Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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When I was a boy as well as sporting heroes I had science heroes. People like Newton, Darwin, Curie, Fleming and Jenner who saw the significance of consequences and events well beyond our normal comprehension. I learnt how Australian scientists were encouraged to contribute to our growing pool of knowledge through the CSIRO, a world recognised organisation that fostered an environment of curiosity and enquiry. I learnt a new word “serendipity” and how sometimes an unexpected benefit can arise from the fertile world of investigation. I learnt about biological control as a counter to man’s stupidity of introducing species such as rabbits and prickly pear into a pristine environment. Are we letting all this go so that we can spend billions on nuclear submarines in the distant future and continue to give big industry (many international) tax cuts that are grossly unfair?
Kevan Porter, Alphington
A debt without measure
Another example of our and the world’s debt to the CSIRO is the DME – Distance Measuring Equipment – developed at the CSIRO during WWII. The DME is a radar precision system enabling pilots to safely land on aircraft-carrier ships, aerodromes, and negotiate air and ground pathways between planes. During WWII, the DME was a top secret radar system installed in RAN ships and RAAF aerodromes. It is now globally recognised, legislated for and used as an essential piloting safety device.
Disclosure: The DME was created by my engineer father James (Gerry) Gerrand building on prevailing research and under the supervision of the physicist and inventor Dr E.G, “Taffy” Brown, in the Sydney CSIRO radiophysics laboratory, which some Sydney Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force officers, including my mother, called “the hush hush unit”.
Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North
No incentive to join the CSIRO
Ryan Winn’s article (″It took a teacher to put CSIRO tragedy in a nutshell″, 20/11) brought tears to my eyes. I worked for CSIRO as a research scientist for 36 years, which fulfilled an ambition I had fostered since being enthralled with science and maths subjects at school. I now seriously doubt that I would harbour such ambitions. The gross underfunding of scientific research in this country as a percentage of GDP continues its long, slow decline. The Albanese government seems intent on continuing this decline. If I was studying science and maths at high school today, I would not be aspiring to work for CSIRO – too risky! Perhaps a career in banking might be more profitable?
Tony Priestley, Fitzroy
A national essential service
It’s not like we use or need science much. I mean, who uses computers, WiFi, GPS, medicines or bridges that don’t fall down. Seriously, science is part of our lives from pregnancy to end of life care and everywhere between. The continued underfunding of the CSIRO, leading to more and more staff cuts is an act of national self-harm. It is an essential service and should be funded as such.
Max Sargent, Thornbury
THE FORUM
Fix negative gearing
It’s not so much that underquoting by real estate agents misrepresents the real price of houses (“Industry backlash on auctions overhaul”, 21/11).
A bigger problem is that negative gearing and discounted capital gains tax encourage property speculation.
House prices are consequently massively inflated. How about legislation to fix that?
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Funding crucial
A courageous cancer patient diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research (“Pinpointing pancreatic cancer’s rising rates”, 21/11). As a current recipient myself of philanthropic funding to carry out research into pancreatic cancer, the importance of such contributions cannot be underestimated. In our case it has enabled us to undertake basic research on the differences between normal cells and cancer cells that could lead to more selective killing of cancer cells.
Fundamental research is the key to new innovation, but this type of research is less likely to be funded than research that is aimed to generate investment outcomes. Cancer researchers are fortunate indeed to receive generous donations from the public as patient Gisele Edwards has made. It helps to sustain research in Australia where funding for science is declining in many fields.
Emeritus professor Leigh Ackland, Deakin University
Russia’s savagery
Just when I thought Russia’s Vladimir Putin could go no lower, we witness the savage, continued and relentless bombing on Ukraine and the fact that children are victims (“How Australians are unwittingly funding Putin’s war machine”, 21/5).
I’m finding it now virtually impossible to conjure the words that could possibly convey the despair that you know these innocent souls are living through on a 24-hourly basis.
This is one instance that I wish US President Donald Trump wasn’t telling a lie, “I will end this war in a day”.
David West, Essendon
Trump, the opportunist
What a betrayal of Ukraine by Donald Trump (“Blow for Zelensky after US pushes secret new peace plan on Ukraine, 20/11”). Trump is an opportunist who is always favouring Vladimir Putin. And he aspires to the Nobel Peace Price? What an indignity that would be for the honour.
Helena Kilingerova, Vermont
West must stand up
The so-called deal for peace in Ukraine, nutted out between the US and Russia, shows two things. First, that Donald Trump is not the great dealmaker he likes to think he is and second, that he still holds Vladimir Putin in thrall. With the US clearly stepping back from full-throated support for Ukraine, it is time for the rest of the West, including Australia, to stand up and increase both our support and sanctions in defence of democracy.
Jan Downing, Hawthorn East
Ending auction charade
Premier Jacinta Allan is taking a big step forward in requiring reserve prices to be declared at least seven days before auctions. This will end the charade of auctioneers disappearing inside halfway through auctions to ″consult with the vendors″.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Health v wealth
I agree with your correspondent (″Caring for vulnerable″, Letters, 21/11). I believe it all stems back to the lack of equality in this country. Why in heaven’s name is a community health service not considered as important as any health service? These health units serve a lot of vulnerable people who can’t afford to visit an upmarket doctor.
