Edge politics.Credit: Alan Moir
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CONFLICT
US President Trump seems keen to control peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as well as between Israel and Palestine/Hamas. It seems he wants not only personal economic kickbacks and support from Putin and Netanyahu, but maybe even a Nobel Peace Prize.
He wants control of Ukraine’s mineral wealth and control of the Gaza Strip as a ″big″ real estate deal to add to his portfolio. All Ukraine needs to do is lay down its arms, give the US control of its mining and accept a future Russian takeover. All the Palestinian people need to do is be relocated to a few gulags in deserts located in various Arab states. If Trump really wants a Nobel Prize, he should look to negotiate peace in the 30 or so wars in African countries, the wars in Transnistria/Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and then clean up the conflict in Haiti.
Peter Ferguson, Herne Hill
Stage-managed attack on Zelensky
It now increasingly appears that the confrontation between Zelensky, Trump and Vance was stage-managed to put Zelensky in a weak position and to force him to sign the agreement by which the US would rip off Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Such a gangster-like approach, deliberately taking advantage of a nation that is already battling huge odds, demonstrates that Trump is operating like a large commercial business taking every opportunity to swallow a vulnerable asset. Zelensky was right to refuse to sign.
This is an attitude that we should abhor, and we should tell Trump that this is not how international relations should be conducted if he wants Australia’s approval. Our government’s determination to continue support for Ukraine should be applauded.
Michael Meszaro, Alphington
Low chance of Australian troops in Ukraine
Australia fought wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan at the strong behest of the US, justified to our populace as the cost of the US security umbrella. Clearly, Australia can no longer rely on the US to protect us. Moreover, the US will specifically not want us to provide peacekeeping forces in Ukraine. If realpolitik has any predictive power, Australia will not send troops to Ukraine.
Chris Lloyd, Carlton
Dutton decides, Albanese fence-sits
David Crowe writes that Peter Dutton is sitting on the fence regarding support for Ukraine (″The Trump test: PM chose a side, Dutton picked the fence″, 7/3). Really?
Dutton promptly countered the verbal attack that J.D. Vance and Donald Trump directed at Zelensky last weekend. He noted that the Coalition stands very strongly behind Zelensky and described Putin as a ″murderous dictator″. Dutton’s shadow minister for defence, Andrew Hastie, then said Australia stands with Ukraine.
Anthony Albanese has said he is open to considering deploying Australian troops to Ukraine for peacekeeping. With all due respect to Albanese and Crowe, that is non-committal – otherwise known as fence-sitting.
Alun Breward, Malvern East
THE FORUM
All hate hateful
Thank you, Waleed Aly (“Let’s call it out: All hate is hateful”, Opinion, 7/3) for an honest description of how antisemitism has been reported and weaponised by some as opposed to Islamophobia, which has been weighted down over decades with hierarchical views on race.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
Not all equal
It’s a good line that Waleed Aly pushes in his article that ″all hate is hateful″ and parallels antisemitic and Islamophobic hate. However, you don’t see the Jewish community pushing hate against our Islamic neighbours compared with the horrendous antisemitic hate propagated in return by radicals among the Islamic community.
Charles Freeman, Caulfield South
Ignorance begets racism
Anyone looking for an example of the close relationship between ignorance and racism need look no further than the front page of The Age (″We don’t need to be welcomed to our own country″, advertisement for Trumpet of Patriots, 7/3).
Welcome to Country is conducted by traditional owners; the rest of us (aka the invaders) can (and should) respectfully acknowledge that we are living and working on land that was occupied and cared for by Indigenous Australians for many thousands of years before colonisation.
Maryanne Barclay, Frankston South
Unleashed bigotry
A report released this week by the Institute for Indigenous Education and Research found that the Voice referendum normalised racism towards Indigenous people. I agree. When I was campaigning in Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock and Bentleigh, the comments I heard were vile. I was horrified and thought I’d gone back in time. But no, it was 2023 and the racists were everywhere.
Now they hear Peter Dutton’s dog-whistling on flags, Welcome to Country, DEI and more, and emboldened, they’re completely unleashed.
Samantha Keir, Brighton East
Safe seat inertia
My electorate of Wannon has been held by just three Liberal MPs since 1955. It’s always been considered a ″safe seat″ and subsequently the people of south-western Victoria have been taken for granted.
Just have a look at the shocking state of our roads. Many are grateful and keen to get behind independent candidate Alex Dyson (″Independent’s whopping Wannon War chest″, 6/3). Watching the successful representation the people of Indi have enjoyed with independent MP Helen Haines, as well as suffering the impacts of climate change – an issue the Coalition is failing to address – is spurring many to support change.
As Niki Savva explains, representatives who aren’t beholden to party politics or vested interests have much to offer (″Teals key in sink or swim election″). I’ll vote for that.
Marina Lewis, Gellibrand River
Rising inequality
Just as governments for decades did little about the warnings of the worsening climate crisis (although Labor governments have grasped the nettle when in office), they have also not responded to the evidence of increasing inequality in Australia (“Rich getting richer with inequality at two decade high”, 6/3). That is the other great threat to a fair and liveable society.
Labor did propose significant tax changes under Bill Shorten that would have moved the dial somewhat, but voters chose Scott Morrison instead. Both major parties are now paying the price for allowing Australia’s egalitarian society to fracture.
