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ONE NATION
I have always been proud to call myself Australian and to live in a country that prides itself on respecting societal values which include respect for individuals, equal opportunity, democracy and a fair go.
Now, I read about the One Nation candidate for Melbourne who has a history of promoting far-right rhetoric about waging religious wars against Muslims, uses misogynistic language and spreads COVID-19 conspiracy theories (“One Nation urged ‘decolonisation’ of Muslim countries” 16/10).
What is happening in our country when we allow such outrageous behaviour to be forefront as a possible parliamentary voice? Freedom of speech is also a core Australian value, but surely, freedom of speech should be one that builds, not destroys.
Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East
Selection criteria bemusing
Re The Age report on the One Nation candidate for Melbourne, Matthew Collins. This is a man who carries a medieval shield and calls for a crusade between Christians and Muslims.
By the way, he also refers to women as ″foids″ (″female humanoid organisms″).
What criteria does One Nation use to choose candidates, one of whom holds views that would be anathema to most ordinary Australians?
Of course, everyone knows the views of Pauline Hanson. But it seems that One Nation selection committees are prepared to accept anyone, regardless of their beliefs.
In a democratic society, we can vote for anyone who runs for election, but why would you vote for such a disparate mob of obsessive extremists as One Nation?
Damien Ryan, Berwick
Crusaders need to brush up on history
Pauline Hanson and her bunch of merry Crusaders need to brush up on their history a bit. The Crusades were not a one-sided affair, and the Muslims acquitted themselves very well.
As the Americans, the world’s greatest superpower, has recently rediscovered, a smaller nation like Iran can still punch well above its weight, even bringing the mighty US military to heel.
My advice to the Crusaders: stay safely at home and keep your wild fantasies quietly to yourselves.
Mark Kennedy, Sebastopol
Encourage kindness, never cruelty
Waleed Aly writes with poignant accuracy (“More Australians believe in political violence than go to church each week”, 16/10). Political violence is in a cultural context which should not keep normalising violence.
It’s a terrible choice to choose violence over peacemaking.
All we can do is encourage people to think, speak and act in ways that are kind, never cruel.
We have this freedom to make choices that only heal and never harm. As is conveyed in places of spiritual practice, do to others what we would have them do to us. Under no circumstances do anything else.
Bishop Philip Huggins, Point Lonsdale
THE FORUM
More hare, less snail
There seems to be a generally held view that Anthony Albanese and others in the government want Labor to be the “natural form″ of government for Australia. This is unsurprising given the prime minister is a machine politician. Yet, such governments essentially move along doing nothing, wishing to offend nobody.
But given the changing world and the fundamental problems we face with climate change, the American alliance, housing, the budget and the overwhelming need for redistribution of income from the wealthy to the poor and middle classes, something more radical must be done.
The government cannot continue moving along at a snail’s pace. It must begin moving and fast even at the risk of wrecking it aspiration to be the natural form of government.
Greg Bailey, St Andrews
Greens’ Ukraine sell-out
Oh, pardon me, David Shoebridge, I thought the Greens were a party of the environment which would fight for urgent climate change action, not a ″party of peace″.
Opposing Australia’s support for Ukraine is a disgraceful sell-out of the unbelievably brave Ukrainian people and their staunch leader who have endured four years of death, destruction and misery at the hands of a communist dictatorship which will not stop at overrunning Ukraine.
And the Ukrainian people keep fighting, despite Trump’s latest disgraceful attempts to sabotage their efforts by reducing access to essential data (″Zelensky’s fury at Starlink slowdown″ 16/10).
The Greens aim to replace the Labor Party? I don’t think so. A decent, honourable Australia relies on a party of the middle ground where most people still sit - a country that fought in World War II to defend democracy and its allies.
Let’s hope Sarah Hanson-Young, who is an environmentalist and supports Ukraine, quickly replaces you.
Lynne Holroyd, East Hawthorn
Greens’ catch 22
Thank you, Senator Hanson-Young, for seeing sense on the Green’s position on Ukraine (″Greens split over Ukrainian military aid as Sarah Hanson-Young breaks ranks″ 13/10).
While most of us might support peace and non-violence as a general principle, David Shoebridge’s conclusion that that extends to declining military aid to embattled Ukraine strikes as extraordinarily inflexible. The fact that the Greens would agree to such support if it were backed by a UN Security Council resolution (which Russia would immediately veto) is straight out of the pages of Joseph Heller’s 1961 classic Catch 22. If the Greens ever form government, perhaps Heller’s masterpiece should be mandatory reading.
Ian Coltman, Torquay
Stand up for Ukraine
President Donald Trump is acting like a spiteful bully, especially towards Ukraine, by buying diesel from Russia, which only encourages Putin to continue attacking it, and then taking away Ukraine’s early warning capability by restricting Starlink, causing the death of more civilians.
The Australian government can’t just stand by without condemning the United States, as well as Russia. It is time to stand up for justice and humanity and stop hiding behind whatever strategic advantage the government may think is to be gained by remaining silent.
As our politicians like to say, it’s the right thing to do.
