Save articles for later
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.
Credit: Illustration: Jim Pavlidis
To submit a letter to The Age, email [email protected]. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.
MIDDLE EAST
The sacking of Sydney ABC radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf for criticising the Israeli military and the extremist Netanyahu government for killing women and children in Gaza (“ABC presenter axed over posts”, 21/12) should be condemned by anyone in support of human rights, fairness and freedom for journalists.
I called the ABC 774 talkback line yesterday wanting to express my view on taxpayer radio. I was never called back and the sacking of Lattouf was not raised on the talkback program.
It is clear to me that political censorship is very much alive and well on taxpayer-funded radio. The ABC appears to have a very jaundiced concept of “democracy” – a system I always thought to be reliant on fearless reporting and diversity of expression.
John Glazebrook, Terang
ABC Big Brother response
Antoinette Lattouf has been sacked from the ABC for expressing her opinions on Instagram expressed as the Israeli “ongoing annihilation of Palestinians”. This did not occur during her capacity as a relief radio presenter and once again shows how “Big Brother” ABC is interfering with the personal lives of their employees.
No wonder many are seeking employment elsewhere.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Trashing our core ethos
At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the wonderful Jewish Palestinian Jesus who articulated the core ethos of humanity as kindness and truth. We are reminded of the biblical nativity narrative of how the Rome-backed, Jewish King Herod slew all the male children under two years old. Today, this biblical story is matched by the horrible reality of more than 8000 Palestinian children killed so far in Gaza, according to Hamas.
The taxpayer-funded ABC has trashed kindness and truth by forbidding use of the terms “apartheid” and “genocide” in this context, and by sacking radio host Antoinette Lattouf for protesting against this ghastly present-day massacre of the innocents.
Memo for Christmas gatherings: the world has two kinds of people, those opposing the mass murder of children, and the unforgivable others. Silence is complicity.
Gideon Polya, Macleod
Surgical strikes work
A letter to the editor (The Age, 20/12), defending Israel’s actions in Gaza, posed the question of what would the 152 countries that voted for a humanitarian ceasefire have done if they had come under a terrorist attack. France similarly lost 130 people in November 2015 in the attack on Paris by a terrorist group based in Brussels, Belgium. It managed to run a successful operation that destroyed the terror cell without having to raze Brussels to the ground.
Carlo Carli, Brunswick
Numbers don’t add up
Your correspondent asks what 152 nations would do if confronted by the deaths per capita Israel faced on October 7. An entirely valid question, but if we are talking about per capita: one in 125 Gazans have died since then. The horrors of Hamas on October 7 should in no way limit the horrors of death in Gaza. It must end.
Dechlan Brennan, Fitzroy North
Netanyahu’s unknown exit plan
What are Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans? We understand his primary plan is to destroy Hamas by continually indiscriminately bombing Gaza, but what are his plans beyond that? Does he have an exit strategy and can nobody understand the seeds he is planting ensure the conflict will continue for many years to come?
Like many Australians, I denounce the actions of Hamas on October 7, but these actions cannot be viewed in isolation. At the risk of sounding antisemitic, which I don’t believe I am, is Israel at risk of doing to people what was done to many of its own? Violence begets more violence.
David Conolly, Brighton
THE FORUM
Deputy tag ditched
The United States asked the Australian government to send naval vessels to protect shipping lanes in which, it is said, Houthi militants have been attacking ships bound for Israel or Israeli flagged ships. To the credit of the government, the request was refused. Sussan Ley labelled this a “weak” decision (“‘Securing our home’ key amid wars and rise of China: Albanese”, 20/12).
In reality, it was a strong decision made by an independent middle power signalling that Australia will no longer play “deputy sheriff” and come running when our rich and powerful ally whistles. It is to be hoped that this sign of Australia maturing as a nation continues.
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Are we doing enough?
Anthony Albanese has made a mockery of the Australian-US relationship. The US asked for our support by having an Australian Navy vessel to demonstrate our strength, caring and commitment to protecting the world’s shipping in the Red Sea by keeping the Suez Canal open, despite rebel attacks.
Albanese refused, stating: “We know that the USA understands the best way to support this is through diplomatic support, and our resources have been prioritised in our region in the Indo-Pacific. The main threat to shipping in the Indo-Pacific is from China.“
What diplomatic support are we showing? Are we emailing the rebels with a request to stop?
