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Andrew DysonCredit: .
A correspondent asks for ″sound reasons″ to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to parliament in the Constitution (Letters, 28/4). At its heart, it is about a desire to improve the social, health and economic outcomes of Indigenous Australians. The federal government has a long history of making laws, policies and decisions that directly impact the lives of Indigenous people without any consultation with them. What we are seeing in Alice Springs is a direct result of government decisions taken without consultation with Indigenous people. I saw this lack of consultation when I worked as a registered nurse on Palm Island.
An Indigenous Voice to parliament is needed to end top-down government decision-making. It will enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in urban, rural and regional Australia to provide advice on policies and projects that have an impact on their lives. Evidence shows that outcomes are improved when governments work in partnership with Indigenous peoples. Enshrining an Indigenous Voice to parliament in the Constitution provides a way to improve policy and the accountability of future governments. It will make future governments and parliaments accountable to listening to the advice of Indigenous Australians.
Dr Sarah Russell, Mount Martha
Look to the better angels
A correspondent (28/4) asks “how precisely will the Voice be representatively constituted” instead of asking is this a good idea. We have to have some faith in our parliamentary representatives to sort the finer details. Instead of looking for a reason to vote No, perhaps we need to delve into the better angels of our nature, and vote Yes in the hope that it will augment a positive change for our nation. After all, a No vote is a vote for the status quo where nothing will change.
Graeme Gardner, Reservoir
It comes down to respect
I respectfully suggest that your correspondent’s comment (Letters, 28/4) that “many of us are still wondering how precisely the Voice will be representatively constituted” demonstrates a misunderstanding of the Voice process; the structure of the Voice will be determined by Parliament and Indigenous leaders have made it clear that it will be representative of First Nations people at a local level, all around the nation.
Further, his questioning over “what the point of it really is when it has no effective powers” manifests a serious misunderstanding of the plight of Australia’s First Nation peoples. It has surely been obvious for a very long time that the essential need of Indigenous people is respect, not only the respect of the non-Indigenous community, but most importantly, self-respect.
Constitutional recognition that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are our nation’s first peoples is the basis for re-establishing that self-respect. Such recognition reconfirms the special place that these people occupy in our nation, a sovereignty that was brutally stolen and systematically destroyed by colonisation.
Constitutional recognition will provide a firm platform from which to negotiate the long-overdue treaty.
Maurie Trewhella, Hoppers Crossing
FORUM
Stay in person
I agree with Gregory Storer we must not allow council meetings to move online (″Disruptions could drive councils to meet online″, 28/4). We should be free as citizens to participate in person in our local government without fear. I did this recently at a Whitehorse Council meeting attended by many elderly ratepayers and some grandchildren concerned about council’s decision to cease vital in-home aged care services. The meeting was orderly and we aired our views according to the rules, limited though they are, and with respect for our elected representatives. Sadly, we have been totally ignored by the council. This is disheartening to say the least. We will soldier on however and continue to play by the rules.
Carol Williams, Forest Hill
People power
The active involvement of people of all political views, age, status and beliefs is an important and sacred part of our democratic institutions in Australia. The freedom to demonstrate and express views to elected politicians needs to be protected and encouraged. A silent majority is not the alternative as it allows untested views not to be challenged or examined in the public and common interest. Controversial issues without doubt can be challenging but rather than ban the presence of the people at meetings better security arrangements and respect from those demonstrating is necessary. Passivity is not the answer nor is online meetings.
Ray Cleary, Camberwell
Mute force
While I agree that councils should be staying live for meetings and also not be intimidated by fringe groups doing their best to interrupt, confuse and dismiss, I also think there might be a slight advantage to online meetings. At least you are able to mute people. David Jeffery, East Geelong
Boring is best
Why are those making so much noise at council meetings the people we want to hear the least from and the ones who seem to listen only to the most extreme of the dark corners of the internet?
Why can’t we have the usual boring council meetings that no one wants to listen to or speak at?
Dennis Fitzgerald,
Box Hill
Educate ourselves
The rush to import skilled workers will backfire. They will need housing, so the problems for those already struggling to find housing will increase. The cities will get bigger and create more gridlocks and pollution. A better solution would be to reform our education system.
Jeff McCormack, Javoricko,
Czech Republic
Confederacy of dunces
I thought this quote from Jonathan Swift seemed apt after Barry Humphries’ death:
″When a true genius appears in the world, you will know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.″
Colin Sheppard, Moonee Ponds
Duck coup
Dear Ducks,
I must apologise to you for my efforts to persuade our government to ban people shooting at you. I have sent letters to my MPs decrying the cruelty of this supposed sport, but it seems that myself and other like-minded citizens have been ignored too. You do not have the means to defend yourselves. Your slaughter is not sport. If you can, please fly over here where you will be welcomed to my dam with a small duck community with no hunters in sight. On your way detour over parliament and drop a message of s— with my regards.
