Credit: Matt Golding
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Just a flesh wound
Peter Dutton reminds me of the black knight of Monty Python fame who, after being derided for the lack of clarity and details of his nuclear policy by the press and the government, has bounced back up claiming it is only a flesh wound and wants to take on Anthony Albanese in a debate on the issue.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Character building
When referring to the character of our political leaders, let us not confuse someone who is quietly spoken, humble, relational and respectful as being weak or scared. Similarly, let us not confuse someone who is loud, arrogant, transactional and divisive as being strong or courageous. It is usually quite the contrary.
Julie Perry, Highton
When foe is friend
The Labor Party’s biggest asset in Victoria – some would say its only asset – is the Liberal opposition.
Tony Haydon, Springvale
Let education be free
Once, nations became wealthy by digging up rocks, chopping down the odd forest, growing crops and keeping livestock. Today, nations become wealthy through educating everyone to the highest level each person is capable of and so provide high-value goods and services. Rich countries have moved from selling unprocessed stuff to knowledge economies.
From 1974 to 1989 tertiary education was free in Australia. It ended with cries of ″middle-class welfare″. Let all pay. My son paid nothing for his four years at RMIT. A lucky only child to have parents who could do that. His partner was not so lucky coming from a family of very modest means and multiple siblings who now has an $80,000 debt. It’s those sort of numbers that discourage young people from tertiary study.
We need our primary industries but they are not the future for the advanced economy to which Australia aspires. Everyone needs educating, not just those who can afford it. We need to forgive outstanding debts and return to a time when education was free in this country. This needs to be done not for individual enrichment but for the economic benefit that flows from an educated workforce from which we all benefit both economically and socially.
Owen Wells, Mont Albert North
Change euthanasia laws
Re the article ″Denied access to euthanasia, they took their own lives. A coroner hopes their despair will not go unheeded″, (17/12), my mother’s choice was to travel to Switzerland to an assisted dying clinic when she was no longer prepared to tolerate the ravages of Parkinson’s disease.
This is something not everyone can afford, is able to do, or is willing to take legal risks for. It was a stressful experience that surely would have been better at home.
Name and address withheld
Kinder way of dying
A few years ago a neighbour of mine took his own life. He was 92. His wife of 60-plus years had died four years earlier and seeing him at the funeral, one could see he was a broken man. He had a loving and supportive family who either called in or spoke with him on the phone each day. He was an avid gardener, but found this activity increasingly difficult to undertake – a number of times we heard his cries and picked him up after
falling. Yet despite all this, there were no signs that he would take his own life.
He wasn’t eligible for assisted dying, but how much better would it have been for both him and his family if he could have died surrounded by family and not have been forced to take his own life and then to be found by a daughter the morning after.
Phil Mackenzie, Eaglemont
Indicate before, not after
It might be helpful if drivers were educated that indicators are to indicate their intention to make a move rather than to confirm what is evident they are already doing.
Campbell Laughlin, Berwick
What about Geelong, ABC?
A high priority for new ABC funding is surely Geelong. As incomprehensible as it seems, the ABC has 53 local radio stations nationwide. In Victoria, it has local radio stations in Sale, Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Horsham, Mildura, Shepparton and Warrnambool – all smaller than Geelong. Geelong does not have one.
As a result, in the Geelong region, local government, commerce and other significant local agencies face little scrutiny. And the promotion of local issues and cultural events and the exploration and sharing of ideas is severely limited. The ABC’s minimal presence in the largest regional centre in Victoria and one of the largest in Australia seems like a service failure – but easily remedied with the new funding.
With the fastest growing population in the country – heading to 500,000 with key target audiences including Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Golden Plains and Queenscliff – this represents one of the largest regional populations in Australia.
ABC management has cited budget issues as a reason not to set up in Geelong. Local politicians have stated the decision is up to ABC management. There seems no good reason now not to fill this gaping hole.
David Melzer, Ocean Grove
The power of Musk
It seems as though President-elect Donald Trump has a co-president in Elon Musk. In fact, the latter may be even more powerful with all his money and X as a platform.
Poor J.D. Vance hardly gets a look-in, and some people like Marjorie Taylor-Greene are suggesting that Musk could be the Speaker of the House (and thus third in line should Trump and Vance fall under a bus).
Musk is also said to be supporting Nigel Farage in the UK. Should we be worried?
Margaret Ady, Avondale Heights
Working class blues
It’s hard to believe that a US government (or any government) with power in the hands of oligarchical billionaires such as Elon Musk will be a government for the working class.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
Nation going backwards
Apparently most of us should be able to live comfortably on our super savings – if we own our own house (Ross Gittins, Comment, 18/12). Unfortunately, the way our economy works at the moment, home ownership will become a pipe dream for a large percentage of people.
The government is supporting higher house prices by encouraging the building of high-density housing, which pushes up land values, and high levels of population growth with record immigration, driving housing demand beyond capacity. Our housing tax system also encourages wealth accumulation over essential accommodation. Unless we start emphasising the economic and social rights of the majority over the economic and political power of a few, we are going backwards.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
A candle dies
Vale Michael Leunig, his wisdom, and humour have been a constant source of inspiration. He has been a candle burning brightly in a world of darkness.
Elizabeth Osborne,
North Hobart
The everyman
Michael Leunig’s tender, and sometimes searing, works have been a guide to us through the inhumane absurdities of the world. Those absurdities seem to mount, but his timeless everyman never changed and shall not pass.
Graeme Orr, Moorooka, Qld
Our daily solace
Matt Golding’s cartoon tribute got it right (21/12). We have five Leunig cartoons on our fridge and seven on the freezer. He was our daily inspiration and solace.
Tom Danby,
Coburg North