Credit: Cathy Wilcox
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History will judge them, the UK has said about Israel and its actions in Gaza and history will judge Australia if we do not finally recognise Palestine and impose sanctions on Israel for its abhorrent and inhumane total destruction of Gaza and its peoples (″The time is right, Labor luminary calls for Netanyahu sanctions, Palestine statehood″, 27/5).
How long must our leaders take to recognise the incessant bombing and starvation of women and children, the killing of children and others sheltering in schools, the killing of journalists and even the 11-year-old Yaqeen Hammad social media influencer who used to bring cheer to others and give practical survival tips in a war zone? How long before this new government takes action, and gives hope, not just words? How long before they meet with our American allies to urge them to cease sending arms to Israel? How long before effective action is taken? How long?
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
System of aid is a system of imprisonment
The resignation of two senior staff from the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is more than bureaucratic friction — it is a damning indictment of a system designed not to help Palestinians, but to control them (“Head of Gaza plan resigns″, 28/5). This so-called aid system will force desperate civilians to move towards Israeli-controlled distribution zones in the north — areas bombed into rubble — while crossing military checkpoints. All under the banner of “help.” This isn’t relief—it’s a cage built with food parcels.
One director quit explicitly because the group could not meet even the most basic humanitarian principles: impartiality, independence, and humanity. The UN has refused to take part. Aid groups warn this plan violates international law. Yet the US backs it, and Australia remains silent. Australia must denounce this farce for what it is — and stop collaborating in crimes dressed up as compassion. We cannot allow aid to become a weapon of forced submission.
Fernanda Trecenti, Fitzroy
The unintended consequences
Your correspondent’s criticism (Letters, 28/5) of the Australian government’s opposition to alternative methods of aid delivery that might hamper Hamas’ looting of aid, might consider that if there was an abundance of aid, Hamas’ looting of aid might cease or be ineffectual. Surely it’s the Israeli government’s policy and practice of delivering minute volumes of aid that precisely makes it a scarce product and the subject of looting (by Hamas)?
Brendan O’Farrell, Brunswick
Recruitment campaign for Hamas
There is now a humanitarian crisis in Gaza where children and women are starving to death. This is not in a country where famine is occurring through crop failure but deliberately because Israel is doing this as an act of war. As much as I would like to see them gone, nothing that Israel does will destroy Hamas. If anything, Israel’s actions I think have acted as a recruitment campaign for Hamas. Embarking on this level of response to the October 7 attack was an unwise decision by Benjamin Netanyahu and is losing him international support.
Mary Ryan, Black Rock
Australia is betraying Israel
I fully support Alex Ryvchin’s commentary (″Israel’s actions ‘outrageous’: PM″, 27/5). Israel is fighting for the return and safety of its citizens, taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. Yet, in Israel’s hour of need, the world, including Australia, chooses to lecture rather than support. Yes, humanitarian aid is important, and Israel can and should do more. But if the Albanese government genuinely cared about both Israeli security and humanitarian outcomes, it would engage Israel respectfully and privately — not humiliate it on the world stage. This public scolding isn’t diplomacy. It’s cowardice disguised as compassion. And for a country that once proudly stood by Israel, it’s nothing short of betrayal.
Zak Boulton-Singh, Skye
THE FORUM
Stop the whinging
It is indeed confected outrage to hear those who have gained massively from superannuation tax benefits complain about the proposed increase in the rate of taxation for super balances of more than $3 million.
As the Grattan Institute has said, “Tax-free retirement earnings turn super into a taxpayer-funded inheritance scheme.“
Wealthy retirees need to examine their conscience. As a retiree who has received substantial taxation benefits, I feel ashamed to access Medicare when I no longer contribute to a system funded by a majority of taxpayers earning less than I do from superannuation. Having calculated the Medicare levy I would pay if taxed on my superannuation income, I now donate this amount to Medecins sans Frontieres Australia. It is the very least I can do.
We are becoming a selfish gerontocracy. When will wealthy retirees stop whinging and start standing up for fairness in our superannuation and taxation systems?
