Credit: Megan Herbert
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VICTORIA POLICE
The Allan government needs to answer questions about Shane Patton’s removal as Victorian police commissioner. What more could he have done in that job? The removal of a reported $1.9 billion from the police budget would tie anyone’s hands behind their back in providing adequate, effective control of law and order that we most desperately need. What is its agenda for our safety by removing him from the role? It is absolutely shameful of them to ignore his requests for change and shift the blame onto him. Are we being governed well by this? Is the reported $1.9 billion budget cut going to be allocated to the Suburban Rail Loop?
Christine Baker, Rosanna
Police work in extremely difficult circumstances
Police attended my neighbour’s house within a few minutes of an attempted aggravated burglary in our street at 2am on Saturday. The intruders fled when my neighbour switched the upstairs lights on and off. She had been awakened by her CCTV camera alerting her phone.
John Silvester’s compelling piece “Patton was not the problem, ignoring his advice was” (16/2), reveals Shane Patton’s reputation suffers because he tried to encourage the government to make changes to so many anomalies in state legislation – including the ludicrous bail laws.
I remember the late Mick Miller, who as chief commissioner garnered respect for his leadership and innovative ideas – and the Police Association once brought a no-confidence motion against him. We have valued the response and support we have received from Stonnington police after frequent attempts of aggravated burglaries in our street. I thank Shane Patton and all police who are doing the best they can in extraordinarily difficult circumstances.
Sally Davis, Malvern East
Why is the government handcuffing the police?
Youth crime is rampant, shops are being torched, rules impose costs on the police force when court proceedings return not guilty verdicts, and requests for funds to advertise for police recruitment to cover the shortfall in force numbers are refused.
In this environment, the demand from our government that the police force reduces its numbers to effect a claimed $1.9 billion saving over the next four years borders on insanity.
We need our police, we need to respect them, we need to provide every possible available support to assist them in their endeavours to protect us and make our environment secure. These are sentiments which our government seems unable to recognise.
Yes, we do need to make budget savings, but why handcuff our police force when other areas are out of control with cost overruns?
Brian Marshall, Ashburton
Patton is Labor scapegoat
It is very disappointing that the state government has failed to step up and support the honourable and competent Police Commissioner Shane Patton. It appears he is being used as a scapegoat for the government’s own failures to enact sensible reforms and to provide funding to support an effective police and justice system.
This does appear to be another case of the state Labor Party being in thrall to powerful unions that are free to push their own interests at the expense of the community.
Simon Westfold, Bittern
Juries out of their depth
It’s time to take trials out of juries’ hands and replace them with a three-judge system. The issues highlighted in “A case to answer: when juries misbehave″ (15/2) are only some issues in this new world we live in. Without any background or education in law, forensics, science, or other field for that matter, how can we expect the average person to understand lawyers, expert witnesses and evidence in a court? How can we expect the person to get it right, when they don’t understand what proving guilt beyond reasonable doubt even means?
Mira Antoniou, Brighton
THE FORUM
Job security priority
A nonsense is sweeping across Victorian and federal politics. Top priority is given to the “cost of living”, whereas the main issue should be “job security”.
Unemployment at 4 per cent does not stop people losing sleep about their job security. The necessity is to pay the mortgage, raise the family, and forge a career rather than “being between jobs”.
Current job security reflects well on both the ALP governments but the Victorian government is too concerned about high population growth, factions, upsetting its progressive wing on climate policy, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands etc. and pleasing unions, such as not banning duck shooting.
To rekindle a will to win, there needs to be a “back to basics” pivot on both counts. Unions must focus on members’ wages, conditions and jobs. The Victorian government must focus on its two wings – industrial and progressive – to fly.
Compared with progressive issues, “cost of living” is well-nigh impossible to affect, costly, long term, the result of the total economy, wars, etc. Ironically, over-enthusiasm about jobs upsets the Reserve Bank which keeps interest rates high, in turn affecting the cost of living.