Voters here are turning to the independents (and in other countries to disruptive leaders) to tackle the mounting financial and existential problems most in society are feeling.
Peter Thomson, Brunswick
Slow climate response
Will the possible devastation of a capital city be enough for our political leaders to stop playing games with nature? While the Coalition is years behind in recognising climate change, Labor is not much better.
While the current government is reducing our domestic output of carbon emissions, we are selling increasing amounts of fossil fuels overseas, which creates extra carbon emissions. Nature is not restrained by international borders. The cyclone is driven by the accumulation of carbon in the atmosphere – it cares not in which country the carbon dioxide molecules were created.
John Rome, Mount Lawley, WA
Look to China
Maybe now is the right time for Australia to form some new and more reliable alliances. Our existing one with the US becomes less tenable by the day as that country moves further from our understanding of democracy and international responsibility.
Perhaps we need to work closer with Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and India, all countries that are increasingly closer to Australia in what we consider fair and rational.
Maybe it’s also time we demanded our ‘submarine down-payment’ back, and looked for a supplier a little less capricious than the present one.
Now is not the time for us to be cowering and worried about the future as Trump and his cronies turn the world upside down. We should see this as the opportunity for Australia to be more assertive and make some big changes, regardless of our small defence budget, small population and huge, indefensible land mass. And that includes getting a lot closer to China so we can openly discuss all matters that stand in the way of strengthening our relationship.
Peter Dodds, Montmorency
Trump resistance
I always thought the best ways to deal with bullies was to either ignore them or give them back what they give.
With respect to Donald Trump and Ukraine, it saddens me that a third option – giving in to their demands – appears to be the only solution for peace in Ukraine. Why should Zelensky have to give up his country’s minerals to this bully? If only the rest of the world could get their act together and form a coalition that actively and effectively resists Trump.
Vicki Jordan, Lower Plenty
Fighting abroad
Whether or not Australian soldiers should be sent to Ukraine is a complex question involving many factors, but the implication of your correspondent (Letters, ″Global alliances″, 6/3) that Australian armed forces should never operate in Europe is highly debatable.
As he concedes, in the past Australian troops have ″fought nobly″ in Europe. My own
father was involved in the confrontation of Australian forces with Nazism in Greece during World War II.
Never say never.
Bill James, Frankston
In rude health
Your correspondent expressed her disappointment at the state of our healthcare system after experiencing a long wait with her grandson (Letters, ″Waiting room″, 7/3) at a public hospital in Melbourne.
My experience was very positive. In February, I had elective surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital as a public patient. The process was streamlined, professional, and left me feeling at the centre of care. Three days following the surgery, I was transferred to ‘Rehabilitation in the home’ where allied health professionals worked with me for a smooth recovery.
I am full of praise for the amazing healthcare I received.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
Recycling is better
Your correspondent laments the loss of his colleague’s clothing shop due to competition from local op-shop (Letters, ″Thrift booms″, 7/3).
While I genuinely feel for his colleague, when one considers the fashion industry produces 5 to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions and 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year, together with the swamping of landfill with discarded clothes, the recycling of clothing can only be a good thing.
Bryan Long, Balwyn
Straight to the fridge
What a cutting and brilliant cartoon by Matt Golding (″And Another Thing″, 7/3). It’s going straight to the fridge door. What will it take for us to stop wringing our hands over unprecedented climate events, and get on with a clear and bipartisan approach to listening to the scientists and doing something useful and fast to address the climate crisis?
Fiona White, Alfredton
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Peter Dutton
Dutton’s response to leaving Queensland ahead of Cyclone Alfred: ″I don’t hold a mop, mate″.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
No problem to attend fundraisers.
No need to hold any hose. It is wet enough!
Luise Mock, Tawonga South
Mr Dutton, you would not like a sandbag to get in the way of a good dinner.
Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East
Morrison didn’t hold a hose. Dutton doesn’t fill sandbags. Our Liberal leaders certainly have a penchant for not being where the action is.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir
Peter Dutton prefers to mix with tycoons than typhoons.
Kevan Porter, Alphington
Due to unforeseen circumstances Dutton will not attend, but Alfred will be there!
Sarath Goonawardhana, Chadstone
Donald Trump
Please make America America again.
Michael Dillon, Woodend
I was disappointed that in his address to Congress, Trump didn’t update the nation on how many cats and dogs were saved from being eaten by illegal immigrants since he was sworn in. This was one of his key metrics.
Peter Heffernan, Balaclava
How dare America tell us to increase defence spending. China is America’s rival, not ours. China is our most important trade partner, and we should establish much closer and friendlier relationships.
Ralph Frank, Malvern East
Furthermore
I’m glad Clive Palmer has put us straight about land and property ownership.
David Johnston, Healesville
Worse than magpie swooping season, blowfly season or Collingwood in the finals season is the season of yellow banners on the front page of The Age spruiking Clive Palmer’s ugly nationalist rhetoric.
Shannon Brand, Carnegie
Welcome back to The Age, Bob Murphy. Your articles are a delight to read: thoughtful, sincere and insightful. You were sadly missed by this old Bulldogs supporter.
Libby Chanter, Glenroy