Indigenous MPs need to rise to the real challenge rather than fixating on the voice

During NAIDOC Week we have been exposed to and impressed by the successes achieved by Indigenous Australians across the arts spectrum. We have also been reminded regularly of the progress being made by providing an educational environment that encourages Indigenous students to aim higher academically and achieve at a tertiary and professional level.

Australia now has many influential, knowledgeable and professional Indigenous voices, and on a per capita basis a larger quota than what would be expected in the federal parliament. Despite these gains, heartbreaking social and health issues are still rampant in remote communities, despite federal and state governments providing millions of dollars to alleviate them for more than 40 years. The solution rests with the Aboriginal community. Jacinta Price has provided leadership into what needs to be done.

It’s now up to those Indigenous representatives to take up the challenge rather than procrastinate by burying the problem under what appears to be a political call for a voice.

Noelle Oke, Albury, NSW

Professor Marcia Langton, an acknowledged Indigenous leader, makes eminent sense calling for the voice to parliament proposal to be detailed before going to a referendum (“Voice proposal should be fully formed: Langton”, 12/7). Changing our Constitution is serious business and voters as well as independent legal experts are entitled to know and debate, before a referendum, exactly what the implications of such a change are likely to be. To do any less than that can be seen as less than good government.

Michael Schilling, Millswood, SA

Cavalier on Covid

Australia has a relatively low cumulative Covid death toll only because we minimised infections during the first two years of the pandemic (“Four ways to avoid a Covid meltdown”, 12/7). This is being used to excuse and gloss over our current Covid death rate, which is now one of the highest in the world, and the public, like mushrooms, is largely in the dark about ongoing risks. The cowardice of both state and federal governments in failing to educate and introduce relatively simple measures to limit Covid transmission is inexcusable.

Sue Lester, Grange, SA

Sri Lanka a target

India is Sri Lanka’s powerful neighbour and one imagines it is carefully watching the anarchy that has developed there. But Sri Lanka’s breakdown is of concern to Australia, too. The trickle of boatpeople could soon become a flood. Wherever there is the collapse of law and order as in the Solomons there is fertile ground for Chinese meddling. Sri Lanka is heavily indebted to China. China has a 99-year lease over its main port. Will we expect to see Solomons-type intervention in Sri Lanka by China “to protect its investment”? We have our hands full in the Pacific, we don’t need problems in the Indian Ocean as well. Australia should use its relationship with India through the Quad to see that China is checkmated.

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

In our defence

The more I hear about submarines the more I am convinced it is a defence strategy devised by bureaucrats and perpetuated by lazy defence ministers of both parties. At several billion dollars apiece we can afford only half a dozen and who knows the delivery date. By then the Chinese will boast a couple of hundred, light years ahead of ours technologically. It seems to me the smartest focus is on the endgame. If an enemy can’t land their troops, they can’t win. And if we spend our money on several thousand missiles, any foreign force could well be deterred from trying.

Australia would be tough to conquer if we’re smart about defending it. The nerve centre is in the southeast, mangroves across the Top End, desert in the west and south, and basically one road all the way around, and one through the centre north to south. If the Pacific Island nations sell out, the Americans won’t come to our aid so we’d better smarten up soon.

John Patterson, Byron Bay, NSW

Insurrection bias

The ongoing investigation of the supposedly Trump-instigated invasion of the US Capitol continues with a vengeance, the latest January 6th house select committee hearing just completed. The word insurrection has been used repeatedly by the left-wing media, although there was little destruction, no attempt to take over the government and only one death, from a heart attack. Conversely, a massive invasion of the residences of the right-wing President and Prime Minister in Sri Lanka, where the PM’s house was burned down and both had to flee for their lives, is described as a protest and not an insurrection. The double standards of the media are once more on display.

Graham Pinn, Maroochydore, Qld