Editorial
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If the behaviour we walk past is the behaviour we accept then the behaviour we engage in must be the behaviour we promote. The only thing politicians have total control over is their own behaviour. Aspects of social media and the extreme behaviours of some groups should be considered in the light of the alleged attack on Helen Haines. The more powerful tool politicians have is to change their own behaviours. The behaviour of politicians in question time and public commentary surely must contribute to the way members of the public behave towards them. It would only take one party to ensure their behaviour adheres to what it spouts about respectful conversations in the context of question time for a significant increase in the safety of all of them and us.
Dianne Wilson, Wantirna South
Waves of being desensitised
I applaud all the letters (21/10), written in relation to Helen Haines. Yes, we need to change our speech, our online posts, our hateful thoughts. But part of the reason these events are becoming more common lies on TV. The most popular shows seem to be crime shows where bodies are strewn galore and in graphic detail sometimes. Plus video games that depict sword-wielding heroes blithely chopping down enemies. We are desensitised to pain and violence. Not to mention the promotion of war, the misogyny, the inequality, drugs, domestic violence and more. The answer to all this disillusionment and anger is hard to work out and implement, but mouthing phrases like ″we must do better″ are meaningless banalities.
Margaret Collings, Anglesea
Will the vitriol in parliament stop?
What are the chances that the vitriol in parliament such as MP Angie Bell’s statement a week ago that Anthony Albanese and Anne Aly should be ″shamed and stoned in the square″ might now cease? A number of our elected representatives need to have a good look at themselves and reflect on the language and example they set. Are they really working in the best interest of this country?
Bruce McQualter, Richmond
Following the path of a leader
Crossbench MPs have a saying, “What would Helen do?” Helen Haines would undoubtedly have expressed her extreme sadness at the terrible incident. However, Haines would not speculate about the motive. Instead, she would wait for evidence before attributing motive, show consideration for all involved and be opposed to inflammatory dialogue. Most importantly, she would show leadership by opening her door to all those in her community who feel traumatised by the event.
Sarah Russell, Mt Martha
Abuse within the chamber cause for concern
The alleged attack on Helen Haines, has shocked the community and highlighted the vulnerability of MPs to harm while working in their constituencies. It should also be of concern that abuse occurs within the chambers of parliament, where some MPs use uncivil and violent language against their political colleagues. A lack of civility among the political class does not augur well for change of negative attitudes within the community.
Ellen Ryan, Soldiers Hill
Behavioural norms need to be elevated
The alleged attack on Helen Haines illustrates the descent in behaviour norms in society. For politics, it is now an attack dog chamber that has descended into nastiness and vitriol mirroring the tactics of the US president. Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech was a response to a decaying calibre of conduct. Things have only got worse in the past 14 years. Parliament used to have robust and respectful debate. This is no longer. We need to get back to this as exemplar behaviour norms. If society sees the government and its elected members behaving badly, it legitimises this behaviour.
Julian Druce, Balaclava
THE FORUM
State of the nation
We’re all shocked at what happened to Helen Haines. We tell ourselves this isn’t who we are as Australians.
In the next breath, we say the government should do more to prevent incidents like this. What exactly? Of course, it would be better if politicians didn’t use ugly rhetoric to get their point across, but the overwhelming source of ugliness in our lives comes through the social media to which so many are addicted. A platform where misinformation, disinformation, outright lies and outrage crowd out kindness, tolerance and facts.
The grim reality is that social media is a failed experiment. Whatever good might have come from it has been swamped by the negative consequences of a business model that relies on outrage to drive engagement.
“Turning down the temperature” isn’t a government responsibility. It’s on all of us. If we’re serious about it, we should all get off any platform that makes use of algorithm-driven feeds. Instead of scrolling on our devices, try talking to the people around you, watching the evening news to see what’s happening in the world and finding ways to contribute positively to the country we claim we want to live in.
