World issues: So many are demanding a return to fairness

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World issues: So many are demanding a return to fairness

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The Yellow Vest protesters in France may have signalled a new era. Even though President Emmanuel Macron announced he would reverse the fuel tax rise that sparked the protests, they have continued. That impost was the last straw, highlighting the "reverse Robin Hood strategy" of levying ordinary folk while simultaneously slashing taxes on corporations and those on high incomes.

Illustration: Michael Leunig

Illustration: Michael Leunig

President Macron is the latest to board the gravy train of neo-liberalism, which was popularised in the 1980s as Reaganomics and Thatcherism, and simultaneously implemented even more starkly in Australia under Malcolm Fraser. After three decades of stealthy attrition, the strategy is now approaching boiling point, notably in the United States this year.

And big business here is pushing hard for the end game. It wants corporate tax, already down to half the rate of the early 1980s, to be whittled to a sliver and replaced by an increased GST for battlers. While voters are marking down the Liberals for their seemingly helpless subservience to wealthy donors, the Opposition has also backed tax cuts for businesses with annual turnovers of up to $50million. Australians will not hit the streets – we will leave that to the French – but we will demand a return to fairness.

Peter Freckleton, Hampton

Ardern is setting an example for world leaders

What grace, love and sincerity Jacinda Ardern displayed on Monday when she offered an apology on behalf of the New Zealand people to the family of British backpacker, Grace Millane, who was killed there (World, 11/12). The Prime Minister offered words of comfort, with feeling, to Ms Millane's family and summarised what I am sure are the feelings of New Zealand's population.

This sense of empathy is missing in many politicians, of all persuasions and ethnicities, in Australia and around the world. Ms Ardern is setting the high bar on leadership while also delivering an example of personal honesty and integrity. She has only been in office for two years and is not yet 40, but she is setting an enviable example to the world.

Pieter van Wessem, Balwyn

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If only our leaders were like New Zealand's PM

I read the apology from Jacinda Ardern on the sad death of Grace Millane. What genuine grace and compassion she displayed. My wish for Christmas is that Australian politicians will follow suit and stop the meaningless "sound bites" for the media. Why not talk with the people who elected them?

Robyn Stonehouse, Camberwell

Let the matter be decided by international law

Your editorial – "Rule of law is vital in Canada's Huawei case" (The Age, 11/12) – is correct. The sanctions that Meng Wanzhou of Huawei is alleged to have broached are not international sanctions supported by the UN Security Council or other authorised international body. They are unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States claiming to have international reach by way of extra-territorial jurisdiction. For Canada or another country to enforce such sanctions on a third party – that is, a national of another state – would be an abuse of process and improper.

It is not a matter of taking sides in a political or trade dispute. It is a matter properly to be decided and determined in accordance with international law. Meng Wanzhou should be released and sent on her way. The Trump administration should get back in its box before US/Chinese tensions, and US tensions with other nations on this and related matters, reach boiling point.

Andrew Farran, Edenhope

How can we persuade Merkel to come Down Under?

Angela Merkel has announced she will stand down as leader of the Christian Democrats in Germany, and she will not seek another term when her chancellorship expires in 2021. How can we, in Australia, take advantage of her vast experience? By making her a " takeover offer", by organising a long-term foreign posting here, or by offering her a lecture tour on long-term political survival?

Robert Richards, South Yarra

THE FORUM

Will our economy cope?

The OECD has warned that further falls in Australia's house prices would lead consumers to wind back their spending, which would hurt the broader economy and put the major banks under extreme pressure (The Age, 11/12).

Hands up anyone else who finds it bizarre that our resource-rich, well-educated country's economic prosperity is reliant on real estate speculation which effectively exports nothing while importing debt. Prepare for a monumental scare campaign from the Coalition when it all goes pear-shaped in the coming election year.

Leon Burgher, Stony Creek

Focus on basics first

Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan is spot-on in his push for schools to get back to basics (The Age, 10/12). As a recruiter who has interviewed thousands of job seekers, I can confidently say that if your application form or resume contains spelling errors, you cannot follow simple grammar rules when being interviewed, you are unable to do basic maths on a simple test – then, let us be honest, your job prospects are not great. Let us broaden the school curriculum by all means after spelling, grammar and arithmetic have been mastered.

