Credit: Illustration: Badiucao
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DEFENCE
It is easy to write that Donald Trump as a fool. But that is not so. He knows what he wants, which is what his supporters want. He knows how to get it. The rest of the “free world” may not like what he does and how he goes about getting it, but so be it.
His obsession to “make America great again” and the retention of America’s position as the premier world power can only be achieved by the continued containment of China. Up until now, China has cleverly evaded every American initiative to weaken it. We are now witnessing the American effort to abandon Europe and cosy up to Russia over the Ukraine catastrophe, thereby attempting to weaken the China/Russia nexus. Whether that succeeds remains to be seen.
All other demands, such as easy access to Ukraine’s minerals, are specious, probably unobtainable, and only used to publicly justify his action.
If that was not so, all Trump needed to do was to announce that America had dumped Europe, and let the Europeans sort out any peace deal among themselves.
Unlike those of China, Trump’s initiatives are devoid of patient persistence and subtle diplomacy.
If there is one thing we can learn from this unfolding Ukrainian disaster, it is that the Australian people themselves, without recourse to anyone else, must defend the way of life we so luckily enjoy. Otherwise, we risk going under.
Jim Lamborn, Doncaster
Fortress Australia?
With the growth in China’s military power and its navy becoming more assertive further south, coupled with the US isolationist trends, I think it is imperative that Australia rapidly strengthens its defence as Denmark plans to do.
We have the technological capability and natural resources, and so we should become a major manufacturer of deterrent weapons such as surface-to-air and long-range land-to-sea missiles.
We spend billions of dollars on infrastructure to improve our quality of life, yet risk that quality of life by being ill-prepared to defend our shores.
Sure, nuclear submarines might be fine, but their delivery date may well be too late. I like the idea of “armed neutrality” or even “fortress Australia”, as one wonders if we will be able to count of the US to bail us out as it did in WWII should, god forbid, we are attacked. It is like buying insurance – the money is “wasted” until you need it.
Mike Mack, Kew
China is playing its usual mind games
China’s navy has just as much right to be in the Tasman Sea as the Australian navy has to be in the South China Sea. Just being in either of these places shouldn’t be a problem. China knows this, hence the live-fire exercises designed specifically to disrupt aircraft routes between Australia and New Zealand.
This tells us all we need to know about China’s mindset, it is just playing mind games with us the same as it does with Taiwan.
China’s military on multiple occasions has conducted dangerous offensive manoeuvres in response to the presence of Australian aircraft in the South China Seas.
Is Australia going to respond to these provocations in some hawkish manner to show we have some mettle? I doubt it. Penny Wong will lodge a strongly worded protest and the Chinese will have a giggle to themselves. How embarrassing.
Russell Brims, Bentleigh East
Australian minerals on show
Chinese war ships off Sydney’s coast are just parading their ingenuity of turning all the iron ore, nickel, lead, zinc, bauxite, alumina, copper, rare earth elements, and titanium we’ve sold them, into boats, bullets and bombs.
Patrick Alilovic, Pascoe Vale South
THE FORUM
Four little words
The Liberal Party is opposing the proposed hate speech legislation based on four words (The Age, 20/2). The Liberals want hate speech to be judged by a ″reasonable person″, whilst the proposed legislation requires hate speech to be judged by a reasonable person ″with the protected attribute″.
This reminds me of a social studies lecturer many decades ago, who said the comparative study of religions was of limited value. He argued that you could know the different philosophies of religions, but you would never truly understand what it was like to be a member of that religion because you didn’t experience the family and community behaviour, discussions, rituals and expectations resulting from practising a particular religion.
Similarly, it is impossible for people who haven’t experienced verbal abuse because of their identification with a minority group, to judge what is truly hateful. We like to think we can empathise, but we all have limits.
