Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
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DIPLOMACY
Your correspondent implies that Donald Trump’s appalling comments on Ukraine and its president are reasons why Peter Dutton shouldn’t become Australia’s next prime minister (Letters, 21/2).
But it was Dutton who responded strongly, directly criticising Trump by stating that “the thought that President Zelensky or the Ukrainian people ... were responsible for the war, is just wrong”. In contrast, out of fear of jeopardising Australian efforts to gain exemptions from US-imposed tariffs, Albanese said little more than that he was “not going to give an ongoing commentary on Trump’s remarks”.
Geoff Feren, St Kilda East
Will Trump come after Dutton if prime minister?
How the worm turns. To be frank, Peter Dutton’s about-face on Donald Trump caught me by surprise. From praising Trump as a “big thinker and a deal maker” who wants peace, to calling him out for making inflammatory and misleading statements about Ukraine and its president beggars belief.
Trump has a history of making inflammatory and misleading statements. It’s been a big part of his credo. You would have to be living under a rock if you weren’t aware of it, so why Dutton’s comments now? I can’t help think that this is a ploy in light of Labor’s weak stance when it comes to commenting on Trump’s behaviour. The risk now, of course, is will Trump come after Dutton, especially if he limps into the prime ministership?
Sadly, not enough people are brave enough to tackle Trump and his regime because that is what it is. A regime that is systematically dismantling democracy and the rule of law, in a country that, despite its faults, once was a beacon of democracy. We are in for a rough ride.
David Legat, South Morang
Albanese’s softly, softly approach
Peter Dutton does not understand diplomacy (The Age, 21/2). Thankfully, his comments are unlikely to seriously damage Australia’s international relationships or economy given they are as the opposition leader.
However, we should not forget the billions of dollars of damage that was done to our economy by the injudicious post-COVID comments about China made when he was last in government. Populists love to appear tough and decisive, with scant regard around the implications of their words.
Meanwhile the Albanese government deals thoughtfully with the challenge of managing relationships with the Trump administration in a way that does not harm the interests of ordinary Australians. An approach unlikely to be applied should Dutton be prime minister.
Russell Ogden, Inverloch
Dutton pounces for populist impact
Re ″Dutton called out over Gaza citizenship claim″, (21/2). Yet again, Dutton plants seeds in the hope they will grow, His remarks that the government is granting visas in order to secure votes for the coming election further distils his fuelling of misinformation and division. Dutton seeks to exploit the issue for political and populist opportunity.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
THE FORUM
Housing demolition
Your correspondent writes of the importance of reducing inequality, as a means of preserving democracy (Letters, ″Trumpian populism spreads at our peril”, 21/2). One of the causes of inequality is access to housing. Good housing is the foundation for everything else in life, such as the achievement of stability, good health, education and employment. The article “‘Classic Daniel”: How premier’s tower plan fuelled labor schism”, 18/2) explained how public housing stock is being gradually reduced by stealth in Victoria. It outlined how, on a whim almost, Daniel Andrews, without much consultation, rushed through the decision to demolish a number of housing towers and displace 10,000 voiceless residents.
Even more disastrous, is the tendency to replace public housing with social housing and private rental, so the government can reduce its responsibility for housing the most needy. A Liberal state government would likely have even less regard for public housing given its record. Unless we wish to become as divided a society as in America, we should be protesting the passing of this amenity.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
More balance please
Your recent series on carbon farming did make some attempt to highlight its economic and environment benefits, yet it presented a distorted and story.
Important improvements have been made to Australia’s carbon credit scheme that reward carbon farming efforts to avoid emissions or store carbon in vegetation and soils. These include additional checks before credits are issued. This has caused delays and concerns, but it is important to the scheme’s integrity.
Farmers are astute businesspeople, familiar with variable commodity yields and prices. Many seek to integrate this opportunity into their operations. Poor, misleading or deceptive conduct should not be tolerated. Carbon Market Institute supports the need for independent legal and financial advice and there are remedies through our voluntary code of conduct as well as through the Clean Energy Regulator and Australian Securities and Investments Commission which regulate the sector. We look forward to more balanced reporting on this industry in future.
John Connor, CEO, Carbon Market Institute
Young people’s burden
As a member of the audience during Ken Henry’s speech at the Per Capita tax summit (‴Wilful act of bastardry’: Henry condemns tax system for crushing young Australians″, 20/2), I also couldn’t help but note the tandem travesties of tax burden and increasing environmental devastation plus looming climate change consequences we are imposing on younger generations. Is it any wonder they are so depressed?
One small gesture the Albanese federal government could offer to boost intergenerational equity is to waive all HECS debts and charges, given most Baby Boomers got their uni degree without a debt burden. Another initiative for non-uni students would be a paid, greening the regions aimed at environmental rehabilitation to redress the mess left by rural land clearing and urban development. If we can afford to subsidise fossil fuel corporations, to the tune of $14billion per year, then surely we can afford to invest in healing this country and emerging generations.
Bernadette George, Mildura
China’s provocation
China’s recent actions have escalated concerns over its aggressive posturing in the Indo-Pacific region (“Chinese warships to become a common sight”, 21/2). A Chinese fighter jet recently fired flares within 30 metres of an Australian surveillance plane over the South China Sea, an act that could have had deadly consequences. Now, three Chinese warships have been detected 150 nautical miles off the coast of Sydney, marking an unprecedented projection of military power along Australia’s east coast.