Donna Cohen, Southbank
For shame
The two major parties do not engage in ″robust debate″ in parliament as Anthony Albanese would have us believe. They yell, bully, hurl abuse and insults and belittle their opposition in a way that would not be tolerated in any workplace or around a family dinner table. The contrast in behaviour with community independents like Helen Haines is stark. Do better. Show respect.
Belinda Burke, Hawthorn
Reduce house size
In all of the debates about how to solve the housing crisis, scant attention has been paid to the size of new homes. In my area, a house that fills the entire block is becoming the norm.
This week, I walked past one for sale – five bedrooms, five bathrooms and five lounges. At a time when family size is shrinking, who needs these homes?
And all the materials needed to build such homes, would probably build two or three smaller ones.
Why not put a moratorium on house size until we are able to house all who need a home? It was done after the Second World War when building materials were scarce.
Margaret O’Connor, Balwyn
Dig deeper on sale
At face value, the state Opposition’s announced plan to follow other states and sell off the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit & Vegetable Market seems like a reasonable policy (″Coalition’s fresh plan to sell fruit market, pay off $578m debt″, 21/10).
However, a final decision should be made only after extensive consultation, detailed modelling and big picture planning.
Victorians with long memories will remember past sales of government assets with promises to reduce government debt, be better run by the private sector and lead to lower prices for consumers. These commitments were made when large-scale privatisation occurred in the 1990s. In real terms, Victorians are now paying more than ever for electricity, gas and water and, of course, the replacement of VicRoads day labour gangs by private contractors who repair our roads has been a great success, hasn’t it?
Paying $578 million off state debt and allowing traders to take control of the market seems to make sense. However, if owner traders are profit driven, what will be the impact on prices that consumers pay for fruit and vegetables?
James Young, Mt Eliza
High-rise future
Former New York mayor Bill de Blasio’s comment that urban sprawl is a ″massive failure″ of the Western world should be uppermost in the minds of all people, not just governments, town planners and developers.
Cars are a major factor in allowing cities to sprawl. Cities have been grappling with the problem of how to reduce their dependency on cars for transport in urban settings. Victoria is a slow learner.
Unfortunately, if Melbourne is to develop using the most sensible ideas available, and for the future predicted populations, high-rise is inevitable. Social justice arguments require it also. Real consultation is a key essential.
Howard Tankey, Box Hill North
Mapping the reality
Cutting migration could be a disaster for many areas of employment. My husband has been in aged care for 18 months. I have mounted a map of the world on his wall where we record the names and country of birth of all the exceptionally wonderful people who look after him.
The staff enjoy having their names recorded and we all laugh about the fact that only one carer was born in Australia. Most are from Nepal. Even my husband was born in another country.
Long may immigration continue. This aged care facility and others, hospitals, outback roadhouses and your local restaurant would have staffing problems without migrants.
Ann Kriegler, Brunswick
Listen to needs
Instead of recycling middle-class welfare (″Labor’s $30 weekly transport cap″, 19/10), the state government could be really tough on crime and use tax dollars to properly fund key social services such as child protection and family services, housing and homelessness, community support, and public education to prevent crime before it happens. True social equality comes from genuinely listening to and providing for people’s needs. Doing so is also the most effective way to minimise the relevance of One Nation and other extremist groups.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
We are not the US
Politicians talk about our shared values with the United States. It is difficult to see what these shared values are, if you move past a common language and a democratic system.
Australia does not have capital punishment. Twenty-three American states actively retain the death penalty.
We do not have ill-trained, heavily armed men roaming the streets and occasionally shooting innocent citizens while looking for illegal migrants. Australia has gun control legislation. In 2024 in America, 44,447 people died from gun-related injuries.
With an increasingly erratic president and his supporters attacking the various pillars that sustain a strong democracy such as an independent judicial system, public accountability and free and fair elections, it is becoming clear we share very few values with them.
