Jewish Australians keen to forget the year of living dangerously

The year 2024 has been one of disappointment and disgust for many Australians as we have witnessed the lack of fortitude and moral fibre in our parliamentary representatives following the tragedy of October 7, 2023, as well as the lack of government support for Israel at the UN.

As a citizen of this wonderful nation, I have never experienced before in my adult life the frustration I now feel at the dreadful negativity and paucity of leadership exhibited by both federal and state governments in not using their existing legislative power to act swiftly to curb the rise of anti-Semitism.

Whatever the underlying reason – lack of courage, lack of knowledge, fear of reprisal or just political expediency – those in positions of authority should hang their heads in shame.

Australians have always been prepared to give anyone who makes an effort a fair go. The federal election can’t come soon enough as an opportunity to demonstrate Aussie outrage at this appalling lack of political leadership.

Noelle Oke, Albury, NSW

There used to be a social contract of not bringing ethnic hatreds to Australia.

We have had these pro-Palestinian rallies every Sunday now for over a year. You would not want to bring your kids into the CBD on Sunday afternoons.

There are no credible demands being made by the protesters. Australia is not involved in the war, apart from being a US ally. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for a ceasefire. We have voted for UN resolutions that the US and Israel have denounced. We do not provide any weapons to Israel.

People have a right to protest, but not along Elizabeth Street and not in people’s faces. Banning flags and masks is not the answer. A permit system is urgently required (as they have in other states) so that protests can be focused where they should be – outside Parliament House.

Chris J. Lloyd, Melbourne

Digitally challenged

I have sympathy for those in rural areas with poor telco coverage (“Outrage in remote areas at dud telcos”, 18/12).

However, being about 10km from the Perth CBD in a western suburb, my connectivity has Third World status. Maybe I should revert to a landline for my telephone needs.

Roy Stall, Mount Claremont, WA

Tip of the super iceberg

The $50m super pay scandal (“$50m super pay scandal hits soldiers”, 18/12) is the tip of a much bigger issue that will grow more rapidly as departments engage smaller consultancies.

Every entity that contracts with individuals for their services will be affected. Relevant contracts include those with barristers to represent a department in court or at the tribunal or to provide advice.

Litigants regularly retaining barristers include the Australian Taxation Office, immigration and social security.

Neither the issue nor the lack of official interest is new. (I identified the issue in an article published in the Tax Institute’s Taxation in Australia journal in July 2010.)

Chris G. Wallis, Albert Park, Vic

Nuclear power phobia

Bravo, Judith Sloan, for pointing out the government’s illogical spurning of nuclear energy (“Anti-nuclear Bowen stuck in a fantasy world of his own”, 17/12).

What is more disturbing is the failure of much of the mainstream media to interrogate Energy Minister Chris Bowen about his policy with questions like: why would nuclear power not work in Australia, when it has 70 years of proven success in France and other countries? If it is such a bad option, why have big tech companies secured their own sources of nuclear power for the future?

Andrew Weeks, Hawthorndene, SA

It’s reassuring that our fears of blackouts have been allayed, at least for the time being. No one wants to face having their aircon and fridge switched off in a heatwave. Our clunky old coal-fired power stations are getting too costly to maintain. The problem is, it will be years before the first nuclear power plant is built. How can nuclear energy lower our power bills and give us clean, reliable energy now, when we need it? Australian households are already investing in their own energy security. Our country has the highest proliferation of rooftop solar and adoption shows no signs of slowing. Many energy experts agree that smart appliances, EVs and household batteries will provide more than half our electricity by 2040. Technology is also coming online for EVs to feed power back into the grid during a blackout. Our politicians need to work together now.

Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa, ACT

ABC must dig deeper

Our dear old Aunty continues to have cosmetic surgery (“ABC’s relevance mission under Marks”, 18/12) when the real problem seems to lie entrenched within her inner workings.

John Mullavey, Howrah, Tas