I suggest the Liberal Party shows some understanding of its limitations to make judgments for others whose life experiences are very different.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North
Insurance costs
The article on insurance and Peter Dutton’s warning that, if elected, he “would deal with the industry” (22/2) made me smile. Here is some low-hanging fruit for him to consider. I have in front of me a copy of the invoice and supporting documentation for insurance for a Melbourne apartment building. It indicates that 11 per cent of the total premium is due to the building being valued at more than $50 million, which means that the Terrorism Insurance Act 2003 applies and the insurer has had to reinsure with the Commonwealth Government reinsurer (the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation).
A further 22 per cent of the total premium is for commissions paid to brokers and an “authorised representative”. Needless to say, a further 16 per cent of the total premium relates to stamp duty and GST. I suppose that a royal commission into the insurance industry is too much to hope for?
Tim Freer, Torquay
Waste disposal
This article was an interesting contribution to the ongoing debate over energy generation (“This wind farm is retiring, so what happened to its tonnes of steel” 22/2). It posits that large amounts of worn-out parts of wind farms and solar panels will go to landfill, thus creating an environmental hazard.
One might also ask what happens to the components of a retired coal-fired power station. The same questions should be asked about the disposal of components from a nuclear power station after it is decommissioned. And, about the disposal of nuclear waste created by the operation of such a plant.
The reality is that all power generators produce waste. The real question is how to minimise the harm from the waste material created by both a decommissioned plant and the waste created during the operating life of the plant.
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Green wake-up call
Thank you for highlighting the importance of green spaces in reducing urban temperatures in “Councils want trees to fight deadly heatwaves” (22/2). This issue needs more focus, especially in Melbourne’s growing outer suburbs.
Evidence shows Melbourne’s western suburbs have less than 6 per cent tree canopy coverage, compared to 26 per cent in the east. This lack of greenery contributes to urban heat islands, making these areas dangerously hot during heatwaves. Outer suburbs, often with lower socio-economic profiles, are most affected. Families seeking affordable housing end up in areas with little natural shade, increasing health risks and energy costs.
Urban planning must prioritise green spaces from the start. It’s concerning that suburbs like Whittlesea now scramble to plant trees – this should have been built into the design. This must be a wake-up call. Green spaces are essential to protect communities from climate change and ensure safer, healthier environments for all.
Julia Paxino, Beaumaris,
Greens’ irrelevance
The Greens’ recent loss in Prahran is a harbinger for their growing irrelevance in Australian politics. Once the standard-bearers for Australians concerned with environment and climate, they have consigned themselves to the fringes by continually adopting hardline populist positions and associating themselves with a range of movements that employ angry and violent rhetoric. After just one or two parliamentary cycles, it is the teal independents who now represent the best political hope of climate action.
Aaron Bloch, Brunswick
Taxi shambles
Former taxi driver Rob Barton’s story about Victorian taxis and the gig economy really misses the point (“I was proud to drive a taxi, but my industry has lost its way”, 20/2).
Before Uber arrived, taxi drivers worked in an industry dominated by a management model that became very complacent due to the local taxi industry duopoly of 13Cabs and Silver Top Taxis, and failed to innovate and update. Consequently, the conventional taxi telephone booking system was little more than a shambles. Too often, it let down both its customers and taxi drivers. Unsurprisingly, this management incompetence also found expression in fake local taxi driver training and sending the Silver Top Taxi radio booking service to operators in South Africa – people with no knowledge of our geography or culture. State government taxi “regulators″ existed in name only – often concealing the industry’s problems behind bureaucratic jargon.
Rob Barton, Uber and overseas share-ride cars eventually became very successful here, not simply because of the so-called gig economy. It was because the flawed taxi industry model alienated and frustrated many travellers.
John Glazebrook, Terang
More for mental health
I am a former-registered nurse with a continuing interest in health-related issues. I welcome Labor’s plan to slash the cost of GP visits and wholeheartedly agree that such visits should not be a burden on families.
However, it is unfortunate that once again, mental health seems to be overlooked. The significant presence of mental health issues within our society cannot be denied. However, not only is it difficult to access a trained mental health practitioner within a reasonable time frame due to heavy demand, the out-of-pocket expense can be well above the average family budget even for a few sessions, let alone for ongoing regular treatment.
