Go bold, Albanese
Unfortunately for us Labor faithful, Prime Minister Albanese lacks the courage and boldness to lead a government of true reform. He once again ruled out tax reform (″Albanese Shies Away from Major Tax Reform″, 8/8). He’s the manager doing things right, rather than the leader who chooses to do the right thing. Significant tax reform might put a few noses out of joint, but with a large majority and political momentum now is the time for some boldness. Governments are elected to lead and make life better, but right now this seems as if it is far from the minds of Australian Labor. Albanese might reflect on the courage of the previous Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, as an example of bold political leadership.
Like him or not, Andrews was often courageous and doing the right thing defined his leadership. No one can deny the strength of his government which chose many real tangible actions to improve life for Victorians. They were certainly rewarded at the ballot box.
Michael Cormick, Carnegie
Defence is everything
Italy has showed us the way. Everyone in the world can give Donald Trump a ″win″ on increased defence spending and none of that expenditure will be wasted on actual weapons. Yes, a suspension bridge is defence spending! (″Italy will build bridge to Sicily″, 8/8).
So how does this work for Australia? Simple. All our expenditure on modernising our electrical grid is strategic – we are protecting ourselves against interdiction of fuel imports. All road and rain infrastructure is defence spending – we need to ensure that our forces can quickly and efficiently get to where they need to be.
So is health – we need to have a strong fighting force. And of course, all education spending is defence spending. We need fully rounded people in our defence forces. Foreign aid and foreign embassies are defence spending – soft power is the most effective way to maintain peace.
In no time, Australia will be spending 10 per cent of GDP on defence. We should then be able to ask Trump for a 1000 per cent decrease in tariffs.
Ken Richards, Elwood
What fits the crime
After reading the article by Jeremy Pudney about the role James Vlassakis played in the Snowtown murders, I was moved with compassion about a young man manipulated by John Bunting and Robert Wagner (″Why it’s right to release the youngest Snowtown killer″, 8/8). Vlassakis is depicted as a troubled teenager who fell under an evil spell. However, I feel for the victims’ families who must live with the trauma of losing a loved one to murder. It is an impossible task to meet the needs of both parties, revenge on one hand and forgiveness on the other. The old adage is that the punishment must fit the crime. Life is short and eleven lives were lost, and Vlassakis has lost 26 years of his life. Yes, some will be outraged, but this decision certainly seeks understanding.
Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East
Call time on pub test
Re Letters 8/8. Please let’s drop the “pub test” as a measure of anything. Only a minority of the population are to be found in a pub and most of them will be slightly to fully inebriated and looking for a rest from the worries of the day.
If you enter with clipboard and questions you’ll probably learn a lot more about expletives than your chosen topic. No-one actually polls a pub. It’s on a par with all the other economic nostrums – plucked out of the air. It’s guesswork based on the prejudice of the campaigner.
John Laurie, Riddells Creek
Thank you, Isabel
I felt very sick and collapsed while trying to get off at South Yarra station last Friday. A young nurse on her way to work at Cabrini Hospital came over to ask if I was OK, and called the wonderful paramedics who took my blood pressure and took me to the Alfred Hospital.
Its staff were kind and professional, and after about five hours involving constant monitoring of my blood pressure, an ECG and a CT of my head, I was cleared to go home.
I tried to contact the nurse who helped me on the train to thank her, but I couldn’t as I only knew her first name, Isabel. There is a lot in the press about the inadequacies of our health system, but we should be so proud of our frontline health workers, doctors, nurses and paramedics and so grateful for their care.
Catherine Needham, Parkdale
AFL comedy channel
I’m a bit disappointed at Channel 7’s lack of imagination in dumping the broadcast of the upcoming Blues v Bombers game for August 21. It could have billed it as a comedy in the tradition of 1960s British Carry On films, featuring slapstick fumbling, dropped marks, missed goals and kicks and Keystone Cops-like packs chasing the ball. What a missed opportunity.
Pier Paolo De Carlo, Ascot Vale
Docklands mystery
It’s still a mystery after years of huge investments and planning that at lunchtime I see an empty Docklands. On the north facing boulevard to the library on a perfect, sunny Friday, restaurants are derelict and not one person is on the moored megayachts. Every time a new iconic tower is completed the street life seems to decline. Is this what was planned, and if not what changes are needed?
Robert Irvine, Sunbury
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Work from home
Our roads are in an abysmal state of disrepair, so it will be interesting when those employed to fix the innumerable pot-holes decide to work from home.
Helen Moss, Croydon
I look forward to train, tram and taxi drivers, ambulance crews, policemen and garbage collectors all working from home.
Les Aisen, Elsternwick
The sheer scale and volume of the pushback against Jacinta Allan’s stance on protecting the current WFH arrangements clearly demonstrates that such protection is needed.
Geoffrey McNaughton, Glen Huntly
Furthermore
It is beyond appalling that Kathleen Folbigg has been awarded a measly $2 million as compensation for being wrongly convicted of killing her children and imprisoned for two decades.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
Re ″Talking parrot brings down gang turns stool pigeon″ 8/8. At last we know why there’s a dearth of orange bellied parrots on the Bellarine. They’ve joined the police force.
Margaret Skeen, Pt Lonsdale
Geo-politics
Australia appears to have an even-handed approach to the war in Ukraine, providing aid to Ukraine while simultaneously buying Russian oil from India, leaving our feet free to kick the Ukrainian people when they are down.
Ken Machin, Grovedale
Let’s say nyet zero to Aussie cars running on crude oil from Russia.
Paul Custance, Highett
If Netanyahu was less concerned about his own political survival and more with the general survival of Gazans it would improve his own survival. And the world would be a happier place.
Barrie Bales, Woorinen North
Trump suing Murdoch is a bit like a Gothic horror story, where the monster returns to wreak revenge on its creator and master.
Scott Ramsay, Kennington
Finally
Collywobbles so early in August: Can climate change be to blame?
Zena Marzi, Kew
The opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.