If Australia changes its Prime Minister for the sixth time in 10 years, it may be time to take a holistic view of the outcome, instead of the usual recriminatory and self-serving approach.
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There is a deal of evidence around the globe to support a view that the neo-liberal approach of extensive economic liberalisation, privatisation, fiscal austerity, lower corporate taxes, free trade, and reductions in government spending in order to enhance the role of the private sector in the economy has not worked.
Instead, it has fed a climate of greed among the privileged and anxiety among those marginalised by this economic philosophy. Tax avoidance schemes for corporations and minimisation strategies for high earners are bi-products and are denying governments substantial income which could be better used to address health, education and infrastructure policies for the wider benefit. A higher and fairer tax regime will be accepted by the Australian community if the burden is shared.
Chifley's Light on the Hill speech lacked specifics, but its message of selflessness, compassion, social justice, mutual respect and sense of community reflects a better, kinder and more rewarding view of Australia than that espoused by our current cohort of politicians.
Robert Luton, Sutton, NSW
Endless bleating
The endless bleating of the feminists for more female SES and EL officers in the public service, as for example Dr Sue Williamson of the University of NSW ("Women in the middle forgotten in APS push", June 3, p3) is tiring. What is wanted is a focus on competence as those of us who have toiled under hopeless SES officers of both sexes will say.
The idea floated in the editorial "Times to step up gender diversity" (Times2, June3, p2) of blind recruitment processes (so no one knows who the applicants are until some way along) is also good as it will work against that other curse of the public service, the promotion of the friends of the bosses. The worst thing that could happen for women is that someone is appointed because she is a woman and not because she is good. Everyone would soon know.
It won't help their cause if the feminists have to say 'She isn't very good but she is a woman'!
Stan Marks, Hawker
Morrison's triviality
General Morrison is screwing up both my brain cells with the various implications resulting from the tremendous triviality of his "no more guys" campaign. I can recall that several decades ago an active drama strain of the feminist sisterhood demanded that they not be called actresses but be treated like males and referred to as actors, although waitresses, dinner party hostesses and Princess Di were disinclined to join them.
So could he do us all a favour and direct his acknowledged influence and vigour away from momentous minutia and towards some practically useful cause.
For instance, it is common knowledge that, in spite of well-meant but purely pious restraining orders, on average one woman – not to mention the occasional child or two – is murdered every week by a husband/partner/ex-lover etc.
How about starting a campaign to establish truly safe houses for women fearing death at the hands of a demented male? Now there's a project that the dolls at risk would really appreciate.
Bill Deane, Chapman
Jacqueline Maley's article ("Hey guys, here's a whole list of things worth getting outraged about", Forum, June 4, p4) proved well worth the read. Her alluding to David Morrison as having "too much time on his hands" is too kind. The bloke now presents as just some guy who needs help.
Michael Doyle, Fraser
Abuse claims
I write in response to your story "Five more ex-students allege abuse against St Edmund's College since revelations" (canberratimes.com.au, June 2.
The Marist Brothers provided a detailed response to all questions put by your reporter at that time and which are published in full on our website www.maristbrothers.org.au. As detailed in our response, I reiterate the following important facts:
■There was no knowledge held by the Marist Brothers' leadership of Romuald Cable's offending at the time he left the Marist Brothers in 1978.
■The first knowledge of a complaint against him being received by the Marist Brothers was in 1993, some 15 years after he left the Order.
■Given there was no knowledge of his offending until 1993, the claim made that he was moved from school to school as a result of behaviour known by the Marist Brothers' leadership is without substantiation.
■As explained in our response, the witness statement was made in 2013 and it was only at that time that the Marist Brothers' leadership were first made aware of what was said to the principal of the relevant school in 1967.
■The Marist Brothers do not question the witness statement made in 2013. However, we can confirm that no summary, report or letter outlining the complaint was ever forwarded to the Marist Brothers in 1967.
For more than 25 years the Marist Brothers have accepted that some of our members have betrayed the trust of innocent children with tragic consequences. That this occurred is a matter of great shame and sorrow and for which we express our unreserved apology.
The Marist Brothers are committed to continuing our work to help assist healing the lives that have been damaged by abuse.
Br Peter Carroll, FMS Provincial, Marist Brothers Australia
Woolworths ethics
Woolworths yet again in the gun, this time from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for engaging in "unconscionable conduct in dealings with a large number of its supermarket suppliers, in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law".
How long will it take before consumers realise this group uses snide activities to cover up bad management, poor pricing policies and an inability to be competitive. Too much emphasis on alcohol sales and poker machines profits. A poor example of business ethics.
