Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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STUDENT WALKOUT
Re “ACU offers refunds to graduates after conservative ceremony speech sparked walkout”, 23/10). Joe de Bruyn’s speech to Australian Catholic University students went “off-piste”, despite ACU’s “encouragement” that he consider the students at their own graduation. ACU vice-chancellor and president Zlatko Skrbis then issued a passive statement of regret to those students the speech may have distressed. ACU’s regret would seem more sincere if it didn’t have power to prevent the distress occurring in the first place.
Enforcing clear parameters for guest speakers at major student events isn’t censorship, it’s just good management.
Freedom of speech is not the right to hold court on any topic on any occasion. We all know de Bruyn’s views, and he can express them on his own platforms whenever he likes.
But this event should have been about the students. Young people aren’t fragile snowflakes who need to be protected from these ideas, but they should have been able to enjoy their graduation without being held hostage to them.
Queer students should have been able to graduate without being othered, and those who have terminated a pregnancy (one in four women in Australia) without being shamed.
Perhaps ACU leadership could take a lesson on boundary setting from their students?
Kristin Boyle, Torquay
ACU’s graduates’ special moment was hijacked
ACU students who wanted to celebrate their graduation walked out on a Joe de Bruyn tirade about abortion and why he thinks same-sex marriage is wrong (″Union boss sparks mass walk out″, 22/10). De Bruyn’s response, amongst other things, was ″universities are meant to be places of debate″.
If de Bruyn really meant ″debate″ he would have called some of the students walking out to the lectern to speak. The reason he didn’t, is because a graduation ceremony isn’t a debate, and his words about ″places of debate″ are hot air.
De Bruyn has the right to hold forth on his pet topics, but there’s no law saying that people have to listen to him. Graduating students aren’t obliged to sit still and listen.
The university, whose spokesperson is reported as saying that ACU is ″committed to open, respectful debate″, didn’t give the students equal time either. But ACU can’t complain about the ″respectful″ part.
The graduates, their special moment hijacked by de Bruyn’s exposition on his life-long obsessions, walked out quietly without heckling or jeering him. Given that he’d spoiled one of the most significant events in their lives, that’s very respectful behaviour indeed.
Floyd Kermode, Preston
Progressives will never change Catholic doctrine
I congratulate Joe de Bruyn, former national president of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, for his address to graduating students at ACU this week. His comments opposing abortion and gay marriage are completely aligned with Catholic doctrine. It’s not surprising that some students walked out. Less than five per cent of young baptised Catholics attend weekly Mass, rejecting the essential practice of being a Catholic. I question whether they are genuine “Catholics” at all.
The Catholic National Centre for Pastoral Research said, in its 2016 report on Mass attendance, that the situation was critical. It’s much worse today. Its cause is not the issue of abuse.
The drop off in Catholic Mass attendance started in the 1960s with the sexual revolution and the introduction of the contraceptive pill.
Catholic doctrine on issues like abortion, any sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman, divorce and adultery, can never change, despite what our secular society thinks and does.
The efforts of “progressives” to change this doctrine within the Catholic Church can never succeed.
Barry Kearney, Ringwood
THE FORUM
The ugly old days
I’m 75. I remember hearing the whispered information women whispered to each other about the friendly doctor, nurse – and in one case pharmacist, who could be relied on to help out a woman in trouble. I remember in my teens the shame of school friends who ‘disappeared’ for months to go and have babies in special church homes. I remember the friend of my mother who bled to death and the 12 year-old girl down the street who was forced to bear her rapist’s baby – then put it up for adoption.
I remember seeing the crowds of hypocrites standing out the front of Bertram Wainer’s clinic harassing every woman who entered. I hoped those days had gone forever. But here they come again. The self-righteous busybodies who see it as a political opportunity. To all young women – don’t let them take your rights away again. The past was ugly, dirty and cruel.
Pam Kaplan, Caulfield South
Price reveals her values
Jacinta Price is reigniting abortion in the national political narrative. Good on her, it’s about time we all learn where her true conservative values lie.
