What drives division
You would think that if a former ALP senator was revealed to have shared social media posts describing a section of the Australian community as vermin ″that need to be eradicated″ and not welcome to worship in this country mere weeks after the release of a major anti-racism plan, the Albanese government would have made some comment, or even criticism of the former senator.
Together with the apparent abandonment of the special envoy for social cohesion, it feels as though the Albanese government lacks the courage to adequately address some of the matters that drive division in our community.
Wil Wallace, Wangaratta
Known unknowns
Though I share your correspondents’ aspiration for a two-state solution, I worry that pragmatism is being subordinated to symbolism in an attempt to expedite the process.
Article 1 of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States stipulates that a state as a person of international law must possess the following: A permanent population; defined territory; a government; a capacity to enter into relations with other states.
In recognising a Palestinian state now, what exactly is being recognised? Which government and institutions are taken to represent the Palestinian people – Hamas, Fatah, the Palestinian Authority? Within which borders would ‘Palestine’ be understood to exist – those of 1948, 1967, or some other configuration?
Luca Jolson, Prahran
Conditions apply
Recognition means very little while Israel continues its campaign of genocide against the Palestinian people—starving the population of Gaza, bombing refugee camps, and expanding its illegal settlements unabated.
Australia must not normalise relations with a state currently under investigation for genocide and apartheid. To do so risks condoning grave violations of international law and human rights.
Palestinian self-determination and rights cannot—and must not—be made conditional on the “security” or approval of its apartheid oppressor. True peace and justice require recognition of Palestinian sovereignty on their own terms, not negotiated from a position of subjugation.
Australia must move beyond empty rhetoric and take real, meaningful action. This must include the imposition of country-level sanctions equivalent to those applied to Russia, a comprehensive two-way arms embargo, severing of trade ties, and active support for international legal mechanisms to hold Israel accountable. Anything less is a failure of principle and humanity.
Gerran Wright, Upwey
Pioneering act
The world first legislation to ban social media platforms to under 16s such as Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube reminds us of that equally important world first legislation making the wearing of seatbelts in our vehicles compulsory. We don’t think about putting on our seatbelt now it has become automatic. Let’s hope the social media ban also achieves the same life-saving results as wearing seatbelts.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Blunt ban response
The government’s move to ban YouTube accounts for under 16s may be well meaning, but it’s unlikely to reduce the harms it targets.
Unlike platforms such as TikTok or Instagram, YouTube doesn’t require users to log in to watch content. Teenagers can simply log out and continue watching whatever they like—no workaround needed. And on other platforms, it’s easy for underage users to create an account using a fake birthdate and disposable email.
Rather than relying on bans that are easily bypassed, the government should be engaging constructively with platforms. Social media platforms should be required to report what under 16s are watching and use AI tools to reduce exposure to harmful content.
Current and emerging technology can support this far more effectively than blunt regulation.
Prime Minister Albanese’s comparison to alcohol laws is misplaced. Alcohol is harmful for young people in all contexts. YouTube, by contrast, hosts a wealth of educational content often used in schools and homes. Blocking access risks cutting off valuable learning tools without solving the core problem.
Sensible reform requires smart oversight—not symbolic bans that push problems underground.
Sean O’Reilly, Springvale
Crime watch
It is incredible that the Victorian attorney-general has apparently only recently become aware of the deficits, business closures and alleged criminality of some private bail providers, according to (“Private bail services for accused criminals to be banned after run of failings” 30/7). There have been so many examples of unethical and/or criminal behaviour by some private operators who have been awarded contracts for various outsourced government services – TAFE colleges, childcare, NDIS – and then found to be incompetent or corruptly misusing taxpayer funding.
In deciding to outsource public services to private businesses, it would appear that governments do so in the seriously mistaken belief that this absolves ministers and their departments of management responsibility for supervision of the actual contract obligations.
Surely, it is incumbent upon the attorney-general to now resign following this disgraceful exposure of ministerial incompetence and neglect.
Jenny Backholer Clifton Hill
Costs of civil society
Congratulations to Saria Ratnam for so clearly outlining the absurdities of the Morrison government’s changes to funding university courses (“Fee schedule for arts degrees is all ancient Greek to me”, 30/7).
