The knives are out
One thing you can count on: Liberal in-fighting. How long before Jess Wilson is knifed, too?
Bryan Lewis, St Helena
Defeated in straight sets
Sam Groth, out in straight sets, defeated by the Liberal Party.
Mick Hussey, Beaconsfield
THE FORUM
Long-term consequences
It’s frustrating to read calls for the Australian government to immediately and unilaterally cut ties with the United States, based on decisions of the Trump administration as if there would be no consequences (Letters, 6/1).
Given polling, the Trump administration is likely to be constrained by the upcoming midterm elections.
Decisions we make now will affect our relationship with America long beyond Donald Trump’s term. Our government needs to consider the long-term and wide-ranging relationship we have and must continue to have (whether we like it or not) with the US and its place in the world, not just Trump’s America.
As our relationship with China demonstrates, simplistic “shirtfronting” and populist “tough” statements might provide a quick and short-lived sense of righteousness but the subsequent damage takes years (and a lot of foreign aid dollars) to repair.
Richard Jamonts, Williamstown
Nuclear option
About 40 years ago, the US saw fit to suspend its part of the ANZUS Treaty with New Zealand over its nuclear ban that blocked the US Navy from visiting NZ ports. It’s about time Australia exercised a similar unilateral suspension option towards the US over its egregious disregard of international law and practice.
Jim Spithill, Glen Waverley
Beyond the pale
What’s “beyond the pale” (Letters, 5/1) is Geoffrey Robertson’s assertion (Opinion, 5/1) that Donald Trump’s attempt to end the suffering of millions of Venezuelans under Nicolás Maduro’s corrupt, incompetent and brutal dictatorship is a “crime the same as Vladimir Putin’s”.
Ivan Glynn, Vermont
Not fit for purpose
It’s clear now the so-called “United Nations” is no longer fit-for-purpose when it comes to world peace and preventing acts of aggression (which can lead to war). The most powerful nations in the world have veto powers on the UN Security Council, so any resolution against them never gets acted upon. It’s time to either remove these veto powers or perhaps disband the UN altogether and start again on a level playing field for all the world’s nations.
David Parker, Geelong West
UN out of date
Regarding Ben Saul’s support of international law (“Australia should not bind itself to a shameless dictator”, 6/1): The world has changed over the past 100-or-so years since the development of modern international law. It was designed to stop the likes of Vladimir Putin from taking over another country but not to permit industrial-scale nationalised drug trafficking or fanatical religious terrorists to further their cause on a worldwide scale. These seriously dangerous elements bring a type of war to our shores just as damaging as a military assault, and must be dealt with in a way that is catered for by a more relevant international law and not prevented by 100-year-old legal concepts which simply do not fit the bill.
If the UN is to fulfil its role to promote and protect the human rights and fundamental freedoms, it should not be seen to be protecting the likes of Nicolás Maduro, and needs to update its thinking on these issues.
John Morrow, Clifton Hill
Core principles violated
As Australian Jewish and community organisations committed to justice, we are appalled at Israel’s decision to deregister 37 international humanitarian organisations. At a time of critical need in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, these measures catastrophically restrict access to life-saving assistance. We echo the views of Israeli, Palestinian, and International NGOs.
Israel, as the occupying power under the Geneva convention, has an obligation to ensure adequate supplies to Palestinian civilians. It is failing to fulfil that obligation, and is also preventing others from filling the gap. While governments can legitimately require humanitarian organisations to operate ethically, the Israeli registration framework violates core humanitarian principles of independence and neutrality.
We call on the Australian government and opposition to declare that this is a clear breach of humanitarian principles, and communicate this to the Israeli government.
Larry Stillman, Australian Jewish Democratic Society
Inquiry imperative
John Wallace (“Do royal commissions live up to expectations?”, 5/1) makes a number of important points including that “only a royal commission can deliver truth, accountability and justice when … the public no longer believes that the state can investigate itself”.
He also says the hardest part is acting on the results of such an investigation. It would be easy to assume this is a good reason for not having such an inquiry, and it is easy to find many important recommendations that have not been enacted after past royal commissions. This is more likely to be the case where it relies solely on government to act on such recommendations.
However, in many cases, it is actually the shining of the light in dark places that leads to the required change in society because citizens themselves begin to stand up to be counted, as do businesses and other organisations. It happens at a grassroots level. People call things out and demand change. Furthermore, it is not always action that is needed, but rather a full understanding that can only be obtained by painstakingly unearthing all the facts, and the healing that accompanies that process.
All these factors make a federal royal commission into the Bondi massacre imperative.
Ruja Varon, Malvern
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Licence to kill
Statistics support your correspondent (Letters, 6/1) who wants guns recalled from “so-called recreational shooters and those who hunt feral pests”.
