"The law should apply to all," says one reader.
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Judge Tony claims that "a crime is a crime is a crime", even though it seems that some alleged foreign fighters who have returned to Australia have not been charged ("No charges for suspected foreign fighters Matthew Gardiner and George Khamis", canberratimes.com.au, May 21).
While Andrew Zammit from the Global Terrorism Research Centre argues that "Not all foreign fighters are the same – there are degrees of seriousness, and fighting for a proscribed terrorist organisation is a more serious crime than fighting against one." I have to agree with the view of Rodger Shanahan from Australian National University's National Security College, who says "that the law should apply to all returned foreign fighters – regardless of which side they fought on or whether they became disillusioned with the cause."
If the purpose of the government's new laws against Australians participating in hostile activities overseas is to prevent them from acquiring skills and experience that could be used against Australians at home, which is what I understand is its purpose, then surely the law and its sanctions must be applied to all who defy it?
John Richardson, Wallagoot, NSW
Sea-rise migrants
Lest we forget what the future obviously holds, if cultural repression and unemployment could suddenly move thousands to take to sea, South-east from Indochina, in the last week, let's wait and see what being permanently flooded will induce tens to hundreds of millions across our north – from Micronesia to Bangladesh – to do, thanks to the sea level rise from the accelerated global warming which the reactionary right regards, in Tony Abbott's own words, as "absolute crap".
Keep this week in mind when assessing from year to year how well the Coalition and its radical-right philosophies "stopped the boats".
Alex Mattea, Kingston
Sentencing barbarity
Smug in the knowledge Australia does not have the death penalty, Tony Judge (Letters, May 20) berates the US, another sovereign country, for continuing the practice.
Like many other important issues we were never asked if we wanted the death penalty abolished. Our politicians, supported by bleeding hearts, while expressing horror, disgust, abhorrence for the crime itself preferring to sentence Martin Bryant, the Janine Balding and Anita Bryant killers and the Eden boys, to name a few beyond reasonable doubt cases, to imprisonment, thus perhaps giving the word barbarity new meaning.
What is surprising about these anti-death supporters, who not being hypocrites we suppose also would be against euthanasia, is that they talk about repentance and rehabilitation, ignoring those who have been released by equally starry-eyed reformers and have killed again.
Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla
Choice to work
I agree with Chris Williams (Letters, May 22), that having mothers work is not necessarily the right interpretation of women's liberation. It's meant to be about choice, about being able to choose to work or not depending on personal preference.
The problem young mothers face today is how to help put a roof over their children's heads without going out to work. Given the cost of housing, there is not a lot of choice; they have to do it. This takes the liberation aspect out of it all. Why is housing so expensive?
For a number of reasons, but the chief one is that infrastructure does not keep pace with population growth, and we have very high population growth rates in this country – more than twice the OECD average.
Slow population growth down and the cost of housing will stabilise and hopefully fall to a point where one income could support a family. And at that point women will be able to genuinely choose to work, or not.
Jenny Goldie, Michelago, NSW
Defence funding
Rather than address the serious inter-generational inequity issue raised by the Australia Defence Association, Bronis Dudek (Letters, May 20) offers a straw-man diversion about GDP percentages.
The Australia Defence Association has long criticised the bipartisan consensus on defence eventually "getting" two per cent of GDP. Or that we continually point out that GDP percentage is really only good for trendline comparisons between countries.
The ADA has instead always argued that the ongoing adequacy of any national investment is best measured by comparing budget allocations and their rates of increase over time. But in the case of defence – as the only major governmental responsibility wholly funded federally – such comparisons must also account for national expenditures by both the Commonwealth and the States in debt interest, social security, health and education.
Finally, adequate and sustained investment in national defence infrastructure is essential to mitigate general strategic risk over rolling three to five decade periods, not just to counter overly specific "threats" as they are perceived or not by some now – usually mistakenly or complacently.
Understanding and actually debating the issues would help attempted critics of the ADA's independent, non-partisan, public-interest watchdog advocacy to lift their game.
