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BALLOT BOX
Having said that “deep down, the Liberal Party is not racist”, Steve Bracks then asks why the Liberals would preference One Nation ahead of Labor in the November Victorian election (“Liberals to preference One Nation in state poll”, 27/4). That seems to suggest the Liberals are, in fact, racist simply because of the way they place preferences on their how-to-vote cards. The real reason the Liberals plan to put One Nation above Labor could be much more obvious: to help get rid of the Allan government. That has nothing to do with racism, but a lot to do with how Labor has governed.
The best way the Liberals can defeat the Allan government is to advise voters to put Labor last. Voters can put One Nation second last if they wish.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
Bolstering the fortunes of far right
I have been a campaign volunteer for the Greens in every state and federal election in my hometown of Bendigo since 2010, and it is my experience that every time there has been a One Nation (or other far-right) candidate here, the Liberals and the Nationals have recommended either second or third preference to that candidate.
On a “seat by seat basis”, Bendigo is obviously an electorate in which the LNP are happy to repeatedly and explicitly bolster the electoral fortunes of the far right.
Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk
A fearful prospect
A frightening thought is the Liberal preferences going to One Nation. If they were to win, we could be under the control of a far-right party, which many won’t understand what that would really mean.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
Liberals have sunk into abyss
A Liberal Party politician says preferencing One Nation is a show of good faith between the parties. Shows how far into the abyss the Liberals have sunk.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir
Polls do matter
Over the years, politicians have stated that they don’t read polls, and the only poll that matters is the one at the polling booth. In the past two weeks, as reported by Sean Kelly (“Being bold is flavour of the month”, 27/4), the truth is revealed. Senior members of both major parties have admitted that not only do they read polls, they allow them to shape policy.
Peter Roche, Carlton
It’s your choice
I have been voting for more than 60 years and have never used a how-to-vote card. When you vote, you make your choice of whom you want to win by placing “1” alongside their name on the ballot paper. You carry on until all candidates have a number alongside their name. The point is that it is your choice as to the order that you prefer the candidates and not that of the party who prepared the how-to-vote card.
Alex Brown, Camberwell
Looking for integrity and transparency
It is clear that the LNP have abandoned any idea of appealing to mainstream Australians and are instead aiming to attract votes from the fringe. At the same time, we have a tired Labor state government that has been allowed to run amok due to both the weakness of the opposition and the unconstitutional funding laws, which have meant there have been no effective voices holding them to account. I fervently hope the state election sees a resurgence of independent MPs who can bring back integrity and transparency to our parliament.
Jan Downing, Hawthorn East
Australians will take a stand
Multiculturalism-loving Australians will, I think, vote en masse against the Liberal and National parties in federal and state government elections and byelections if these parties continue to buddy-up to the racist and anti-immigration One Nation party led by Pauline Hanson.
Eric Palm, Gympie, Qld
THE FORUM
Education welcomed
Education is the key to eliminate disrespectful booing of Welcome to Country (“Welcome to Country ‘overdone’: Taylor”, 27/4). To correct some vocal opinions, a Welcome to Country is a respectful offering for safe passage and protection of spiritual being during a journey on Country. It is about inclusion, sharing and care. Welcomes are offered only at major formal events, delivered only by community-endorsed Traditional Owners.
An Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by any person. They, too, are an offering of respect at the start of a gathering. Surveys have shown an overwhelming proportion of Australians support the concept.
Confusion, misinformation and weaponisation of Welcomes and Acknowledgements are deliberately fuelling division and hate. Education about the inclusive and respectful intent of these offerings would help improve understanding, social cohesion, and help treat the disease of bigotry.
Greg Davies, Glen Waverley
Wedge always there
It is not the use of Welcome to Country and Acknowledgment of Country that have driven a wedge into our society; the wedge has always been there. Your correspondent’s view (Letters, 27/4) that we are an “otherwise tolerant society” clearly demonstrates a blindness to that wedge. The wedge is being driven by those who do not want to move on from Australia being a society based on the oppression of those living here before colonisation, as illustrated by the “No” vote in the Voice referendum.
