A vote on an indigenous voice could lead to same republic disappointment

George Williams (“Let’s give the public a taste of how a republic might work,” 8/7) suggests a wise approach to advancing the republican cause that could be applied to an indigenous voice to parliament. That is, “they (supporters of a republic) should look for ways to test different opinions”. If the voice-to-parliament folk only listen to supporters, their consequential hope-enhanced call for a change to the Constitution may harvest the same sour disappointment the republican referendum delivered.

Barry Lamb, Heidelberg West, Vic

The problem with our system of hybrid government is that no one really knows how it is meant to work. We have a system of government with no functioning head of state. The Queen is not interested in being our head of state. Meanwhile, governors-general have to make it up as they go.

When a legitimate prime minister can be replaced at the whim of a small number of federal MPs, or a small group of disgruntled unions, we have reached a tipping point in the stability and functioning of our democracy.

We need a modern system of government in Australia with an Australian head of state mandated to protect it. We need a system of government that is not only transparent but whose workings are fully understood by all of us. It should be this generation’s legacy to the future.

Brian Sanaghan, West Preston, Vic

Big end held to ransom

Nick Cater’s commentary (“Taking sides in big end of town”, 8/7) was spot on. Unfortunately senior executives from the big end of town are held to ransom by activist groups such as the Greens and GetUp and want to be seen a good and responsible corporate citizens. It is also apparent that some chief executives will push their own virtue-signalling social agendas and abrogate their business responsibility to their shareholders by forcing their views not only on their staff, but on their customers. Likewise, politicians see the advantages of sidling up to the big end of town in the hope that agreeing to be lobbied will ensure electoral support.

Hugh Francis, Portland, Vic

ABC’s omissions

Where would the ABC be without a Coalition crisis to beat up? Chris Mitchell’s exposure of its “fleet-footed” criticisms over tax — all notably failed — highlight why it is still the home of the Left’s grievance industry (“It’s taxing for us all when economic illiteracy trickles down through ABC”, 8/7).

Meanwhile state Labor governments get by with kid-glove treatment — witness the almost adoring cover of the Victorian Andrews government, and the regular ABC News Radio muting of criticism of it by either omission, or breaking the story by way of Labor denials.

And this from a broadcaster under a statutory obligation to deliver news that is fair and impartial. For the ABC, impartiality still seems to mean a balance between Labor and the Greens, and equal negativity towards the Coalition at home, and the US abroad.

Brenton Minge, Cannon Hill, Qld

Cultural nonsense

I see Flinders University staff are being urged to take “cultural learning” courses (5/7). Other universities and government departments are doing something similar.

Underpinning such plans is the myth that a person with Aboriginal ancestry, even if it’s minimal, is vastly different to those with no Aboriginal ancestry. We are taught that for a person with Aboriginal ancestry, their DNA is different because they carry or inherit trauma, and that non-Aboriginal Australians are guilty for this.

As long as this nonsense is pushed, race relations will suffer. Let’s develop policies that recognise the truth: that our commonalities far outweigh any differences.

Anthony Dillon, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, NSW