Officials planning Australia Day snub need reality check

Our high commissioner in London, Stephen Smith, intends to snub Australia Day this year.

Smith may think he’s superior and can do as he pleases, but at the end of the day he is a servant of the public and, as our appointed representative in the UK, he should be front and centre on our national day. It’s not up to him to decide when that day is. It is we, the wider community, who determine that and at the moment it’s January 26. The Foreign Minister should direct him accordingly, but that’s not likely given they are in the same team.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

It seems it’s time for Kevin Rudd and Stephen Smith to update their resumes. They may need to use them soon.

Anne Lindsay, Stanthorpe, Qld

Greenland grab

Perhaps Donald Trump’s bluster about acquiring Greenland by whatever means has more to it than people realise. For some time he has been saying he could end the war in Ukraine quickly after taking office. What better way to show Vladimir Putin that when it comes to strategic real estate that may be seized to ensure a country’s security, two can play the game? American sovereign control over Greenland would give Russia a massive headache and Trump knows that. Ditto for the Panama Canal.

Russ Fathers, Tweed Heads, NSW

Like two bald men fighting over a comb: such was one Brazilian’s pithy description of the actions of Argentina and Britain during the Falklands War.

Britain based its case for defensive action on the principle of self-determination. The islanders were strongly in preference of remaining an overseas British territory. The military junta in Buenos Aires claimed Argentina’s territorial occupation more than 150 years earlier had never been annulled, thus justifying invasion.

Which brings us to Greenland and the Trump revival. Trump openly muses on a US takeover of Greenland. He has had this idea for a while and had raised it in his first term.

Greenland is similar in some respects to the Falkland Islands in resources, remoteness and geographic strategic value. The primary similarity for the current debate is the small population. Too small for self-government, both Greenland and the Falkland Islands require the patronage of a larger protector nation.

The strategic value of Greenland to the US is substantial and that explains Trump’s interest in becoming Greenland’s protector.

David McNeice, Balwyn North, Vic

Four years too many

It’s difficult to argue against the proposition that fixed-term four-year parliaments allow for better long-term government planning. But modern governments are poll-driven and hopelessly addicted to short-term alarmism (“When it comes to four-year terms, it’s all about choice”, 9/1).

Do we really expect a modern government to implement tough structural reforms in the first year and gamble that the results of such reforms will be evident at the end of four years?

While it’s alluring to accept the claim that a four-year run will allow a government to build a better economic home, the stark likelihood is that we will be doing well to even save the furniture.

Bob Miller, Leederville, WA

Rate cut a distant hope

Judith Sloan has wisely cautioned against the expectations of a Reserve Bank rate cut in February (“February cut possible, but don’t bet the house on it”, 9/1).

Despite Treasurer Jim Chalmers’s optimism about an improving inflation outlook, the Aussie dollar dropped from US65c last year, a key resistance level, to now around US62c.

As a result, all imported goods, especially fuel, became more expensive after the November consumer price index figure was released, adding to inflation in December.

In the real world, the Aussie dollar is similar to an ASX-listed company’s share price.

It reflects the belief of the rest of the world that the Australian economy is worth less due to the Labor government’s policies, and it seems the rest of us are paying for it through higher and stickier inflation.

Peter R. Tredenick, Laidley, Qld

Rising home prices

The median capital city dwelling price now sits at $896,000 (“Millions aimed at housing as approvals stall”, 8/1).

We have become desensitised to such ludicrous prices but, really, our jaw should hit the floor in utter mortified shock.

In a sane world, homes wouldn’t cost any more than half of what they do now. I’m not necessarily suggesting that it is realistic for home prices to come down that far but we do need a plan that gently reduces the prices of homes to some significant extent. After all, in what meaningful sense can we make homes more affordable without prices falling? The fabric of our society is at stake.

Michael Westacott, Cairns, Qld