Aspiring gun owners must provide a “genuine reason” for owning a gun, and often it’s claimed to be hunting. Yet, Victoria’s Game Management Authority data shows that half of the deer-hunting licences, and 40 per cent of the duck-hunting licences, are not used. There is no way of checking if the “pest hunters” ever hunt. Tough decisions lie ahead if we seriously want to reduce gun crime.
Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills
Taking aim at feral pests
Your correspondent (Letters, 6/1) says that in regards to shooting feral pests, “approved veterinarians subsidised by taxpayers can perform this necessary task”.
I re-read this letter a few times, wondering how, when and why someone who tries to save animals would want to kill them.
My vet friends are extremely overworked, and only a few have a firearm licence – for large animal destruction. Their city counterparts work mainly on small animals.
I am pretty sure their recreational time would be rather spent doing just that – personal pursuits – to clear their mind of animal-related matters.
Sporting shooters (I am not a member) do a fine job of managing feral animals.
Shaun Dunford, Mt Gambier, SA
Gun control flawed
I see it as a massive failure of the gun-control system that the Bondi killers had five guns in their home. When John Howard brought in the gun controls, I saw it as his big achievement. But clearly, the system is flawed and needs to be fixed. I thought ordinary adult citizens (other than farmers and special occupations) had to be members of a gun club to get a firearm licence. It follows that the guns should be locked in the clubs except when taken out for limited periods for specific purposes like hunting. And they should only be taken out one gun at a time.
Kevin Watters, Heathmont
Conflict of interests
The national support for the McGrath Foundation Pink Test which enables extraordinary aid for people with cancer is commendable. What is disappointing is that Cricket Australia and, by association, the McGrath Foundation are in partnership with both alcohol and gambling interests.
The evidence is clear on the association of alcohol and a number of cancers, including breast cancer, as well as the overall harm to health and wellbeing caused by gambling.
It’s time for a re-think of sponsorship deals across sporting codes; the moral imperatives
far outweigh the pursuit of the mighty dollar.
Anne Lyon, Camberwell
Come in spinner
The controversy over whether a spin bowler should have been included in the side for the Sydney Test (“Taylor laments spin snub”, 5/1) brings to mind remarks made by Billy Brownless – one-time Geelong star forward and comic genius.
It was back in the early 1990s. Geelong was scheduled to play an away game against the Sydney Swans. After a training session, the Geelong coach announced to the players: “We will select a team that can play on the SCG.”
Billy inquired: “Does that mean we will have two spinners in
the side?”
Bill Townsend, Merrimac, Qld
Off with their heads
In the beer glasses illustrated (“Victorian pubs stirring the pot as they swing over to schooners”, 6/1), what is striking is not their sizes but the excessive size of the heads on the beers poured.
No publican could offer patrons glasses filled like these and expect to get away with it … “Room for a dash? Fill it up with beer then!”
Peter Drum, Coburg
A coldie should be cold
When l was growing up, we had 5oz ponies (140ml), a glass was 7oz (200ml) or a pot 10oz (285ml). And you drank at a pace that made beer a nice enjoyable cold refreshing drink. Nowadays, it’s warm beer before you’re half finished. No wonder pubs are dying.
James Lane, Hampton East
AND ANOTHER THING …
South Korean protesters criticise the US attack on Venezuela.Credit: Getty Images
Trump
On Monday, petrol at my local service station leapt from 159.9¢ to 215.9¢ a litre overnight. I’ve been Trumped!
Brian Kidd, Mt Waverley
If Ukraine had possessed oil or something Donald Trump valued, the war would be over.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Australia’s iron ore reserves must look like a tasty morsel for Trump. No military force required. Gary Bryfman, Brighton
At what point do US military leaders refuse to continue enabling Trump’s game show antics?
Jenny Smithers, Ashburton
We all understand Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, even more so now. And may I suggest the Nobel Prize for Medicine should be awarded to Robert Kennedy Jr?
David Rose, Montrose
State Liberals
Sam Groth has no second serve.
Andy Wain, Rosebud
It’s looking like Jess Wilson’s honeymoon was short-lived.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
Sam Groth. Game, set, match.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
The Victorian Liberal Party: the gift that keeps on giving … to Labor.
Alan Williams, Port Melbourne
Antisemitism
Your correspondent (Letters, 6/1) asserts: “Parents must encourage a culture that values evidence, logic and empathy over outrage and fear.” He was addressing antisemitism but it may as well have been religion.
Jayson Argall, Northcote
Furthermore
A creative placement of articles on Page 2 yesterday: a story on schooners becoming more popular in pubs above an article about a “Monster heatwave” approaching. Cheers.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
Finally
To your correspondent re energy bills (Letters, 6/1): That thud you heard was the father of privatisation, Jeffrey Kennett, hitting the ceiling after suggestions that his “baby” be re-interred. Raymond Wilson, Avondale Heights
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