Credit:Illustration: Cathy Wilcox
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WAR GAMES
Clinging to US and UK will lead to disaster
Having American nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on our shores (The Age, 1/11) represents an unnecessary provocation. Even worse than AUKUS, and more immediate. China’s near neighbour, Vietnam, is a small country yet it has resisted China for a very long time without resorting to nuclear weapons.
Whatever we might like to think, the US and Britain are no longer “the bosses”. Blindly clinging to them will lead to disaster for Australia. Instead, we should take a more independent stance, develop regional alliances, and build a relationship with the new “boss”, China – challenging as this may be.
If Russia is prepared to wage a proxy war against the US in Europe, how much easier would it be for the US to use Australia to wage a proxy war against China? If we have nuclear bombers here, we would also be putting ourselves at risk of a nuclear attack. Furthermore, nobody would want to actually survive nuclear war as the consequences would be horrific. So why is Australia going along with this plan?
Maggie Morgan, Northcote
Our foreign policy reflects US interests
I found Four Corners (ABC TV, 31/11) on the increasing intervention of United States troops, planes and equipment in Australia alarming. It appears we do not have an independent foreign policy, so are ever more aligning ourselves with the US. The clear implication is that we will be involved with whatever crazy decisions it makes, without any community discussion or approval, and that we will be the target of nuclear weapons.
The very first step in developing our foreign policy/strategy should be: what is in the best interests of Australia in the Asia-Pacific region in pursuit of a peaceful world and defending and expanding democracy. Only after that should we consider which alliances will deliver that outcome.
Instead of this, and regardless of what is best for us, we have started from the position of maintaining and strengthening the US alliance over which we have no control. Surely someone within the ALP caucus/cabinet is thinking about an independent foreign policy. They need to speak out, otherwise our government will be complicit in us being the target/involved in a war initiated by someone else.
Max Ogden, Fitzroy North
An easy target when dogs of war are unleashed
”War Games” was very sober viewing. I do not know if Australia is clever or stupid, but one thing for sure is that we are about to become a stationary aircraft carrier as the Chinese and the United States threaten to “unleash the dogs of war”.
Cushla McNamara, Hawthorn
Why was so much hidden from ordinary Australians?
The 2021 Joint Statement Australia-US Ministerial Consultations document confirmed an agreement to provide increased access for US military personnel, ships and aircraft on Australian soil. A swift result of this is the US plan to deploy nuclear-capable B-52 bombers at Tindal air base in the Northern Territory. How did a development as far reaching as this proceed without an open, due-diligence investigation and discussion?
The 2021 agreement is the only background information available to ordinary Australians. Do we really want a substantial and permanent American military base on Australian soil over which, operationally, we have no control? Surely we need to be mindful of the future situation into which our country is heading by agreeing to an American military presence at Tindal and elsewhere.
Roger Hannaker, Docklands
When did this become Labor policy, prime minister?
Basing US nuclear bombers on Australian soil was not ALP policy taken to the Australian people at the federal election.This is nothing less than a betrayal of our democratic election system. Shame on you, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Manfred Frese, Heathmont
THE FORUM
Old – but unhackable
Regarding the arrival on a permanent basis of the ageing US B-52 bombers in Darwin, surely the real story is that these aircraft are still operational. Between 1952 and 1962, Boeing built 744 of the type and their systems are largely analogue and mechanical. Well, perhaps that is their strength: their operating platform is so old that it cannot be hacked, disrupted and sent off course. Quite an advantage considering how recent events regarding electronic “hacks” have unfolded.
Simon Clegg, Donvale
Feeding the needy kids
I agree with Nola Cordell (Letters, 1/11). It is hardly a difficult task to prepare a decent lunch for your school-aged child. Sadly, however, there are many parents who are not up to doing so either because of genuine poverty or neglect.
I am now retired, but the social welfare agency I worked for in my later years ran a free breakfast program for children in the poorer socioeconomic area of the Mornington Peninsula. It was not uncommon to see them quietly pocket cold toast and fruit when they thought no one was watching, to get them through the day.
For these children, it was a vital service. I am not advocating for free lunches for all, but it would be right and just if free, healthy food could be provided for the many young people in our wealthy country who face such a need.
