Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT
Dan Perry identifies Middle East nuclear proliferation as a global problem (“Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon are different from what’s happening in Gaza. Here’s why”, 30/9). I see another: we should be concerned at the technological drift exemplified by Israel’s latest successes in Lebanon.
Set aside for now the tangled roots of Israel’s numerous wars with neighbours over 80 years, and consider the challenge to peace represented by its recent long-range targeted killings. It is no longer necessary for an agent to do the deed in person, as with the Sarajevo archduke in 1914, or with Putin’s poisoners in the UK in 2006, or by US SEALS with Osama bin Laden in north Pakistan in 2011. Declarations of war were discarded long ago. Now surprise desk-top murder, planned or casual, is the norm, as Julian Assange’s Iraq footage showed.
Is it viable for Israel’s future security to be based on such superior cyber-warfare capacity? What does all this imply for our $386 billion submarine program, when it could soon be easy for Pine Gap to send a pulse to “take out” the leadership of a nation threatening Australia – or indeed the reverse? And is it time our government initiated national discussion of the morality of all this, prior to seeking a review of the Geneva Conventions on the rules of war?
Ken Blackman, Inverloch
Protecting a refuge
Your correspondent says “I believe in the existence of Israel” and its right to defend its people but the actions of the Israeli government are not warranted (“Complicit in destruction”, Letters, 30/9). Well, there are many others who deplore the death and destruction of warfare.
However, when the enemy hides its armaments, fighters and command centres among the civilian population and in and under civilian infrastructure, the deaths of non-combatants is inevitable. The events of the Holocaust are within living memory, as is the then world’s failure to prevent it. The massacres of October 7 by Hamas last year (praised by Hezbollah and Iran) is still an open wound on the Israeli psyche and brings back the dark history of the Holocaust.
Israel exists for a return and refuge for the Jewish peoples where they are persecuted and under threat.
Your correspondent does not mention that Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and its other proxies have the stated objective of the destruction of the state of Israel and its Jewish population, nor the fact where Iran’s proxies hold sway, their ancient Jewish communities no longer exist.
Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe
No licence to slaughter
It may be, as the Israelis claim, that Hamas and Hezbollah are using civilians as human shields. That does not give Israel a licence to slaughter those civilians in their pursuit of the leaders of those organisations.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Changing our minds
Shockingly, I find myself agreeing with Peter Dutton (“AFP to investigate Hezbollah flag displays at Sunday protests”, 30/9). Marching or brawling in support of terrorists may or may not be judged as a criminal offence, but we have laws permitting the denial of visas on character grounds other than criminality. In the spirit of those laws, it should be possible to cancel a visa even if those character grounds have surfaced after entry.
Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West
A matter of perspective
The presence of Hezbollah flags at a pro-Palestine demonstration is neither “highly alarming” nor “disturbing”, but a predictable, inevitable and totally normal response in a multicultural democracy. One person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter. It entirely depends which side you’re on. Raging about a flag in our land of peace while the US continues to supply Israel with all the weapons it wants, is nauseating indeed.
John Laurie, Riddells Creek
THE FORUM
Planning gaps
As a long-time resident of Preston and Reservoir, I’m disappointed by the state government’s proposed planning reforms (“Suburbs to bear brunt of high-rise build blitz”, 30/9). The urban design principles which sit behind these plans for “activity centres” have not been created with or for our community. The plans do not include measures that protect the Preston Market. And what about new public spaces that promote health or wellbeing, like parks or community centres?
These plans are a government betraying its constituency.
Esther Doecke, Reservoir
More than houses
With the new high-rises planned for many suburbs, will there be new schools to go with them given most local schools are full? Don’t even mention childcare. Would it be too much to ask that they think this through?
Michael Carver, Hawthorn East
Use the space
The area above railway lines, not necessarily railway stations, provides the space for new apartments rather than reworking existing suburbs.
Malcolm Cameron, Camberwell
Had it ‘up to’ here
Retail advertising is under review, and it is time the practice of promoting discounts “up to” a certain percentage be called out. They are meaningless, as they do not relate to any specific sale item and in fact mislead the buying public. They are designed to get a purchaser inside the store, rather than offering a genuine discount. Currently, the retailer only has to have one item at the advertised discount price for the advertised statement to be considered valid.
