Credit: Illustration: Alan Moir
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MIDDLE EAST
Given that Peter Dutton has indicated he thinks Donald Trump is a “big thinker” (“Dutton praises ‘big thinker’ who wants peace”, (7/2), and has also given tacit support to Trump’s Gaza “solution”, can he tell us what he would do in support if elected PM and the said plan eventuates? What would our commitment to this madness be? Would he offer Australian troops to assist the inevitable forced eviction of the Palestinians and importantly, would he offer to relocate thousands of those Palestinians in Australia? Or, is this just another thought bubble full of froth?
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir
How to end 18 years of Hamas-led misery?
There’s nothing antisemitic about opposing Trump’s plan for Gaza (Letters, 7/2). But it’s noteworthy that Trump’s critics, who purportedly have the best interests of Palestinians at heart, fail to mention the biggest obstacle to a much better future for Gazan citizens. That is, despite all of the legitimate concerns about Trump’s plan, there is simply nothing else on offer that would bring to an end the rule of Hamas; the principal architect of Gazan misery for the last 18 years.
Geoff Feren, St Kilda East
This toadying is Australia’s embarrassment
Peter Dutton praises Donald Trump as a big thinker who wants peace. In his first month in office, Trump has threatened Canada, Panama, Greenland and Gaza with military action. That hardly sounds like a man wanting peace. Dutton also praised Trump as a dealmaker. Deals require negotiation. Have I missed the bit about Trump negotiating with the Palestinians? Wake up Dutton: Your toadying to Trump is an embarrassment to Australia.
Tony Devereux, Nunawading
Imagine how Gaza could be rebuilt
As we collectively recover from Trump’s latest shock and awe tactic, it does at least give us pause to think about how Gaza could and should be rebuilt. Imagine a fully funded reconstruction plan, that created solar-powered apartments rising above tree-lined boulevards, all the while giving meaningful jobs for those able to work, while providing time and support for others to slowly recover from the trauma of war. It would be in Israel’s interest to have well-housed, well-fed, well-educated neighbours, and it would be in the bests interests of all Palestinians to concede that Israelis also have the right to live without fear of yet another attack by Hamas or anyone else. Then, let the UN sort out the final details of a two-state solution.
Bernadette George, Mildura
Trump’s intentions crystal clear
Donald Trump says he doesn’t want to be cute, doesn’t want to be a wise guy. Seated beside a smug Netanyahu, he magnanimously proposes that after US-manufactured artillery has finished bombing Gaza back to the Stone Age, Israel will hand Palestinian homelands to America to ‘develop’ ... with other people’s money, for all the (rich) people of the world. This is not cute, or wise.
David Harris, Ivanhoe
We’ve been here before
For Gaza – American bombs, American boots, American body bags. The world has seen the results of American involvement before.
Helen Freeman, Portarlington
Very big thoughts
I’m puzzled by Peter Dutton’s view of Trump as a ‘big thinker’. Does he mean ‘big’ as in Rodin’s The Thinker, which is pretty big, standing at a height of 189cm. Or, does Dutton mean ‘big’ in the quality of Trump’s thinking, a bit like Winnie the Pooh, who always gestures to his brain (‘Think, think, think’) when he faces a problem.
Perhaps Dutton is alluding to the idea of wishful thinking; my husband, for example, thinks Essendon will play finals this year.
Sometimes, I too have big thoughts about dusting and vacuuming the house. But then I have another thought about reading a book or tidying my sock drawer. Please explain, Peter.
Anna Giovannoni, Ormond
THE FORUM
Musk’s candour
It is surprising to read so frequently of the concern, even outrage, that the wealthiest men in America, such as Elon Musk, have so much influence on Donald Trump. Headlines blare that Musk is now in charge, not Trump.
Yet, this influence on a government by a person with millions and billions of dollars is run of the mill, even the norm, and has been so forever. Why else do these wealthy people donate to political parties, including here in Australia?
What is unusual is that Musk is able to be so open about his influence with Trump’s permission, even encouragement, demonstrating uncommon transparency in Trump’s government.
A pity we don’t have the same transparency here.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
Conflict resolution
I spent two decades as a workplace mediator. Conflict is the one factor in human relationships that is never in short supply. There was much to learn and navigate. At the top of the list was working with participants and coaching them how to express their needs by resisting the use of inflammatory language and exercising restraint.
For this reason alone I was never a candidate for Twitter, now X. Telling all the world and sundry the first thought that comes into your mind is my definition of madness.
We now have a president of the most powerful country in the world no less, given immediate access to the most powerful amplification platform in the world, to shoot his mouth off in whatever direction he chooses. He is simply doing it because he can. He cares even less if he follows through or not. He has no shame. A quality which far too many pundits pass off as a political strength.
Tony Newport, Hillwood, Tas
Victoria’s comedy gold
What an unbelievably incompetent situation the state government is in. This time, it is the management of the bail system (″Bail firm loses accused criminals″, 6/2). Truly, this government could not organise a Bunnings sausage sizzle. Did you bring the bread? No, I thought you did. Who is bringing the sausages? I expected you to. What a gift to the Working Dog outfit. What an appalling and dangerous mess this incompetence has led to.
John Whelen, Box Hill Sth
Crime and punishment
Your correspondent proposes to move to a more victim-centred approach to criminal punishment, focusing on the outcome rather than the intent (Letters, 7/2). However, the definition of a crime as well as the punishment have always and everywhere been based at least in part on motivation. It matters if the killing occurred in a provoked rage or was planned in cold blood, and if the killer was competent or mentally disabled. And if outcome only were to count, an unsuccessful murder attempt could go unpunished. For those reasons, I am uncomfortable with the importance usually placed on victim statements. The severity of the crime and punishment should not depend on whether the victim was much loved, or otherwise.
Ralph Böhmer, St Kilda West
Air out west
The Belgrave resident who was featured in Broede Carmody’s article, “Something in the air for Victoria’s healthiest places” (7/2), revels in the fresh-air quality of her green, quiet suburb, which has a rating of 100 on the Environmental Quality Health Index (EQHI).
The western suburbs, not surprisingly, rated much more poorly. The EQHI is a tool that can be used to inform the need for services, education and planning. The population of the western corridor is rapidly expanding and the need for better access to public transport is of paramount urgency, especially rail and electric-powered buses. Jennie Stuart, Balwyn
Trees in the east
“Something in the air in state’s healthiest spots” (7/2) highlights the importance of trees and green spaces in maintaining air quality and a healthy environment.
Trees not only filter pollutants, but they are sucking up carbon and emitting oxygen, thereby playing a role in reducing carbon in the atmosphere.
Too many new housing developments are just a sea of metal and tile roofs. Developers need to be obligated in establishing green spaces and gardens with not only young saplings but also relocated mature trees, so that residents of these new suburbs can enjoy the benefits experienced by those who live in our leafy, established suburbs.
Graeme Lechte, Pascoe Vale
Children’s needs
Adults choose where they live, babies and toddlers, many of whom attend childcare, do not.
Why is the government allowing so many childcare centres to be built on main roads, where the air quality is very poor? There are three childcare centres on a main road within walking distance from my home, and they have proliferated on main roads around the state.
Some children would spend five years of their life in these polluted environments. Cheaper land for childcare providers should not trump risking the long-term health of our children.
Lyn Shiells, Glen Iris
Cost of extraction
When Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill points out the ″physics″ of cooling fossil gas to LNG costs money, (″Higher gas prices are now unavoidable: Woodside″, 7/2), she glosses over the fact that this operation is also extremely carbon intensive. It is estimated that the extraction of gas and production of LNG accounts for 8 per cent of Australia’s carbon emissions. This should be a serious concern.
Interestingly, this figure is acknowledged in the government’s Future Gas Strategy. That paper, however, mistakenly states that Japan relies on our gas for its energy security. In fact, as gas demand there falls, Japanese utilities have on-sold more gas than they have bought from us for years.
Lesley Walker, Northcote
Figure the disfigurement
Your correspondent (Letters, “The bird is preferred”, 7/2) sees this graffiti as an enhancement, so easily said when it’s someone else’s property being defaced. He also embraces Melbourne as being renowned for its graffiti and street art.
Having travelled widely overseas, I can say that Melbourne, to our shame, is one of the most graffitied cities in the world. In some areas, it appears to go on for kilometres on buildings, fences – almost every flat surface. It’s time councils and governments addressed the issue of why one sector of society feels so disconnected with their community that they must continually disfigure it.
Bryan Long, Balwyn
AFL concussions
If you pay lip service to concussion, the result is dead men walking. The AFL claims to have made more than 30 changes to concussion protocols to protect players’ heads in recent years. The fact is, however, that concussion (brain damage) in the AFL is increasing year on year, as documented in the annual AFLPA Insights and Impacts reports. The AFL has a conflict of interest between the rivers of gold from media rights and player health. Self-regulation of safety in sport by peak football bodies has been a dismal failure. Children, who need a brain for life, are at risk of ‘lifelong devastating harm’, as described in the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia’s (RCPA) ground-breaking position statement on CTE in late 2023.
John Hennessy, Montmorency
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Politics
Re “Elephants to be relocated from Melbourne Zoo to Werribee Open Range Zoo” (7/2). Anything could happen in the Werribee byelection this weekend now that we know there is an elephant in the room.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
Albanese is correct in being careful with his words in case Trump turns on us.
Alan Williams, Port Melbourne
If Trump wants to build beachfront properties in Gaza, he may need to move to higher ground. Oh, sorry; there is no climate change. He said so.
Kath Wilkinson, Box Hill
If leaders of Australia and our allied nations do not speak up about the Trump madness, the word history will apply will be ″appeasement″.
Andrew Collins, Dromana
How much power does the US president have under its constitution? It’s time for Britain to repossess America and give it a refresher course in democracy. The US is looking like just one more dictatorship.
Christine Weatherhead, Glen Waverley
Aspiring Tesla buyers – do worry about where the profits from your purchase might end up.
Ian Powell, Glen Waverley
Maybe Rupert Murdoch was wearing sneakers in the Oval Office (″Suits and sneakers: The Paris runway is in step with Rupert Murdoch″, 4/2) because he’s old and his feet ache.
Robyn Alder, Armadale
If Dutton cuts the public service who’s going to run Liberal projects like robo-debt?
Kevan Richards, Mount Helen
Dear Albanese and Dutton. If your electoral amendment bill goes through, I will forever vote for independent candidates.
Pete Garfield, Echuca
Furthermore
Gridiron at the “G”! If I had a grave, I would be rolling in it.
Glenn Murphy, Hampton Park
If they called Victoria’s homelessness a ″major event″, it would get more attention from the state government. David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Finally
Treat each other as you would like to be treated yourself. You know it makes sense.
Patricia Rivett, Ferntree Gully
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