Christine Harris, Mordialloc
Benefits of airport-rail
The call to delay (that is, decide not to decide on) the Melbourne Airport Rail link until the Tullamarine Freeway is choked or the costs of bloated development agencies/projects is reined in (The Age, 1/11), is silly.
When Sydney’s Airport Train opened, it was as deadly quiet as the M7 Clem Jones Tunnel in Brisbane, both of which are now well used. With a rail link, the joy of catching a bus at Southern Cross Station, taking an overpriced taxi, or parking some kilometres from the airport will be forgotten. And, yes, it will always be over budget.
Marc Bartsch, urban planner, Wandin North
The other airport link
Avalon Airport is only 17 kilometres from North Shore Station, Geelong. However, there is still no airport link despite the population of Melbourne’s west increasing exponentially. With the Tasmanian ferry terminal’s relocation to Geelong, there has never been a better time to prioritise an airport-rail link. The terminal is within easy walking distance of North Shore Station. Already foot passengers have access to the mainland rail network.
At the least, a rail corridor must be selected now to link Avalon Airport to the Geelong-Melbourne line. We have an example of the huge penalty for not doing so when we look at the expense and inefficiency of the Melbourne Airport Rail link. This is due to a failure to reserve land for the rail corridor before direct access was gobbled up by suburbia.
Helen Lyth, Rippleside
The power imbalance
The highly funded, profit-driven scare campaign against multi-employer bargaining is about to start and I really hope it does not succeed. Once again we will be told that treating people as a commodity is the only way to run a society. It is not.
We need multi-employer bargaining for the same reason we prefer democratic elections to dictatorship. Some people will always take advantage of a power imbalance to mistreat others and this includes some employers.
John Fraser, Reservoir
Punishment must fit crime
Your article suggests that Binjun Xie, the accused human trafficker who arrived here from the UK some years ago and set up shop, “faces deportation” (The Age, 1/11).
The fact is that he was investigated for the same reprehensible criminal behaviour in the UK and then deported back to China, and was then allowed to show up here and ply his evil trade. So now the plan is to kick him down the road to another place where he can multiply his trail of misery and exploitation. How about prosecuting him and increasing penalties for crimes like his, aiming to keep him in a maximum security prison for about 40 years?
Joyce Butcher, Williamstown
Why was he allowed in?
It appears that the Immigration Department has been too busy playing politics with refugees to do its real job, that of keeping international criminals out of Australia. The department and its political masters have been either asleep at the wheel, incompetent or been conducting a private agenda. Should we have to rely on the media to investigate and reveal the presence and machinations of convicted criminals such as as Binjun Xie?
John Marks, Werribee
Distorted double standard
I would like to hear an explanation from Peter Dutton and Michaelia Cash as to why, on their watch, a crime boss who was implicated in a sex ring in Britain, and jailed, was allowed to take up residence in Australia (The Age, 31/10), but they are now objecting to bringing to Australia women and children from a refugee camp in Syria.
Anne Maki, Alphington
The right to privacy
Both the Age and Sunday Age printed a 2014 photo of one of the women returning from a Syrian refugee camp. These women need anonymity so their new lives can begin without media scrutiny. Please do not publish their photos.
Chris Hooper, Castlemaine
Surely very comfortable
My jaw just hit the floor. Roshena Campbell (Opinion, 31/10) thinks that a GP father and pharmacist mother who had to “stretch” to send their son (new British prime minister Rishi Sunak) to one of Britain’s poshest schools were not well off. An amazing perspective. I wonder when she considers someone to be actually well off.
Alan Gamble, Boronia
Saving paper and trees
When we largely did away with hardback books, we retained the bulky size with trade paperbacks. It is time to take the next step and phase in another change: skip the trade paperbacks and go straight to the smaller, mass-market versions that we currently wait about 12 months for.
Critically we would save paper and the forests that supply it. And, as importantly, we would reduce the transport emissions from moving million of books around the world. With climate change upon us, we need to rapidly minimise our environmental impacts. Smaller books would make a significant contribution to that.
Jan Lacey, North Melbourne
Protecting our democracy
Peter Hartcher (Comment, 1/11) says “Australia is powerless to prevent the collapse of US democracy. But it can learn from it”. He overlooks the benefits of Australia being a constitutional monarchy.
