Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
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LOCAL COUNCILS
I appreciate that The Age is helping voters to make decisions during the current council elections by shedding light on the candidates’ priorities (“Sacked councillors contest elections as donors masked,” 2/10) but I was shocked by what I read.
As deeply disturbed as I am by what is happening in Israel and Gaza, it is ludicrous that the current list of council candidate priorities places the international issue of “Gaza” above the local issues of bike lanes and libraries which are actually issues where councils can do something important.
I would hope, however, as a cyclist, that the future councils will increase and improve bike lanes, not reduce them as the survey results suggest, as cycling is very good environmentally and for fitness. I urge council candidates to reconsider their priorities.
Amy Bachrach, McKinnon
Councillors don’t rate health as a priority
The Age should be commended for this week’s spotlight on local elections and what candidates are campaigning for. There are 40 candidates listed for Darebin Council where I live, and only 23 were invested enough to respond to the four questions posed by The Age – not a great sign of engaged democracy.
I was further dismayed to see that none of the 40 candidates mentioned health as a priority issue, despite the fact that all local governments are responsible for four-year Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plans which are a legislated requirement of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (Vic). Councils have such an important role in supporting healthy communities because health is determined by where we are born, live, learn, work, play and age, which means that housing and public open space planning decisions should be linked to local government health planning. Asking candidates about how they are going to support public health would be a great question in future years.
Professor Melanie Davern, Australian Urban Observatory, RMIT University
Holding councillors to their commitments
The 11 Boroondara traders associations certainly agree with any “Move to get high streets firing again”, 4/10. We have been concerned that in spite of economic development being a top priority of Boroondara Council, less than 0.9 per cent of this year’s budget is directed to it and support staff have now been cut to only 2.5.
The presidents of our associations have sent a joint letter to all candidates asking them to support a range of policy initiatives, including doubling the number of staff, a larger funding allocation, more support for trader events and for shopping strips that are not supported by a levy, and a review of “red tape” and action to cut it.
Of the 38 candidates, 22 responded. Two of the sitting councillors were very supportive. Three others, while acknowledging the importance of our strip shopping centres, were more inclined to refer us to the current council record. Most new candidates were very supportive, with several providing very comprehensive replies. However, a few were a bit wary of making any commitments. Our associations look forward to working with a new council and holding it to its commitments and promises.
Bob Stensholt, president, Ashburton Traders Association
THE FORUM
Dividing, not conquering
With the anniversary of the despicable Hamas attack on Israel approaching, no doubt our city streets will be filled with protesters decrying this dreadful event. Similarly, there will be protesters reminding us of the now extreme reaction by Israel as it pursues the Hamas attackers in Gaza and the exchange of hostilities with Hezbollah in Lebanon (“Top cops urge calm ahead of protests”, 4/10).
Understandably, there will be protesters who have close connection with people on both sides of the conflict attending in support of their cause. Then there will be young people who have strong beliefs and want to vigorously support them.
However, there are others who will join in to be able to say, I took part in this major event.
Ultimately, the event will not cause significant action by the federal government, as any reaction will have little effect on the outcome of events in the Middle East. Nor, will it change community views, most who consider many on both sides have gone too far in their protest. What it may do is further divide sections of our community. The hatred and division engendered by these gatherings cannot be in the national interest.
Bill Pimm, Mentone
Dutton’s dire warnings
Waleed Aly asks ″does Peter Dutton read the legislation he votes for?″ (″Free speech U-turn is under way, with Peter Dutton leading the charge″, 4/10). The answer is simple. He doesn’t care one way or the other. He plays his only cards, negativity and outrage, at every instance.
He has nothing positive to offer on any issue. Creating division and fear are his only objectives. He knows the adage, taught to him well by Howard and Abbott, that when people are afraid they tend to vote conservative and that is the only game that matters.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
LNP hyperventilation
Sussan Ley and Peter Dutton need to stop hyperventilating and remember, there is a difference between a person breaking a law and that person saying something that you may not agree with. If a law is broken then the police investigate.
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor
Calm heads required
Sussan Ley wants to deport an Iranian national for carrying a flag and, if hearsay has it, taking an unjustified rhetorical swipe at Australia. Police chiefs across Australia are calling for calm heads, speech that doesn’t inflame a difficult situation and actions that are respectful and measured. What part of these requests does Ley not understand?
Jane Edwards, Peterhead, SA
Thuggery, not war
Am I correct? Are people planning to celebrate/recognise/admire/acknowledge the event which started the war in Gaza? This October 7 event was not soldier to soldier, but thuggery against people at home.
Ellen Gibson, Inverloch
Lay off supermarkets
I have had a stomach full of the criticism levelled at Coles and Woolworths. Perhaps some thought could be given by those pushing the likes of Aldi which employs skeleton staff, often has only a ″choice″ of one product type, and all its profit goes overseas. It is a private company, unlike Coles and Woolworths which are publicly owned companies owned by shareholders and super fund members. Profits stay in Australia and support Australians. Both employ thousands, pay a huge amount in taxes and provide choice of product. To those believing they make huge profits, Coles, for example, makes a profit of around $2.30 per $100 spent.
And if anyone believes things would be better if these two companies were broken up, think again. Economies of scale would see prices rise, and anyone who could afford to take over such businesses would be an overseas conglomerate. Aldi and Costco would be laughing.