Retailers should be required to name the items at the advertised discount, rather than the buying public being misled into believing that it represents a general discount across the store. When is the ACCC going to take some action to stop this practice?
Don Baird, Glen Waverley
In the dark
As Sean Kelly writes, “markets” and “capitalism “are not the same thing (“They’re tackling Coles and Woolies, but who’ll dare break up the political duopoly?” 30/9). Efficient markets require genuine competition between buyers and sellers who have accurate knowledge of how the market operates. But this transparency is the last thing businesses want. Instead, they try to keep their competitors and customers in the dark. Much is “commercial in confidence”.
While it is tempting to focus on the big banks and supermarkets, lack of transparency is a key element of all privately owned businesses. The consumer is rarely in a position to know how much profit the friendly plumber or the local greengrocer is making on the product or service being sold. They just hope it is “reasonable”.
Of course, the consumer could ask the plumber or greengrocer for that information, but is likely to be told to mind their own business.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
Economic achievements
There’s a lot of ill-informed rhetoric being spread about the state of our economy since 2022. Although the cost of living seems to have increased, close examination of the figures shows the government isn’t the real culprit. There have been two budget surpluses, allowing debt to be paid off. Inflation has reduced from over 6 per cent to 3.8 per cent. Unemployment has remained low. Various sectors of the workforce have had wage rises. There have been tax cuts as well.
However, we have seen continued profiteering by supermarkets and banks, and investors distorting the housing market and inflating house prices. Large companies still appear to pay less tax than they should, with some paying none at all. Mining companies are making huge profits selling our resources overseas and we receive little in royalties.
Can you imagine what it would have been like had the Coalition won in 2022 and continued on with its failing policies?
Greg Tuck, Warragul
Evening out
Your correspondent reckons that the 70 per cent of Australians who own their homes would punish any government that lowered the value of their homes by implementing much-need tax reforms to residential property (Letters, 29/9).
Australian home prices have become ridiculously out of proportion to earnings since the capital gains tax deduction on investment properties – which was supposed to encourage commercial investment, but has become a bonanza for residential investors. This is simply unsustainable in a fair society.
I bought my (hopefully last!) modest home 20 years ago and it has, apparently, quadrupled in value. But, apart from the annual rates bill shock, the increased value makes absolutely no difference to me because, if I decided to move, I’d be selling and buying in the same market. I wouldn’t be “cashing in” on property values.
I can understand a sensible correction to residential property prices might seem a disadvantage to owner-occupiers stretched by massive mortgages. But they, too, would be selling and buying in the same market, so any losses would be evened out. Overly geared investors with multiple properties might be disadvantaged, but I have no sympathy for greedy people playing the system to reduce their PAYE taxes and effectively exploiting the needs of other Australians for an affordable roof over their heads.
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn
Nuclear not a starter
Mike Foley makes clear that federal opposition leader Peter Dutton’s plan for nuclear power plants in Australia is not even a starter (“What will Coalition plan for nuclear power really cost?” 30/9). The costs are prohibitive, and the timeline is impossible. The ban on nuclear power would have to be lifted, and a workforce recruited and trained. The latter alone would take about 20 years: time we do not have given the increasing rate of global heating. Dutton’s plan includes two small modular reactors, none of which is operating anywhere in the world without full government funding. Is Dutton’s nuclear plan a distraction from really important issues such as reducing emissions and fighting climate change?
Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin, ACT
Different worlds
The letter “An old Hyundai gives way to Mercedes and Teslas” (30/9) reminded me of a car I saw on a hoist in my mechanic’s workshop a few weeks ago. It was a battered white Kia Reo, overloaded with assorted items. I will admit to casting aspersions upon some of the vehicles I see in there, generally Mercedes, Audi and BMW trucks (they are not cars), but I said nothing about the Kia. My mechanic said, “It’s his home. He lives in it.” He also said, “We do what we can.”
