Credit: Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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THE STATE OF VICTORIA
It really does seem to me that the state government has a political death wish. As Annika Smethurst writes (“Cost of straying from Labor values”, 7/6), Labor’s success was based on its much-needed investment in infrastructure and its focus on the provision of essential services.
What she doesn’t mention, however, is that infrastructure spending has now become a dangerous obsession. The Suburban Rail Loop may be a great idea down the track. But it is enormously expensive. Surely, Jacinta Allan should at the very least put this project on hold and focus on what Victorians want in the here and now. If she doesn’t, I fear the consequences for her government will be terminal.
Ivan Glynn, Vermont
Putting the brakes on debt madness
In 1975, I helped fine arts students create “Shame Fraser Shame” protest placards when the Whitlam government’s magnificent achievements had degenerated into economic chaos and the Liberal/Country parties blocked supply bills to (eventually) force an election. (Malcolm Fraser was rewarded with a landslide majority.)
In 1983, Bob Hawke became prime minister after promising to invoke federal powers that would prevent the Tasmanian government damming the Franklin River.
Given the SRL debacle, is there not some constitutional mechanism that the opposition could invoke to put the brakes on Labor and end this environmental and debt madness?
Ronald Elliott, Sandringham
Vanity project costs mental health help
The piece by Annika Smethurst (7/6) captures the deterioration in the values of the Victorian government. The most egregious failing has been the lengthy delays in the provision of mental health services.
As a teacher with 38 years’ experience, I have not witnessed a greater demand for mental health assessment and treatment for our young people. The delay in the long-promised mental health hubs could be quite catastrophic.
The government’s vanity project, the SRL, should never have been commenced without clearance from infrastructure Australia. When factored alongside cuts to mental health, to march forward on such a costly project with little scrutiny is heartless. Peter Farrar, Brighton East
Burnt out nurses as public health at capacity
As a nurse of 23 years’ experience, the pressure on the Victorian public health system has never been so acute.
At Bendigo Health, nurses are burnt out, staff members are working double shifts, often without breaks. We’re worried staff fatigue will lead to errors, potentially putting patients at risk. The pressure to work extra or double shifts sees multiple daily texts pleading for staff, leading to anxiety and feelings of guilt on our days off. Our service operates at capacity, with high bed demands, staff shortages/sick leave, and the hospital in code yellow the past two days.
Nurses strive to provide the best care, but with staff burnout, I fear nurses will leave the profession. We need an EBA agreement with the state government that encourages recruitment and retention of nurses and recognises and rewards the care we provide.
Belinda Wood, Maiden Gully
How public transport worked once upon a time
Did you know that Melbourne tram conductors once sold enough tickets to pay their wages and those of the tram drivers?
They also provided tourist information, passenger assistance, late night safety, and (in some cases ) juggling, singing, and comic relief.
But that was not enough in the face of privatisation, or union busting, as it is sometimes called.
So, 1998 saw the last of this mob of mainly part-time, community support workers, as they were swapped for ticket machines.
Tom Danby, Coburg North
THE FORUM
Bandt language
Bravo to David Crowe (Comment, ″Greens’ falsehoods play with fire″, 7/6) for calling out the Greens leader Adam Bandt and his party for their ″inflammatory language, and outright falsehoods, for political ends″ regarding the war in Gaza, and highlighting their encouragement for violent protest. They are sounding and acting more like Pauline Hanson and One Nation every day. Does this make the Greens and Adam Bandt unfit for public office? Probably.
Alan Tiller, Caulfield North
Greens as opposition
David Crowe (Comment, 7/6) suggests the Greens’ support of pro-Palestine protests makes it complicit if a protester behaves violently or damages property. This is drawing a very long bow.
There is a genuine debate occurring within and outside parliament regarding what actions Australia could, or should take in response to the Gaza catastrophe.
The government has not moved to formally recognise Palestinian statehood (unlike 144 UN member states); the Greens have used parliament to make this fact clear; over 100,000 Australians have so far signed a petition urging the government to do so.
Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons manufacturer, was recently awarded a contract to work with a South Korean company in the building of Redback infantry fighting vehicles for the Australian Army. The Greens have urged the government to overturn this decision.
A case can be made that it is acting as the effective opposition. One can debate whether the Greens’ claims are “falsehoods” but to suggest they are “dangerous” is hyperbole.
Richard Barnes, Canterbury
Enough of Woolworths
“Local growers devastated as Woolworths swaps to Chinese, South African fruit, blaming consumers”, (7/6). Enough, Woolworths for its lack of honesty, integrity, transparency, and support of the country made up of the consumers that make its profits possible. Enough is enough Woolworths, I’m walking.
Sharon Hendon, Glen Iris
Keep fruit local
I am often puzzled at how the home brands of the large supermarkets could be produced and sold more cheaply. Now I know canned and bottled will be cheaper if imported. I check labels on fresh fruit and avoided the overseas products. Now, I’ll do the same with home brands. Genuine Aussie farm-grown SPC for me.
Julie Broomhall, Timboon
Not home grown
The Albanese ‘produced in Australia’ campaign is being ignored by the major supermarkets (“Canned peaches from China, canned pears from South Africa”, 7/6). This is at the expense of our growers and canneries which employ hundreds of thousands.
As usual, both federal and state governments are all rhetoric without action. I do not believe the spin is espoused by the supermarket. Consumers must boycott these foreign products and send a firm message.
