Biden’s pardon opens door for Trump, hits back at Democrat foes

By pardoning his son on the basis that the charges were obviously politically inspired, and that no other individual would have faced such judicial action, President Joe Biden has just given Donald Trump carte blanche to issue a pardon to whoever he considers deserves one, probably including many January 6, 2021 rioters.

Trump knows now that there can’t be any serious objections raised by Democrats and, more importantly, Biden knows this too. That suggests he decided to act in his family’s interests, regardless of the political implications, in just one more response to those who so unceremoniously dumped him in July.

Kym MacMillan, O’Malley, ACT

No cure for stupidity

By its own reckoning, hospitality giant Australian Venues Co employs hundreds of people across the country (“Apologetic about-face as pub group backs down on its Australia Day boycott”, 3/12).

Any one of them (a cellarman or a cleaner, for instance) could have told its senior management team that disrespecting Australia Day was a really dumb idea. Apologies have now been tendered, of course, but the fundamental problem remains: there’s no cure for stupidity.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld

Social media ban folly

A 15-year-old has been granted access to cross-sex hormones by an Australian court (3/12).

Meanwhile, the Albanese government rushed through an 11th-hour bill denying access to social media for children under 16. This strange dichotomy is unchallenged by the opposition, which hasn’t noticed or hasn’t thought it through. There was no discussion on this bill: it was just one in a long list of bills Albo wanted to push. He wanted to make himself a hero.

It is also strange that kids of 15 can get a job at any fast-food outlet, prepare food and give change. The age restriction is peculiar. Maybe kids of 10 and under should be protected but 16 is a strange age to deny access. And how is this to be policed? More faceless bureaucrats, no doubt, and less freedom for everyone?

Helen Cameron, Maryborough, Qld

Businesses find a way

Your editorial notes that without tax reform, our corporate tax rate of 30 per cent is a disincentive to investment (“Leaders must stop slide towards ‘unlucky country’ ”, 25/11).

We needn’t worry, because hundreds of major companies in Australia don’t pay any tax. They are a disgrace, not contributing to the welfare of their fellow citizens and leaving the bulk of tax to others to pay via PAYG or GST.

And businesses’ idea of reform is to take away workers’ rights, safety regulations and environment safeguards.

Lorraine Bates, Balwyn, Vic

Environment vote row

Anthony Albanese would be right in thinking that his Environment Minister’s impending decision on the Tasmanian salmon farming industry will cost him votes in Tasmania (“Albanese’s Praetorian Guard goes fishing to save votes from Plibersek’s ‘long game’ ”, 3/12).

Voters across the country are watching the developments on this issue as well as about the blocked goldmine in NSW. Tanya Plibersek, along with others, is certainly doing her bit to grind viable Australian industries into the dust, and all in the name of getting re-elected. When will Albanese start governing in Australia’s best interests? Probably not in this term.

Trevor Hindle, Wodonga, Vic

Cohesion long gone

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has got to be kidding if he thinks Israel’s former minister, Ayelet Shaked, coming to Australia is a threat to social cohesion (“Israel’s right-winger banned to save social cohesion, says Burke”, 3/12).

Since October 7 last year, the social cohesion of Australian society has been relentlessly and threateningly damaged by intimidation; vilification; weekly street demonstrations; mob violence at our national icon; encampments at our universities; firebombing of politicians’ offices; damage to business and private property; anti-Semitic graffiti, and; mobs rampaging through Australian neighbourhoods hoping to scare a targeted section of our population, egged on by constant inflammatory rhetoric from all quarters and aided and abetted by the failure of this government to keep all Australians safe.

Let Burke justify the social disruption brought about by his government’s inaction.

Lynda Morrison, Bicton, WA

The ALP’s flagrant anti-Israel stance, designed to shore up votes in seats where there are relatively high Muslim populations, is regrettable (“Narrow, vested interests no way to shape foreign policy”, Editorial, 3/12). Government policy in Australia should be founded on what is in the nation’s best interest, not on local political considerations.

Riley Brown, Bondi Beach, NSW