Alan McNeil, Weetangera
Paying for welfare
Voters should keep in mind that for every politician's promised welfare cash splash there must be an equivalent offset in income tax, GST, company tax, goods and services prices (to pay for increased company tax) or a reduction in existing welfare payments.
Ed Dobson, Hughes
Here's the rail truth
I thank Brendan Lyon for his unsolicited advice (Letters, June 2) on the costs and legal implications should the Canberra Liberals dishonour the light rail contract after the October election, assuming that they win. If Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, the federal government or even Mr Lyon himself was prepared to fully fund this project, I would have no difficulty with his position.
However, as the only federal money coming Canberra's way for this project is from asset recycling, or some similar activity, I would cordially invite him to excuse himself from our affairs. Unless the current ACT government has agreed to some form of poison pill in the contract, I believe that the contract break fees will be insignificant when compared with the combined "albatross" of excessive capital and ongoing operating costs (versus low return from building the tram line).
Government contracts always include termination for convenience clauses, with reimbursement of proven costs and expenses incurred by the contractor for work completed to be negotiated. I trust that the professional staff, employed by the ACT community to prepare and negotiate the light rail contract, followed this practice. (Although I concede that it probably hasn't been in place for the full one thousand years of contracting and legal precedent that was cited by Mr Lyon).
In any case, each political party has made its position abundantly clear, so whoever wins this year's local election will be able to claim a definite mandate to either cancel or continue the contract.
Mark Anderson, Campbell
Brendan Lyon's letter gave the impression that Infrastructure Partnerships Australia was a neutral organisation. In fact it is a lobbyist for firms seeking infrastructure contracts. Lyons said that construction was to begin before the ACT election.
This is incorrect. The successful tenderer has said there will be six months design before work begins. Lyons then went on to say that the contract was binding and would involve heavy costs. Wrong again.
The contract has a cancellation option in it and the damages will be limited to actual incurred costs. What Lyons should have prefaced his letter with is a declaration that he is writing as a lobbyist for the tenderer and the ACT government.
Howard Carew, Isaacs
Beware Kelly's word
Labor's candidate for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, has made promises before when seeking election, showing we would be wrong to rely upon what he says this time around. In 2007, on an issue affecting a large number of retirees in the area, the indexation of Commonwealth employees' pensions, Dr Kelly "declared that changes to the indexation regime covering Commonwealth superannuation pensions would be his top priority ... if I'm elected to Parliament, I'll argue strongly for Commonwealth superannuants to be given the same deal. It's only fair."
Kelly reportedly said he felt so strongly about the issue he would resign if the changes did not occur. Well, Kelly was elected. The Labor government set up a shabby review and refused to change.
Kelly continued to enjoy the privileges of being our elected representative, until being thrown out at the last election Since then Kelly has had his own military pension enhanced, while public servants have been excluded.
Setting aside the pension indexation matter, this experience tells us all to give little credibility to Kelly's declarations, when even his top priority can be abandoned so easily.
Mike Gilligan, Gundaroo, NSW
Fix highway properly
I welcome Dr Peter Hendy's announcement of funding for the Barton Highway duplication. It is disappointing that it is for more Band-Aid work for overtaking lanes and endless roadworks, instead of a program to duplicate one of the NRMA's most dangerous roads. I hope Mike Kelly's plan for the duplication is in keeping with the 20,000 daily travellers' expectations.
Ken Helm, Murrumbateman, NSW
Greens fail addicts
As someone whose life has been affected by problem gambling, I am very concerned about the Greens' support of the legislation allowing poker machines into the Aquis casino. I was of the understanding the Greens are vehemently opposed to gaming.
The Greens' assertion that pokies are better off being in the city rather than the suburbs implies, firstly, that those who live in the city area are immune to gambling and, secondly, people in the suburbs are deterred by travelling such a great distance.
From visits to Sydney and Melbourne, I have seen first-hand how the Star and Crown casinos lure their patrons with free travel.
I have no doubt Aquis will be prepared to spread their services as far afield as Yass, Goulburn, Cooma, etc to enhance their profits (profits which, by the way, will go back to China and not the local community).
The Greens support of this "unsolicited bid" by Aquis and of the legislation allowing poker machines in the casino is totally against everything the party consistently advocates: open government and anti-gaming.
Or are we seeing what they really stand for? Political expediency and a shiny new trainset?
Anne Jamieson, Kambah
Good riddance, Kyrgios
It is time that Nick Kyrgios grew up. He is rude, arrogant and certainly the single worst example of sports players we have seen for decades.
Just who the hell does he think he is (Kyrgios pulls out of Olympics", Sport, June 3, p2)?
