Credit:Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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Whistleblowers: Our freedom depends on challenging the powerful
Every day I give thanks that I live in a country governed relatively free of corruption. I believe this is more due to having a free and responsible press and very courageous whistleblowers than to the integrity of politicians and powerful industry heads. I would like to continue living in a country that is not governed by those who refuse to be accountable for nefarious operations.
To this end it is imperative that courageous people such as Richard Boyle are protected. I absolutely agreed with Kieran Pender (Comment, 28/3), Mark Dreyfus must act now to ensure injustice is not perpetrated in this instance and into the future. If not, then who will be courageous enough to expose corruption?
Carol Fountain, Mentone
We should encourage exposure
Kieran Pender is absolutely right (“Whistleblowers should not be facing jail”). Former ATO employee Richard Boyle should not be facing jail, but instead should get a medal for courageously exposing the “excessive” practices of the ATO. We need to encourage people to expose evil whenever and wherever they see it.
As Edmund Burke prophetically said many years ago, “evil triumphs when good men/people do nothing”. Voices like Boyle’s need to be heard, not punished.
Nick Toovey, Alice Springs
End cases, fix the laws
Kieran Pender reminds us of the inadequacy of our protections for whistleblowers. As he states, “Australians should not be punished for speaking the truth.” Yet both Richard Boyle and David McBride are being punished for doing just that.
Attorney General Mark Dreyfus should immediately end the cases against both men.
And then he can move on to addressing the flaws in our defamation laws that also seem to allow those who speak the truth to be punished.
Jenny Macmillan, Clifton Hill
What is he waiting for?
Is Mark Dreyfus waiting until everyone is screaming from the rooftops over whistleblowers Boyle and McBride? He has the power to immediately drop the cases.
Meanwhile, Julian Assange also languishes in limbo.
Alan Williams, Port Melbourne
Casting a light on harsh penalties
Congratulations to The Age on an excellent editorial in which it shows that whistleblowers face severe punishment by disclosing corruption (“Whistleblowers must not be sacrificed”, 29/3). Criminal and unethical behaviour should be disclosed, not hidden from the public and no person should live in the fear of such punishment for truthful disclosures.
Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency
Authoritarian approach
In Putin’s Russia a disclosure of unpalatable facts about the behaviour of the Russian army in Ukraine may lead to 15 years in jail. Meanwhile, in Australia, if you disclose unpalatable facts about the behaviour of the Taxation Office, you face a life sentence in jail.
Jerry Koliha, South Melbourne
Bravery behind images
A brave whistleblower risked his life filming the pig gassing chamber for an hour (“Hidden horrors”, 29/3). The scenes we saw on ABC’s 7.30 were not a one-off event.
Indeed, pork industry body chief executive Margo Andrae said this practice was “legal and considered best practice” by the industry and in other countries such as the United States.
Consumers can decide for themselves whether to keep buying pork. But every time I smell bacon sizzling, I will remember what I saw.
Jan Kendall, Mt Martha
THE FORUM
Positive vein
The best news story in yesterday’s paper was hidden on page 40: “Wangaratta stripped of country flag” (29/3). This was due to a player payment error that the club reported itself. Ross Mulquiney, president of Yarrawonga, the losing finalist, declined the premiership saying, “Whilst so much focus is on the winning, it hides what makes [sport] great … the match was a great contest between 44 quality players. Each prepared, trained and competed to put on a great spectacle.” Probity, graciousness, thoughtfulness and interest in the underlying common good. How wonderfully refreshing. Makes you wonder if there could be more of that about.
David McRae, North Melbourne
Start building
We can only thank goodness Bob Brown is no longer leader of the Greens. With his approach to climate policy we would have had a repeat of Labor’s previous attempt to address the climate crisis, where Brown’s Greens voted it down. Adam Bandt understands perfection isn’t always better, or possible, but that having a starting point is, hence the Safeguard Mechanism agreement.