The stark difference between the welcoming generosity of the oppressed original inhabitants, and the need to continue the oppression by the “wedgers”, is revealed in the appalling Closing the Gap statistics.
Jenny Callaghan, Hawthorn
Anthem overused
Angus Taylor is intimating that “overuse” of Welcome to Country “frustrates Australians” (“Welcome to Country ‘overdone’: Taylor”, 27/4). What frustrates me is the national anthem being overused at sports events and the Lord’s Prayer being overused in our parliaments.
Damon Ross, St Kilda East
Drop the dirge
Anzac weekend gave us lots of great moments, as it does each year. Sadly, in our grand get-togethers and our sporting events, our national anthem is never a raucous sing-a-long affair. The cameras scan the crowds to show a tiny proportion of people singing. One or two of the players have a go, mumbling along. So sad!
Give us Waltzing Matilda as our anthem, and hear the crowds roar, as they do with Never Tear Us Apart, Country Roads, etc. The crowds want to sing but our national anthem is an un-singable drag.
Tony Moore, Docklands
Growth an issue
It’s no surprise that unit rents are soaring given Melbourne’s massive rebound in overseas migration (“Quite painful: Melbourne’s unit rents at record, pricier than houses”, 23/4). Current supply simply cannot keep pace with such extraordinary population growth.
While racism must never be condoned, it should not be used as a pretext to silence honest discussion about the fundamental issue of sustainability.
We have a real opportunity to develop a city that reduces social inequality and fosters environmental respect. However, achieving this requires a commitment to stabilising our population within the practical limits of our resources.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
In awe at attitude
Thank you, Melissa Cunningham, for your positive piece on Melbourne’s South Sudanese community (“Standing tall”, 25/4).
Years ago, I volunteered at an after-school program in Fitzroy, the kids were from the nearby public housing towers and many were from South Sudan. They would arrive laughing, singing and talking at the tops of their voices; their enthusiasm was irresistible.
Over the years since, my life has been greatly enriched by Melbourne’s South Sudanese diaspora. I’m in awe of their resilience, courage and initiative and been fortunate to have made many wonderful friendships.
Despite significant setbacks, they remain committed to making the most of life in Australia.
Mary Stephen, Fitzroy
Bus concerns
There is such inequity between the provision of bus services across Melbourne with the west missing out for decades. In Brunswick, my bus service could be improved with a Sunday service, but at least has an adequate weekday service. It starts before 6am and then operates every 10 minutes for almost two hours. However, students like Anagh in Wyndham (“Parents in west plead for more school buses”, 27/4) has to cope with infrequent, overflowing buses which make him late for school.
The government must look at region-wide improvements to make bus services and routes work properly.
Tim Hoffmann, Brunswick
Funding potholes
It is quite incredible that our state government needs to announce $1 billion will be spent to repair Victoria’s rural roads. The question the government should answer is why were the roads neglected for so long that such an announcement is now required?
Surely, the maintenance of our roads is an ongoing state government responsibility.
Andrew McNicoll, Kew
Address inequality
Sean Kelly poses the question as to whether MPs should only represent their constituents’ wishes or show leadership on issues with which the constituency may not all agree (“Being bold is flavour of the month”, 27/4). He makes a very important point: governments “underestimate their own ability to ask new questions of the public, provoking new answers”. To ask new questions is leadership. It’s not about chasing popularity, which is illusionary, shallow and ultimately self-defeating.
It’s time increasing inequality was addressed. Inequality is leading to people’s inability to hope and to work for the future, and a lack of social cohesion and the rise of far-right groups. Leadership is about outlining a comprehensible vision in persuadable ways for a better society for the majority.
Jan Marshall, Brighton
Be bold on gas
Bravery, boldness and plain old sound leadership would be imposing the modest 25 per cent tax on gas exporters. The tax is supported by about 70 per cent of Australians. Former Treasury secretary Ken Henry told politicians to “just do it”. He means, let’s finally get fair reward for letting miners dig and drill our resources. Predictably, gas companies (and the Coalition) are vehemently opposed. Some argue that we are now too beholden to Asian oil-refining companies for imports and mustn’t upset them.