Is the Indo-Pacific in a situation that will stop the world’s most famous trade route? How much of our outgoing trade goods and incoming supplies may be affected if the Suez Canal is closed?
We had worldwide chaos when the Ever Given ship blocked the Suez in March 2021. There were 369 ships queuing up to pass through the canal. An estimated $US6.9 billion worth of trade stopped. Twelve per cent of world trade traverses the Suez.
Ross Kroger, Barwon Heads
Geographical link
Your correspondent (“Not present”, Letters, 21/12) provides a long list of nations who have responded to the US call for naval support in the Red Sea. He bemoans the absence of Australia. Check the map, and you will find a common thread – all those countries are in the hemisphere where the events are occurring.
For once, we have considered the geography before a knee-jerk reaction to the politics.
Tony Haydon, Springvale
Trump held to account
Donald Trump’s reaction to the Colorado Supreme Court’s historic decision to disqualify him from standing for election next year is as predictable as it is full of hypocrisy (“After a legal bombshell, can Trump still run for office?” 21/12).
Everything Trump accuses President Joe Biden of, he is blatantly guilty himself, especially claims of being a threat to democracy and trashing the Constitution.
At last Trump is being held to account. Let there be more. Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
He’s no victim
Any suggestion that Donald Trump is a victim is nonsense. His multitude of problems are entirely self-inflicted. Should the Colorado ruling remain, the democratic ideals of the US and elsewhere will be enhanced.
Trump’s recent anti-immigrant rant with vile and racist undertones should make him unelectable even if the legal processes against him don’t succeed.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
Irrational appeal
Your correspondent asserts that the underlying rationality of the US voter will save the day for democracy in that country (“Concerns assuaged”, Letters, 20/12), and ends with: “It is surely stretching credulity to think that US voters could abandon the cherished notion of patriotism, and countenance a known amoral criminal as their national leader.”
Unfortunately, it is not. Indeed, many, especially those who feel left behind by liberal democracy, will enthusiastically welcome it.
As Arthur Koestler wrote after escaping occupied Europe (Scum of the Earth, 1941): “Perhaps Hitler’s genius is not demagogy, not lying, but the fundamentally irrational approach to the masses, the appeal to the pre-logical, totemistic mentality.”
Trump has learned the lesson well, and reason will provide no salvation for that blighted nation.
Barry Miskin, Essendon West
Scooter eyesore
I counted six e-bikes and e-scooters near where I live today, none of which parked how they are supposed to be.
They are a blight on the landscape – visual pollution. The businesses and councils that profit from these things need to take responsibility.
Namely, these businesses should be required to carry comprehensive insurance that covers illegal use such as riding on footpaths, carrying passengers, speeding and for accidents, just like car insurance. Councils should provide designated parking areas, for which they can charge. Vehicles not parked in these areas should be heavily fined (a new income stream for councils).
Shaun Lawrence, Richmond
Ceding control
An acquaintance is driving an unfamiliar vehicle at 100 km/h along a straight country road and notices a cyclist ahead. Slows down to 80 km/h, checks for other vehicles – nothing ahead or behind – and proceeds in sliding over to the oncoming lane, allowing the cyclist a wide berth. Failure to use the indicators results in the vehicle’s guidance system attempting to take control and direct the car straight for the cyclist. Not sure how the driver regained control over the vehicle, but this debacle raises all manner of safety and responsibility issues where so-called “guidance systems” are not fit for purpose and cannot be disabled.
Ronald Elliott, Sandringham
Wrong priorities
After a dreadful year for road trauma, including a doubling of pedestrian and cyclist deaths, South Australia has announced a $168 million increase in road safety funding. Much will be for regional roads, but it also includes new infrastructure to improve safety for people walking and riding.
Meanwhile, Victorians are still waiting. Our government can find tens of billions of dollars for one new road. But if you want a pedestrian crossing to safely cross a busy road, or a bike path to cycle safely to school or work, you probably have to wait decades. Our government funds only a handful each year. So every day, people are forced to take risks just to get around, sometimes with horrific consequences. Or they ditch trying to walk or cycle, and use a motor vehicle instead. The detriments are huge, not only to household budgets, but also to our health and environment.
