In the comfortingly easy binary nature of the discussion of terrorist organisations such as Hamas, we seem to have conveniently forgotten a number of things, particularly the word “sympathiser” (“Dutton’s hard Gaza stance sparks new political row”, August 15).
Many peaceful and reasonable people, both Australians and Irish immigrants to Australia, would have been sympathetic to the IRA when it was a listed terrorist organisation, while completely eschewing their methods. They were not a threat to the safety and stability of our country. Exactly the same applies to Iraqi and Syrian refugees fleeing the violence perpetrated by Islamic State, Afghanis fleeing the Taliban and now Palestinians fleeing the violence in Gaza.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton knows there’s a world of difference between having some sympathy for some of the aims of an organisation and being a supporter, it just doesn’t suit his political ambitions to acknowledge it. Prue Nelson, Cremorne Point
Matt GoldingCredit:
The federal opposition’s proposal to deny entry to any Gazan refugees is both cruel and unnecessary, as David Crowe points out (“Heartless argument has a human and political cost”, August 15). We have friends here in Australia who are Palestinian Christians with relatives in Gaza. Those relatives share the same danger of being bombed or starving as their compatriots regardless of religion or political allegiance. I don’t believe you need to be the head of ASIO to work out they are unlikely to be Hamas supporters. Al Svirskis, Mount Druitt
Their country has been under Israeli occupation for decades, their homes have been routinely demolished to make way for illegal settlements and now almost 40,000 Gaza citizens lie dead, their homes, schools and hospitals in ruins. By any objective reckoning, these are desperate and legitimate refugees who deserve our compassion and support. Dutton’s cruel response would deny their humanity as well as their right to seek shelter as far as possible from the war which rages around them. Merona Martin, Meroo Meadow
What was Dutton thinking when he said, “I don’t think people should be coming in from that war zone at all at the moment”? Was he worried that: allowing anyone to come to Australia from a war zone is bad policy; or just all refugees from Gaza are a risk to Australia; or that all Muslims are a risk to Australia; or that our security services are incompetent in assessing risk with each visa application? Given the UN refugee convention, to which Australia is a signatory, was founded on the mass movement of refugees from war zones, his rationale appears to lack logic. Whatever the reason, I wish he would explain it. Otherwise, he sounds like Trump’s categorisation of Mexican “illegal immigrants” as “murderers and rapists” and “animals”. Matthew Coates, Narrawallee
Let’s hope Crowe is right in his analysis of Dutton’s stance on Australia’s intake of refugees from Gaza. As Crowe points out Australia has a long history of taking refugees from war-torn countries, a policy that Dutton himself has supported when in cabinet. So what is different now? Is it just an opportunity to say “I told you so” if anything goes wrong? Gordon Lambert, Kiama Downs
Dutton is quoted as saying his job “was to act in the country’s best interests”. If that’s the case, he should rethink his divisive and inflammatory rhetoric. The level of anger, animosity, bitterness, enmity and division that he aroused during the Voice referendum, and now over the Middle East conflict, has no place in our country. We need leaders who unite us, not divide us, and we have no need for Trumpian politics here. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
If we are going to put a hold on immigration from Gaza in case they are supporters of Hamas, we also need to put a hold on immigration from Israel in case they are supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu. John Croker, Woonona
Just over 2900 visas to citizens from a country that has been effectively razed with 40,000 dead and 8746 visas to the citizens of the country doing it? Seems fair. Brenton McGeachie, Queanbeyan West
Dutton is reckless and a risk to our national unity. Mark Porter, New Lambton
Caution required
I understand that we might wish to open our doors to the suffering people of Gaza at their time of need. It is a humanitarian response. My concern is that we have an extraordinary rise in antisemitism in our own community. Council meeting stormed by protesters, a parliamentarian’s office has been vandalised. Swastikas are now de rigueur. Jewish kids are threatened and intimidated at school. Jewish businesses are being boycotted. Services are being denied to Jewish people, such as laminating a family photograph. How will this schism improve by welcoming thousands of people from Gaza? I’m not sure that Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s plan will end well (other than his electoral support). We must be cautious. I rarely find myself agreeing with Dutton, but his position is just plain sensible. Bill Karras, Double Bay
Unfortunately, the pro-Palestinian group have shot themselves in the foot, so to speak. Their strident, aggressive and vocal stance has not just pushed many Australians to view Palestinians negatively but has generally frightened many people. While I do not think Australians want to see the war in Gaza continue, nor do they want the war brought to our streets and suburbs. Proper vetting and checks are right and proper and not racist as some members of our communities want us to believe. Susan Durman, Pyrmont
Rubble-rousers.Credit: Matt Golding
Crowe claims that “not all Palestinian people are Hamas supporters” and notes that the terror group only received 44 per cent of the vote when it took control of Gaza in 2006. But what Palestinians thought of Hamas almost two decades ago is not the critical issue. What is far more relevant is that, according to the recent polls conducted by The Palestinian Center for Policy Survey and Research and reported by Reuters, three in four of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank supported the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7. Like Dutton and other Coalition politicians, I do not want individuals who support or indeed aid terrorists part of Australian society. John Kempler, Rose Bay
Dutton may well have been heartless but it is worthwhile being very careful who we let into Australia from Gaza. We know that a significant percentage of Gazans supported the Hamas massacre of October 7.
Some Australian Muslims are already at a heightened level of emotion on the topic and we cannot afford to fuel their sentiments with pro-Hamas refugees bringing their “lived experience” accounts. The result is very likely to be more antisemitism and deepening divisions in our society.
