Matt GoldingCredit: .
Thank you, Julian Leeser, for having the courage to resign from the federal opposition frontbench in order to campaign to support the Voice in the upcoming referendum. By doing so, you have put the interests of our nation ahead of your political ambition.
Elaine Carbines, Belmont
Spinning off trajectory
What planet is Karen Andrews inhabiting? Anthony Albanese did not contribute to Julian Leeser’s decision to resign from shadow cabinet. Blame must be sheeted home to Peter Dutton’s decision to oppose the referendum and impose his will on the shadow cabinet. Dutton is now failing to “keep the party together”, the revised standard he set for himself after the Aston debacle. I thought Liberal principles would have permitted Leeser to differ from his leader on matters of conscience.
William Wallace, Ascot Park, SA
A treaty is the best way forward
In studying the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which forms the basis for the Voice proposal, I am struck by the phrase ″the torment of our powerlessness″. How can any Australian deny that Indigenous people have been treated shamefully since European settlement when they were regarded as savages and not worthy of a treaty, unlike the Indigenous people in New Zealand, Canada and elsewhere. This arrogance lies at the root of Indigenous discontent today, for without status and recognition there will never be a sense of justice.
It is not too late to correct this historical wrong. A treaty with the Aboriginal people that is incorporated into the constitution is the proper course to follow and one that I believe most Australians would willingly support. Let us say to our Indigenous brothers and sisters that we acknowledge your culture and attachment to the land and your right to self-determination. This is a known solution rather than the uncertainty of a Voice to parliament.
Susan Glover, South Melbourne
We need practical examples
May we please give Peter Dutton a rest and dispense with the tactic of dismissing those who dare question as ″disingenuous″ or labelling dissent as ″racist″. We need some practical case studies that demonstrate how the Voice (between Canberra and the remote outback) will remedy deprivation, squalor and injustice.
There are also huge opportunities for the Voice to present environmental legislation models that revegetate, remediate and restore our natural world – especially our waterways. Call me naive, but I sense that this Voice will have some eminently sensible guidance on population, immigration, housing, sustainability, education and our mindless wasteful consumption (let alone alcohol and gambling).
Ronald Elliott, Sandringham
None so deaf who will not hear
If only Peter Dutton would open his ears and hear the detail he has been given about the Voice to parliament, then perhaps he would avoid misrepresenting the referendum in the way that he does. It is not a ″Canberra″ Voice, it is an Indigenous Voice; it will not be made up of ″a bunch of academics″ but rather of Indigenous representatives elected from across the land; it is not ″Albanese’s referendum″, but a referendum for the Australian people; it is not a racist proposal, rather a proposal to fix the racism implicit in our constitution.
Furthermore, the weight of legal opinion is that it will not lead to High Court challenge after High Court challenge, and contrary to Dutton’s much repeated claim, it is supported by the solicitor-general and the attorney-general.
On the other hand, perhaps listening has nothing to do with his stance.
Prue Gill, North Carlton
FORUM
Natural healing
I was shocked to discover that a survey undertaken by the University of NSW during the pandemic found that one-third of adults spent less than two hours a week outside (“Nurture a bond with nature”, 10/4). That the benefits of nature now need to be spelled out in a ″nature prescription″ is an enlightening yet sobering reflection of our situation. Trees, gardens and exposure to nature heal us in many ways. This is not a new discovery. The age-old gift of nature is sadly under threat from anthropogenic climate change and environmental degradation. A nature prescription might be just the ticket for our planet and all in it.
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
Stay clear, Australia
The editorial (11/4) might not agree with French President Emmanuel Macron, but when it comes to the interests of Europeans he is right in saying Taiwan is not their issue.
France and other European nations are bearing a massive cost supporting Ukraine against the aggression of Russia. And it is certainly the right thing for them to do.
The future of Taiwan is primarily a matter for China. The strategic ambiguity of the United States is a transparent fiction given the frequently expressed support for Taiwanese independence by US politicians.