Dorothy Scott, Macclesfield
Just help all people
Why does the Coalition aim at aspirational voters? Aspirational voters face two possibilities. Either they lead a life of ceaseless depressing striving for goals never reached, or they actually reach them. In the latter case they can then comfortably shift their goals to defending the status quo and their position in it by striving to deny others the same opportunity.
Voila, another generation of conservatives.
What I don’t understand is why Labor has apparently adopted the same target group. Maybe they should just help people, aspirational or not. To do anything else suggests that those who can’t devote themselves to ascending the ladder of success have nothing to offer and are undeserving of political inclusion.
Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills
Super needs fixing
Thank you Ross Gittins for the clear and true assessment of the opposition to the federal government’s proposed increased tax on superannuation for totals of more than $3 million (Comment, 27/5). He rightly argues that the tax system is biased in favour of the elderly against the young. Superannuation is not meant to be a way of passing onto the next generation an inheritance but to provide for one’s wellbeing in old age. As Gittins rightly says, fixing super concessions is a good way to assist young people achieve their hopes and dreams when they need it. Superannuation was never meant to be a place to hide wealth at the expense of the taxpayer.
Ray Cleary, Camberwell
Us and them
The misinformation regarding the tax changes to superannuation accounts with balances of more than $3 million is starting to sound like the misinformation regarding capital gains changes, franking credits and the resource super profit tax (″Farmers fear tax bills″, 28/5). The proposed changes to superannuation will have an impact on a small cohort who have self-managed funds and/or trusts that enable them to not pay what we ordinary taxpayers pay. Another example of rules for the entitled and rules for the rest of us.
Denise Stevens, St Kilda
Privileged politicians
The government has put forward that super portfolios over $3 million incur a higher tax rate. What we’ll see is Labor will negotiate with the Greens, give them a win – indexed, and they’ll all be happy. Except the public. Why is it that politicians can enforce a requirement for everyone bar them? Politicians get an exemption. What rubbish is that? No wonder politicians’ integrity is rated with real estate agents and used car salesmen (with apologies to those professional trades.)
Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill
Bring back public shaming
Pity the names and photographs of all the young perpetrators of crimes, whether public brawls or home invasions, can’t be published in papers or on ″wanted″ posters around the city. Their families at least would be shamed and perhaps pressure could be put on them to try and rein in their children.
Marie Nash, Balwyn
A note of thanks
To the person who found the cards I dropped outside the MCC members and mailed them back to me, along with an accompanying note, a very sincere thank you. I hope you read The Age and yes, like you, I’m a one-eyed Tiger. Is there any other kind?
Tim Douglas, Blairgowrie
Stop the moving lights
Your correspondent (Letters, 28/5) notes the annoyance of moving, brightly lit perimeter advertising at AFL matches. This is also a risk factor for anyone susceptible to epileptic episodes, for which factors can be minimised but not fully prevented. For example, when I go to a rock concert, I can take a few precautions and St John ambulance members immediately understand why I might request a change of seat. At an AFL match it should be reasonable to keep the perimeter advertising but stop the moving, brightly lit frames.
David Hickey, Heidelberg
EV insurance options
My advice to EV owners (Letters, 28/5) is to go with the ″choice of own repairer″ option when taking out your insurance and interrogate your insurer about repairs on your EV.
My Hyundai all-electric Kona was damaged when another motorist backed into it. The major insurance company I was with would only honour my insurance claim at a single EV-capable repairer, entailing a waiting period of 10 months. Literally around the corner from this repairer was a fully accredited EV repairer, which could fix my car within three weeks.
Fortunately for me, the driver who hit me was gracious and honest, agreeing to pay for my repairs there, and the required parts were readily sourced by the repairer.
I have changed my insurer, post haste. As for my satisfaction with EV motoring, it is the best car I’ve had, and the best decision I’ve ever made regarding motoring.
