Uphill battle to meet defence needs with inadequate budget

Given the deliberate expansion of communist China’s war-fighting capability and the clear direction of its leadership, the time of greatest danger for Australia’s national security is now, not next decade when the defence budget is scheduled to inch its way above its complacent 2 per cent of GDP.

According to your editorial (“Lost in space on satellite spending”, 28/11), Defence chiefs “are being forced to slash their sustainment budgets”. To take but one example, infantrymen’s lives will be endangered by the drastic cut to the planned delivery of infantry fighting vehicles, as they were by the premature withdrawal of our tanks from Vietnam (yet even then the defence budget was 4 per cent of GDP, twice what it is now, when the threat is greater than it has been since World War II, as the government itself has acknowledged). More and more, Australia’s defence posture resembles the brave and lonely Chinese figure trying to block the tank in Tiananmen Square.

Neville Clark, Battery Point, Tas

Anthony Albanese is leaving us exposed by not going ahead with the $7bn military-grade satellite communications system. Another broken promise.

For goodness’ sake, the Liberals must select a suitable, strong leader. Andrew Hastie, with his military background, would be a good choice.

Lizzie Haydon, Runcorn, Qld

Housing woes

With regard to housing affordability and cost of living generally, the latest inflation figures will be debated and analysed, and solutions suggested endlessly, but an overall fact is that Australia just cannot afford its current standard of living.

Until such time as the leaders in the union movement and corporate Australia pull their heads in, many in the electorate relinquish their entitlement mentality, and national leaders have the guts and resources to pursue remedies, housing unaffordability will continue, regardless of movements in inflation.

Peter M. Wargent, Mosman, NSW

Silence on Sudan

Thanks are due to Paola Totaro for her report on the violence occurring in Sudan and the horrifying toll being inflicted on children and families (“ ‘They killed my father’: kids tell of Sudan horror” 28/11). Are our caring protesters silent on this outrage because Israel isn’t involved?

Julie Winzar, Palm Beach, Qld

Terror of religion

In many parts of the world, people live in daily fear of violence and even death from those who claim to be motivated by religion (“Muslim bid to change terror laws sparks fear, anger among Jews”, 28/11).

Some of those men may simply be evil people who use religion as an excuse for their barbarity, but the problem is extremely serious and seems to be getting worse in some regions.

It is ludicrous to suggest that any attacks in Australia apparently motivated by religion should be not considered terrorism. Whether motivated by religion, ethnic differences, politics or anything else, terrorism is terrorism. Australians want to be able to go about their lives in peace, to live and let live.

Let’s hope our state and federal governments continue to do their part in making that possible.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

Redesign public sector

Spare a thought for the poor Finance Minister who has been tasked by the government to bite the hand that feeds it.

Katy Gallagher’s request to public service chiefs to reprioritise spending has implications of reduced funding for some agencies, the consequential loss of services to the public and, dare we say it, public sector jobs (“One in three full-time in office”, 28/11).

Does Gallagher think these directives can reduce public sector costs or improve service delivery? Good luck if she can achieve any significant improvement.

It may be more productive for the sector to review its internally designed and overly bureaucratic processes that require an excess of employees to administer for minimal return and security of employment.

An efficient public sector can reduce costs only through productivity gains from process redesign.

Stephen Scott, Nedlands, WA

Cut shark numbers

The statistics do not lie. Twenty-two fatal shark attacks in six years and numerous life-affecting injuries (“Bull shark kills young Swiss tourist on early-morning swim with boyfriend”, 28/11).

The early 1970s were the safest time in our recent history in which to take a dip in the ocean. Then there was a concerted effort to protect swimmers and surfers through controlled culling. Sharks are not an endangered species. Human life is sacrosanct. The we’re-in-their-environment argument is irrelevant. Shark numbers need to be reduced to protect lives.

Riley Brown, Bondi Beach, NSW