Global energy giants making huge profits threaten to withdraw investment, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is about to blink. The majority of Australians will not see that as brave or bold.
Fiona Colin, Malvern East
Charging ahead
The article by Stephen Lightfoot (“We need thousands more EV chargers”, 26/4) provides yet another negative piece on electric car charging. Might I observe, nice car, Volvo XC40, wrong country.
I have driven a Tesla to Brisbane and back four times, to the Gather Round in South Australia and recently to Mallacoota. No problem and no waiting anywhere, any time.
Bill Healy, Kew
Dismay over EVs
Hear, hear, Stephen Lightfoot. Lancefield has just two public chargers. Imagine the dismay of EV drivers in need of a top-up when we found an XB GT Falcon parked in one of the spaces this weekend. Sure, parking was tight with all the vintage cars attending the “Cars and Coffee” get-together, but this was a bridge too far.
Peter McGill, Lancefield
National plan needed
The Victorian government’s classification of the Pacific oyster as a “pest” is a relic of fragmented policy. While our neighbours in South Australia and Tasmania build resilient economies on this species, Victorians pay the price — literally — at the seafood counter. We need a national environment plan that prioritises consumer security over outdated state bans.
Roy Palmer, CEO, Seafood Consumers Association
Rethink required
One-hundred years ago, the HMVS Cerberus was scuttled off Black Rock (“Full steam ahead for Cerberus preservation”, 25/4). As it has gradually deteriorated, frequent campaigns have been made to “preserve” it. Local ratepayers are told of a federal grant to finance such works.
Why is a local council contemplating taking on the responsibility of expenditure on a naval wreck which will require much more than the $500,000 grant to sustain any of the vessel above water level?
There are other ways of preserving the memory of the Cerberus. A model could be sculpted and placed on the adjacent clifftop. Plans could be developed for the construction of a local technology centre where young students could work on STEAM (STEM plus Arts) projects.
The spirit of the Cerberus can live on in more positive ways than trying to keep its sinking turrets visible.
Russell Harrison, Sandringham
Device addicts
With Australian ingenuity, surely we could design and patent a device to be attached to the nose that would allow mobile phone users to have semi-permanent use of their phones. Alternatively, something like Bob Dylan’s harmonica holder could be adapted for this purpose.
Otherwise, people could put down their phones occasionally and not bump into others and actually see the real world around them – people, buildings, nature etc. Maybe then they’d have cause to contemplate and develop empathy for their fellow women/men.
Robert Thyssen, Windsor
AND ANOTHER THING …
Shooting
The luckiest man to be alive in the US today is the alleged shooter at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Peter Randles, Pascoe Vale South
They rescued JD Vance first, right? Then Trump?
Claire Bauer, Black Rock
Once again, we are reminded why Australia is the best place in the world to live. We settle our political differences with ballots, not bullets.
Helen Moss, Croydon
Australia fair
Angus Taylor is trying to appeal to the orange people, while not being caught out saying Welcome to Country should be scrapped. Sitting on the fence never works.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
Maybe the lament of the Last Post and the didgeridoo as the dawn breaks is all that is needed on Anzac Day.
Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont
If we want our flag to be truly unique, it should have a koala, a platypus and a kangaroo on it. Surrounded by banksias perhaps? Very Australian and very unique.
Robyn Westwood, Heidelberg Heights
State election
The state Libs giving oxygen to One Nation is not unlike giving Dracula the key to the blood bank.
Phil Alexander, Eltham
Re Liberals legitimising One Nation: How long has Labor been legitimising The Greens?
John Lithgow, Mansfield
I suggest we have a state election every year. Just imagine the handouts we would receive yearly. Plus all the new infrastructure and services.
Margaret Collings, Anglesea
Furthermore
Just had my car serviced, and was told the suspension would need work within the next six months. Given the state of our roads, to whom could I send the bill?
Joan Peverell, Malvern
Finally
Perhaps The Age could look a little closer to home when writing about the waste engendered by single-use plastics. Our daily edition arrives sealed in a plastic bag.
John Westland, Brunswick
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To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. 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.