Mandy Morgan, Malvern

The basics, in context

Dan Tehan again reveals his ignorance about education. Mathematics and languages (including English) are indeed the basic structures for learning. When maths and languages are introduced in meaningful ways (eg, to solve a problem in physics, work out historical or geographical concepts, make a garden or design a stage set), students recognise these areas as basic to learnIng.

They do need to learn about how these structures work, but this learning needs to proceed through using maths and languages in context, not as separate subjects. Teaching that recognises such basics will lead to successful learning.

Kay Moulton, Surrey Hills

Too many on a free ride

Timna Jacks reports on Transdev buses being late (The Age, 10/12). I find the most concerning event on the 234 and 236 buses, between the Victoria Market and Garden City (Port Melbourne), are the incidents of fare evasion. In peak hours, it is about one passenger in 10, and off-peak it is about one passenger in four. Also, it is rare to see inspectors on buses.

Former Transport Minister Jacinta Allan has said that bus patronage is falling. Couldn't she see the link between that and passengers not swiping their mykis? I hope the new minister, Melissa Horne, is a clearer thinker. She needs to get the drivers to "police" this massive fare evasion or put more inspectors on the buses, more often.

Robert Newey, Port Melbourne

Why buses are struggling

The article on specific buses' performance, particularly the 232 to North Altona, was not surprising. This route was introduced in the late 1970s to provide an option when Galvin and Paisley stations on the Geelong line were closed. It was Melbourne's first "park and ride" bus service and used the West Gate Freeway, which carried much less traffic that it does today.

However, many routes are now hamstrung by the increasing traffic and lack of dedicated bus lanes. For example, Warragul Road and North Road, two of the busiest routes, do not have bus lanes. The lack of one on the West Gate Bridge makes the 232 a useless commuting proposition except late at night and on weekends. Not surprisingly, patronage on it has slumped.

If Transport for Victoria is fair dinkum about improving bus services, introducing more priority lanes would be a start. Otherwise buses will remain the "Cinderella" of public transport. The car cannot continue to be king.

Steven Haby, Gisborne

The great airline rip-off

Sam Taylor's plight (The Age, 11/12) is typical of the unscrupulous price gouging that all airlines engage in. They commit these acts of bastardry because they can, with impunity. Recently I was charged $800 to fly home one day early because of illness. The cabin had plenty of empty seats. The change cost the airline nothing. The explanation was incomprehensible bureaucratic speak.

Bruce Love, East Melbourne

And yet another one

I had a similar experience with an airline when it overbooked passengers and had to find one that it could refuse to take on board. My husband had emphysema and was travelling with his oxygen machine (approved by the Federal Aviation Administration as safe to take on a plane). Despite the fact that we had just alighted from a flight from Phuket, the airline said he was too sick to fly back to Melbourne and refused to allow him to board.

It was 8pm when they advised us to go to the hospital and get a letter of approval for him to fly. We already had a letter from his doctor and all the required documents. The airline chose to pick on the weakest link. No, they do not care about their customers.

Mary Laurent, East Bentleigh

Did I miss anything?

Oh damn. I meant to write a response to Amanda Vanstone's column (Opinion, 11/12) but once I got to work, I became so busy that I forgot all about it. And now, as often happens with her columns, I have totally forgotten what she said. Was it important?

Mary Kiernan, Bentleigh

A not so 'elite' club

Rising political star Nick Ayers has declined the prestigious role of Donald Trump's chief of staff (World, 11/12). Did he follow Groucho Marx's advice of never joining a club that was prepared to accept him as a member?

Peter Rutherford, Hamlyn Heights

Was it Henry Trump?

I have just finished watching the BBC TV production of Wolf Hall. In it, Henry VIII is presented as a red-haired, narcissistic, increasingly erratic ruler who turns on his advisers. Maybe there is such a thing as reincarnation after all.

Ivan Glynn, Vermont

Their natural home

On a recent trip to the United States, I visited a museum in the Midwest town of Colby and noted the following in the "Rules for Teachers 1872". Rule number two was: "Each teacher will bring a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day's session." Wow. Teaching basics and using coal. It seems Colby in the 19th century would have been the ideal place for our conservative MPs to live.

Barry Simpson, Malmsbury

Strange idea of 'security'

If the government is so concerned about national security that it will not permit a few sick children to come to Australia for urgent medical treatment, arguing that this would send a message to people smugglers to resume operations, why is it cutting Border Force staff? This cost cutting includes the suspension of a fleet of boats that were supposed to protect the nation's northern borders.