Every reference to the multimillion-dollar pool at PLC horrifies me. We may all live on the same planet, but we inhabit different worlds.
Helen Moss, Croydon
A new path
Inequality is one of humanity’s greatest challenges (“Inequity”, Letters, 30/9). Several years ago, a small U3A group in Box Hill was contemplating the future direction we should take. We concluded our greatest task in life should be to discover who we were, and in the process develop a global consciousness towards each other and a global consciousness towards the natural world. We suggested that in today’s world of overall material wealth, education and longevity we were the first generation that could contemplate this ideal en masse. To die without ever knowing who you truly were seemed a sad conclusion to life.
This change in motivation has the potential to greatly impact on the current obscene inequality we all witness, since we would no longer need our current drive to selfishly accumulate wealth to achieve a successful life.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North
Traditional entertainment
Grand final entertainment was at its best in the late 1960s. At 9.30am, the future stars of the VFL were on display in the under-19 match to decide the premiers. At noon was the reserves final. These games were often close, and the growing crowd was very spirited and engaged. The national anthem preceded the big one at 2.30, after the umpires had been accompanied onto the field by mandatory but good-natured boos.
At half-time, the crowd welcomed the massed bands of the armed services, full of brass, drums and bagpipes. The first week of the finals had featured the Navy band, the second week had the Air Force band, with the preliminary final being the turn of the Southern Command Army band in their bright red uniforms. Seeing all three in action together on grand final day was a special treat, as they marched from the Punt Road end to the city end of the MCG, and back again.
Of course the major attraction was the three football matches, with the bandsmen and women, a close second. AFL, take note. Fine entertainment, at a total cost of about 120 free tickets for the musicians.
Alan McLean, Queenscliff
Not disused
Your correspondent (Letters, 30/9) lauds the proposed “Elite Park” development as a diversion from screen time while awaiting a flight. But this “disused land” at Melbourne Airport is in fact critically endangered grassland, on which native critters depend. Fortunately, the site is still federally owned and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek promised: “No more extinctions.”
Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills
Vale Kris
Sometimes in life we come across inspirational people who impact our lives in real terms, Kris Kristofferson was mine. His incredible lyrics became my lifetime bible. The number of great artists who covered his songs says it all. He seemed to sing of my life. I have played his music for many decades and will continue to enjoy his musical legacy. Vale Kris and thanks!
Geoff Cooper, Healesville
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
AFL grand final
Now we’ve seen what Chris Fagan has achieved at 63, maybe society and employers will reconsider rampant ageism and appreciate what older Australians can achieve.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
Let us hope, for their sake, that the Brisbane Lions do not over-celebrate their grand final victory like Collingwood did last year.
Damon Ross, St Kilda East
Could the $5 million spent on the performance by Katy Perry have been better spent on local football?
Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East
It’s no surprise that the AFL were in a position to reportedly spend $5 million on Katy Perry when it charges $11.50 for a can of beer.
Mark Hulls, Sandringham
Your correspondent (Letters, 30/9) is correct when she writes that Fitzroy’s last premiership was in 1899. Except for 1904, 1905, 1913, 1916, 1922 and 1944.
Peter Campbell, Newport
The Lions’ last grand final win as Fitzroy was memorable, in 1944 at the St Kilda ground as the MCG was occupied by US marines. There was a tram strike that day – so we all walked, to see the Tigers crushed!
John Miller, Toorak
Dutton and Credlin
So Peter Dutton uses Tony Abbott as a “sanity check” (The Age, 30/9). That is all we need to know.
Helmut Simon, Thomson
Peter Dutton is using Tony Abbott as a sanity check. The lunatic has taken over the asylum.
Andrew Budge, Fitzroy
Furthermore
Don’t ban EVs for fear of Chinese tech, just insist on more manual controls. Apart from any security risk, having car functions locked to an internet-connected touch screen is a dumb move for safety reasons.
Tom Danby, Coburg North
It’s a pity Donald Trump is not the president. He would have stopped the Florida hurricane.
David Price, Camberwell
Finally
When it comes to grammar, why are people so predantic?
John Rawson, Mernda
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To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.