Neil James, executive director, Australia Defence Association
ACCC right body
I'm surprised that in your editorial – "Self-interest behind quest for inquiry" (Times2, May 20, p2) – about a possible parliamentary inquiry into iron-ore prices (because of Andrew Forrest's assertion that his competitors BHP and RioTinto are trying to put him out of business), you didn't mention the fundamental reason why there should not be such an inquiry – viz., because Parliament has created an arms-length body, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, to deal with competition matters.
Forrest should be told that, if he has a complaint about his competitors, he should approach the ACCC, which will pursue the matter if it thinks Forrest's competitors are breaking the law.
R.S. Gilbert, Braddon
Removal of garden plaques surprises
About 10 years ago, our family sponsored rose bushes in the Old Parliament House rose gardens. These were to celebrate a wedding and to remember family members who had died.
Since then the bridal couple have picnicked in the gardens each anniversary and taken an interest in seeing the rose bushes grow. Other family members have visited from time to time.
Last December we were very surprised to discover that the commemorative plaques had been removed. On making inquiries, we were told that the scheme only ever had a 10-year lifespan and that other means were being pursued to record sponsors. We do not recall being told this originally.
I would be interested to know whether other sponsors knew this was the case.
Frances Ramsay, Isaacs
English important too
I approve of Labor's promise to increase funding to train our future workforce in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Indeed, I may even switch my vote, unless the Coalition can surpass it in dollar terms.
I wish that Professor Ian Chubb in his article "Science Understanding Vital" (Times2, May 20, p1) had emphasised theneed for a high standard ofEnglish, both written and spoken, for science to be clearly understood and successfully applied with the precision that STEM subjects demand.
Some foreign students have been recently shown to be deficient in their course entry English standards and will, unless remedially improved, behandicapped in their studies. That is of special concern if they hope to settle inAustralia after qualifying.
With a STEM-trained population, thinking based onfaith and folklore will be challenged. Politicians, priests and publicists will get away with fewer porkies.
Colin Glover, Canberra City
TO THE POINT
The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts. Email viewsin 50 words or fewer to
letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
GREAT MATES WITH PELL
"Nope, nope, nope," says Tony Abbott when asked if Australia will help resettle 8000 desperate Rohingya refugees. I now understand why he and George Pell are great mates.
Thos Puckett, Ashgrove
NO MORAL COMPASS
Cardinal George Pell would appear tobe beyond reproach when it comes to telling the truth. After all, he is the PM's mate. And yet the recollections of abuse victims are to be doubted, which says a lot about the man and his lack of a moral compass.
D.J. Fraser, Mudgeeraba, Qld
ONLY TWO FLAGS
There were only two Australian flags in Pope's cartoon of the Prime Minister (Times2, May 22, p2). Surely this is much less than the number mandated by the PMO.
Glenn Wood, Bardon, Qld
SHEEP BLUDGEONED
In recent years, thanks to Animals Australia, we learnt that sheep and cattle exported from Australia were hurled from trucks, dragged, trussed and shoved into car boots. Now we learn they have been bludgeoned with sledgehammers. Shame on the government for refusing to end this hideous trade!
Jenny Moxham, Monbulk, Vic
DROP THE GST
What sets apart the poorly named goods and services tax from an across-the-board sales tax is value adding in the transaction. An Uber fare doesn't involve that, and therefore should be GST-free, asshould many other items misguidedly so taxed.
Jack Kershaw, Kambah
HUGE ACHIEVEMENT
Sadly it's even worse than Robyn D'Arcy (Letters, May 21) suggests. Not only did Molly Taylor win the National Capital Rally, but she is the daughter of rally legend Coral Taylor. The headline should have read "Rally legend's daughter wins National Capital Rally". Fine to have a few lines on the undoubted success of Neal's son, but in a predominantly mens' sport, especially for drivers, Molly's achievements are massive.
Steve Blume, Chapman
WOMEN'S SPORT ON TV
Robyn D'Arcy asks "Don't Aussie women play sport?" Cartoonist Judy Horacek answered that question in 2002 with a cartoon depicting two people watching sport on TV.
Comment 1: "Oh look: there's women's sport on the TV. That can only mean one thing." Reply: "Some gender equity at last?"
Comment 2: "No, no – all the men must have died." Reply: "You're right. That is more likely."
Bette Triglone, Torrens
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