The dedicated Olympic chief, Ms Kitty Chiller has nothing to criticise herself for. She is Olympic-driven, not ego-driven.
Rhys Stanley, via Hall, NSW
Political leaders rare
In her wonderful letter (June 2), Lucille Rogers states that our current leaders seem to lack leadership qualities.
In my view there is a reason for that. Indeed, in his book Brief Lives Paul Johnson refers to the late British Prime Minister Edward Heath, when he was a scholar at Balliol College, Oxford.
Asked by the career don what he wanted to do in life, Heath replied, " I intend to be a professional politician".
The phrase had not been used before.
Nevertheless, by the time Heath retired from politics, it seems that all members of the House of Commons – Tories as well as Labour – were professional politicians.
Perhaps political leadership is more likely to be a gift, than being achieved through hard work.
Sam Nona, Burradoo, NSW
Suburb rejected to environment tune
Jack Kershaw (Letters, June 2) is right when he says that ACT government is off song on the proposed new suburb for Tuggeranong. He's just a little off song himself as to the reason why. It doesn't have anything to do with a better option on the other side of the river – a plan from the deep dark past that was rightly passed over and should be forgotten.
The issue is about development inside the river corridor and the damage this will do to the environmental and recreational assets that are so treasured by the community. This was articulated by an overwhelming majority during the first round of community consultation. The issue of building over the river is a distraction and not a relevant planning issue, despite the regular harpings of Zed Seselja and his construction industry mates.
Matthew Frawley, Save the Murrumbidgee River Corridor , Kambah
Good character
There is a beggar who frequents my local shops. I don't know, but he appears to suffer from a mental disability. He looks fit and strong enough to work, but again, that's not an asset if one has a mental disability. Does he receive social security? Probably, but again, if the parade of muppets we've had as federal treasures can't manage money, how can one expect this bloke to? Up-front, I do not like ACT Labor. Having established that, I would like to praise Senator Katy Gallagher who I saw at the local shops yesterday afternoon buy this bloke a hot sausage roll, then squat down eye-level and have a conversation with him. This wasn't some "Look I'm having a beer in a pub with some dirty working people!" campaign ritual. There were no cameras. She took time out from fighting to retain her own job to show kindness and humanity to someone most people (myself included) simply throw coins to. Refusing to claim $86 per-day for "travelling" between Canberra and Canberra I consider icing on the good character cake.
Mike Crowther, Lyneham
TO THE POINT
The Canberra Times wants to hear from you in short bursts. Email views in 50 words or fewer to
letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
COSTLY SPEED CAMERAS
I wonder how much taxpayer money Martin Small Consultants received to tell the ACT government that the speed cameras on Athllon Drive are impractical ("Bizarrely placed speed cameras to be moved", June 4, p1? If it was so "self evident" (Shane Rattenbury) did we really need another (costly) opinion?
Sonya Georgalis, Kingston
Common sense should have shown it was a silly to put point-to-point speed cameras on Athllon Drive between Drakeford Drive and Beasley Street. I wonder who signed off on it in the first place?
Tim McGhie, Isabella Plains
DRESSED FOR THE JOB
It's all very well selection committees being provided with neutered job applications ("ABS goes 'blind' to solve its women problem", June 21, p1) but I'd be interested to know how the gender of women, once they are successfully shortlisted, continues to be disguised at interview.
Hugh Major, Forrest
RAGE OVER ROADS
I wholeheartedly support R. Allnutt's lament (Letters, June 3) about the unfinished roadworks scattered around Canberra. The list of outstanding projects, should include the roads around The Canberra and National Capital Private Hospitals.
I am a long-suffering motorist who has had to navigate these roads many times a day for the last three weeks.
Penny Tompsett, Swinger Hill
METRO MADNESS
Brendan Lyon (Letters, June 3) claims that Canberra has a choice between wasting its money on drawnout court cases and eventual damages payouts on the one hand, or the brand-new Capital Metro on the other. He is wrong. Canberra has a choice between cutting our losses, or persevering with a project that makes no sense in engineering or economic terms.
Daryl Powell, Griffith
POLITICAL DEALINGS
I would not be at all surprised if Gerry Murphy (Letters, June 3) is right that Hillary Clinton is just as corrupt as Don Trump. It is irrelevant that Ken Starr spent three years and $80million investigating the Clintons and couldn't find anything.
I'm just hoping Bernie Sanders isn't involved in tax fraud or financial corruption. Now that would surprise and disappoint.
S.W. Davey, Torrens
PALESTINE COUNTS
Alan Shroot (Letters, June 6) says "Israel has never threatened to destroy another country". Obviously, Palestine doesn't count.
Greg Ellis, Murrumbateman, NSW
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