Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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PAULINE HANSON
I express my utter disgust at the stunt performed by Senator Pauline Hanson wearing a burqa into the senate (″Hanson under fire after wearing burqa in the senate″, 24/11). The burqa is a sacred garment worn by Muslim women as a sign of modesty required by their faith. For Pauline Hanson to perform such a stunt is not only disgraceful, but totally disrespectful to the Muslim faith. Her act not only shows Hanson’s ignorance, but her also a low level of understanding of the multicultural Australia we live and thrive in.
Hanson is founder and leader of the right wing populist party One Nation, however her inflammatory behaviour has no place in our parliament where representatives are expected to debate issues with respect, lead by example, and promote unity not fear.
As an Australian, I expect more from our leaders than a bigoted point of view against people of different faith and culture.
Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East
Stunts for headlines, inflaming tensions
Parliament has witnessed yet another divisive stunt by Pauline Hanson. Her decision to parade a burqa was a deliberate attempt to provoke headlines and inflame tensions.
What occurred was not constructive; it was a calculated move that disrespects minority communities and undermines public trust in our institutions. Australians deserve clarity on how this was allowed and what safeguards will be put in place to prevent such stunts in the future.
Weaponising a religious garment worn by millions of women around the world reduces a serious issue to spectacle. It disrespects Muslim women, erodes social cohesion, and distracts from the important work of tackling extremism, discrimination, and community safety through evidence-based policy.
Parliament should model integrity, not theatrics. Political leaders have a responsibility to elevate debate, foster understanding, and represent all Australians with respect. Cheap stunts may grab headlines, but they do nothing to strengthen our communities or advance real solutions.
Guled Mahat, president, Furqan Islamic Association of WA
Hanson hides in plain sight
Pauline Hanson’s latest offensive stunt is simply another desperate attempt to get back in the limelight. It seems ironical that her best way to get seen is to hide.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
An embarrassment for everyone
Perhaps it was a good thing Pauline Hanson missed a week’s parliament to attend a MAGA event in America as her presence in the senate is an embarrassment to all fair-minded Australians.
Randall Bradshaw, Fitzroy
How to magnify discord
How convenient that Pauline Hanson’s xenophobic stunt in parliament has been rattled out of the closet, just when the Trump administration is warning about mass migration, which it describes as “an existential threat to Western civilisation” (25/11).
Of all such threats, orderly and planned immigration according to our needs is, certainly, not one of them. The phrase “mass migration”, however, is used to magnify discord in the bubbles of social media. The algorithms promote them because visual fear spreads best. On that score, our law enforcement agencies are caught between the need to prevent violent behaviour and not acting out of prejudice against the appearance of particular youths.
As counter to this negativity, surely, our white-skinned public representatives could be more vocal about the positive ways they have been helped along by people from different ethnic origins.
Trevor Kerr, Blackburn
THE FORUM
Self interests rule
Your correspondent’s listing of ″strategies″ our politicians adhere to in order to extend their political lives at the next election (″Apply these easy tricks to stay in government!″, 25/11) is insightful, accurate and should not dismissed as mere cynicism.
What then are the prime motives behind the blinkered political eyes that are focused mostly on the next election? Clearly, a sense of satisfaction of ‘coming out on top’ in the dynamics of the power plays associated with politics: maximisation of their generous financial perks that are enhanced by lengthy terms in office; the securement of their future financial prospects beyond their political careers, by appeasing and siding with corporate heavyweights in order to secure lucrative post-politics employment.
It should not then be surprising that the self interests of politicians often, but not always, reign supreme over and trump the interests of the wider Australian society.
Edward Combes, Wheelers Hill
Fossil fuel tax time
Whilst the Labor government and others in parliament lament the lack of passing of the new environmental legislation, and whilst the mainstream media report on the circus, the existing natural environment and climatic conditions simply continue to degenerate.
Figures such as David Attenborough, David Suzuki, James Hansen and thousands of climate scientists have warned for decades of the calamities the world is facing, yet politicians and most of the wealthy remain quite indifferent to this. Of the future for their descendants, they have no interest.