Mike Weiss, Vermont South
Who decides ‘merit’?
Your correspondent (Letters, “There will always be a group that misses out”, 4/10) asks “what is systemic racism”, before proceeding to advocate for meritocracy over diversity as the “fairest way” to decide on appointments. When the dominant group in society determines what constitutes “merit”, that is systemic racism at work.
Mark Summerfield, Northcote
Diversity key
Your correspondent (Letters, “There will always be a group that misses out”, 4/10) advocates for appointments based on merit rather than diversity but this either/or approach is based on one particular definition of merit which needs to be challenged.
Instead of seeing diversity in opposition to merit, most successful organisations know it is important to have a wide range of experience, insights and skills and so diversity is a key factor in the definition of merit when building their teams.
Even AFL teams use diversity as a key merit principle when they select players. That’s why instead of having 23 midfielders, who by a narrow definition (e.g. Brownlow votes, high draft picks) are the most meritorious, all teams also have rucks, and talls and smalls, and forwards and defenders.
Smart organisations know it’s not a case of diversity or merit; rather that diversity is a central part of the definition of merit.
Graham Phelps, Ocean Grove
Hiding in plain sight
Re Letters, ″ABC is not alone, racism is in every Australian workplace″, 3/10. Systemic racism in a workplace refers to an entrenched racist attitude in its culture that continuously reaffirms itself. Sometimes, it runs so deep it is not recognised, yet it impacts on everything from peer relationships, work performance, and staff well-being through to wider societal concerns. It can be a factor in, but is not the same as, racially influenced appointments: that’s discrimination. Racism also distorts perceptions of merit.
Emma Borghesi, Rye
Three years is enough
Your correspondent (Letters, ″Extend election cycle″, 3/10) should read some British newspapers to see what successive Tory governments have achieved with their five-year terms. Reasoned and clearly enunciated policies, devoid of deception are not hindered by three-year terms.
The unfolding horror and imposition of Victorian Labor’s high-density planning regime proves that we need to call it to account before its four-year term expires. Politicians and their lobbyists cannot be trusted with five-year terms.
James Richardson, Langwarrin
National interest missing
Re “Deeming has given the fuel to burn Pesutto” (The Age, 4/10). While this continuing division within the Liberal Party is good news for Labor, it is hardly good news for liberal democracy in Victoria. A liberal democracy requires a sensible opposition that contributes to good governance and participates in the contest of ideas. The model on display in Victoria is of an opposition indulging itself in an orgy of dissent. In Canberra, we have the Dutton-led LNP indulging in opposing everything and practising the “grievance” politics of division. When will this nation grow up and show respect for the national interest?
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Shed the plastic
I’m feeling guilty. I find it difficult to use a whole bunch of celery, so I often succumb to an over-priced half bunch. But today I unravelled 122 centimetres of wrap before I could chop my celery. To make amends, starting today, I will unravel and unwrap unnecessary plastic in the supermarket and leave it behind, hoping some others may get the message: plastics are killing us. Then I’ll move onto The Age plastic wrap.
Susan Mahar, Fitzroy North
Science is good news
In times when local news is dominated by crippling debt, political infighting, union corruption, and youth crime, what a delight to read recent articles (“How Victorian research (and brains”) produced a new schizophrenia drug” and ‘The ‘plant-like’ structure in humans that could block tumours’) by science reporter Angus Dalton. These excellent pieces, outlining research undertaken by scientists, illustrate how the state is making an important contribution towards the development of treatments for a variety of medical conditions.
Daphne Briggs, Beaumaris
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Politicians
Forget a PC. The first piece of equipment needed by a Liberal MP is a tape recorder.
Barry Culph, St Leonards
Tut tut, political parties (Victorian Liberals, national Greens) having public brawls with their own politicians. Perhaps it’s time for them to seriously examine their preselection processes.
Kevan Porter, Alphington
If federal elections were held every four years on a set date, we might have politicians not focused on the next election, but on the long-term future of our great country.
Wendy Brennan, Bendigo
Does Peter Dutton realise that governments directing police to arrest certain people, simply because of what they say, is the first step towards fascism?
Malcolm Fraser, Oakleigh South
Furthermore
Best chuckle of the week re Collins St skyscraper peregrine falcon family (4/10) was from the founder of the Victorian Peregrine Project: ″It’s pretty delightful to have a top-order predator in the banking district of Melbourne that isn’t human.″
Paul Jurkovsky, Ferntree Gully
US election
Buy a Tesla, contribute to Trump’s campaign.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
Surely, everybody knows now that Twitter is the former name of X and if not, let it be Elon Musk’s problem. Has any other company ever had so much free publicity after changing its name?
Richard Phillips, Bentleigh
Re ″Sky News forced to apologise after quoting fake Forrest tweet″, The Age, 4/10. It appears that not all tweets from the ″Twiggy Forrest″ are what they seem.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
The US Christian lobby group Faithful America is campaigning with the slogan Christians Against Trump (4/10). Doesn’t that spell cat?
Ross Ogilvie, Woodend
A substantial proportion of the far right in America want to outlaw abortion. There are now suggestions that birth control should also be forbidden. Presumably, the logical step is to forbid the sale of condoms. That should make for a very interesting discussion.
Jacki Burgess, Port Melbourne
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