To say that anything beyond the first trimester is infanticide, not only shows her ignorance but is offensive to those women that have no choice, and further, to say, ″as far as I’m concerned”, proves her views are extremely personal, and aren’t shared by mainstream women.
Barry Buskens, Sandringham
Ties that bind
Jacinta Price is right – the abortion debate is not settled. Sooner or later, politicians and voters must return to the truth.
Each pregnancy is about belonging – not ownership. Regrettably, our natural law obligations as pregnant mothers have been replaced with ownership and killing rights over our utterly defenceless dependants prospering naturally and innocently in our wombs.
A mother does not own the child in her womb – the ties between them are very real, quintessentially human biological ties of deep emotional and psychological significance. Her tiny daughter belongs to her and she belongs to her daughter. It is the natural intimacy of two human beings, not of owner and object, nor of master and slave.
Unlike ownership, human belonging is a two-way street: we belong to our children – they belong to us. We parents own the responsibility to secure the blessings of parental protection for our children: and just so, will our children own the responsibility when we grow old, and ill and needy, to protect our rights, our liberty, our inherent dignity and equal worth as human beings. We belong to each other – there is no ownership, only human solidarity.
Rita Joseph, Hackett, ACT
Lidia Thorpe’s oath
In stating that, she said “hairs″ not “heirs″ when being sworn in as a senator, Lidia Thorpe has admitted that she did not take the oath, as required by the constitution, to assume the role of senator. This, being the case, she is actually not a senator, and must step down. She can’t have it both ways.
Claire Merry, Wantirna
Pledge of allegiance
Disturbingly, certain commentators and significant sections of the citizenry seem to disavow the methods of Senator Lidia Thorpe while sympathising with her anti-colonial viewpoint and agreeing with the rejection of Crown allegiance.
In fact, the colonial era brought enormous good to this part of the world, sharing such gifts as healthcare, literacy and technology – despite errors and injustice.
Australians today benefit from a civic system under the Crown which is deeply ambitious for political neutrality, gracious conduct, lawful behaviour tempered by mercy and guided by justice, and especially servant leadership.
Parliamentarians and others who pledge allegiance to the Crown should recollect their promises on a daily basis when dressing for service, so they will be refreshed for ministry.
David D’Lima, Sturt, SA
Coalition’s strange focus
Good to see the Coalition are focussed on the big things that affect everyday Australians (“Coalition seeks legal advice as Thorpe says she swore allegiance to the Queen’s ‘hairs’“, 24/10). Regardless of what you may think of Thorpe her outburst has zero impact on anyone’s life in Australia.
Rather than focus on cost of living and other important issues, the Coalition is concentrating its laser-like focus on this. How out of touch can it be?
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Thorpe’s one-liner
I don’t quite know what to think about Lidia Thorpe. Some of her past associations have been dodgy, and she is something of a rabble-rouser. Her thing with the king the other day was interesting. People said it wasn’t the appropriate time, but I would have thought it was the only possible time. How often would she be in the same room as the king?
And of course, what she said was correct. The British did steal the land from Indigenous people. That was their business model back in the grand old days of colonising every place they could.
In addition, Tony Abbott commented. As a general rule, if Abbott doesn’t like something, there is a very good chance that I will like it.
Now, she is saying that she swore allegiance to “the Queen’s hairs”. That is genuinely funny. Frankly, I think there are more important matters to worry about than making Lidia stand in the naughty corner. Let’s move on.
Greg Bourke, Surrey Hills
Indigenous oath needed
No matter whether you agree with Lidia Thorpe’s actions or ideas, it is heartbreaking to watch her choke over her forced oath to parliament. In our court system, there are versions of swearing in to ensure people can make an affirmation which they can honour. There must be room in parliament for similar grace and acknowledgement to allow Indigenous people to represent and be represented.
Nancee Biviano, Aspendale
Indigenous omission
It’s concerning that the IPA has sent board games (free) to schools (CBD, 15/10) which detail Australian history from the arrival of the First Fleet, but have scant details of Indigenous people at this time. It therefore, cannot be described as historically accurate. Colonisation should be taught from all viewpoints, including those of the original inhabitants of Australia. Australia’s history began over 64,000 years ago, not in 1788. Propaganda of any sort has no place in our schools.
