Credit: Alan Moir
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DIPLOMACY
Back in 2021, Australia was economically punished by China for banning Huawei (which led to other countries following suit), and for the then foreign minister Marise Payne calling for an international inquiry into the causes of COVID. With the assistance of our free but sensational media, the pain that the massive trade sanctions caused was blamed on then prime minister Scott Morrison and contributed to his loss of government.
At the time, there was near universal agreement that we should reduce our reliance on trade with China by diversifying our markets. But governments of largely free economies cannot easily arrange this. Nothing has changed and China still has the means and mind to use trade as a weapon of coercion.
So, when you see Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mending relationships, keep in mind what will be in the front of his mind – the Morrison example. He cannot afford to upset China on any key issue, else punishment may follow. Imagine if China stops students coming to our universities. It wouldn’t hurt them but would be a massive political blow to Albanese. As much as he is currently lauded, he would be lambasted if this came to pass and could lose power as a result. In this regard, it will be fascinating to see how the Port of Darwin affair plays out.
Chris Lloyd, Melbourne
PM’s softly softly approach necessary
Liberal senator James Paterson describes the prime minister’s soft diplomacy engagement with pandas, tennis and the Great Wall as ″a little bit indulgent″, even though he glibly and condescendingly comments that the China visit is ″worthwhile″ (″Albanese hits back at claims of ‘indulgent’ China trip, saying it will reap benefits″, 17/7).
Albanese’s visit is about shoring up our relationship with our biggest trading partner, repairing any residual damage in this relationship wrought during the Morrison years and, ultimately, maintaining stability in our region. It is not a time to start throwing punches, as the Coalition seems to desire. In recognition of being a small nation, without submarines and what seems a potentially unstable ally in America, other means of effective, ″respectful″ engagement with our region must be sought and utilised. Perhaps the Coalition should get back to a ″worthwhile″ self-analysis and start developing policies instead of indulging in its old pattern of negative attack and a premature questioning of ″the success of Albanese’s trip″.
Jennifer Quigley, Balwyn
Coalition’s short memory
Re shadow minister senator James Paterson’s critical remarks about the prime minister’s visit to China. Please let us remember the dreadful mess Paterson’s lot made of the China relationship when they were last in power. Anything Anthony Albanese does on this trip is surely aimed at improving diplomatic relations.
Paterson is such a ″hawk″ against China that he and Andrew Hastie were denied entry there in 2019. Also, recall former prime minister Scott Morrison’s visit to the G7 summit in 2021. When normal Australians were denied overseas travel, he indulged himself by gallivanting around Cornwall investigating his family ties to the area. Short memories, Senator Paterson.
Royce Bennett, Baxter
THE FORUM
No Jews, no news
Josh Bornstein (“Antisemitism envoy Segal laid a trap for Albanese”, 16/7) compares the community response to recent antisemitic attacks with its reaction to the fatal police shooting of an Indigenous man as evidence of the power of pro-Israel lobby groups.
Another comparison would be more instructive – The Age June 30 report on the involvement of the UAE government in the Sudanese civil war, which has so far caused 150,000 civilian deaths and displaced more than 12 million people.
The report states that by supplying arms and money to the Sudanese dictatorship the UAE is accused of “bankrolling a genocide”.
Not a peep of protest in Australia, even when there is a local connection. The UAE sheik behind the military backing holds the majority stake in the company that in turn owns 80 per cent of Melbourne City soccer team, which has gone unaffected while small Jewish businesses have been trashed.
Israel, however, has been vilified from the moment it was attacked on October 7, 2023, yet Bornstein and others deny that racism against Jews plays any part in this – so much for the power of the pro-Israel lobby groups, the allegation of which mirrors the antisemitic trope that “Jews control the government”.
He opposes a definition of antisemitism that would proscribe the targeting of Israel differently from that levelled against any other country, when similar conflicts that attract little attention here also include Turkey against the Kurds, China and the Uyghurs and Indonesia and the West Papuans – no Jews, no news.
Bruce King, Malvern East
Social inclusion
Josh Bornstein’s excellent article (16/7) demonstrates the seriously flawed recent report by special envoy to combat antisemitism Jillian Segal. It reads like something from Donald Trump’s administration: A complete disregard and understanding for our systems of law and governance. It seems Albanese wants to appease in particular, the strong Jewish right-wing lobby group in Australia.
The most important aspect to the article is the ″battle against racism for other minorities″ – especially those who have difficulty and lack the resources to be heard. Before the election we had an envoy for social cohesion: We don’t hear any more about it now.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Bring papal pressure
Re the bombing of Gaza’s Catholic church yesterday: It’s up to the first American-born Pope and American Catholics to pressure the Trump administration to cease all shipments of weapons to Israel. The IDF makes far too many mistakes resulting in the deaths of many innocent civilians.
Roger Christiansz, Wheelers Hill
A city in decay
My partner and I recently travelled by train from Geelong to Melbourne to enjoy a lunch at Southbank with family. As we walked down Spencer Street to Flinders Street we commented on the state of the footpaths, buildings, overflowing rubbish bins and general filth. More was to come.
Alighting from the tram at Flinders Street station we were disgusted with the exterior condition of the station, the footpath and a toilet facility that was flooded and filthy. More was to come.
After our lunch, we opted to walk along the Yarra and onto Southern Cross station. Empty wine bottles, discarded clothing, and general rubbish lined the walkway. On a trip to India, we were astounded at the amount of discarded rubbish we observed – Melbourne’s CBD appears to running a close second. Perhaps we need Donald to ″make Melbourne Great again″.