Let’s hope Bandt also realises that view in relation to the social housing policy being negotiated (“Greens blow to Labor housing plan”, 29/3). People who are homeless can’t wait for the perfect. Start the building now and hopefully more will follow.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
Get council out of the way
The push for greater housing density (“Call to open up Melbourne’s middle suburbs”, 28/3) is welcome. Desirable locations close to the city need to be unlocked to Melburnians not lucky enough to be born at a time when a quarter acre cost a few shillings. First we need to get local councils out of the way. They only hear the objections of wealthy NIMBYs who already live in these locations and are not positioned to deal with concerns of housing affordability.
Greater housing density will not solve our nation’s wealth inequalities, but it’s a necessary step to house a growing city.
David Neuzerling, Caulfield North
Outside the sprawl
Your correspondent (“Why residents object to greater housing density”, 29/3) highlights why inner-city residents often oppose higher-density developments. Often developments ride roughshod over the amenity of existing residents. At the same time, the urban sprawl raises its own issues with shortfalls in infrastructure for outer suburbs.
In the late ’70s and ’80s, decentralisation was a buzz word and there were some moves to shift government departments to regional centres. It is time to put decentralisation back on the agenda. We need large regional cities to save Melbourne from losing its status as one of the most liveable cities. Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Mildura, Wangaratta and Wodonga would be ideal to cater for our ever-increasing population.
Graeme Lechte, Brunswick West
Rubber hits the road
Your correspondent identifies that the biggest cause of residential concern regarding greater housing density is extra cars, and maintains “we can densify if we get a transport system that is safe, convenient, accessible and sustainable for everyone”. However, this ignores the fact that no matter how good the public transport system, many residents will still need and want cars. It is not uncommon for there to be (at least) two per household – so in this regard and without ample provision for off-street parking, greater housing density can only invite our living in a densely populated car park.
Peter Drum, Coburg
Sensitive change
Tone Wheeler (“Inner-city development requires diversity”, 29/3) brings up important points that must be discussed if we want sustainable and lasting housing in our cities and suburbs. It is not that residents are resistant to change, they just want sensitivity and scale brought to the new development next door or around the corner. They don’t want their solar panels in shade for most of the day because of the high rise next door. They want more trees, not a heat bank created when too many dwellings are crammed onto a new development.
Susan Digby, Geelong
Sensible middle
The deal between Labor and the Greens tries to find the middle ground (“Climate policy doesn’t kill gas despite fist-pumping”, 29/3). The fossil fuel industry and the LNP may not be thrilled but neither are environmental activists. The policy does, however, move Australia in the right direction towards a clean future but acknowledges the fact that fuels like gas will have a part to play in Australia’s energy future until renewables reach a capacity to make the grid stable and alternatives are found for those who use gas in the home and industry. Overall, a sensible middle ground.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
The real deal
Good article by Ross Gittins (“Voting out our political duopoly”, 29/3). It is pretty clear that Labor water down their policies to try to avoid attacks and scare campaigns from the opposition and to make them more acceptable to a wider ranges voters. However, I think that Labor may be cunningly taking advantage of the pressure from minor parties to put through more radical policies, while taking some of the heat away from themselves. Chris Bowen himself says the climate change mechanism is now a better policy.
Paul Sands, Sunbury
Leadership style
Some have called Daniel Andrews “Dictator Dan” due to his leadership style, and he is now engaged in a trip to China without explaining his agenda or allowing the press to accompany him. Admittedly, his availability for his pandemic press conferences was epic.
John Pesutto is being pilloried for modifying his position regarding Moira Deeming after discussions with party MPs. Which style of leadership is preferred – dictatorial or consensus? I know my preference.
Ralph Lewis, Canterbury
Getting it done
“China trip draws flak over scant scrutiny” (The Age, 29/3) may actually achieve something through quiet diplomacy rather than through chest beating by politicians and distorted reporting by much of the media, The Age excepted.
Kishor Dabke, Mount Waverley
Reality check
MP Ellen Sandell and the parents (“‘Shopping centre campus’ plan gets bad mark”, 29/3) need a reality check about the privileged education and the rich layers of resources available for their children in inner-city Melbourne. The children aren’t going to miss out because there is a column in their classroom.