Denny Meadows, Hawthorn
Small business reality
The (now delayed) decision to stop credit-card payments to the Australian Tax Office could only have been made by those well accustomed to regular, guaranteed salaries. The small-business reality is ″lumpy cashflow″, which means low or no salary or payments some months, higher payments in others.
In turn, it reveals how out of touch some of the salaried are with the realities of small business. Most small business owners would prefer not to pay by credit card if they had the luxury of regular salary and income flow. But they don’t, so credit cards are used as a bridge until the funds owed to them come in.
Emma Borghesi, Rye
Tax big companies
Instead of sending small businesses to the wall, why doesn’t the Labor government tax the companies that pay no tax, or very little? If small business doesn’t survive and therefore doesn’t employ people, the government is going to have to pay these people unemployment benefits from a smaller tax take. Currently, there is little incentive to start a business and try to build it when you barely make a wage.
Rita Reid, Port Melbourne
Space to play
Your article ″Finding city’s sporty kids a place to play″ (16/10) suggests public schools share facilities with community sports clubs out-of-hours.
The comment is too simplistic as the school cannot afford to fund cleaning and security and lighting costs. We all know state schools are underfunded now and cannot afford a further impost from supporting community groups, some of which do not pay their way, leaving facilities unlocked and rubbish left behind. Sadly, there are schools that have had to kick sporting groups out for not paying their way, and to get cleaners in before school resumes; all costs beyond their remit.
Keith Hawkins, Point Lonsdale
Grounds not grand prix
It’s time private schools should also open their facilities for sport. They have used our taxes to build some of their magic sports arenas. It’s time for more equality in sport. No child should be disadvantaged as sport is also a medium for good mental health. The $100 million in government money spent on the grand prix each year could be used to acquire land and build sports facilities for our kids.
Nola Cormick, Albert Park
Trapped by religion
After reading the article concerning the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church (″Brethren boss faces inquiry over members’ election secrets″ 16/10), I was appalled and at the same time amazed at what makes this church attractive.
The five demands the members have to adhere to sound very much like a dictatorship. I thought Christianity was loving, sharing and caring. The Brethren’s form of Christianity sounds like a prison with invisible walls.
Greg Bardin, Altona North
Car rego by weight
In addition to the correspondent’s observation (Letters, “Plenty of potholes” 16/10) regarding the very large vehicles used in house construction and the resulting potholes on small roads, an investigation needs to be done regarding all modern vehicles.
The vast majority of vehicles driven today are heavier than the traditional sedan – SUVs, EVs, those ugly truck-like utes – to say nothing of the huge trucks driven through suburban streets. Of course, the same damage is done to country roads. How many people who choose these vehicles over a traditional sedan appreciate their contribution to the impossible task of preventing potholes without enormous expenditure?
Perhaps registration fees need to be scaled according to vehicle weight.
Margery Renwick, Brighton
City’s stark contrasts
Congratulations to chef Hugh Allen, his investors and staff on Yiaga’s recent successes.
Wandering through the gardens in which the restaurant is nestled, I noticed a man sleeping rough beneath one of the magnificent old trees, just metres from the restaurant.
The contrast made me reflect on what we value as a city. Is it the number of chef’s hats our restaurants earn, or how we care for the most vulnerable?
Homelessness is not a problem for Hugh Allen, or any individual business, to solve. But the gulf between those who take their seats at Yiaga and those who sleep on the ground outside has rarely seemed as stark as it does in Melbourne today.
Kate Coughlan, East Melbourne
Do better by women
It is an exceedingly depressing time to be female. A US comedian refers to women as ″whores″ because they dress to exercise. Abortion is once again being debated, when it is clearly a health issue. Gender-based violence and femicide are reported endlessly on the news cycle. We can and must do better.
Rosslyn Jennings, North Melbourne
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he feels ″betrayed″ by Donald Trump. Join the club.
Terry Kelly, Coburg
In gun-happy America, the livestreaming of an execution by firing squad is called off, and minutes later there is another school shooting tragedy.
If Trump were a great president, he would proclaim “enough is enough″, and maybe a Nobel Peace Prize would be his.
Margaret Skeen, Ocean Grove
Let’s put a mark on the wall – Trump finally got it right and banned the livestreaming of an execution. Now, can he start supporting Ukraine instead of Russia?
John Walsh, Watsonia
Re ″The disappearing women of the Trump administration″ (16/10). It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving group. I assume others will follow, although there don’t appear to be many more left.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
Futhermore
Whatever can help relieve the problems with hospital care for the elderly seems essential. To take action that would cause more elderly to rely on public health facilities is unwise.
Doris LeRoy, Altona
Have the multimillionaires and billionaires pay their taxes and Labor will have their $1.6bn-plus for aged care.
Robert Martin, Winchelsea South
Could Jess Wilson please explain how the lives of First Nations people in Victoria will be improved by repealing the Treaty?
Jen Hooper, Nunawading
Abortion into the political debate; Ben Carroll just lost the election.
Michael Brinkman
Finally
The AFL has decided all players will be hair tested for illicit drugs twice yearly. I suggest in order to lead from the top, all senior AFL and club personnel should subject themselves to the same process.
John Rawson, Mernda
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