Credit:Illustration: Andrew Dyson
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KIMBERLEY KITCHING
Hostility and challenge is all part of politics
The outpouring of grief over the untimely death of Kimberley Kitching is understandable. She was a woman of great intellect and political determination. However, to suggest that she or anybody in Parliament should be able to get their own way without experiencing hostility and challenges is naive.
It is equally silly to assume these forces only originate from the opposing parties. Politics is a contest of ideas, beliefs and endurance. It requires team work, either with colleagues in Parliament or outside, to have an effective voice that has any chance of creating change. It is condescending to turn these aspects of being a politician around to suggest that because Kitching was a woman, she should have been treated differently. This is just a rehash of the “weaker sex” attitudes and that somehow women are supposed to universally acknowledge this and wait dutifully for their special consideration.
The long-serving women on both sides of Parliament know the amount of tenacity that is required to establish a reputation for fearless participation. They would also be aware of the power of cliques and powerbrokers’ ability to exert pressure on others. It is all part of the job.
Rob Ward, Lake Tyers Beach
Investigating the toxic culture in Parliament
Many Australian politicians seem to be at their most creative when naval gazing. Kimberley Kitching was one of very few who so effectively undertook an international role in politics.
Her experience once again highlights the adverse culture in Federal Parliament, including alleged ostracism of her by a “cabal” and the prospect of losing Senate preselection. She had amply demonstrated her contribution to human rights, for which she received international recognition, and to shining a light on international issues from a strategic perspective.
That beacon must continue to be applied to investigating the toxic culture in Federal Parliament, where a highly effective representative of the public was at risk of losing preselection. As a nation, we need to reject feasting on parochial machinations and take more seriously the international leadership Kitching brought to Parliament.
Liz Burton, Camberwell
Too many women rush to claims of bullying
According to my Macquarie Dictionary, a bully is “a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who browbeats smaller weaker people”. This is a far cry from vigorous discussion, arguing one’s case strongly, working to achieve one’s goals through lobbying and coalition building within a political party.
There is no way that Penny Wong, Kristina Keneally and Katy Gallagher bullied Kitching in the Macquarie Dictionary definition. From all accounts, she herself was a strong and articulate woman.
As a ’70s women’s liberationist (not a mere feminist), I find the way many women rush to claims of bullying when the heat is turned up very disappointing. Usually they run straight to a senior male who is expected to become their knight in shining armour and is often happy to do so. It is all very retro.
There are “mean men” and “mean women” in politics. That is equal opportunity. But please do not confuse the cut and thrust of political life with bullying. “Manipulation” is another ugly word that could be used.
Jane Miller, North Carlton
Why Labor’s leader must investigate these claims
Anthony Albanese’s attempts to sweep away the devastating bullying accusations against Labor’s so-called “mean girls” is hypocritical. Kimberley Kitching was an old-fashioned Labor senator with a genuine care for the underprivileged and a fierce determination to defend human rights. She was also a strong friend of Israel. Her moral courage made her many enemies on the left, yet she achieved more in her short parliamentary career than most MPs do in a lifetime. Albanese is the first to throw stones at those to the right of centre. However, he has not even shown the decency to investigate the alleged treatment of a great Australian who has fallen in tragic circumstances.
Peter Curtis, Werribee South
THE FORUM
When the PM was ’hiding”
Our Prime Minister says a “gutless” Anthony Albanese has gone into “complete hiding”. How quickly and conveniently he forgets how he hid behind the walls of Parliament and would not address or speak to the women at the Women’s March 4 Justice rally, highlighting the toxic culture within Parliament House. His response was: “Not far from here, such marches, even now, are being met with bullets, but not here in this country”.
Jane Taylor, Newport
Adulatory commentary
One lesson for both major parties over Kimberley Kitching’s allegations of bullying and ostracism is that no leader should be permitted to exercise a “captain’s call” in filling a parliamentary vacancy. The very term legitimises a betrayal of democratic process.
That Bill Shorten was Kitching’s longstanding friend and mentor, whose right-wing faction had lost out in his replacement as opposition leader by Anthony Albanese, set the scene for instability. It was untenable that Penny Wong – highly experienced, diligent and with a record of impeccable conduct – should be sidelined on China policy by a protege parachuted into the Senate by Shorten.