Andy Indrans, Taradale
Fair and foul
Should I be outraged at the yearly slaughter of wild ducks? They have lived freely and naturally in our beautiful lakes and rivers. By contrast, chickens are slaughtered in Australian abattoirs each day, after a very short life in a tin shed. They end up on supermarket trays, not looking a bit like the cute, fluffy, feathered creatures they once were.
As a meat eater I am complicit in this carnage and try hard not to think about it. Dying is a pretty miserable business however you do it but at least the ducks have had a life. Vegetarians who oppose duck hunting have my greatest admiration. The rest of us should calm down and do a moral stocktake.
Patrice McCarthy, West Bendigo
Leadership shot to pieces
Victoria is proudly, the most progressive state in the country, it introduced voluntary assisted dying, safe space exclusion zones, a medically supervised injecting room, the use of medical marijuana, while its population overwhelming support LGBTQI rights, becoming a republic and I’m sure the Voice referendum, and yet duck hunting is still allowed. Duck hunting is not a sport, regardless of what the ETU and AMWU proclaim in their full-page ads; it is the slaughter of innocent creatures and completely undermines all else Victoria does to be a leader.
Samantha Keir,
East Brighton
Shepherding change
Congratulations to Daniel Bowen for persisting with his quest to have Glen Huntly station renamed with the correct spelling (The Age, 28/4). The story prompts one of my own.
On a chalkboard in an upmarket cafe I often frequent, I noticed that Shephards Pie was on the menu. I pointed out that the spelling was incorrect and suggested Shepherd’s Pie was a better look. Management was doubtful.
After several months of friendly banter a solution was found. Shephards Pie was dusted off both the chalk board and the menu.
It’s true, you cannot have your ″pie″, and eat it, too.
Gina Brotchie, Soldiers Hill
Warm warning
Data collated by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has shown that the Earth’s oceans are reaching record temperatures. As dire as this is for organisms that live in the ocean and have little ability to adapt to temperature changes, these changes will have significant effects on coastal areas.
Warmer water expands and thus will increase sea level rises. A further often-overlooked issue is with carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans exists in equilibrium with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The oceans absorb vast amounts of it. As the oceans warm this equilibrium is driven towards the atmosphere thus pumping even more Earth-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere exacerbating the warming effect.
Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Getting uni feel back
Secondary schools are, generally, supportive, inclusive environments where students form bonds with each other and with teachers. They foster a sense of belonging and social connection. Students are motivated as much to meet their social and emotional needs, as their educational ones.
Universities, on the other hand can be cold, isolating communities. Students leave their safe and supportive environments, step out into the jungle that is university and must find their own way. Funding cuts to uni clubs and societies haven’t helped. Online lectures and tutorials don’t help. Unis must work hard to get students back onto campuses, mixing with one another, sharing their experiences and learning together, and recreating the spirit of a real university community.
Andrew Barrington,
Barwon Heads (retired secondary teacher and student welfare
co-ordinator)
A stellar triumph
Congratulations to poet Sara Holland-Batt for winning the Stella Prize. Her writing demonstrates the power of poetry and from the excerpts published, both the depth of what it is to be human and its fragility. Seamus Heaney in his 1995 Nobel Prize lecture stated the power of poetry ″reminds us that we are hunters and gatherers of values″, often illuminated through solitude and loss.
Judith Morrison, Nunawading
AND ANOTHER THING
Duck hunting
Grow up Victoria. Most of the other states have stopped shooting ducks.
Roger Vincent, Fitzroy, SA
I am all for duck hunting as long as the ducks can shoot back.
David Eames-Mayer, Balwyn
There is nothing wrong with duck hunting as long as the ducks are armed and can return fire.
Tommy Puckett, Ashgrove
It is hard to imagine an activity more hostile to the aims and values of 21st century Australia than duck shooting.
Lawrence Pope, Carlton North
Shooters needn’t worry about going hungry when guns are banned from hunting; if times get tough, they can always use their bows and arrows.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
Furthermore
So after all the hoo-ha, the new AFL CEO was in the next office.
Ian Macdonald, Traralgon
If an individual lives in the past it is detrimental to their wellbeing and sense of self. It is the same for a community or a country.
Philip Wakeham, North Warrandyte
″Court brew-ha over glass coffee jars″ (28/4) – Moccona, Vittoria, whatever. Life is too short to drink instant coffee.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Stuart Broad, would it have been a real Ashes series if England had won?
Michael McKenna, Warragul
Now that Japanese brewing company Kirin is to buy out Blackmores I look forward to getting my multivitamins in my beer. Cheers.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
A $30 million penalty for Crown. Small change.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Anzac Day should be a day of mourning. But I feel the media has glamorised the catastrophic waste and suffering that is war.
Lesley Black, Frankston
Finally
Australia has its worst rental crisis in history, and the PM builds … a football stadium.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
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