NZ’s defence spend matters, too

Scott Morrison and his Government, in formulating their new commitment to defence spending in which 2 per cent of GDP is specifically dismissed as no more than an historical baseline, must have given more than passing thought to what’s happening over the ditch.

New Zealand’s spending on defence reached its apogee back in 2003 when it represented just 1.4 per cent of the country’s output, and it has been in steady decline since, registering just 1.2 per cent in 2017.

I suppose there’s always been, on both sides of the Tasman, the implicit belief that Australia would be there for its smaller sibling, putting aside years of humiliation at the hands of the All Blacks. New Zealand governments of all stripes have been happy to supply the braces, provided Australia provided the belt.

I’m not optimistic about any real change in Wellington with a Labor Government pulling the levers, but geography is no longer any guarantee that our little corner of the Pacific will remain pacific.

John McHarg, Maylands, WA

Not so separate

“Self-determination” has been a popular buzz phrase in Aboriginal affairs for many years. It is now presented as the key ingredient for a new Closing the Gap agreement. Unfortunately, in the context of Aboriginal politics, self-determination is a euphemism for separatism and is therefore doomed. The most essential ingredient for Closing the Gap is the recognition that the commonalities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people far outweigh any differences. Until that is recognised and acted upon, any revitalisation of Closing the Gap targets infused with the same old rhetoric of self-determination will yield the same results we’ve seen for more than a decade.

Anthony Dillon, Australian Catholic University, North Sydney

Attitude is everything

In 1978, when I was 19, I had an encounter that changed my outlook on life. A chap named Wally McArthur came to the mine where I worked to do a difficult job our resident welder wouldn’t or, more likely, couldn’t do. It was hard yakka in very hot weather.

During smoko breaks and lunch we chatted and he mentioned he was once a pretty fast runner. He also mentioned that he played a bit of rugby league around Australia and for a time in Britain. He was humble yet confident and very charismatic. His legs were ruined due to an accident. He said it could’ve been worse, at least he could still work.

I was reflecting on our meeting recently and googled his name. I suggest every Australian do the same, no matter your colour. It helps us understand the hurt First Australians hold. Yet McArthur’s attitude gives them a template to work from. He was undaunted by what life threw at him. A better man I’ve yet to meet.

Jason Hall, Scarborough, WA

Woke and the West

“Woke” is one of those words we all believe means the same to everyone, but this is not the case. For me, “woke” has become shorthand for believing Western civilisation has more to be ashamed of than to exult.

I, for one, am unreservedly glad to be living in this, the best of all times, due in large part to the miracle we call Western civilisation. I am also conscious that this must be defended and rejuvenated by every generation or it will blost.

This is not to diminish the contributions of other civilisations, but the developments of the past 500 years in the West are the crowning achievements of the humans species that will hopefully be built upon to achieve an even greater state of enlightenment. Any powerless/disadvantaged person or group prospers much more in the West than under any other system.

If woke means believing the bad, even evil, of our past outweighs the good then I am rejoicingly un-woke.

Chris Mangan, Bracken Ridge, Qld