While operating within international law, the proximity of these warships to Australia’s largest city is a provocative display of force. It aligns with China’s pattern of asserting dominance in the region, as seen in its harassment of US and Canadian aircraft in the Pacific, obstruction of Philippine vessels, and repeated incursions into Taiwan’s air defence zone.
China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea, overlapping with territories of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, were invalidated by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016. Despite this ruling, Beijing has continued to build military installations on disputed reefs and employ intimidation tactics against its neighbours.
Australia’s operations in international airspace and waters are lawful and conducted with respect for international norms. In contrast, China’s recent naval deployment near Sydney, coupled with its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, underscores its role as the true provocateur, threatening regional stability while hypocritically accusing others of provocation.
David Fox, Beaumaris
Might is right
China may be “provocative″ in sending its navy along our coastline. But earlier maritime powers did more than skirt China in the past.
Portugal set up the trading port of Macau, on the Chinese coast, in the 1500s. This outpost of the Portuguese empire became a ″perpetual″ colony in 1887, with what the Chinese call an ″unequal treaty″. Nearby Hong Kong became a British ‘possession’ in 1841. Macau and Hong Kong were handed back to in the 1990s, after China regained the economic and military power to insist. In world politics, from Ukraine to the South Pacific, it is still true that ″might is right″.
John Hughes, Mentone
Magnificent nurses
This month, my husband and I will be celebrating our 60th wedding anniversary, but unfortunately not together. Over the past few years, he has travelled the rugged road of dementia. He has not been an easy patient and after a couple of false starts a care facility has been found that he has settled in to. In every case, and in spite of all the difficulties, the Victorian mental health nurses have been magnificent.
These nurses, dealing with our most challenging loved ones, must have the remuneration and conditions that show how much we, the community, value their work. Premier Jacinta Allan and Mental Health Minister Ingrid Stitt must ensure this happens. One day, it could be you or your loved one.
Diane Zylstra, St Helena
Trust in medical system
Thank you Waleed Aly for expressing my feelings on the two Sydney nurses, who no doubt worked and studied hard for their degrees. (″We’re right to be outraged about the Sydney nurses – but let’s be careful about why″, 21/2).
I am a retired nurse, and I am still humbled and amazed at the trust placed in me by my patients and their families, over the many years that I cared for people. I sincerely hope this breach of trust does not put this faith and trust in nurses and the wider medical profession in jeopardy.
Veronica Paskins, Somers
Clear breach of ethics
Waleed Aly has commented (Opinion, 21/2) on a uniquely grotesque story of outrageous unprofessional behaviour by two nurses and suggested it’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma requiring expert analysis to properly understand the outrage it has engendered. I disagree. It does not require careful parsing to explain that health professionals are not supposed to be in the business of making threats to kill patients or comments suggesting they have already done so. And if they do, they face universal condemnation and have relinquished their right to practise in this field. They betrayed their oath to uphold the sanctity of being in a trusted position to heal and to care. It is a fundamental breach of any medical ethical code. Quite simple really. Convoluted discussion is redundant.
Larry Hermann, South Yarra
I believe in Kylie
Re ″Can’t get you out of my shed? Kylie is back in town but her statue is stuck in storage″, 20/2. Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece is correct. We should be so lucky to have a statue of Kylie Minogue as our Impossible Princess in Melbourne. Let’s Get To It and allow the Magic of this Red Blooded Woman to shine. Let’s put our hands on our heart to celebrate her extraordinary success as a female artist.
Pam Papadopoulos, South Yarra
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Trump’s America
Fresh from promoting Gaza as an opportunity to create “the Riviera of the Middle East”, Donald Trump is now focused on how to carve up a post-war Ukraine for its mineral wealth with Putin sharing the spoils. The “Leader of the Free World” has abdicated the title. Who will fill the void?
David Brophy, Beaumaris
I feel equally devastated for all those wonderful Americans (and there are many) being represented by their current president. I cannot imagine the horror for them as well.
Ruth Davis, Carrum
World leaders must stand up for the truth about Trump, like Volodymyr Zelensky has, and tell the emperor he has no clothes. This is essential to bringing an end to this American insanity.
Denny Meadows, Hawthorn
Ethnic cleansing by real estate.
Julie Conquest, Brighton
Stand firm and hold your head high, Zelensky; Trump isn’t fit to tie your shoelaces.
Jane Ross, San Remo
As I follow Trump’s dealings with Putin, the expression “useful idiot” comes to mind.
Jerry Koliha, South Melbourne
Albo, in light of the Trump administration’s new stance on the war in Ukraine, can you please increase Australian aid to Ukraine? Ta.
Kim Smith, Hughesdale
John Howard had a “black armband” view of history. Peter Dutton has a “John Howard armband” view of history. The alternative is to look forward, not back. Labor and Albanese do this (imperfectly) unlike the always backward looking Coalition
Greg Malcher, Hepburn Springs
Hold the presses. Peter Dutton not agreeing with Trump on something? Yes, I guess it is worthy of front-page news.
Simo Hakala, Pascoe Vale South
Finally
The controversy over the AFL’s announced rule change (Sport, 21/2) is a reminder of why the centre bounce should stay. It is its randomness and unpredictability that is the point.
David Mansford, Concord, NSW
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