Barbara Zion, Hawthorn

Nothing to brag about

Yes, Prime Minister, some children and family members have left Nauru. You told us that you did not need to "grandstand" over the issue. You also omitted to tell the us that these children are not enrolled in school and are accompanied to hospitals and doctor's visits by guards. Family members are put in detention centres or motels, again with guards. Now I understand why you choose not to grandstand.

Pat Agostino, St Kilda West

Morrison by another name

Cathy Wilcox's cartoon (Letters, 11/12) cleverly encapsulates every Labor supporters' worst fear: it is the sinking feeling that on all the issues of significance, Bill Shorten is nothing more than Scott Morrison-lite.

Brian Derum, North Fitzroy

The forgotten women

While buying Christmas gift wrap and tags this week, it really struck me that all the characters depicted on them were male: gingerbread men, nutcrackers, toy soldiers, teddy bears, reindeer, penguins, jesters, Santa and so on. The irony is that, according to Christian doctrine, Mary, whose son's birth we celebrate, got pregnant all on her own. No man had anything to do with it.

Rebecca Dallwitz, Elsternwick

Towards sustainability

People might do well to research their chocolate purchases this festive season and into the future. Some manufacturers are failing to source their cocoa products sustainably, with the result that the Ivory Coast and Ghana are facing chronic and devastating destruction of their rainforests. Many areas designated for parks and reserves have been, and are continuing to be, smashed down to make way for illegal cocoa farms.

In contrast, other chocolate companies are practising "shade-grown agriforestry" as a way of sustaining the environment, wildlife and farmers. I know which chocolates I will not be buying.

Elaine O'Shannessy, Buxton

Cruelty of the nets

In winter, the Yarra Bend Park colony of grey-headed flying fox population was around 2000, the lowest in 15 years. The population of camps from Brisbane to Adelaide fluctuates, tending up in warmer months and down in cooler months. The species' 21st century survival is uncertain.

More frequent and severe heatwaves kill the most bats, but suburban life is also dangerous for animals that have not evolved to manage barbed wire and backyard fruit tree netting (The Age, 10/12). Many remain entangled for days, eventually dying of shock or dehydration. The message is to either use netting that you cannot put your fingers through or no netting at all.

Lawrence Pope, North Carlton

The wrong alignment

Doesn't it make you feel "proud" when the Morrison government sides with Donald Trump's US and the ultra-right government of Hungary to vote against a non-binding vote on immigration at the United Nations?

Rod Oaten, North Carlton

AND ANOTHER THING

Politics

Why go through the parliamentary shenanigans just to get someone medical help? Just do it?

Peter Burton, South Melbourne

The government says Labor's refugee plan should include a "character test". MPs should face the same test.

Fred Langenhorst, Castlemaine

Talk about "hot air", Amanda Vanstone. Closing down Parliament to avoid a vote is a retreat, not a victory.

Jane Garvey, Camberwell

The clowns switch off for a two-month break to reflect upon their exhausting year.

Peter McNamara, Canterbury

Has Theresa May taken a leaf out of ScoMo's playbook? She seems to be running a part-time government too.

Greg Lee, Red Hill

Climate change

Some of our rarest species are sighted more often than our environment minister.

Annie Wilson, Inverloch

Melissa Price appears to use sleight of hand to show we're "meeting" our climate targets. A classically Liberal thing to do.

Glenn Murphy, Hampton Park

The terms climate change and global warming seem to be having little effect. "Global polluting" would resonate more.

Denise McLarty, Eagle Point

The Liberals' shenanigans pale beside the impact of their inaction on climate change.

Carolyn Ingvarson, Canterbury

Furthermore

The Tigers give Maurice Rioli a life membership, eight years after his death. The definitive oxymoron?

Jon O'Neill, Waurn Ponds

Half a page on Karl Stefanovic's wedding (10/12)? Surely there are more important things to report.

Robyn Garnett, Strathmore Heights

What's the level of diesel particulate at Southern Cross Station, with all those throbbing V/locity trains idling?

Martin Baggott, Camberwell

*Sign up to editor Alex Lavelle's exclusive weekly newsletter at: www.theage.com.au\editornote.

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