I appreciate our health budget has limits, but it makes economic sense to address immediate mental health problems before they may become chronic, causing greater personal suffering and contribute to family breakdown, addiction disorders, workplace problems and societal dysfunction.
Christine Harris, Mordialloc
Old school ways
When I went to Ballarat College (now Ballarat Clarendon College) in 1955, there was a practice known as “the rounds of the dorm” whereby all the boys in the dormitory would beat one boy with a slipper for some perceived offence against protocol.
By the time I left in 1962, this practice had died out, as had all corporal punishment in the school. It is disgusting that such behaviour has again reared its ugly head at Ballarat Grammar in 2025.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Penguin patrol
People are risking their lives swimming off St Kilda Pier, but the penguins are at risk, too (“Pier wows crowds but safety concerns aired”, 22/2).
On a recent night, 150 people gathered. They jostled and queued to photograph one unlucky penguin, which was deep in its moult cycle post-breeding.
Penguins can’t swim for three weeks during moult; they can’t escape this disturbance. Moreover, white flash light was being used, blinding them temporarily. No one from Parks Victoria was there to supervise and the organisation didn’t answer emails. As a volunteer penguin guide, I loved talking to people about these charismatic birds. Penguin welfare matters. Parks Victoria should patrol right now, even if the official viewing area is still closed.
Debbie Lustig, Elsternwick
When the system works
As an Australian, I mostly feel ashamed of our treatment of refugees, but today I want to congratulate the Australian government for an act of generosity that has surprised and delighted me.
I am a member of a refugee support group in Melbourne. Over the past year, our group has given regular support to a family of Hazara refugees from Afghanistan who have been living in hiding in Pakistan. The family comprises a mother and two children. After the victory of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021, they were violently attacked and forced to flee from their country.
Recently, the government of Pakistan announced a policy of forcible return of Afghan refugees. For this family, return to Afghanistan would mean death, so they have been living with intense fear. They were, like thousands of others, registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but saw little chance of resettlement.
A few days ago, the family received, through a recommendation from UNHCR, an offer of a humanitarian visa from the Australian government. It was unexpected. When we learnt of this offer, our group shared with the family the joy and relief this news has given them. We look forward to welcoming them to Australia, and we hope to hear of other similar refugee families also receiving humanitarian visas.
Geraldine Moore, Hampton
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump
I am not at all surprised by the “diplomatic” resolutions Donald Trump has suggested for the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Win-win solutions are anathema to Trump, who bases the success of his “deals” on his besting the other parties.
Elizabeth Long, Collingwood
Apparently the White House was upset by the “outrageous” comments made by Volodymyr Zelensky about Trump. Truth hurts, I guess. It only shows that Trump is your typically insecure schoolyard bully. He can dish out insults, but he just can’t take them.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Imagine Trump were a teacher. The school bully punches the little kid every day and steals his lunch money. Trump makes a deal. Stop punching the little kid, and he will give you his daily lunch money.
Ralph Frank, Malvern East
I wonder how many world leaders observing Trump’s actions, may ponder on Napoleon’s saying, ″If your enemy is making a mistake don’t interrupt him″.
Rob Melvin, Avondale Heights
First, Elon Musk, now, another Trump loyalist, Steve Bannon. This accidental Nazi saluting seems to be highly contagious within the president’s inner circle.
Matt Dunn, Leongatha
You would think the Chinese navy would wait until 2040 before conducting live-firing exercises off Sydney. We’ve only just handed over the down payment on our new submarines.
Paul Custance, Highett
Can AUK become a coalition of the unwilling? The US in AUKUS is as scary as hell.
Judith Hall, St Kilda
In the week Trump shakes up the world order, Chinese warships appear off our coast, disrupting air traffic. And AUKUS is a millennium away. Get the picture?
Jim Morrison, Mont Albert North
I like Clive Palmer’s new party name, it fits perfectly: Trumpet of Parrots!
Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill
If women ruled the world, we wouldn’t be in this state of conflict.
Katriona Fahey, Alphington
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