Jen Hooper, Nunawading
Green wedge
It must be frustrating for a government that is pulling out all stops to facilitate development to have the CEO of Intrapac constantly complaining that its latest offer is still not enough to solve the housing crisis (“I’m a developer. Here’s why Jacinta Allan’s high-rise plan won’t get off the ground”, 24/10).
In August, Shifman was complaining about the time taken for Cultural Heritage Management plans, before that it was the windfall gains tax, while the pitch to remove the planning controls designed to keep our city liveable is a constant. What Shifman really wants is more golf courses rezoned for Intrapac and its ilk. He doesn’t seem to care about the need to grow food on the green wedge land that Intrapac likes to buy to relocate those golf courses, nor does he mention their recreational or environmental value.
Melbourne University Professor Nick Williams has surveyed 13 south-eastern golf courses including Kingswood, recently rezoned under pressure from Shifman, and Rossdale golf course, next to the Ramsar-listed Edithvale Wetlands and also under pressure from Intrapac. He found their biodiversity – in terms of birds, bats, bugs and bees - is far better than nearby council nature reserves and front gardens.
Rosemary West, Edithvale
Access all school grounds
Why should public schools be forced to make their facilities available out of school hours to the community when private schools, also funded through the public purse and with tremendous resources, remain closed to public use?
Stephen Dinham, Metung
Open parks with caution
Opening up government schools during weekends for the public to use the playgrounds and ovals for recreation sounds like a good idea. From what I observe walking my dog and riding my bike, there’s a fair bit of this happening already. Carte blanche use, however, may attract unsavoury visitors whose recreational use may be unwelcome, and present risks for the students when they return to school.
We can’t be naive about this.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Unmask Nazis
It is distressing but necessary for democracy to allow groups to associate and protest, including neo-Nazis. The Allan government should enact a law to ensure that police can compel protesters to remove their masks. While neo-Nazis may have a right to protest, the rest of the public has a right to know who they are.
Gabriel Dabshceck, Elsternwick
Lies, greed etc.
In Australian board rooms and US swing states the question is being debated. Is abusive speech, and repulsive personal behaviour to be overlooked or excused in the face of outward success, measured in dollars or votes? Does character matter? The timeless wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth speaks to our modern dilemmas. Jesus says; “Toxic words spill over from the heart!” (Matt 12:34) and “What’s in your heart’s the trouble; – lies, lust, greed, hatred.” (Matt 15: 18, 19).
Geoff Francis, Doncaster East
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Lidia Thorpe and the King
Senator Thorpe’s outburst was inevitable. It was the tip of the iceberg of First Nation peoples’ extreme frustration. In just 20 seconds she raised global awareness of their plight, far more than any referendum could achieve.
Ian Cameron, Chelsea
While finding most of Lidia Thorpe’s stunts abhorrently disrespectful, at least she doesn’t try to hide her identity behind an array of facial masking like cowardly neo-Nazis.
Bruce Crowe, Sunbury
If Lidia Thorpe didn’t appropriately swear her oath of office, does that mean she isn’t properly employed and has to repay her salary? It would be ethical.
Janine Truter, The Basin
The coalition is seeking to have Lidia Thorpe sanctioned and possibly dismissed for saying things she does not believe. If such a standard were applied to all areas of federal politics, then the corridors of parliament would be empty indeed.
Stewart Monckton, Mont Albert
It is simply ludicrous in 2024 that there is an argument about a senator’s oath of allegiance to a foreign monarch.
Malcolm Fraser, Oakleigh South
After CHOGM our head of state, King Charles, will return to his palace on the other side of the world. It makes no sense. Bring on the republic vote!
Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick
At the last Senate election, I voted for the Greens. Its candidate was Lidia Thorpe. Do l regret my vote? Probably not. She’s there, as Don Chipp once said, ″to keep the bastards honest″.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Finally
Over the past 20 years, I have tutored students from a wide range of schools, both public and private. When asked “Who is our head of state?” not one of them knew the correct answer! Enough said.
Sue Tuckerman, Kew
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