The contrast of these out-of-touch parents with rural and isolated students who are consistently denied the educational opportunities and quality teaching of their city counterparts is stark. Rural students in places like Charlton or Warracknabeal have had their lack of educational resources documented in the past by this publication and others, and are in need of fit-for-purpose buildings with heating and cooling, lack of pests, up-to-date technology, and more.
Rupert Christie, Moonee Ponds
Role models
Heartening to read that three of the most prominent and powerful leaders in Britain are children of immigrants (“Yousaf set to be first Muslim to run nation”, 29/3). This says a lot about acceptance and recognition by the people of Britain that we all belong together while also coming from different faiths and cultures. It is sad that very often differences are the cause of many conflicts in our world and sad that those differences are often regarded as a threat but not recognised as a positive influence.
Julie Ottobre, Sorrento
Change the name
Your CBD columnists are to be congratulated for shining the spotlight on Mornington Yacht Club’s struggle to get with the times and endorse a respectful and inclusive culture in keeping with today’s community values (“Hello sailor”, 28/3). Contrary to the view of the owner of “Himalayan Women”, it is not “one” but several MYC members who have found the boat’s name offensive and misogynistic. This name shouldn’t be exempt from the new policy which states that “no boat name can denigrate a person on the basis of gender or ethnicity”.
Unfortunately, some at the club are taking a little longer to get on board with what is appropriate and acceptable in 2023. Here’s to smooth sailing ahead.
Kitty O’Sullivan, Carnegie
Fix the wrongs
Proponents often cite the dispossession of land as the prime motivating factor for enshrining the Voice in the Constitution. If this is correct then should we not return large swaths of the continent to First Nations people, rather than simply paying bureaucratic lip service and inserting a clause in a document? Amending the Constitution is about as useful as “thoughts and prayers” in righting a historical wrong and it’s my feeling that the Voice is just another sleight of hand to maintain the Euro status quo.
Angus McLeod, Cremorne
Change too radical
In my opinion the Albanese government is attempting to minimise the enormity of its proposed Indigenous Voice to parliament. The reason our founding fathers made constitutional change difficult was to avoid a rush to radical change that may damage the nation. Our Indigenous brethren have exactly the same voice as all other Australians. It is called the federal parliament. The proposed Voice will add another massive bureaucracy to the plethora of other government departments and agencies that already assist Indigenous people.
Peter Curtis, Werribee South
And another thing
National Gallery
Perhaps the towels and buckets around the National Gallery (“Leaking National Gallery a ‘disgrace’” 29/3) could be artfully presented as installations.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
Not surprised at the National Gallery leaks. A problem symptomatic to Canberra.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
Politics
Is the undignified stampede of Liberals exiting parliament to avoid a vote symbolic of a party on the way out?
Jon Smith, Leongatha
Do the naysayers fear that the most incarcerated, unhealthy and underprivileged peoples in our country could somehow gain an incremental advantage through the Voice to parliament?
Geoff Gowers, Merricks North
The difference between whistleblowing by public servants and dog whistling by politicians? One is protected.
Denis Liubinas, Blairgowrie
Why take journalists to China? They may never come home.
Tasma Wischer, Hawthorn
Furthermore
Re Peter Bol, who tests the drug tester?
John Rosenbrock, Mount Martha
Is our greatest ally, America, actually the dumbest, craziest nation state on the planet?
Michael Read, Carnegie
Americans are offended looking at Michelangelo’s sublime, nude statue of David but don’t seem to mind looking at the faces of children fleeing from assault weapons.
Myra Fisher, Brighton East
This household has decided the Superquiz rugby questions are a Sydney thing and irrelevant south of the border. Thus yesterday’s quiz gave us a perfect score of 13/13.
Bernadette Gray, Hepburn Springs
Re: the Domain Road tram, I suspect anyone wanting to walk the beautiful, steep paths of the Botanic Gardens can manage the flat extra 400 metres from Toorak Road.
Max Nankervis, Middle Park
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