Michelle Goldsmith, Eaglehawk
More chargers, please
After buying an EV last December, we embarked on a road trip to Canberra. We charged our car at Euroa, then planned to recharge in Holbrook where our map said there were several chargers. With 70 kilometres of charge left, we arrived in Holbrook to find all NRMA chargers were off-line. As we weren’t confident that we had enough charge to get back to Albury, we stayed in a motel for the night so we could charge our EV from a domestic power point.
We dropped in to the NRMA workshop in Holbrook to check out EV support generally. The person in charge told us that he picks up between 12 and 18 EVs on the highway each week and tows them back to Albury.
The next day we drove back to Albury, charged up and then just made it to Canberra. Our full charge was 400 kilometres, and Canberra was 350 kilometres away. So we could ensure we got there, we turned off the aircon (sat in 34 degrees), and tailed the slipstream of a truck, so we were sure we could get there. We made it with 70 kilometres left.
So please, more EV chargers between Albury and Canberra.
Liz Anderson, Oakleigh East
Hope for refugees
The election result, the government’s large majority and the PM’s call for fairness and kindness have given great hope to those of us working with asylum seekers every day.
Many who came 12 and 13 years ago, fleeing war and persecution and seeking protection in Australia, are still waiting for an outcome.
They have been affected by the punitive practices pursued by successive governments: mandatory detention, offshore processing, bridging visas that, year after year, are not resolved, lack of any income or work rights for some, and irregular funding of legal assistance.
Living in extended limbo for so long is unimaginable.
Our systems are complex: some get work rights, others don’t; a 10-year-old born in Australia can become a citizen, their parents have to reapply for a visa every three to six months. The list goes on.
We agree with the prime minister that we are stronger as a country when we care for the most vulnerable in our society. Now is the time to act – to provide certainty so they can get on with their lives.
We know the great contribution migrants and refugees have made to Australia over decades.
Let these people do the same.
Brigid Arthur and Libby Saunders
Co-ordinators, Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project,
Albert Park
Israel as pariah
Hamas attacks Israel, committing the most heinous of crime and kidnapping 251 Israelis to be used as hostages, then hides in tunnels, under hospitals, schools and whereever civilians gather, waiting for Israel, governed by a bunch of deranged far-right zealots, to overreact, which it did.
And now with more than 53,000 Palestinians, including Hamas members, dead and others starving, Hamas has achieved its goal; that is, turning Israel into a pariah state.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
Keep nuclear moratorium
Until such times as a country that has nuclear power has successfully built and operated a safe storage facility for a reasonable period of time, our moratorium should stay. Despite some 60 years of nuclear power production this is still some way off. And the costs of such storage should be factored into any analysis of the cost benefit of nuclear power. Current commentary on nuclear appears blind to this glaring problem.
Bill Forrest, Princes Hill
Credit: Matt Golding
AND ANOTHER THING
Politics
All is right in the world. Jacqui Lambie defeated Pauline Hanson’s daughter to regain her Senate seat.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Can the Australian political playbook now include the dummy spit/split combo?
Peter Thomas, Pascoe Vale
One could be forgiven for thinking that the Coalition split was nothing more than a ″dummy spit″ from the Nats.
Catherine Gerardson, Tawonga South
The Nationals think a net is a lot of holes tied together with string, and net zero is how much they weigh.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading
Machetes
Given the propensity of youth to use machetes to attack people and invade homes, maybe it is time to introduce youth boot camps as a solution.
Doug Springall, Yarragon
Will machetes now join the stock in trade of those thriving businesses already supplying untaxed cigarettes?
Loch Wilson, Northcote
Furthermore
Your correspondent (Letters, 28/5) suggesting ″to bring back the stocks for a bit of public humiliation″ may not be aware that with the shortage of tomatoes and the price of eggs, most people may not be able to afford this form of punishment.
Ruth Davis, Carrum
NATO should roll some tanks across the Finnish and Estonian borders and cut off St Petersburg for a while. It’s the only language that Vladimir Putin understands.
Jeremy Mould, Richmond
Telstra says it is cutting staff as it uses more artificial intelligence. Ring with a problem, you will see how unintelligent their AI is.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Was that Brigitte Macron’s response after her husband said they were going to visit Donald Trump?
David West, Essendon