American support for Taiwan is driven by a capitalism versus communism ideology that ignores the economic reality of modern China whatever its one-party political structure looks like.
Australia would have been better served by not taking sides in a conflict that eventually China will win whatever means it employs.
Daniel Cole, Essendon
No need to jump
I tend to agree with France’s President Emmanuel Macron, when he says, ″Europe should reduce its dependency on the United States″. It’s a case of America says jump, Europe and Australia too for that matter answer, how high?
Greg Bardin, Altona North
Fractured world
The editorial in The Age raises a number of pertinent issues. One of the remarks made by Emmanuel Macron and relevant to Australia is to reduce our military dependency on the United States. Where was the outcry when China colonised Tibet? Yet with Taiwan political ideology is truly well and alive. Our logic seems twisted with much commentary on China’s territorial ambitions, but surely America’s ambitions can be seen by China as an existential threat.
The horror of a confrontation between the US and China in our region will have unimaginable consequences. We need to put into perspective the nasty deeds of both China and the US. We live in a fractured world where our survival is under great threat. AUKUS is not a shrewd move.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
A creeping horror
John Watkins’ (Comment, 11/4) account of the consequences of Parkinson’s disease summed them up beautifully and I’m glad he is so well-supported.
There’s another condition of equal creeping horror. Transverse myelitis is progressive, untreatable and incurable. Like Parkinson’s, it affects one’s movement: the brain knows how to walk but can’t get the messages through to the legs.
Standing hopelessly at a crossing while increasingly irritated drivers wonder why you don’t just get moving is a constant.
I feel for him and all his fellow-sufferers.
Juliet Flesch, Kew
All hospitals need funds
I’m all for raising money for the Royal Children’s Hospital, however as a nurse/midwife at my local hospital, looking at the $23million that was raised in the Good Friday appeal got me thinking. Recently I worked a shift where two life-threatening emergencies were hindered, medicines delayed, doctors unable to do what needed to be done, by lack of functioning equipment. And this is not uncommon.
I work with an amazing team but there is a limit to what we can do if we are spending the time running around trying to find what is needed and essential. And even if there is not an emergency, the amount of nurses/midwives/doctors/healthcare professionals’ time that could be better spent caring for patients, rather is wasted on running to and fro to try to find basic working equipment.
Speaking to a staff member who also works at RCH, it is mind-boggling the amount of amazing equipment and technology they have, enabling them to give better care to their patients.
Perhaps instead of giving so much money towards one specific hospital that already has decent funding and resources, we could look a bit closer at the local hospitals that are struggling every day, and share the funds raised around. The ones that bring your babies into the world, or care for your loved ones at all points in life, including your children and grandchildren too. The ones that have staff giving their heart and soul just as much as those at the RCH, but burning out that little quicker because of lack of funding.
Ingrid O’Neill, Werribee
It’s time, make a stand
The LNP had five years and two prime ministers to act on the Uluru Statement from the Heart. Clearly they didn’t believe it was important then and still now. It’s time for Coalition members who believe in Indigenous recognition to make a stand.
Graeme Martin, Alphington
Example of consensus
Some legal experts say the Voice will lead to an avalanche of High Court cases and expensive delays to important projects and processes. Other experts disagree. Some critics say the division of citizens into separate categories is racist – as if Indigenous Australians have not suffered under racist regimes since 1788.
What is undeniable is that the lengthy, painstaking consultative process that led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart was a fine example to non-Indigenous Australians about achieving practical consensus. The mean, insensitive and ″un-Australian″ reaction to the Uluru Statement from some quarters, particularly some political ″leaders″, is a disgrace and embarrassment.
Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
A No vote is not racist
As a voter undecided on how to vote on the Voice – the decision to me is now clear. Take Peter Dutton’s path. He will endorse the constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians but oppose the enshrinement of a national Voice. He will advocate for state and territories to conduct the discussion with local Voices believing that those closer to the issues will be more fit to deal with them.
Dutton does care about Indigenous people. To support them he has taken this most unpopular path. To suggest he has taken it to gain popularity simply beggars belief.