The changes we were told at the time would provide incentives for students to enrol in university courses that would increase ‘job ready’ graduates in areas of high workforce demand such as nursing, and deter students from enrolling in areas his government deemed ‘overstocked’, such as law, or ‘frivolous’ such as the arts.
The policy resulted in enormous increases in fees for certain subjects while reducing fees for others. Not only has this been unsuccessful in its intended outcome, but Ratnam provided excellent examples of the inconsistencies in its application. “Literature and French were each $578. Creative writing and political theory were $2124 each” … “Indigenous Australian art histories is twice as expensive as “Art history: Australian art”.
Gender studies is severely penalised at $2124 per subject, but Latin and ancient Greek are apparently favoured as useful vocational subjects with reduced fees. This is clearly a nonsense.
The funding structure for university courses needs to be addressed urgently. And the provision of courses and their funding needs to recognise both workforce demands and the value of arts degrees to a civil society.
Jenny Macmillan, Clifton Hill
Napoleonic Code
Regarding Yvonne Aoll’s article ″Disinherited Daughters face psychological trauma″, it appears that children can be discriminated when it comes to inheritance. A way to get around this would be to adopt Napoleonic inheritance laws as in many countries, so offspring, including those born out of wedlock, are given an equal share of the inheritance.
Ingrid Pezzoni, Toorak
Musical legends
I agree with the correspondent (Letters, 31/7) who questioned why the passing of Cleo Laine received little mention in the media. There was much coverage of the deaths of Ozzie Osbourne and Hulk Hogan but little about Cleo Laine, Chuck Mangione (legendary flugel horn player) and conductor Sir Roger Norrington. I had the privilege of performing with Cleo Lane in the 1980s and was in awe of her immense talent. Australia, the ‘clever country’? Perhaps not.
Russ Davis, Camperdown
Local talent
Given the speculation about Snoop Dogg as the grand final entertainment this year, obviously the AFL entertainment gurus reckon footy fans are ready for a bit of rap and hip hop. If that’s the case, then why don’t they book some local Indigenous people who make that sort of music? It would keep the rumoured million-dollar-plus booking fee in Australia and be a further acknowledgment of the Marngrook origins of the game in keeping with the AFL’s other endeavours in celebrating Indigenous culture.
Ross Bardin, Williamstown
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Trump
Columnist Bret Stephens’ comments regarding Donald Trump (31/7) are a reminder that no one is as bad as the worst thing they have ever done. And no one is as good as the best thing they have ever done.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
Dear Bret, Machiavellism under any circumstances is not god – nor good for that matter.
David Watson, West Footscray
Trump still considers himself as emperor of the world. His interference in domestic affairs of other countries is unparalleled. His latest intervention in Brazil wanting his mate Jair Bolsonaro reprieved is none of his business.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
Trump thinks it was wrong for Epstein to ‘steal’ a 16-year-old girl working at his Mar-a-Lago spa. It concerns me more that a 16-year-old girl would be working as a spa attendant.
Gretel Lamont, Aireys Inlet
Furthermore
I so loved the photo (31/7) seeing how these young ones depicted us. Old ladies wear cardigans and shawls; old men wear checked flannelette shirts. I must check my wardrobe.
Trish Young, Hampton
We travelled from Warrnambool to Melbourne on the lunchtime train on Wednesday. Clean and efficient with very helpful and friendly staff. The bargain ticket price is a real bonus.
Angela Lee-Ack, Dennington
How disappointing that protesting Victorian farmers have lost the moral high ground by adopting and descending to Tony Abbott’s signage.
George Reed, Wheelers Hill
Another endangered Australian species – the rapidly disappearing red, stand-alone Australia Post mailbox. Best take a photo before they have all disappeared from your area.
Ron Stone, Kangaroo Flat
Finally
The most recent AFL premiers in Collingwood and Brisbane clash at the MCG Saturday night with no free-to-air TV coverage of the game in Victoria. The AFL and Channel Seven should explain.
Tony Delaney, Warrnambool
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