Gerard van de Ven, Mount Martha
A tariff on fruit imports
Shame on Woolworths for cancelling orders by 60 per cent for Australian fruit grown and processed in the fruit bowl of the Goulburn Valley in Victoria, in favour of fruit imported from South Africa, and of all places China where few restrictions on chemicals etc. exist.
Fruit is not a commodity which can be turned on and off – it is a long-term investment.
Surely, a tariff on overseas produce which is plentiful in Australia should be mandatory. We must protect all our agriculture for the future generations, not for short-term profits for greedy supermarkets.
Christina Foo, North Wahroonga
Wake up Australia
Why do Australians just accept what is being sold and or pushed onto us?
Woolworths is now prioritising overseas-produced products, and turning its back on Australian companies and growers who work hard to produce excellent produce, and work under our standards. We have no idea what standards are used overseas – or we do, and do not care.
When are Australians going to stop accepting this? We must push for Australian products. Consumers may think getting ″cheap″ is good. When we lose all our primary producers and are flooded with imports, we will then continue to be beholden to the rest of the world.
Joe Gagliano, Brunswick
Robodebt scandal
The decision by the National Anti-Corruption Commission not to pursue the public service mandarins involved in the deplorable Robodebt scandal is both as disappointing as it is unsurprising. The probability that a body like the NACC would have sufficient teeth to investigate those who set it up was always going to be problematic. This decision proves it.
No doubt there are a few scandal-plagued Coalition politicians who will sleep a little more easily. Once again, those in power, be it private (PwC or government), think Robodebt is immune to accountability. One hoped more of a Labor government, and again voters are left lamenting.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
One myki fits all
Victoria is spending $1.7 billion on a contract with a US company to run myki here. Australian states each have their own travel payment cards, but Australia should have one card that works in all states.
Sandra Dickson, Mentone
Make it free
Your correspondent’s letter (7/6) citing her research, reflects my assessment of those not paying to use public transport. No university appears to be undertaking a rigorous assessment to enable serious consideration of free metro public transport by government.
The Queensland government’s 50 cents per day cost of public transport trial will provide evidence on the reduction in vehicle usage and emissions. The cost of living will be reduced for many, along with a CPI reduction.
State labour shortages would be reduced if metro public transport was free seven days a week for all. While many retrenched staff would need retraining, the resulting reduction in emissions from road congestion would assist in achieving the current inadequate 43 per cent emissions reduction target to enable our grandchildren the quality of life we currently have.
Howard Brownscombe, Brighton
Cruising chaos
A recent cruise to Port Douglas went well until my husband caught COVID. We were both fully vaccinated and took care onboard, but he was very ill and ended up in the ship’s hospital overnight. This cost $2200, which the insurance company refused to pay. He requested antivirals and the ship quoted $750 for one course. The next day, I found a pharmacy in Circular Quay and was back onboard by 9am. The cost? $7.50. My husband had to be isolated in our cabin for six days, so I caught COVID as well. It went from bad to worse until we finally left the ship in Melbourne. Compensation? Six future cruise credit days on our next booking. They must be joking.
Margaret Ward, Sorrento
Indian election
In the surprising results of the recent Indian elections, voters elected a variety of political parties and candidates, reflecting the diversity of the country and the range of its political opinions. This marks a significant departure from the last two lower house elections, where one party’s decade-long majority fostered a belief that its political opinions were paramount. Regardless of individual sentiments about the election outcome, these elections are a resounding victory for the Indian tradition of public debate and plurality of opinions. It is a triumph of the democratic processes in the world’s largest democracy. I hope we Indians can now shift our perspective to see our differing opinions not as a problem, but as a strength and a valuable resource.
Shirin Tejani, Oakleigh
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding
Woolworths fruit
If Woolworths has its way, Shepparton, the fruit bowl of Australia will become the dust bowl.
Paul Custance, Highett
There you go Albo, another chance for you with local manufacturing. This time, just slap an import duty on Chinese and South African pears and peaches, then the supermarkets would have to buy our produce.
Joel Matthews, Bright
Costello kerfuffle
Could The Age please provide some balance in its reporting of the Costello kerfuffle (7/6)? I want to hear from the placard.
Jenny Bone, Surrey Hills
A Costello bump is an Age headline? Come on, a Maynard bump warrants more attention!
Arthur Poole, Frankston South
Looks like we might have to call for the video umpire before we find out whether we finally have a Liberal who can deliver a decent shirtfront.
Peter Bear, Mitcham
Bandt
What Adam Bandt meant to say to your correspondent (Letters, 7/6), was “I will not be lectured to because I’m the one who does the lecturing”. And don’t we all know it.
Judy Loney, Drumcondra
Adam Bandt, our very own version of Jeremy Corbyn. And destined to end up in the same dustbin of history as the former British Labour Party leader.
Greg Hardy, Upper Ferntree Gully
Cromwell
Regarding whether or not Cromwell and Sir Keir Starmer are boring (“There are no fun facts about the next UK PM”, 2/6): I was taught that a bore is someone who talks about themselves when you want to talk about yourself.
Jennifer Gerrand, Carlton North
Remembering Oliver Cromwell’s bloody invasion in 1649, the last word the Irish would utter to describe him is “boring” (Letters 7/6).
Peter McCarthy, Mentone
Finally
Protest groups embracing any cause, can have uncontrollable fringe supporters, who embarrass the majority, and lose support for their cause.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
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