Andrea Bunting, Brunswick
Long term option
Paul Graham, lead author of the GenCost report (“Renewables cheaper than nuclear, coal now and into the future”: CSIRO, 21/12), claims that the lengthy lead time for the construction of nuclear power facilities “does make it a difficult project for contributing significantly to our decarbonisation plans”. If it only took 15 years to install nuclear power, those facilities would be contributing to decarbonisation for at least a decade before the target date of 2050 for net zero.
Besides, the decarbonisation task doesn’t end in 2050. It goes on forever. Expanding nuclear power within the next 15 years – or 20 or 25 or 30 years – positions the world, including Australia, to better manage the indefinite risk of climate change.
Nuclear power may be expensive, but the question is: how much risk are you prepared to bear for the future of the world by not installing a proven zero-emissions electricity source?
Michael Angwin, Surrey Hills
Shipping out
We have just completed a two-week New Zealand cruise on the Cunard Queen Elizabeth which left from and returned us to Port Melbourne. This greatly facilitated our holiday as it did every other Victorian on board of a passenger list of 2000. The consensus among those we spoke to was of their bewilderment at the Victorian government’s implementation of port taxes that will result in the Carnival shipping company pull out of berthing in Melbourne from 2025. People also travel from interstate and overseas to board the cruises, resulting in flights, hotel accommodation, restaurant meals and tours in Melbourne, which amount to millions in tourist dollars. Why has the government jettisoned this valuable income?
Kaye Kibblewhite, Frankston South
High hopes
Your correspondent (Letters, 20/12) is right to point out that viewed in the long term, things are getting better. It’s important to remember this, and as he said, “keep hoping and working towards good outcomes”. I think we, adults and particularly children, could do with more of this encouragement to avoid despair and inaction.
Carmel Boyle, Alfredton
Shooting expense
Do duck shooters pay their way? (Letters, 19, 20/12) A licence costs about $60 annually. But the majority belong to deer hunters, who pay only $30 to add ducks.
A surprising proportion (one-sixth) of game hunters hold concession cards and get half-price discounts.
The Game Management Authority never discloses duck-shooting revenue, but does publish licence statistics. Basic arithmetic shows income from duck licensing was less than $1 million last year, compared with the authority’s
$9.5 million expenditure.
Corale Suter, Somers
Be kind
Your correspondents should say exactly what they think “woke” means when they accuse younger generations of this alleged sin (Letters, 21/20). I have yet to hear from any critic of “woke youth” who can coherently define the word. For many of us, “woke” means trying to be kind, trying to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. And if that’s what it means, colour me woke.
Nick Eckstein, Kangaroo Ground
AND ANOTHER THING
Vale Franco Cozzo
In the mid-1970s I used to accompany a mate to the Franco Cozzo Aussie Rules match: Norda Melbourne and Footiscray. Vale my friend, Franco and Saturday afternoon footy.
John McCulloch, Cheltenham
R.I.P. Franco Cozzo – a part of Melbourne’s furniture.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
Franco was a passionate Melburnian immigrant who was equally proud of his Italian heritage. While we did not necessarily embrace his old world Italian furniture, we were very much aware of his marketing campaigns. He was an iconic Melburnian with a larger than life personality. God bless Franco.
Janine Fletcher, Croydon North
Cuss words
When I moved to Melbourne from New Zealand I used “bed linen” as an expletive. Locals said “Sheet”. Lynell McCluggage, Carlton North
Your correspondent (Letters, 21/12) referred to ″hells bells and buckets of blood″. We have Eadric the Wild to thank as he first uttered it in 1070 Britain in response to relentless bell ringing and poisonous well water. I’ll add that to my cussing arsenal.
Linda Fisher, Malvern East
Furthermore
Big Build or housing? Start by cancelling the level crossing removal plan on the Upfield line through to Brunswick. These roads are single lane or smaller, are 50km/h or less zones, are more suited to bicycles, and are already lined with high rise housing. Tom Danby, Coburg North
Those Melburnians in your public transport nirvana of the inner city should come to live in the middle east suburbs. There are buses, but they are caught in the same myriad of traffic congestion. Be visionary, imagine Melbourne in 20 years without the Big Build.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill
Finally
Israel claims it’s only fighting Hamas, not the civilians of Gaza, whom it can be assumed would find that claim hard to believe.
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
To submit a letter to The Age, email [email protected]. Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.
Most Viewed in National
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