Of course the problem is much bigger; it relates to the massive inequality in this country.
I would like to ask Health Minister Mark Butler does he ever visit community health services to witness how they operate?
What will happen to the cohealth service if the government is only taking a temporary measure? The health of the community is vital to all of us, not just for a select few, It is what we pay our taxes for – good health services. I hope this is not a temporary handout.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. It would take up a page in The Age to go through in detail all the inequality that exists in this country where ″the rich get rich get richer and the poor get poorer″.
Nola Cormick, Albert Park
PM, heed this advice
Chief political commentator James Massola (″Even PM’s friends want more ambition″, 21/11), columnist Sean Kelly and others have argued that, despite its huge parliamentary majority, the federal Labor government is looking timid and unadventurous, apparently still fearful of electoral backlash.
Here are some policies that Labor could introduce and actually increase its popularity. Become serious about reducing carbon emissions and stop approving large new coal and gas projects. Greatly reduce the scope for gambling ads across all media. Invest much more in social housing, while ending negative gearing and capital gains concessions for future purchases of existing homes. Only inject federal funds into infrastructure and other projects with a sound business case, and stop wasting billions on incarcerating a few individuals on Nauru.
Task the Productivity Commission to find ways to encourage more competition in Australia’s key industries which are dominated by a few players and where consumers pay inflated prices, such as electricity, gas, insurance and supermarkets.
Andrew Trembath, Blackburn
Rejoice in diversity
My grandparents emigrated to Australia from the Eolian Islands in Sicily in 1920, like thousands of others seeking a better life.
They had been in Australia for nearly 20 years, operating a fruit shop in Middle Brighton.
After WWII broke out, their fruit shop window was regularly spat upon and their fruit displays demolished by local “Australians”. They and their children also experienced racism and abuse. They were regularly told to “go back home”. All non-Indigenous Australians have their roots overseas. The trope of “Australian values” is a myth trotted out by those seeking simplistic black and white solutions in a multi-faceted world. I, for one, am pleased to live and work in a place where diversity is the norm.
Peter Russo, West Brunswick
Regional refugees
One aspect of migration policy overlooked by Waleed Aly (″Immigration legacy reduced to ashes″, Opinion, 21/11) is that related to global warming. Those familiar with the environmental consequences of human overpopulation see its reduction as essential to saving the planet. Australia does not have the capacity to support, say, 50 million people such as smaller European countries do. Nevertheless, our country will be first in line for settlement of our Pacific neighbours as sea-level rise renders their lives untenable. Slowing migration from everywhere else gives us space to care for environmental refugees.
Andrew Smith, Leongatha
Unwritten values
What Australian values do the Liberals intend asking immigrants about? Will you be buying a sausage outside Bunnings? Will you be drinking XXXX or VB rather than imported beer? Will you be taking a sickie when the fish are biting out in the bay?
Ralph Frank, Malvern East
No one else’s business
Sharnelle Vella’s description of the emotional impact of queries about why she and her husband have not had children (″Journey of hope, heartbreak only fellow travellers know″, Opinion, 20/11) reminds me of the response my mother gave to my grandmother when she asked this about my sister. “I have never been so rude as to invade her privacy.” Perhaps wise advice to such prying which can cause grief and is really no one else’s business?
Rosalind McIntosh, Camberwell
Backwards thinking
I’m sorry Marie Curie, but we’ve run out of funds. You’ll have to go. Anyway, of what use is radium? Oh, Oppenheimer, you need to clean out your desk by Friday.
Robert Scheffer, Bayswater North
Credit: Matt Golding
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
Barnaby Joyce’s enormous hat looks ridiculous and only confirms the rural adage, ″the wider the brim, the smaller the property″.
Donald Hirst, Armadale
Why can’t Barnaby and Bob wear baseball caps back to front? Far more attractive and true blue.
Ross Hosking, Blackwood, SA
A ″line in the sand″, beloved by politicians, only lasts until the next high tide.
Tony James, Battery Point, Tas
Like sand through the hourglass, so too the (numbered) days of another Liberal leader. Thank you Matt Golding (20/11) for an exquisite cartoon summary of the situation.
Tony Hollenkamp, Camberwell
Sussan Ley thinks our wind and solar power is vulnerable to Chinese hackers. It is of far less concern than if they hacked the Coalition’s proposed nuclear plant(s).
Alan Inchley, Frankston
How can a COP climate summit cost $2 billion? It would be cheaper to hold it on the moon.
Ron Mather, Melbourne
A true Labor government wouldn’t allow the sacking of 300 CSIRO scientists.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
When will politicians learn that nodding heads behind are not an affirmation, they are a joke.
Ann Young, Chirnside Park
To those saying Jess Wilson is too young, Queen Elizabeth was 25 when she was proclaimed queen and Paul Keating was 39 as federal treasurer.
Ian Anderson, Surrey Hills
Furthermore
If Australians are helping Vladimir Putin fund his war on Ukraine via the petrol pump, all the more reason to switch to an EV.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
I’d rather we had rationing and queuing than see one dollar go to Vladimir Putin’s war machine (″How Australians are unwittingly funding Putin’s war machine″, 21/11).
Scott Lowe, St Kilda West
Online restrictions create an opportunity for children to communicate and socialise differently. They’ll all be fine.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon