Credit:Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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FLOODS
Each disaster brings more stress for victims
It is past time for all levels of government, and developers, to stop hiding their heads in the mud/ashes. It is cruel and costly to subject communities to the stresses of repeat environmental disasters. Praising tenacious individuals as “heroes” and “resilient” rings hollow to those who are experiencing repeated trauma.
Before World War II, few people lived on our northern coastline, which was largely wetlands. People in regions that were prone to seasonal flooding erected buildings on high stilts. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that of all continents, Australia will be most adversely affected by predicted global warming. Even if world leaders were to act with determined speed to arrest and reverse current temperature rises, extreme climate impacts will persist over decades.
To offer many Australians a viable future, each tier of government in Queensland and New South Wales needs to unite and urgently rebuild affected communities. Nationwide, robust plans to sustainably relocate and build suburbs, towns and cities, subject to environmental disaster damage, need to be drafted and carried out before this decade ends. The cost should be borne by the taxes derived from the rebuilding efforts (new jobs etc), and exporting green energy and technology.
Anita Horvath, Port Melbourne
Government’s tardiness in deploying our troops
That was a nice try at deflecting blame, Peter Dutton, with your feigned offence at “criticism” of our defence force. The criticism is directed at you and the government for the slow and/or insufficient deployment of personnel, not at our defence force itself.
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick
Salvaging something from an unmitigated disaster
Watching people forced to throw away everything they own because of mud and water damage is heartbreaking. The piles of rubbish growing on the streets are testament to the hard and filthy work that people are doing to try to give home and business owners a clean start to rebuilding their lives and livelihoods. It is heroic work.
What action can local government take to salvage anything at all from those piles of rubbish? Does it all have to go straight to landfill simply because the scale of the problem cannot be dealt with any other way? Enormous quantities of resources embodied in materials such as scrap metal and timber will be buried. Organic waste will not be diverted as it usually would. E-waste will not be separated from the rest. Landfill sites must be bracing for a massive influx, which will use up available space much faster than anticipated by planners.
Could some of the money set aside for flood recovery (and apparently not yet being made available for that purpose) go towards setting up systems to handle the enormous amounts of waste generated by the floods in ways that do not lead to the problem simply being buried? These weather events will become more frequent, and potentially even more severe. Sorting out at least the most valuable waste materials that they generate could save precious resources and reduce the pressure on landfill sites.
Patricia Barry, Kangaroo Flat
Another crisis without any management
When the survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005 felt abandoned by their government, with its belated and inadequate action, I naively thought our government would never allow that to happen here.
Yet after decades of copying the United States’ dysfunctional priorities, we are witnessing our own “small government” in action (or should that be inaction?). It has displayed, in technicolour, its lack of preparedness for crisis after crisis – climate change, fires, floods, droughts, pandemic, increasing inequality and disadvantage, poorly planned development, housing, transport, health, education – as it abrogates and outsources its responsibility to its citizens.
Prevention is better than cure, but our government appears interested in neither. What will it take for it to govern with vision for the greater good of all, not just some?
Joe Di Stefano, Geelong
THE FORUM
Alcohol and abuse
I was saddened to read that despite the increasing harm alcohol causes in Australia, some politicians have signed a letter calling for a cut in alcohol taxes.
Alcohol is a trigger for family violence, and increases the severity and frequency of it. When alcohol flows more freely into homes, families suffer and children suffer. By making alcohol cheaper, politicians are making the decision to fuel this violence.
Australia recorded its highest month in history for alcohol retail turnover in December 2021, an astounding $2.1 billion. A truly chilling thought for those who are dealing with the consequences of this at home.
Kym Valentine, Coburg
Don’t reduce beer tax
Are these people for real? Many Australians drink heavily, alcohol involvement in family violence is increasing and alcohol consumption during the pandemic skyrocketed – as did calls for help.
Two states are suffering devastating floods. Housing affordability is at an all-time low. The number of Australians living in poverty is increasing. Aged care is in crisis. And the people of Ukraine are fighting for their lives. But yes, let’s halve the tax on draught beer. That will solve everything.
