Ardern is proof that you can’t have it all at same time

It’s not often I agree with Janet Albrechtsen, but she’s correct that women sadly aren’t able to have it both ways (“St Jacinda’s choices shows women can’t have it all”, 25/1). There have been female ministers elected recently who didn’t show us their family photos and use them for propaganda. It wasn’t just for security reasons; they wanted to protect their normal life outside of politics. I think it’s smart and I wish Jacinda Ardern and other future female leaders all the best in living a life that’s too short to be wasted on politics alone.

Mel Smith, Brighton, Vic

The sagest advice I have ever seen on women’s careers is on a plaque at the Women’s College, Sydney University. It quotes former governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce as saying words to the effect: “Girls, you can have it all but not all at the same time.” The conflicts and problems come when some try to have the latter. In an age when young people are being told to expect to have several careers during their working life, a former PM can expect to be offered all manner of very interesting and fulfilling roles. Jacinda Ardern stepping down on her own terms, regardless of how good, bad or indifferent her premiership has been, seems a pretty smart move to me.

Peter Thornton, Killara, NSW

A voice is needed

Marcia Langton is right to call for the women of Alice Springs to be given a constitutional voice (“Cultural warriors shamed by confected outrage over voice”, 25/1). It is likely that the escalation of violence in Alice Springs would have been lessened if the voice was already in place as the parliament would have been advised not to lift alcohol bans. The voice could also address other social issues such as poverty and truancy at school. The voice is designed to facilitate remedies for local issues such as those in Alice Springs. It will give a voice to people on the ground dealing with these real-life local issues. The violence in Alice Springs makes a compelling case for the voice.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

So Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will not support blanket alcohol bans across Central Australia to combat grog-fuelled violence in Alice Springs, despite warnings from Indigenous leaders that urgent “positive discrimination” is needed. This is not a good look for the Prime Minister desperately supporting the voice proposal. On the one hand he is ignoring the desperate plea from Indigenous leaders and on the other hand saying that he will listen to the voice – although he doesn’t know what shape or form the voice will take

Bruce Williams, Merewether, NSW

The Prime Minister offered policy to subdue and control the very serious (in fact, family- and community-destructive) problem of youth violence due to alcohol drunkenness. He denies the Indigenous leaders’ voice as they demand banning unrestricted selling of alcohol to both children and adults, emphasising that due respect must be shown to this very important minority in our society. Overriding the Indigenous leaders’ suggestion is demonstrating the PM’s lack of confidence in them, if not a lack of respect as well. If fewer white children are involved in extensive violence then it may be due to education, training, financial and social security opportunities enjoyed by their parents. Even then, white children do get in trouble. Let us try to resolve the problem by attacking the causes rather than taking the easy (and less effective) route of punishment.

Spyros Marinos, Deloraine, Tas

It is time to look at the wider picture. Is the present violence an expected reaction to some of our failings? More likely it is a reaction to the movement of clans to settlements from cattle stations decades ago, then exposure to alcohol and poor diet? Crowded houses are leading to violence, sexual assaults and rampant STDs. A massive improvement in housing is needed. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are a big factor. Those with FASD are hyperactive, with attention deficit, memory and learning deficiencies, low IQ and poor reasoning and judgment. They become teenagers and adults. Peer-reviewed research five years ago in Western Australia showed 74 per cent of 99 prisoners studied had one or more severe neurodevelopmental impairment and 36 per cent had full FASD. In remote communities 40 per cent of women still drink alcohol in pregnancy. Add alcohol and drugs to FASD and we have the situation in Alice. The prevention of future damaged children is at the community level, and will require targeted management.

Geoff Bowden, Tewantin, Qld

Aged-care priority

While we continue to enjoy the tennis and holiday recovery from a fairly ordinary 2022, our fellow Australians in residential care continue daily to live with the same conditions that have prevailed since the appalling 2019 October royal commission interim report titled “Neglect”. One media outlet reported 37,800 serious incident notifications in the last financial year with “in 2021-2022 only 62 per cent of residential aged-care sites nationally achieving the benchmark for personal and clinical care”. Such reports must make us weep and resolve that care , dignity and respect for all frail aged residents must be prioritised in this new year.

Glenda Addicott, Ringwood, Vic