Alastair Wright, North Dandenong
Cruelty of some ’sports’
Horse racing is despicable for the same reasons as greyhound racing: animal wastage and cruelty. Both ought to be banned. A public holiday in the name of base exploitation is depressing and appalling. I wish we were better than this as a species.
Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk
Fruitless battle for safety
Recently I received a helpful email from Medibank Private advising me about the recent cyberattack. I was surprised as I left Medibank some years ago. Via the company’s chatbox, I requested that my name and details be removed as I was concerned for my safety. I was told this was not possible as the law required them to hold my details for seven years after I had left. That should be a warning to anyone: leaving Medibank will not increase their safety.
Warren Johnson, East Melbourne
Ambos’ highest standard
Recently there has been much discussion relating to poor emergency response times. Our recent experience was the opposite. Following an unexpectedly severe response to medication, we needed an ambulance urgently. The call to triple zero was answered within seconds. The ambulance arrived within minutes. The paramedics were polite, competent, reassuring and thoroughly professional. I cannot speak too highly of the emergency service provided on a day when environmental conditions were appalling.
Brenton Ellery, Templestowe Lower
Seeking a fair go for all
As Sean Kelly (Comment, 1/11) observes, the major parties seek to outbid each other at election time, with no talk of cost for the benefits they are glad handing around. It is easy for politicians to persuade voters that if they pay less tax they will be “better off”, but the reality has been that being “better off” comes at a cost in reduced support services for those in need.
In a healthy democracy, the state fulfills essential needs – healthcare, education, social security – and it takes particular care of the most vulnerable whose voices are rarely heard. We need someone in politics who will offer a vision of a better Australia, one in which we pay more tax, our essential needs are well-funded and everyone gets a fair go.
Chris Young, Surrey Hills
Putting the citizens first
The answer to rising gas prices, and by extension, electricity prices, has been laid out by former treasury secretary Ken Henry (The Age, 29/10). We just need to fairly tax the export of gas. It is our gas; the foreign-owned producers, who are making windfall profits, can have it, they just need to pay Australia a fair tax. As Norway has done for years, enabling first-class government services for its citizens.
We will soon see if the government has the courage to act in the community’s interest in relation to domestic gas pricing. Or will fossil-fuel companies continue to be allowed to act in their own interests, and against ours
Matthew Hamilton, Kew
Our broken promises
If the government can bring some of the women and children of IS fighters to Australia, why can’t it do the same for all the Afghan interpreters and others who helped our troops? When will we get news of their arrival here?
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
AND ANOTHER THING
Victoria
I’m glad Netball Australia unearthed a new sponsor. What a terrific, cheeky dig at the digging company from Dan Andrews.
Huw Dann, Blackburn
In honour of Netball Australia’s new sponsors (the good people of Victoria), a more suitable name for the Diamonds might be the Lockdowns.
John Skaro, Malvern
Slam dunk, Dan.
Neil Williamson, Carrum
With Matthew Guy’s new policy, will schoolchildren soon be eating lobster sandwiches?
Susan Wallace, Box Hill North
Volunteers needed to prepare school lunches including gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, nut-free, pork-free, Halal, Kosher etc.
Rosita Vila, Aireys Inlet
I loved Megan Herbert’s cartoon (31/10). Unfortunately, it was only too true about the Melbourne Cup.
John Merory, Ivanhoe
Federal
Bringing the women and children home. At last, some compassion. Thank you, Albanese government.
Patricia Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Peter Dutton said the robo-debt royal commission was a “witch-hunt”. From the damning evidence on the first day, it’s a witch-hunt we had to have.
Francis Bainbridge, Fitzroy North
The B52s are coming to Darwin. Great. I love their music.
Rowan Wigmore, Launceston, Tas
Furthermore
As a Welsh emigrant, I’m disturbed Wales’ football team may be renamed Cymru after the World Cup.
Lesley Black, Frankston
Does gambling responsibly imply losing gracefully?
Lionel Parrott, Croydon
I’m really disturbed SBS is showing a lot of gambling ads.
Lesley Taskis, Kingsbury
I hope solicitors take class action on behalf of motorists whose vehicles have been damaged by potholes. Motorists pay big money for registration.
Lindsay Bradley, Ballarat
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