The untimely death and funeral of Kimberley Kitching, in the context of an imminent election, has effectively gagged the three accused senators and their supporters. The public has been poorly served by one-sided, adulatory commentary.
Angela Munro, Carlton North
What unites a party
With talk of a possible olive branch to end the preselection battle of the Victorian Senate ticket (The Age, 23/3), it would seem Labor has decided to unite as the election looms. This, however, does not address its virulent culture and the treatment of its own members.
In the case of Kimberley Kitching, we must believe in an internal review process and claims by Anthony Albanese that no bullying was alleged. In the case of Kim Carr, ageist euphemisms such as “renewal” or disparaging comments about his long service to the Senate and Labor are used against him. Experience and collegiate respect truly unite a party.
Anders Ross, Heidelberg
Ash, always a champion
Ash Barty’s retirement is one of those news items that you think should happen next decade but here it is. I am sad because the world is losing one of the great players with several grand slam titles and many brilliant games. She always played positively and in good humour.
However, I am glad she is retiring when she wants to, as the World No. 1. There will be no slow decline as age and injury catch up with her; she will always be remembered as a champion. Maybe she could return to cricket.
She has a great future in so many areas and will surely continue to be a role model for many people. Good luck with whatever the future brings.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Barty, true to herself
A great decision, Ash Barty. It is sad for tennis but wonderful to see an athlete who is so humble and so sure of her aims retire on her own terms. Thank you, Ash, for the wonderful memories and good luck always.
Bob and Val Cornelis, Wonthaggi
A success in every way
I am the least sport-minded person in the universe, but let’s hear it for Ash Barty. To know when you have succeeded on one front and it is time to move to new horizons and embrace different challenges is all too rare. A few more like her in the world (and not just the sporting one) would benefit us all. She continues to inspire.
Alison Fraser, Ascot Vale
Towards mental health
Every emerging generation faces new and different challenges, and assuming one’s own upbringing was more tough than an entire generation (Letters, 23/3) is unfair. According to the Black Dog Institute, one in five Australians aged 16 to 85 experience a mental illness in any year.
Educating the youth about mental health will allow them to develop healthy ways to prevent the onset of mental illnesses, or manage any existing ones. “Coping with life” is a neglectful approach that is often mistaken as strength. The harmful effects manifesting physically and mentally later on. It is always encouraged to seek help.
Gabbi Lobo, Mount Waverley
Saving precious wildlife
I read with sadness “Species in peril as more territory taken over” (The Age, 22/3). Although Australian wildlife is loved both here and abroad, little is being done by any government to preserve its habitat and therefore its future. At the end of the article I read that the federal government had announced $128.5million for environmental reform.
However, this money will go into “regional assessments to better manage cumulative impacts, a review of national offset strategies and threatened species data improvements”. In other words, into more bureaucracy, not environmental action. No money for rangers, planting trees or re-establishing habitat, increased national parks or other concrete measures to help our beloved wildlife survive this century. Money needs to be spent on concrete action before it is too late.
Betsy Dunne, Williamstown
Decade of destruction
Another picture of Scott Morrison cuddling a koala (The Age, 22/3). At the same time destruction of more than 200,000 hectares of threatened species habitat has been approved by the federal government in the past decade.
Shirley Purves, Gisborne
Phase out our use of gas
I have a gas water heater attached to the side of my house. I want to transition to an efficient, electric, heat-pump water heater as at least some of Victoria’s electricity comes from renewable sources. There are no incentives to do this apart from reducing my contribution to pollution.
Why are there only incentives to go from older electric heaters to the newer ones? Are all state and federal governments committed to gas as a major source of fuel? Industry may need gas but its use in the home should be phased out.
Thomas Upton, Bendigo
Bearing short-term costs
Your correspondents commenting on the future of gas raise extremely important points (Letters, 23/3). There are real costs in transitioning away from gas but these are dramatically outweighed by the existential costs of inaction, leading to a worsening climate crisis.
Governments must not be swayed by the vested interests of companies like ExxonMobil (The Age, 22/3). Also, Viva Energy has proposed building a gas import terminal in Corio Bay, which would increase greenhouse emissions. It would also expose residents of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula to pollution and explosion risks from the terminal and shipping through the rip. It is crucial that we tolerate short-term costs so future generations are protected.