Alone in parliament, it is the Greens who are attempting to raise the red flag and to do something constructive, even whilst they are always criticised for being perfectionists, not realists. Can we please ask the Labor governments to search their consciences and pass a much stronger environmental law, one, dare I say it, including a fossil-fuel tax.
Greg Bailey, St Andrews
Trump’s erratic ways
The moral clarity that Donald Trump exercised on the war in Gaza appears to have eluded him regarding Ukraine. His attitude towards that country has been highly erratic, blaming it for starting the war then promising tomahawk missiles for deep penetration attacks on Russia. His latest oscillation is a peace plan secretly negotiated with Russia.
Ukraine fares badly under the deal. It must cede substantial territory to Russia, cap its armed forces numbers and is banned from joining NATO. However, frozen Russian funds will be used to rebuild the country.
In addition to keeping Ukrainian territory, no action will be taken against Russia for war crimes. Economic sanctions will be lifted, and Russia will be invited to join the G8 economic forum.
Trump’s proposals appear to be hardly the solution for peace in our times. Or perhaps. it’s merely an ambit claim, part of Trump’s deal making process designed to get all parties focused on the issues.
Martin Newington, Aspendale
Mar-a-Lago ideas
Donald Trump has ordered that the rate of immigrant crime in Australia be investigated and reported back. What right has this man got to interfere in Australian matters? Pauline Hanson has recently been at Mar-a-Lago. Is this the source of this idea?
Yvonne Trevaskis, Hobart
Earth’s migration
Many have been alert to the agenda of right wing governments on the subject of immigration and race. It is alarming to read (25/11) that the Trump administration believes migration is “an existential threat to Western civilisation”.
sAlarming that it aims to collect data on “crimes committed by Australian migrants”, illogically claiming this as part of its “global drive to combat mass migration”. This divisive position has recently been disgracefully echoed by our own Andrew Hastie who claims Australians feel like “strangers in our own home”.
The Zurich Insurance Group last year reported that extreme weather, rising temperatures and damaged ecosystems are threatening the lives of millions of climate refugees. A collective effort is needed to solve the issue of climate migration.
Irrationally or deliberately, those on the right fail to connect cause and consequence. The world’s wealthiest 10 per cent are responsible for two thirds of observed global warming since 1990. If Trump is any guide, they are not about to change.
Fiona Colin, Malvern East
Suggestions for Wilson
Jess Wilson, the new leader of the Victorian Liberal Party, brings a welcome breath of fresh air. If she wins government, I genuinely hope she can deliver real improvements. Victoria certainly needs sharper governance and better discipline in spending. However, there are many things to consider when looking for savings.
Fairly taxing big business is one option, even though company tax is federal — stronger national revenue still supports the programs and systems the states rely on. At the state level, shifting part of stamp duty to a small annual property levy, especially on long-vacant homes and unused building sites, would create a steadier and fairer income stream. And there are several other structural options that deserve far more attention than the usual cost-cutting debates.
If Wilson becomes premier, I hope she focuses on these larger, long-term opportunities — and that “waste” doesn’t become a polite excuse for squeezing services already stretched to the limit, that kind of penny-pinching often costs more in the long run, sometimes even lives. I wish Wilson the very best of luck; fresh thinking is exactly what Victoria needs.
David Milner, Port Melbourne
Time will tell
Congratulations to Jess Wilson, enjoy the honeymoon period afforded by a fawning media. However, in nine months, the hectoring about the Labor government will need to mutate to positive policies with accurate costings.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill
Fresh air rights
Re ″Call to arms for dangerous criminals″ (25/11). Who doesn’t need time in the open air, for their mental and physical health? Prison standards throughout the world specify a right to a minimum of an hour per day in the open air. Victoria’s prisons legislation, too, spells out ″the right to be in the open air for at least an hour each day″. But what does this mean? If people in prison have no more than a small exercise yard with thick wire mesh for a roof, is this being in the open air? A court in the ACT recently said no – this was not access to ″open air″.
Victoria’s Human Rights Charter requires humane treatment of people in prison. No matter why a person is in prison – which was the focus of The Age’s report – everyone has a right to humane living conditions, including to genuine access to open air. Victorian prisons need to ensure they are complying with these basic rights.