You don’t have to vote for the Voice to care. And it doesn’t make you a racist bigot if you vote No.
Carol Richardson, Barwon Heads
Let’s do the right thing
Are you kidding me? The No campaign is seriously arguing that a Voice to parliament would divide the country on racial grounds? Have they not read history? Aboriginal people were poisoned and shot on the grounds of race. They had their land and their children stolen on the grounds of race. They were put into reservations, and banned from pubs and swimming pools on the grounds of race.
Governments over centuries have not blinked an eye at doling out negative impacts to Aboriginal people because they are Aboriginal people. For once, could we please just do the right thing and give the First Nations of this land a meaningful advisory voice in their own affairs.
Kairen Harris, Brunswick
The failed state
If anyone had doubts that America was a potential failed state they only had to hear the news that the state legislature of Tennessee expelled two black members because they attended a rally in favour of gun control. This is the sort of thing that dictators do, yet the governing Republicans seem to have the power to do it. It seems they are so obsessed with allowing anyone who wants a gun to have one that they don’t care about the deaths guns cause in the US every year. And the Americans have the gall to call themselves a democracy.
Lorraine Bates, Balwyn
All white on the knight
I agree with Christine King (Letters, 10/4). While listening to Sir Robert Menzies speaking on the radio in the mid-1940s at a political meeting he rudely told an interjector to “Get back to Port Melbourne″. A neighbour of ours referred to him as “the whitest man she knew″. Hardly the man for modern Australia.
Gwenda West, Research
Plan properly
Correspondents (Letters, 10/4) extol the virtues of decentralisation, even mentioning Gosford-Wyong in NSW as an example, but they should look a little more closely at the outcomes. Gosford has become a dormitory city for people who work in Sydney. They face a two-hour commute each way, usually standing, on overcrowded trains.
As more and more people have been crammed into units and apartments, traffic has increased to the point where it is often somewhere between bedlam and gridlock. When administrators were appointed to replace councillors after council amalgamations, they started selling off public open space to developers, who shoe-horned in even more units, more people and more cars.
Decentralisation may have its benefits, but only when it is properly planned.
Helen Moss, Croydon
Dustbin of history awaits
I’m really chuffed that an Australian-built carriage is to transport Charles III to his coronation – a majestic nod to this distant colony.
Now back to reality and consign these royals to the story books where they belong.
Dorothy Galloway, Mentone
AND ANOTHER THING
Guns and America
Yet another shooting in the US, followed by loads of praying and zero action.
Bernd Rieve, Brighton
Thoughts and prayers not doing a lot for the continuing gun violence in the United States. Perhaps they could try some gun law reform. Just a thought.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Cricket
In relation to ″World cricket faces multi-deal upheaval″, (11/4), sadly in sport as in all aspects of society, money rules.
Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency
It’s just not cricket.
Fiona White, Alfredton
The Voice
The Honourable Julian Leeser, one more virtuous ship jumper.
Dennis Richards, Cockatoo
Let’s see how many others reject Peter Dutton’s plan and do what’s best for Australia.
John Bye, Elwood
Peter Dutton and the Liberals looking back to the 19th century. Enjoy the political wilderness.
Allan Thomas, Nunawading
Julian Leeser, Bridget Archer and Ken Wyatt are the real leaders of the Liberal Party.
Linda Skinner, Mooroolbark
Peter Dutton’s scaremongering echoes Robert Menzies’ ″Reds under the beds″ mischief.
John Rawson, Mernda
And on Menzies
Well said, Terry Trimble (Letters, 11/4). The Menzies years were a desert of political manipulation and total lack of achievement.
Gael Barrett, North Balwyn
The sensible Guy
Labor accused Matthew Guy of being the “Liberal Cuts Guy”. With Victoria’s debt spiralling out of control, maybe he was simply the “Liberal Living Within Your Means Guy”.
Shaun Miller, Prahran
Finally
Banning Tik-Tok? Being a Baby Boomer, I am outraged that my favourite biscuit will be no more.
Peter Heffernan, Balaclava
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