As Australia continues to be shunned by China, its most important trading partner, Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has announced "Aussie diplomats will start courting member nations of the European Free Trade Association - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, plus Israel" to boost trade ("Israel, Iceland on trade growth hit list", December 22, page 27).
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Liechtenstein! Would these be the same Aussie diplomats who gave such frank and fearless advice to the Turnbull/Morrison governments about the effects of its cack-handed string of un-finessed insults to China over the past three years? You know, the kind of advice that Fred Wheeler gave Gough Whitlam: "Prime Minister, you must listen to me. I am drawing to your attention facts your ignorance of which will bring you down".
Or, perhaps, even more appropriately, that Tony Ayers gave Malcolm Fraser: "Prime Minister, I am not here to tell you what you f---ing want to hear. I am here to tell you what you f---ing need to hear." ("Tony Ayers gave frank, fearless advice to ministers - and in four-letter words", canberratimes.com.au, April 15, 2016).
But that was the past and the past is a different country, they do things differently there. Nowadays, Coalition governments simply sack anyone whose advice they do not want to hear, quite often before they have even heard it.
And thus, we need an export drive to Liechtenstein to save us from becoming the only kind of republic we are ever likely to be.
P O'Keeffe, Hughes
Help bushfire victims
Last December was a horror time for families as the "Black Summer" fires tore through large parts of the country. As communities mark the first anniversary of the tragic fires there are still many people trying to get back on their feet in trying conditions, and who are still without a permanent place to call home.
This Christmas the Morrison Government can take steps to make life more secure for bushfire survivors:
- Speed up spending from its $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund. Less than half has been spent, a year after the fires.
- Extend the HomeBuilder program for people who lost their homes in the bushfires so they have more time to apply and can receive the full $25,000 grant.
- Implement all of the recommendations handed down by the Bushfire Royal Commission, especially a national aerial firefighting fleet so we can better fight future fires.
- Implement the recommendations handed down in the interim report by the Senate inquiry Lessons to be learned in relation to the Australian bushfire season 2019-20.
- Reduce the impact of future disasters, by using unspent disaster prevention funds for projects like fire breaks and evacuation centre upgrades.
Murray Watt, federal
shadow minister,
Disaster and Emergency Management
The Christmas message
Over this Christmas period many Australians would no doubt still be feeling physically and relationally exhausted after what has been one of the most disorientating years in living memory.
Thankfully, the endearing and enduring humble nativity story still speaks afresh to the restless human heart.
The celebration of the incarnation reminds us each year that, far from God remaining distant and mysterious, we fragile human beings have not been left stranded.
In the words of the great English hymn writer Charles Wesley: "Peace on earth and mercy mild; God and sinners, reconciled".
May we all not forget to remember the true reason for the season, and to embrace that hope which surpasses the tremulous trials of a world so desperately in need of both restoration and renewal.
Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Victoria
Tough times, tough people
There was no Christmas party at the inn; they had to make do with a stable.
No wonder the toughening up of the baby led to him becoming one of the greatest persons who ever lived, something some of us still believe.
His life, teachings, death and resurrection are the hope of the world. Who else is there? Certainly not Trump and Johnson or the Russian and Chinese leaders.
Christmas is a good time to think about it.
Geoff Hinds, Merrylands, NSW
Times change Josh
Josh Frydenberg's challenge to investors who choose to divest of coal leads me to think a little of history.
Once, we spent huge amounts of time, money, and labour hunting whales to harvest their oil to power the lamps that lit our living rooms. As we know, that industry had a huge negative effect on our environment.
Then, some bright spark invented the gas lamp which was a more efficient light to produce, cheaper and easier to reticulate, but still cost our environment greatly.
Another bright spark invented the electric light - yet more efficient and even cheaper to run. Then came efficient LED lights. But these were all powered by gas and coal fired steam generators which are - quite literally - 300 year old steam age technology.
Now, we have the intellectual, technological, and financial capacity to power our lights with hydro, solar, and wind power. It is clear that history shows us that science and technology constantly evolve and improve, and that we have taken full advantage of these improvements as they became available.
But aye, there's the rub in those very words - our current climate change denial seems to stem from the possibility that some of our leaders don't read history, don't accept science, and don't believe in evolution.
Richard Barraclough, Chisholm
Super spreader sales
Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak in the northern beaches area in Sydney wouldn't it have been prudent to ban Boxing Day sales across the nation? This is a time when masses of people are usually cheek by jowl, pushing and shoving to be first in line.
If Boxing Day sales were an online event only it would keep the retail staff healthy and still let the rest of us search for the bargain of the century.
Penny Goyne, Giralang
And free enterprise?
When did the LNP government decide restrictive trading was an important principle of operation in this country?
The Coalition has called for an inquiry into the decision by Australian banks not to provide loans to the coal industry. Surely this is against the free enterprise principles of the Liberal party?
Aren't they embarrassed? Free trading means Australian banks are free to decide not to fund a dinosaur industry.
How bright are this mob?
Gavin Holmes, Macquarie
More con artists
Recent phone calls from a gentleman from the sub continent offered a choice of Australian holidays with a discount. The catch? "Please supply your full details, including banks, to allow us to put the $250 discount at once into your account to go towards your holiday of choice". He knew our names and address of course. What a pity my hand cannot reach down the phone.
Paul O'Connor, Hawker
Opportunity lost
Zoe Wunderberg asks "Why don't we really value underpaid work?" (canberratimes.com.au, December 15). For many years women's groups advocated for the inclusion of unpaid work to be recognised in GDP calculations for GDP. Margaret Timpson, as president of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women Inc in the late 1980's took the issue to the federal government at both the ministerial level and the various consultative committees she attended.
Sad to say the next generation of women did not consider the issue significant enough to carry on with the advocacy even if they joined the established women's groups.
Robyn A Duncan, Page
Law Society disappoints
I agree with Peter Woodhouse (Letters, December 21) that the Law Society of the ACT has been unhelpful in comments it made about allegations made against two partners in his firm. In my long experience as a criminal lawyer I have found the general public, including most lawyers, do not understand giving advice in criminal matters does not make a solicitor a criminal. The Law Society would do well to stay silent while the law takes its course.
Jennifer Saunders, Canberra
Twisted logic
Stan Marks' logic eludes me when he tries to put down new Greens Senator Lidia Thorpe (who identifies legally and legitimately as Indigenous) because she has an "English" name (Letters, December 21).
So, what does Mr Marks make of more noted First Australians like Noel Pearson, Professor Marcia Langton and Pat Turner to name just three? Would he be game to similarly tackle any of these highly respected leaders?
Eric Hunter, Cook
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