Carolyn Worth, Brighton East
PM, act on gambling
Perhaps now after the results of the inquest into the suicide of young gambling addict, Kyle Hudson, Anthony Albanese will, at last, take some action against the pernicious gambling industry (″Coroner slams Sportsbet over man’s suicide″, 21/10).
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Grist for her mill
I would think Pauline Hanson does not really care who she insults and upsets. These attacks on whatever target she feels will generate publicity is all grist for her mill. And publicity is the ultimate goal. An unenthusiastic apology is the price she is willing to pay.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
How to reach surplus
Columnist Ross Gittins writes that the Grattan Institute proposal to raise the GST to 15 per cent will do nothing to balance the federal budget (Comment, 21/10).
The reason is that under the Grattan plan, all the additional revenue is put back into economy, mainly to compensate low-income earners for the regressive effects of the increased GST.
Gittins states that Australia actually needs to run a budget surplus at present. However, apart from a brief mention of increased tax on gas exports, there is little indication of how it might be achieved. Not a word about the other side of the budget: government spending.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
Tax by another name
It is disappointing to see Ross Gittins arguing that the GST rate should be increased, and doubly disappointing to see him claim this would be taxation ″fairness″, between younger and older Australians.
Given that older Australians often spend money from their superannuation, and Gittins and The Grattan Institute want that spending taxed through GST – this tax reform proposal is a superannuation tax by another name.
It is also important to note that the Grattan Institute presents its proposal for a higher rate of GST as a solution to our ballooning public debt. That debt would be far less of a problem if Jim Chalmers and the PM had been more disciplined with their spending.
When Wayne Swan in 2013 brought down the final budget of the Gillard government, Commonwealth spending was 24.9 per cent of GDP. The Commonwealth Budget this past May showed it at 26.8 per cent. Add the $65 billion of hidden ″off budget″ spending that economist Chris Richardson has pinpointed and it’s arguably 29.1 per cent. There’s your ″problem″.
The economic theoreticians should also note that not all older Australians are wealthy.
Think again please Ross Gittins.
Alun Breward, Malvern East
It’s not a joke
As a retired teacher, I often have cause to reflect on the effort I, and many of my colleagues, made to help teenagers understand the importance of behaving respectfully towards others. Many times their pranks and “satirical” comments were justified with “but it was just a joke ... they can’t take it”. A joke? But at whose expense? Thinking about some of today’s adult politicians.
Ken Fisher, Warragul
AND ANOTHER THING
Haines
The issue of male violence against women is increasingly recognised but more needs to be done from an early age to understand and eliminate misogyny and its highly damaging impact across society.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
I am so, so sad for Australia.
Robyn Carey, North Fitzroy
The mass media must accept some responsibility for routinely denigrating politicians, helping turn political disagreement into hostility and making them easier targets for hate.
Steve Melzer, Hughesdale
After the devastating attack on Helen Haines, my heart is slightly lifted by the sight of a mother and father duck and their seven fluffy ducklings swimming in our pool.
Susan Munday, Bentleigh East
Job cuts
NAB boss Andrew Irvine should lead from the front and take a 6 per cent pay cut to keep in line with the bank’s efficiency push (″Fears banks to follow NAB’s jobs layoff lead″, 21/10).
Peter Baddeley, Portland
Hopefully, the sacked NAB workers are qualified to work in aged care.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
Furthermore
Employers will need to be dragged screaming and kicking before being forced to share increased productivity (″Former NY mayor warns of AI impact″, 19/10).
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
Among a slew of terrible news it was good to read that Albertans have voted to stay a part of Canada.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Yes, in maths two negatives can make a positive, when the numbers are multiplied or divided (Letters, 21/10). But adding two negatives just makes it more negative.
Mark Herrmann, Bentleigh East
Finally
Grumpy after being woken early from a nap, my two-year-old grandson declared he was ″crosstrated″ with everyone. Clear favourite for Word of the Year.
Dale Crisp, Brighton