Defence of the nation primary responsibility of our government

There will be no point in having a generous Medicare scheme, an overgenerous and wasteful National Disability Insurance Scheme, cheap HECS, renewables covering our landscape and the like if we simply cannot defend our nation in case of war.

The first responsibility of a national government is the security of the nation. The Labor government has shown it is incapable of this and makes false promises of increased defence funding at some time over the horizon that will do nothing for our security at present and in the near future. It has shown itself to be weak and deserves to be condemned for exposing Australia as it has.

However, we should all shoulder the blame as we are more interested in handouts than our nation’s security.

Nicholas Milns, Maroochydore, Qld

If Australia is to defend itself effectively there must be a substantial increase in defence spending and military service will have to be introduced.

However, as Australia is a multiracial country, people of different temperaments, cultures and creeds may not relate easily in a military environment. Problems of this kind could prove serious and should be addressed long before any possible conflict.

Frank Reade, Macquarie, ACT

One cannot help but wonder, with several adversaries poised and looking intimidatory, virtually on our doorstep, who would be favoured as leader if we were suddenly attacked: Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton? That is, able to communicate with the military, make knowledgeable decisions and enforce them with courage and conviction?

With past professional and practical experience, it’s a safe bet to say Dutton would win this contest.

Aviva Rothschild, Caulfield North, Vic

Women’s sacrifices

Anzac Day is a sacred day in Australia, maybe the most sacred day. The sacrifices made by those who served in wars are honoured and remembered throughout the country on April 25.

But there were others. The women left behind; the new bride, just married, soon widowed; the mother of the soldier sending her “baby boy” off to war. The women left behind to tend to the farm, the business, the children. That awful feeling in the pit of their stomach that never went away until their boys returned – if they returned.

Remember that during the world wars there was no such thing as phoning home, texting or Facebook. Those back home waited, sometimes in vain, for the postman to bring them news or, worse, the dreaded telegram.

Talking of men going to war, many women served as well. Let us honour the values for which they died and have served us well, and remember them all every April 25.

Elizabeth Jobson, Tamborine Mountain, Qld

Australians owe our veterans a debt of gratitude, whatever their service, rank or category, whether deployed overseas or not.

They are all of us, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husband and wives, mothers and fathers, and the beat goes on. We need not distinguish between myth and reality. Australians will always be the children of Anzac, it’s in our DNA.

Don’t forget that our wars are also being fought at home. In time, the thin purple line will fade out. Our first-line responders, the police, fire brigade, SES and ambulance crews, should also march. For they are core services that protect us.

Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT

Choosing lesser evil

The last day of this month will mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

As a university student in the late 1960s I demonstrated against the war because at the time I believed, rightly or wrongly, that the subjection of Vietnam to a communist dictatorship was a lesser evil than the complete devastation of the country and its people if hostilities continued.

Only a handful of anti-war protesters were doctrinaire Marxists, but far too many of the others either naively romanticised the ruthless neo-Stalinist Ho Chi Minh or seemed to hold the racist position: “I wouldn’t want to live under communism myself, but it’s probably OK for Asians.” This latter attitude has remained covertly dominant for the past half-century.

The run-up to our election is a reminder that Vietnam is not merely a convenient destination for a cheap holiday but a country that deserves the same democratic and liberal rights that we take for granted.

Bill James, Frankston, Vic

China’s moon shot

So China has advanced plans for a nuclear power station on the moon (“Fission to the moon: China plans lunar nuclear plant”, 25/4), while we can’t even begin to engage in respectful, sensible, factual, ideology-free discussions about building one in Australia. Is there a message in this?

Paul Prociv, Mount Mellum, Qld