Heather Rees, Geelong
Youth vote
Changing the voting age so younger members of the population can vote is such a good idea. Let’s follow Britain’s excellent example, but make it optional for 16 and 17-year-olds whilst maintaining compulsory voting for everyone aged 18 and over. Denying the vote to enthusiastic young people who follow current affairs and politics and have opinions is wrong when apathetic older people who may have little interest are required to vote. Compulsory voting is what makes our democracy, so let’s open it up to eager younger people on an optional basis.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
The way it was
Regarding your correspondent’s suggestion that we need a government-owned bank (Letters, 17/7). We had one. It was called the State Savings Bank.
My account began at age six when the nice bank people visited schools and we lined up proudly with our coins and bank books to make our deposits.
When I married 20 years later and went in with name change details, the teller said I needed my husband’s written permission to have the account.
Outraged, I changed banks and became active in the fight for women’s rights.
Jane Ross, San Remo
Victoria’s unknown costs
Everyday Victorians know that we have to budget carefully to cover our food, clothing and other necessities.
Yet, as The Age editorial (16/7) stated, the state government is “pouring every available dollar of capital expenditure into the Suburban Rail Loop″, even while we feel the cutbacks in health, education and other essential services.
At the same time, secrecy surrounds the planning, funding and lack of development of urgently needed projects. The SRL bores ahead while there are still no Doncaster, airport or Melton rail lines; and now we suddenly hear of the Outer Melbourne Ring Road, which is needed to take thousands of trucks off the local roads.
It is our taxpayer money which is needed for these projects, and as The Age said earlier in the year, secrecy around planning is “eroding the public’s right to know and the fabric of our democracy”. So, what are our government’s plans and how do we, the taxpayers, find that money?
Elizabeth Meredith, Surrey Hills
Animal cruelty
Re the ducks of Banyule Creek swimming in a blue soup (″Workers clean up Banyule Creek after chemical from North East Link works turns it bright blue″, 17/7), and the alleged poisoning of hundreds of corellas in Springvale South. This suffering is not what most people want to see happen to our native birdlife. We must do better.
Debbie Lustig, Elsternwick
Changing gears
Your correspondent (Letters, “Slap happy feet”, 18/7) correctly points out the safety aspect on choosing one foot for the brake and the other for the accelerator.
As a confirmed manual driver, I use the left foot for the clutch and right foot for brake or accelerator. If I were to press the accelerator accidentally instead of the brake, the most likely consequence would be that the car would stall rather than be involved in a collision.
So my manual gear stick is both a safety feature and an anti-theft device.
Rod Watson, East Brighton
Left or right
Your correspondent (18/7) suggests the left foot for the brake, and says it is an old maxim. Any suggestion to improve road safety should be considered, but is it an old maxim? My recollection of driver training in the 1970s was that it was left foot for the clutch and right foot for the brake and accelerator. The NRMA website unambiguously recommends the right foot for braking and accelerating.
Stephen Minns, South Yarra
Take it from Jodie
I understand our PM wanting to imitate Gough Whitlam on his Great Wall walk (albeit in an unflattering figure-hugging polo shirt), but why on earth was he advertising Hawthorn FC and iiNet on the obligatory panda sanctuary tour? He needs fashion tips from stylish Jodie.
Caroline Leslie, Hawthorn
Fashion statements
Fashion editor Damien Woolnough’s scrutiny of Jodie Haydon’s clothing (″Perfect $599 fashion diplomacy from Jodie Haydon″, 17/7) perpetuates the inherent sexism surrounding women in the public eye. Though favourably examined, the absence of any mention of who dressed the prime minister suggests Haydon’s role is one of an accessory and not a human being.
Anders Ross, Heidelberg
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
It would appear the Coalition hasn’t learnt anything. All it does is find fault with everything Labor does, instead of working together in this time of world chaos to make Australia an example to the world.
Perry Becker, Bairnsdale
Albanese may be ″following in his footsteps″, but there’s no way he could fill Whitlam’s boots.
Bryan Lewis, St Helena
Furthermore
It’s time for an investigation into the use of chemicals in our environment. The creek in Rosanna turning bright blue must be a wake-up call for all.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East
Paul O’Halloran’s ″ ’My job is to root out dodgy workers. These are the warning signs to look for in childcare‴, (17/7) is an essential piece in the puzzle of providing safe, high-quality childcare.
Trevor Kerr, Blackburn
A few letters to the editor recently have extolled the virtues of national service, all written with the enthusiasm and fervour only the (seemingly) ineligible possess.
Angus McLeod, Cremorne
If businesses really think that it costs them less to accept cash than cards, why not offer a discount for paying cash instead of imposing a surcharge for cards?
James Proctor, Maiden Gully
With the latest employment figures published, maybe the RBA could convene a special meeting prior to August to reconsider its July rate decision.
Arthur Pritchard, Ascot Vale
Driving positions
Perhaps your correspondent (Letters, “Slap happy feet”, 18/7) can explain which foot is on the clutch pedal if my left foot is on the brake pedal as I try to change down gears in my car? Maybe that is why it is an untaught maxim.
Joanne Wilson, South Melbourne
When I learnt to drive a manual car I used my left foot for the clutch while my right alternated between brake and accelerator. When I graduated to an automatic car my right foot continued to perform the same actions; my left sits idly on the little footrest thoughtfully provided for the purpose.
David Johnston, Healesville
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