Matt GoldingCredit: .
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Special interest politics
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last week, ″I don’t think and don’t want Australia to go down the road of faith-based political parties because what that will do is undermine social cohesion.″ I’m not sure how he missed it, but actually Australia has plenty of these and has done so for quite some time. Even Wikipedia has a page on Christian political parties in Australia. I’m not as old as Albanese, but I firmly recall the Fred Nile era.
As a non-religious person, I view religious political parties through the same lens as any other special interest party, like the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, or the Animal Justice Party. They raise the profile of their issue, they get a seat now and then, all power to them. It’s called (wait for it) a democracy.
Given his comments were made with reference to the establishment of a Muslim voting group (and here we recall the long-term existence of the Australian Christian Lobby) it’s really hard to not see this as Islamophobia and/or dog whistling.
Kylie Carville,
Preston
Loss of faith
The recent news that Israel is proposing to occupy and develop more stolen and occupied land in the West Bank went without comment by Anthony Albanese, for which the only conclusion is that the government belief in a two-state solution are empty words. Little wonder the senator Fatima Payman from Western Australia opted out of the government.
Rob Park, Surrey Hills
Heed these words, PM
Anthony Albanese may well need to reflect on Jeremy Corbyn’s comment in the recent British election that ″dissent cannot be crushed without consequences″.
Bryan Lewis, St Helena
Different standards
I disagree with the comments of many in letters and “opinion” that ALP rules regarding parliamentary members voting with party policy are undemocratic. I often disagree with government legislation but, while free to vote against and protest at them, must obey them or face the consequences.
One difference is that I can publicly state my viewpoint whereas MPs must pretend to agree with party policy.
This laughably dishonest situation is encouraged by gleeful reporting of “gotcha” moments whenever MPs personally disagree with party policy.
A more mature and democratic situation would allow party members to air their partyroom vote and arguments in public while voting with the party in parliament.
This would give us a better understanding of representatives we vote for. If Fatima Payman had been able to express her views in caucus, accept the caucus vote and then explain her views publicly without a media pile-on, she may have remained a party member.
The “holy cow” of party-room secrecy not party solidarity is anti-democratic.
Michael Langford, Ivanhoe
Dating doldrums
Our daughter’s dating experience is sadly becoming common in her age group. A delightful, successful and empathetic young woman in her 30s she is now freezing her eggs having not been able to meet any guy mature and reliable enough to enter into an equal partnership.
I grieve for these beautiful got-their-act together young women whose dating experience leaves them hurt and dispirited and planning motherhood alone.
Heather Rogers,
Geelong West
Nixon not impeached
Your correspondent (Letters, 5/7) cites the late Richard Nixon as a US president who was impeached. For the record, Nixon resigned in advance of impeachment, from the Watergate scandal, knowing that he would otherwise be impeached.
Anthea Hyslop, Eltham
Failed state
To say, as some correspondents have, that the US Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity is ″un-American”, demonstrates a romantic view of the US, which while not “foundationist”, is fixed on America as it was 100 years ago. Simply, the court decision reveals America today – a failed state, propped up by weapons sales and ripe for revolution, where the idealistic cliches of the past are just a bitter joke for the millions struggling to survive while the uber-rich flaunt their obscene wealth.
John Laurie, Riddells Creek
A humble Trump?
Much is being made during the US presidential race of the support Donald Trump is receiving from the evangelical Christians and their adherence to Biblical scripture. Maybe they need to read Luke 18, verse 14 more carefully: ″For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.″ The world would like to see America making itself humble again and Trump a whole lot less boastful and conceited.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Not all a UK success
Congratulating Keir Starmer on his election as British prime minister, Peter Dutton praised Labour’s policies on nuclear energy and said ″there is much Australia can learn from the British experience″.
Perhaps of more relevance to Australian political parties was the comment in The Guardian’s newsletter last week, pointing out that ″against the grain″ of its electoral success, ″[Labour] did suffer some notable losses ... mostly in areas with large Muslim populations – suggesting that anger at the party’s position on the war in Gaza had played a part″.
Bev Roberts, Newport
From first to near last
Your correspondent, in discussing the possible emergence of a Muslim political party (Letters, 6/7) asserts that Australia’s last primarily religiously based party was the Democratic Labor Party. I would argue that that ″honour″ belongs to the now virtually defunct Family First Party with its strong base in Pentecostalism which exerted undue influence for much of the 21st century.
Peter Price, Southbank
Words for a dying planet
Columnist Ross Gittins is on the money (″Nature positive″, 6/7). If we continue to run down our natural inheritance, the bottom line will be an unliveable planet.
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton
Sorry, in a meeting
John Cleese made corporate training videos in the ’70s, one titled Meetings, Bloody Meetings: where ″minutes were kept and hours wasted″.
Peter Thomas, Pascoe Vale