Kerryn Rozenbergs, Hawthorn
Being true to himself
Anthony Albanese’s vision of building national wealth(The Age, 9/3) needs to be based on himself, his credentials and his prior ministerial experience, rather than on role models like Bob Hawke or Paul Keating.
Albanese’s “safe hands” tactical ploy may have an appeal to older voters. However, many younger voters would only know of Hawke (favourably or unfavourably) from members of their families.
If people vote Labor, they will also be voting for Anthony Albanese who is not widely known to the electorate and who is not displaying any “cut through”. He needs to demonstrate greater confidence in himself.
Des Files, Brunswick
Spend election cash on…
Four Corners (ABC TV, 7/3) revealed the desperately inadequate conditions and medical care endured by the First Nations people in remote areas. Millions of dollars will be spent on the federal election. Even part of this money could be allocated to improve the lives of the Aboriginal people instead of splashing it around to procure votes. It is reprehensible that such appalling conditions are allowed to continue.
Mary Linnestad, Corryong
…Indigenous Australians
Four Corners exposed the tragic deaths of young, impoverished, rural Indigenous Australians from rheumatic heart disease. This disease was, essentially, eliminated decades ago in suburban Australia. All Australians should be ashamed of this atrocious disparity in living conditions, healthcare delivery and health outcomes.
Dr Mark Cherny, Caulfield North
A firm no to nuclear subs
I thought there was an understanding that Australia was nuclear-free: no nuclear energy and no nuclear weapons.
Suddenly, we are having nuclear-powered submarines foisted upon us. I also understood Australia was a democracy. Yet for this seismic shift in policy, we were not consulted. I, for one, do not want these submarines.
Elspeth McCracken-Hewson, Camberwell
A dangerous location
A damaged nuclear-powered submarine or an accident in the handling of nuclear fuel or waste could cause great danger. Why is the Prime Minister proposing the construction of a new naval base in a heavily populated area?
Alan William Gunther, Carlton
Fairer parental leave
“New fathers shun paid parental leave offer” (The Age, 9/3) highlights some important systemic challenges. However, it is frustrating that the inadequacy of parental leave payments is somehow predicated on men’s take-up rates of it. This taps into outdated discourses about the breadwinner and effectively silences women’s advocacy.
I would also like to see parental leave separated from “recuperation leave”. This would involve a month of leave paid directly after the birth to support postnatal healing, followed by relevant parental leave. Separating postnatal care from parental leave could reframe discussions about caring roles.
Donna Wyatt, Wyndham Vale
Sanctions are not enough
The only way to stop the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty by land and sea is is to make it too costly for Vladimir Putin to continue. In the Falklands War, the British fleet was decimated by the few Exocet missiles obtained by Argentina.
If the Ukrainians are supplied with the modern-day equivalent – the Harpoon (preferably from an unknown source) and they damage or sink Russian vessels – then the outcry from home or the Russian military may cause Putin to withdraw. Sanctions are not enough. The Ukrainians need the capacity to hit back hard.
Vince Gardiner, Glen Waverley
Don’t rip off consumers
If we are paying these huge amounts at the fuel pump to stop Russia from earning income from oil sales, that is great. It is a small price to pay when so many people are losing their lives. If, however, the oil companies are jacking up their prices over and above what they should, they will be shamed and scorned.
Kevin Drinan, Bentleigh
Enough with Warne
Over the past few days, substantially more column space in The Age has been devoted to Shane Warne than to Ukraine and the floods combined. While I, too, mourn his loss, I am concerned that we have lost sight of our priorities.
Jonno Morris, Clifton Hill
An honourable man
Much has been written and spoken about Shane Warne over past days. He did indeed do many things on and off the field that were eyebrow raising. For me, the most wonderful action he took was in relation to his record number of wickets being surpassed by Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Murulitharan.
When many were claiming that Muttiah was a “chucker” and should be banned, Warnie came out and spoke magnificently in favour of the man who was to claim his record.
His action spoke volumes for his real quality and did much to quell the media and public disquiet.
Graham Black, Hamilton
No excuses, it was wrong
The German woman who got into the ambulance carrying Shane Warne’s body says she just wanted to pay her respects (The Age, 7/3).
Her behaviour was outrageous and disgraceful, insulting and hurtful to Warne’s family and completely devoid of respect. Does anyone know if she also carried a phone among her flowers
Antonia Hamilton, Sandringham
Benaud’s view of Warne
In the Ashes contest of 1993/4, much of one of the final Tests was rained out. The players appeared mid-afternoon when the sun eventually broke through, but it was too late for a result; they shook hands and walked off to the disappointment of the weather-weary fans. I was outraged and wrote to Richie Benaud who was commentating on television.
Before agreeing with me, Richie wrote: “I was delighted to see Shane Warne do so well, not only because I bowled leg spin many years ago, but because Warne produced such excitement for the paying spectators every time he came on to bowl. There will be times when the batsmen will be too good for him but at the moment, he is providing some wonderfully entertaining cricket as part of the Australian team.” That he did.
Ashley Dunn, Balwyn North
In praise of triple zero
Re “Baby among 12 dead as triple-zero delays grow” (The Age, 7/3): We called triple zero on October27, 2021. My husband had collapsed and was unconscious and unresponsive. The phone call was answered after what seemed like an eternity.
The operator calmly guided us to deliver CPR, and we are forever grateful for her support and reassurance. Their work gave us another nine precious days before my husband passed away.
The triple zero operators are amazing. The operator stayed with us until emergency services arrived 19 minutes later.
There are no short cuts, the service is critical and needs to be better managed and resourced.
No one deserves to die because of bureaucracy.
Name withheld, Ocean Grove
The road we don’t need
The North East Link (Opinion, 7/3) will cost the Victorian taxpayers at least $16 billion. Compare that to $3.8 billion for mental health. Compare that to Victorian government schools being the lowest funded in Australia. I can think of many other urgent areas where it would be socially beneficial to spend this money.
A freeway – 24 lanes in some sections – in the time of climate change, and the consequent disasters that we are witnessing in Queensland and New South Wales, is only destructive and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Mary Merkenich, Lower Templestowe
Two peas in a pod?
How often have you seen a bus idling at a stop for 10 to 15 minutes, belching diesel fumes onto the footpath, exacerbating climate change, as well as making an unholy noise? Except for extremely hot days where airconditioning is required, there is no need for a stationary bus to have its engine running.
Victoria’s Public Transport Minister, Ben Carroll, has ruled out placing limits on bus idling times. His department does not even pressure the private bus companies it employs to respect the local and the greater environment.
Instead, he points towards electric buses coming in the future. This reminds me of the Prime Minister talking about carbon-capture technology whenever he is asked about carbon emissions.
Chris Lloyd, Melbourne
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
Politics
With so much of this country under water, it’s no wonder our PM has his mind on submarines.
Merv Robbins, Coburg
Re Dutton “planning a quick dash to Subs ‘R’ Us before the election” (9/3). I think it’s more of a quick dash to Defence for Dummies.
Joe Wilder, Caulfield North
It may be our great-grandchildren who will build and operate the submarine bases.
Bernie Chandler, Donvale
Re the PM’s national emergency. More sound and fury signifying nothing.
Ken Rivett, Ferntree Gully
Does Clive know the difference between free speech and disseminating untruths?
Diane Baxter, Mitcham
The new carbon tax: house and business insurance, and clean-up costs in flood and fire-prone areas.
Rob Ward, Lake Tyers Beach
Ukraine
If only Putin would direct Russia’s money and energy into vaccinating people in developing countries rather than killing innocent adults and children.
Jennifer Grimwade, Richmond
It is heart-warming to see refugees being treated kindly in Europe.
Ruben Buttigieg, Mount Martha
Remember what Einstein said: “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.“
Thelma Di Donna, Bayswater
Why haven’t Australia and like-minded governments declared the Russian government a terrorist organisation?
Rob Hocart, Tyabb
Furthermore
Warne’s star, like those of Steve Irwin and Peter Brock, shone so bright it burnt out far too early.
Eveline Clarke, Berwick
International Women’s Day and all those fancy breakfasts seem to be just for middle-class, professional, white women. Wilcox (9/3) nailed it.
Veronica Dingle, Brighton
It will be great to ride on a red rattler again.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
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