Peter Cook, Essendon
Calling Putin’s bluff
The United States and NATO, by not standing up to Russia, are showing the world and China how weak the West has become. Standing up to Adolf Hitler was left until the last moment, when he invaded and devastated Europe.
Vladimir Putin’s claim that any intrusion by the West will start a nuclear war is a bluff. A nuclear war will devastate Russia, the last thing the Russians want. A united defence of Ukraine, with a co-ordinated military assault by air and land on Russian forces, will show Russia and China that the West will not tolerate the slaughter of innocent women and children in Europe, as occurred in Syria, or stand by for further invasion of other free nations.
Jeffrey Kelson, Prahran
Putting customers first
In his column, Tony Wright (The Age, 19/3) included a letter from Mary Eleanor Coates, a Commonwealth Bank customer of more than 80 years, to its chief executive, Matt Comyn. My guess is that she spoke for many Australians about bank closures and the treatment of customers. She certainly expressed my views very eloquently. The bank’s objective in its business strategy is nothing but hyperbole. I invite Mr Comyn to address the issues raised in Mrs Coates’ letter. If he can.
Jane Haygarth, Violet Town
Try one lesson, Minister
Stuart Robert, a career politician with a military background, has the gall to say “dud teachers” are central to Australia’s failing education system.
I would like to see him attempt to teach my year 11, all-boys class on Friday afternoon. This is after a week of teaching all day, supervising yard duties and extra-curricular activities, having planning and preparation time stymied by excessive meetings and administration tasks (tasks created by disconnected “bureaucrats” like Robert) and working the average 15 hours of unpaid overtime.
Sam Bentley, South Yarra
Importance of money
Stuart Robert says improving student results is not about money. If he has thrown “truckloads of money” at schools, then where did it go? If money has no effect, why do schools in challenging socioeconomic areas struggle and why do private schools charge truckloads of fees on top of their substantial government subsidies?
Why did Mr Robert announce his government will provide $3.5million to the Australian Education Research Organisation to help schools develop training materials through a series of podcasts with experts if money has nothing to do with it?
This minister tracks the usual conservative approach of blaming teachers and using limited, cherry-picked research to spend less and do less on education.
Robert Stephenson, St Kilda East
Most gracious champion
Congratulations, Ash Barty, on a stellar career. What a beacon of integrity, outstanding skill and graciousness, showing us how sport should be played. Go well, we will all miss you.
Anne Lyon, Camberwell
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding
Politics
Space command: Jet Jackson and Ichabod Mudd.
Leo Balbata, Essendon
Thunderbirds are go.
Barbara Lynch, South Yarra
Re nasty hacks: May bad blood be replaced by a new generation who don’t behave like De Niro and Pacino.
Mel Smith, Brighton
The first tactic of a bully is to call his opponent demeaning and insulting names.
Terry Malone, Warburton
Which HR person did you take Kitching’s complaint to, Richard Marles? The “bullying fairy”?
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
After SA’s result, would the LNP be better to keep Morrison out of the federal election campaign?
Hans Paas, Castlemaine
Clive Palmer, if we need subs urgently, why don’t you acquire them now rather than waiting until your party is elected?
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
Ukraine
Just four weeks of this absurd war has relegated Ukrainians to decades of poverty.
Vera Lubczenko, Geelong West
Stop the bombing, Putin, and let the Ukrainians live in peace.
Margaret Forster, Aberfeldie
While no one would begrudge helping Ukrainian refugees, we’ve become silent on helping our Afghan “mates”. Deplorable.
Chris Hargreaves, Forest Hill
’Tis a pity that Tony Abbott was all talk. Why didn’t he shirt-front Putin when he had the chance?
David Jones, Essendon
Why can’t we have a Zelensky of our own?
John Maltzahn, Stratford
Sport
How to avoid a 40-minute wait for expensive, unhealthy food at the MCG footy: BYO.
George Djoneff, Mitcham
It’s disappointing that those of us without a mobile phone can’t attend Warne’s funeral as SMS is the only ticket delivery option.
John McCulloch, Cheltenham
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