Bronwyn Naylor, Elwood
Lay off Docklands
As a nearly 20-year resident of Docklands, I’m rather tired of reading denigrating remarks about Docklands, such as Dani Valent’s article “Why our critic was blown away by this newly hatted Melbourne hotel restaurant”(22/11), where she commented ″Docklands: meh″ and ″it pushes forward the notion of a destination restaurant in Docklands, a harder sell in Melbourne than a night-time grand final″.
There are plenty of good quality restaurants and cafes in Docklands: From Espressionist that stayed open every single day of COVID, to a reasonably new Vietnamese place highlighting north Vietnamese food, a classic Thai restaurant Thai Thani, an Italian eatery Sassone, and numerous other cafes and coffee places.
Ask any long term resident of Docklands, of whom there are thousands. We love living here for many reasons: the closeness to the city for shopping and medical facilities; excellent and frequent public transport; an outstanding library, plenty of great places to eat, great views and a short walk to South Melbourne market, to mention just a few.
It’s the media that underrates the location, value and sense of community that residents enjoy about living in Docklands. Don’t criticise what you haven’t tried.
Angela Forgan, Docklands
Head’s Senecadipity
Like Stephen Bradbury’s gold medal in the Winter Olympics 2002, there has been much commentary about luck and serendipity regarding Travis Head’s test innings (″Amid euphoria of victory, luck a crucial player″, 25/11).
The great stoic philosopher Seneca wrote ″luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity″.
A pure, happy accident may occur but it is ″Senecadipity″ when diligent preparation meets luck (the right place at the right time).
Both Bradbury and Head spent many years preparing for their opportunity. It was Senecadipitous that Head put his hand up to open at a crucial time in the test match. He knew he had prepared for this moment.
Kevin Brown, Moonlight Flat
Dead to me
No longer do we say someone has died. No, they have “passed away”, or more ridiculously, they have “passed”. To where? Police don’t find a person is ″dead″ they have ″deceased″.
Is it that it seems kinder to say ″he has passed″ rather than ″he has died″?
What has passed away, however are the words which end in ″ty″.
Daily, we put up with ABC presenters and politicians who all should know better, saying ″communady″ or ″disabilady″, and on it goes.
Is it bone laziness or lack of education, or is it that pedants like me should just get over it and put up with our language being trashed?
Murray Stapleton, Darraweit Guim
AND ANOTHER THING
Pauline Hanson
Footballers lose their match payments when they’re suspended, so Pauline Hanson should not be paid her sitting allowance whilst suspended from parliament.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
The burqa stunt was to get more publicity. This person spewing hate and putting women at risk should be given no airplay anywhere for at least six months.
Joan Logan, South Melbourne
Hanson got what she wanted: Publicity.
Alan Williams, Port Melbourne
Furthermore
The only “existential threat to Western civilisation” is Trump himself. Albo, “it’s time”. Tell Trump to bugger off.
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills
Maybe Trump has given up on his quest for the Nobel Peace Prize and, instead, has his eyes on Russia’s highest honour, the Order of St Andrew. He’d join a worthy cohort of recipients which includes Xi Jinping, Mikhail Kalashnikov, Narendra Modi, Aleksander Lukashenko and Sergey Lavrov.
Angus McLeod, Cremorne
Because of the $589 million Victorians had to pay to cancel the Commonwealth Games, I suggest that any Victorians who want to go to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow have their airfares paid for.
Ron Mather, Melbourne
Does BOM know which way the wind is blowing ?
Mitch McKenzie, Melbourne
$96.5 million? You would think for this price, the BOM site would have seen a huge improvement. Obviously, the cost must not have included any public panel tests for ease of use.
John Marks, Werribee
It would be nice to see doctors and dentists offering discounts during the Black Friday sales.
Pam Thomson, Sandringham
Why hasn’t our all-powerful, but tertiary-student insensitive, federal Labor government not reversed Scott Morrison’s very excessively increased HECs fees to do an arts degree ??
Elizabeth Grieb, Port Melbourne
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