Year in review: Jim Pavlidis - April 5, 2024.Credit: Jim Pavlidis
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THE FORUM
Ashamed at church
I’m embarrassed and outraged to keep reading headlines such as “Legal limbo after church absolved for boy’s abuse” (31/12). In 2018, the Australian Catholic Church abandoned the Ellis defence following the royal commission recommendations. How can church authorities justify continuing to exploit this loophole? I’d hoped that churches had moved beyond the time when their policies were driven by lawyers and insurance advisers rather than accepting responsibility for its priests’ criminal offences. Surely state and federal governments can come together and close this gaping loophole in our laws?
Fr Kevin Burke, Sandringham
Pending punishment
I must say that when I read that the Catholic Church has managed to absolve itself of any liability for the sexual abuses committed by its clergy, I have a moment where I hope that God does indeed exist so that the perpetrators, those who covered it up and those who seek to deny any responsibility get the eternal reward that they so truly deserve.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir
Drug culture
My son suffered a psychotic episode impacting his life trajectory, from a drug overdose at a music festival. I am so thankful for Jacinta Allan’s decisive action on becoming premier, to trial drug testing for this generation of young people. What a brilliant exposé by Rachael Dexter in The Age (31/12), detailing drug taking and testing culture at Beyond the Valley festival. And a big shout out to The Loop Australia, with its dedicated testing chemists and healthcare workers offering wellbeing and education.
But Australia, what a damning indictment of our collective values and ethos in shaping youth identity from The Loop’s Cam Francis: “Our whole culture is an alcohol binge culture, and people tend to just apply that to drugs ... they don’t understand how risks increase exponentially.” I vote The Loop culture leaders and change makers of the year.
Name withheld
Humble leader
Bruce Wolpe’s reflections on Jimmy Carter (Opinion, 31/12) alert us to perhaps another dimension of Carter’s legacy – that a humble, morally courageous man of profound virtues and decency once rose to be US president. There couldn’t be a sharper contrast between the character of Carter and that of president-elect Trump. Something tells me that America will be craving for someone like Carter again when Trump’s second presidency comes to a close in January 2029, should he survive that long in the job.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Short memories
Resolve Strategic findings (The Age, 31/12) indicate that older voters continue their dramatic swing to the Liberals and Nationals this year. I find this confounding, due to the Coalition government’s legacy of robo-debt. That egregious action alone should have been enough to consign them to the opposition benches for a long time.
Graeme Charles, Wonthaggi
Informed decisions
It looks like Peter Dutton is in with a real chance at the election, but would he turn out to be like the dog that caught the car? We need the details, now, not after the election.
John Salmons, Sandringham
Pleasant surprise
George Brandis’ latest column revealed he is more fair-minded as a university professor than in his former life as a politician (Opinion, 30/12). I surprisingly found myself nodding in agreement. And how extraordinary that he appointed Justice Michael Lee to the Federal Court in 2017 – and also gave Bruce Lehrmann his first job in Parliament House. He encapsulates the subsequent defamation trial by saying his “alpha and omega came face to face” in the Federal Court! I also enjoyed reading Brandis’ assessment of diverse performances by MPs, including Jacqui Lambie, Lidia Thorpe, Don Farrell, James Paterson and Julian Leeser.
It was such a good read that I decided to add to my New Year resolution list: to ignore my unconscious bias and read opinion pieces written by former politicians.
Sally Davis, Malvern East
AND ANOTHER THING
Summer sport
Once again Melbourne (and Victoria) has shown it is the nation’s sporting capital. Of course the MCG’s Boxing Day Test’s record crowd is also an Australian record, which hasn’t been emphasised enough. When it comes to big events, Melburnians’ passion is unsurpassed.
Jeremy Burke, Richmond
Pat Cummins leading with the ball, the bat and the right decision to play out the second innings. A captain’s masterclass.
James Alexander, South Melbourne
I hope those cricket pundits who criticised Pat Cummins for not declaring on the fourth day are eating humble pie.
John Cummings, Anglesea
Furthermore
If the war in Ukraine “has nothing to do with North Korea”, perhaps your correspondent could explain what it has to do with the US, which keeps Ukraine fighting by providing it with the weapons.
Marion Harper, Reservoir
Billionaires have taken over MAGA. Does anyone think the filthy rich will have the best interests of the little guy as they run the US? Who will Trump grovel to, the mega-rich or MAGA? Hmmm.
Pete Sands, Monbulk
Have you noticed that the letter T is fading from our language? The ABC is having a New Year pardy and you are invided. There will be many ardists and wonderful fireworks lighding up the sky. A T takes a liddle more effort to articulate than D.
Wendy Weight, Capel Sound
Finally
My New Year’s resolution: Not to make any more resolutions, to keep calm and carry on even though Trump will be president and to finish a DA cryptic crossword! Good luck with all of that.
Myra Fisher, Brighton East
Happy New Year to people of all ages (and happy rest-of-the-year too).
Steve Barrett, Glenbrook
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