Malcolm Cameron, Camberwell
Intolerable disadvantage
On Saturday, my neighbours, a mother of an adult disabled son and a second son with his young family, were evicted. Having for months submitted numerous rental applications they cannot find a home.
Every social agency approached said, ″come back to us when you are actually on the street″. The investment property owner refused to grant them a second-week extension on the eviction date, so during the cold and rainy night they had to tough it out in a tent. Next week, they will be living in their cars.
I am looking for a government that will implement and enforce policies to increase rental supply, decrease foreign home ownership, improve social agency services and take gutsy action to implement policies that swing the balance back to respectable, working Australians who are now intolerably disadvantaged despite their best efforts.
Catherine Headey, Box Hill North
Good debt, bad debt
Your correspondent (Letters, ″Debt is ideological″, 15/2) makes sense saying debt invested in government projects is a good thing. However, I doubt very much that the debt incurred for the Suburban Rail Loop is a good use of debt.
This madness, pursued by the current government at the expense of all else, such as roads, schools, hospitals, teachers, police, nurses, health, etc does not pass the pub test or any other test, financial or social. Most public projects return in the long run more than that originally invested. I doubt whether the SRL will ever do so and, if it does by some miracle, at what cost to society.
Vince Vozzo, Elwood
Allan’s duck mistake
The Allan government has just extended the duck shooting season to almost three long months, a period of time when men with big guns can shoot little ducks for sport. This bloodlust must be banned. Supermarkets and butchers can easily supply duck meat, avoiding the unnecessary cruelty of this blood sport.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
Sam Kerr saga
I, like many other Australians, have sat and watched the ridiculous circus and disgraceful waste of time and taxpayers’ money in the witch-hunt to convict Sam Kerr on the trumped-up charges that should never have made it past the brief sergeant’s desk. Not to mention the stress and trauma caused to Sam. I agree with John Silvester’s “The ballad of Samantha Kerr”, (15/2).
As a former Victoria police officer, if I had charged every person, drunk or otherwise, with offensive language towards me, I would have had the greatest brief stats on record.
All police officers worldwide deserve respect. I am not condoning Kerr’s behaviour, but common sense and discretion have left the building when others’ motives are allowed to flourish. She is an inspirational sports person and a credit to Australia. Shame on those who call for her downfall and demand she hand back her hard-earned status. What a sad world we have created when we unjustifiably drag good people through the world court of public opinion for other people’s motives.
Mark Spronken, Geelong
Artistic freedom
Re ″Resignations follow dumping of Australian artist from Venice Biennale″, 14/2. If we prevent creative people from speaking out, we become a place with a one-world view and this leads to the death of intelligent thinking. If we end up with a one-world view, whose is it? Probably the rich and the powerful who wish to silence debate and maintain or improve their situation.
In Australia, and around the world we are seeing people losing jobs and losing freedoms because they think what is happening is wrong.
They are also losing hope because they are being forced to give up their rights and are being made to conform.
Greg Tuck, Warragul
Definition is correct
Your correspondent (Letters, ″McCarthyist atmosphere″, 15/2) has disingenuously misrepresented the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism. He alleges that the IHRA definition aims to stifle criticism of actions taken by the state of Israel.
The definition clearly states that ″criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as antisemitic″. The definition was declared at the international forum convened in Stockholm in 2000 attended by representatives of 46 governments. Australia is a member of IHRA and the government sends a delegation to IHRA and fully supports the definition.
Given that the majority of world Jewry (and the vast majority of Australian Jews) support the definition, it is appropriate that all Australian institutions listen to those that are affected by antisemitism, the Jewish community, and accept that this is the best way to determine what words and actions are defined as antisemitic.
Providing education about the definition to those who run our universities is a far more constructive way to increase the understanding of, and reduction of antisemitism in the Australian community.
Anton Grodeck, Malvern East
Non-binding
In criticising calls for universities to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism (″McCarthyist atmosphere″, 15/2), your correspondent doesn’t mention that this legally non-binding definition was previously adopted by the Andrews’ Labor state government, resulting in no subsequent stifling of criticism of Israel in Victoria.
Opponents of the IHRA definition try to sever the connection between Jews and their overwhelming support for Zionism – the right of self-determination for Jews in their ancestral homeland. And this definition rightly calls out the actions of the real McCarthyists, who attempt to exclude Jews from ″progressive″ movements, including on campus, unless they first renounce their support for the world’s sole Jewish state.
Geoff Feren, St Kilda East
Blinkered stupidity
The statements those two nurses made in Sydney last week were utterly reprehensible, but there’s no evidence they’ve mistreated patients. Let’s retain some perspective.
People, especially self-righteous politicians, delight in expressing indignant outrage. Hold the nurses accountable, but don’t publicly crucify them for their blinkered stupidity.
Kevin Burke, Sandringham
Ceremonies aren’t waste
The article ″Coalition’s diversity job cuts″ (16/2), carried yet another attack from Peter Dutton and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price on what they perceive to be ″waste″ in the public service. In particular this is aimed at Welcome to Country ceremonies, which in fact form a minuscule part of the overall budget.
It is a shame that neither were present at the AFL Indigenous All Stars game in Perth on Saturday. With the nearly 40,000 people present, they would have been treated to a wonderful display of football skills as well as a meaningful and moving display of Indigenous culture and (shock, horror) this all took place with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags flying proudly. The atmosphere in the stadium was relaxed and friendly. As Dutton’s slavish and lazy aping of Trump’s direction is as obvious as it is predictable, I find Price’s position unfathomable.
Naomi Brown, North Perth
Reduce the formalities
Yes, Welcome to Country can be overdone, but I feel similarly about the national anthem. They’re formalities that contradict Australian informality, and performing them less will bestow more meaning.
The AFL finals are a case in point – reserve these ceremonies for the grand final, and they’ll heighten the spectacle.
Paul Spinks, South Geelong
AFL drug policy
It is planned that the illicit drug policy AFL players voluntarily signed up to will be made more Draconian. It is reported that the players’ association will probably tell the AFL to stick it up its jumper. I don’t blame them.
They may well ask why they are expected to comply with the code when no other employees at their club are subjected to anything like it. Perhaps, if all employees, including senior management, were randomly tested for illicit substances, and named if they do so, the players might be more inclined to do the same.
John Rawson, Mernda
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump
Trump’s actions display discombobulation, disorientation and a mix of confusion. With his impending sackings of thousands, he has regressed to his TV persona in The Apprentice with the words “You’re Fired”.
Ross Kroger, Barwon Heads
As ever, the brilliant Tony Wright nails Trump for us - ″the world’s chief sook″. And, a solipsistic one at that. It would be funny if it weren’t so serious.
Jane Ross, San Remo
Elon Musk appears to have carte blanche to weed out government “waste” in the US. How long before he decides the president is unnecessary?
Maureen Goldie, Blackwood, SA
Shakespeare never grows old. I’m left wondering when three witches will tell Vance that one day he will be president of the US.
Peter Myers, St Kilda
Greenland? Why not Trumponia! Led by Trumplestiltskin, spinning straw into gold.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading
Your correspondent (Letters, 15/2) is correct that Russia will never control Ukraine again. Putin should have considered how the USSR’s invasion of Afghanistan ended.
Pete Garfield, Echuca
Furthermore
John Silvester: I always enjoy your columns, but please stick to your day job. You are no lyricist! (“The ballad of Samantha Kerr” 14/2).
Courtney Pern, East Malvern
I laughed out loud at your correspondent’s urge for cemeteries to ‘think outside the box’ (Letters, ″Cemeteries dead zones″, 16/2) regarding tree canopy and biodiversity.
Geoffrey Conaghan, St Kilda
Sadly, airport rail is still not the right project. The priority must be electrifying to Melton and Wyndham Vale and building more stations. The full capacity of the Metro Tunnel will be needed to serve the western growth areas. It can’t serve the airport too.
Russell Crawford, Mitcham
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