I’m not saying a blanket no to Gaza refugees but I am saying authorities need to be careful with who they open the door to. They must take their duty of care to Australians seriously. John Whiteing, Willoughby
Having political parties on council is a garbage idea
The shemozzle that is the Liberal Party’s nomination kerfuffle in various local government areas leads to a pertinent point: Why on earth do we have political parties in local government at all (“Liberals in chaos over deadline blunder”, August 15)? Does your garbage bin (red, yellow or green-lidded) care if your councillor leans left or right? I know my bin doesn’t –it just wants to be cleared every week. Jennie Curtin, Blackheath
The party that prides itself on staff cutbacks and inadequate program support when in government has bitten itself on the bottom. Sue Dyer, Downer (ACT)
Does your garbage bin - red, yellow or green-lidded - care if your councillor leans left or right?Credit: Dominic Lorrimer.
A source has said the nomination blunder could be felt in state elections with Liberal councillors using local government as a stage to boost their profile. Whatever happened to using local government as a platform for serving the community? Lyn Langtry, East Ryde
Surely, the recent debacle of council nominations must dispel the myth that the Liberal party is the party of superior management. Sharelle Fellows, Gulgong
Attending to basic paperwork is the least we expect from a party that (somewhat condescendingly) always claims to be the best at running the place. I’m reminded of the line from Blackadder that there hasn’t been an administrative cock-up this bad “since Olaf the Hairy ordered 80,000 battle helmets with the horns on the inside”. Adrian Connelly, Springwood
Proper consultation
Alexandra Smith’s piece points out that the rollout of the $2.8b replacement train fleet has been delayed, in part, because of an “almighty stoush” with the rail union over safety issues (“Metro’s ready to go. But for regional trains, expect delays”, August 15). Which raises the question - why weren’t the unions consulted during the procurement process so that safety concerns could be built into the design? I imagine the answer is that NSW had a Coalition government at the time, but even so wouldn’t it have been better to have everyone on board before committing to a multi-billion dollar investment? Greg Phillipson, Aranda (ACT)
The Minns government inherited the intercity train imbroglio from the Coalition. Yes, modifications have been required to satisfy the union. But one has to ask why does it take so long to convert a 21st century train design back to a 19th century version with flag wavers/whistleblowers on the platform and train. Surely, the trains could have been operating already to save some of that $30million a month holding cost and get some value from the already ageing $2.4billion investment. Poor planning, poor management, poor result. Stuart Manley, Soldiers Point
I live in the Blue Mountains, and despite two decades of regular travel on the inter-city service, I am still constantly dismayed by the poor quality of the trains, and the erratic level of service. I now travel to the city and back every Tuesday. When I farewell my husband in the morning and say I’ll see him around 6pm, we both know it’s aspirational rather than a commitment. Denise Hartman, Leura
Deep gratitude
As a former GP, and from personal experience, elder abuse (adult abuse by their children) is powered by the abusers’ decline into drugs, crime and prostitution (the triad of evil). They lie for personal advantage (“Peggy’s son stole her money and forced her to live in a shed. This is how she broke free”, August 15). The abused become embroiled in the world of mental health, social services, clinical psychological assessments, the police and detectives. The abused individual’s life turns into a nightmare.The Family Court becomes involved with multiple appearances before their Honours, and many a grandparent ends up being the carer of the abuser’s children who have been neglected, Society owes these individuals a deep gratitude. It certainly does not offer any pay so it is a labour of love. Greg Lewin, Tumbi Umbi
School secrets
As a former School Education Director for the NSW Department of Education, I wanted to share some professional observations (“A few secrets help girls school rise”, August 15). Birrong Girls High is an outstanding school. It has benefited from great leadership over many years and its superb teaching team who are committed to sustained ongoing professional learning. Birrong Girls has wonderful role models among its former students who set the bar high for future generations and like all “great” schools it has a stunning library that encourages reading and literacy acquisition. Rod Leonarder, Roseville
Big spenders
I find it somewhat amusing to say the least that every so often the so-called “boomers” are unfavourably compared to the younger generation (“Boomers spend, Zoomers struggle as economic divide widens”, August 15). However, the “boomers”, if we must generalise, worked their butts off all their lives to save and are therefore able to enjoy their retired years, whatever is left of them. By contrast, it doesn’t take much to see that the so-called “zoomers” tend to spend as if there is no tomorrow (the bank of Mum and Dad is around the corner)! They have no idea what saving for a rainy day means and the reason is not lack of income. Just take a look around at entertainment venues, restaurants, fashion shops, music and other festivals and so on. Dimitris Langadinos, Concord West
Credit: John Shakespeare
Of course Boomers have more spending money. That is because a significant proportion of Boomers no longer have financially dependant children or a mortgage. Denis Goodwin, Dee Why
True voice
Isn’t it heartening that the gambling industry has managed to achieve a Voice to parliament without the need for a messy referendum (Letters, August 15)? Jack Amond, Cabarita
Wise Keating
Thank goodness for Paul Keating, his wisdom, knowledge of history and understanding of China and the Chinese people (Letters, August 15). It is time Australia started thinking for itself and not kowtowing to US skewed geopolitical analysis. Taiwan is closer to mainland China than Tasmania is to Australia and, of course, Taiwan is part of China. If not, did the ruling class of China invade a foreign country in 1950 when it took over Taiwan? Kay Halstead, Mosman
Hard work
Your correspondent suggests a column each week with guest lawyers criticising judicial decisions (Letters, August 15). Although the winners will fawn all over the judges (“you are so wise, your Honour”) and losers will be happy to put the boot in, I suggest your correspondent consider that, like ballet and ice skating, it all looks effortless until one tries it oneself. Eva Elbourne, Pennant Hills
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