor and the Coalition.
Barry Lizmore, Ocean Grove
Federal failure
That Australia is in the contradictory position of needing to import gas, while at the same time locked into gas export contracts is a dire reflection on the actions of past federal governments.
Prioritising export sales ahead of Australia’s essential domestic needs for gas at any time is a dereliction of responsibility at a federal level. Inevitably, it will be the consumer who meets the cost of this projected shortfall. Words fail me; the government fails us, collectively.
Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley
Gas reservation needed
OK Australia, we really have reached peak stupid. Australia is the largest exporter of natural gas in the world. Most of it goes overseas duty and tax free, and does not leave adequate supply for domestic use. Western Australia does not have this problem because it sensibly introduced a domestic gas reservation policy despite the gloom and doom cries of the gas giants. Produce more gas say the Coalition and industry, but what would be the point if they simply export it for yet more super profits? The solution is a nationwide gas reservation policy but do we have a government with the courage to take on the gas giants?
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Put politicians to the test
Move over pub test, it’s time that politicians passed the school test. It works like this: how would their behaviour look if it happened in the schoolyard or the classroom? If it would look immature, bullying-like, etc, then they’ve failed the school test. If it would look childish then they’ve also failed the school test. If it would look mature, adult-like, etc, then they’ve passed the school test.
Take for example: Peter Dutton saying that Anthony Albanese is a child in a man’s body. If someone said that in the schoolyard or the classroom, would it look mature or childish? Would it look like bullying? Would it pass the school test?
Liron Lightwood, Caulfield South
Be aware on roads
Kerri Sackville’s (Comment, 2/7) experience having a collision with a cyclist could so easily be any Victorian driver. We all ″look left, look right, look bike″, and with family members regularly cycling through the CBD to work I am cognisant of cyclists on our roads.
I have jammed on the brakes as a cyclist spun across the road in front of me, their wheel having been caught in the tram tracks; I have been startled as a cyclist appeared out of the shadows as I squinted into the sun pulling out from a parking space; and recently I was horrified dodging a cyclist riding illegally through the Burnley Tunnel. Yes, we drivers need to have our wits about us – but equally cyclists need to wear fluoro, have lights on their bikes, ride within the rules, and be alert as to how visible (or otherwise) they are to other road users.
Felicity Browne, Toorak
Walking the dog
Walking a dog should be almost walking alone but with company. Yet I rarely see this. Dogs are often feet ahead stretching the lead. Unpleasant for all.
″Heel″ means the dog walks on, ie next to your heel, at your pace and with the choker chain loose (if you need to tighten, do so across the shoulders please, not neck). This allows one to stop easily and allow pup to smell their surrounds. Being a bit strict early with puppy reaps immense rewards for many years for all.
Richard Pentony, Hawthorn
Set right priorities
Note to Jacinta Allan. The state budget is no different to the household budget and when you can’t afford something you pull back until you can afford it.
Today it’s our hospitals, schools, nurses, police and fire fighters (to name but a few) that need urgent attention and what we don’t need now, no matter how good an idea it may sound, is a Suburban Rail Link.
Let some future leader complete this project, but your job is to strengthen the community’s major facilities and needs today – not be remembered for a hole in the ground with dubious advantages – to the people of all Victoria.
Nathan Feld, Glen Iris
Same rule, different ride
Columnist Tony Wright tells us to “look where you want to go” (″At one with my bike″, 29/6).
The same is true for horse riding. Whether riding a dressage test, a show jumping course, or a cross-country course, when you look to the next place or next jump your body will also make slight and subtle adjustments and your horse will read those changes. It’s more than just steering with reins.
Kerry Bail, Beaconsfield Upper
Health cuts
In response to the letter ″Health Crisis″, (30/6), my daughter has been working at the Northern Hospital as a Registered Undergraduate Student of Nursing (RUSON) for the past 18 months. On Monday, she was given one month’s notice of dismissal, along with all other non-contractual RUSONs. The reason? Lack of government funding.
Patient care will absolutely be affected by losing RUSONs.
Margaret McNeill, Sunshine
Just make fares free
For many, public transport in Melbourne is conveniently free.
We’re often reminded by the state government that fare evasion is relatively modest and not a concern. I’m not sure if that’s wishful thinking but it doesn’t marry up with my own experience a few days ago.
I boarded a route 220 bus to Sunshine Railway Station in West Melbourne. During the 40-minute trip, 13 adult passengers boarded the bus. Only one touched on with a myki card. Small sample, but that works out to an evasion rate of more than 90 per cent.
Perhaps we can just make it free and stop the pretence.
Mark Mitchell, West Melbourne
Party charades
If Biden stands aside from nominations for president he can be the bigger man who took one for his party whereas Donald Trump is the man who took his party.
Christopher Butts, St Kilda
AND ANOTHER THING
The US
Maybe the Democrats can have Joe Biden run as a hologram of his former self.
Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West
With dictators in China and Russia and a strong possibility of one in America, one can only wonder, What could possibly go wrong?
Les Anderson, Woodend
As for the saying that nobody is above the law, in the light of the US ruling I will now have to rethink this.
Doug Springall, Yarragon
Once it was former president Trump, now it’s King Donald.
Thos Puckett, Ashgrove
How much damage can one man do to a now fragile experiment in democracy?
Bill Cleveland, Kew
If Joe Biden was to move an insurrection against the Supreme Court can he claim immunity from prosecution?
Gary Bryfman, Brighton
American democracy has lasted a long time but at last it has buckled. Under the weight of one man’s appointments the Supreme Court has destroyed that democracy. I see no way for it to be restored.
John Walsh, Watsonia
I’ve written to friends in the US that I have rooms for them. The colony battled to remove a king from their country, they now have another. All welcome (except Trump supporters).
Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill
Furthermore
Threatening divestiture laws, is Peter Dutton vying to become king of the supermarkets?
Joan Segrave, Healesville
Maybe Peter Dutton can bring back milk bars and general stores.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
The Coalition is the champion of big business, so its latest threat to big supermarkets rings a little hollow to say the least.
Phil Alexander, Eltham
Let’s detox from gas: slip in a heat pump, slop on insulation and slap on panels.
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton