This week’s letter writers respond to Bill Stefaniak’s latest column, talk more about the Voice, discuss NATO and more.

Signs of grace and dignity

Bill Stefaniak is right to say politics should be about playing the ball and not the man (CW 6 April 2023, p8). He might remind his fellow Federal Liberals, especially its leader and deputy leader, of this desirable trait. Neither seems to have even heard of the concept, preferring endless pejorative name-calling to sensible and progressive policy making in the interests of the people (which is precisely what Menzies advised during the Liberal Party’s foundation convention in 1944). When Menzies did feel the need to have a direct go at his opponents, he could do so with grace and wit, also sadly missing from today’s conservative leadership, be it Liberal or National. On the Labor side, there isn’t much Menzies-style wit, but at least there are signs of grace and dignity. As for Mark Latham, to whom Bill directed his opprobrium, words fail me – even pejoratives.

• Eric Hunter, Cook ACT

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The world is decarbonising

Bill Stefaniak believes that the government’s progress on reducing emissions threatens Australia’s security (CW 6 April 2023, p8). He quotes the concerns of Japanese gas company, Impex, with its vested interests in securing more of Australia’s gas and Japan’s ambassador who should know better than to publicly intervene in Australia’s internal policies. Japan is too dependent on fossil fuels and should be doing more to wean itself off them. It has one of the world’s longest coastlines, and the potential for offshore wind is enormous.

Mr Stefaniak’s definition of security also warrants some interrogation. The Australian Security Leaders Climate Group in their recent report, Climate Security Upfront, warn about the threats to security in our region from climate change and writes, “The greatest risk is climate disruption, described by both the UN Secretary-General and US Secretary of Defence as ‘existential’.”

Furthermore, in the context of global energy security, the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2023 states, “Current pressures should result in a turning point, encouraging energy-importing countries to invest in ‘secure’, cleaner and cheaper renewable energy sources”.

Labor and the Greens should be commended rather than castigated for finally negotiating a long-overdue transition away from fossil fuels. The government has the support of the Business Council of Australia and even large emitters like BlueScope Steel and Orica explosives. The whole world is decarbonising, and Japan knows that coal and gas are in decline globally. They have been caught on the hop and blaming Australia is a cop-out.

• Ray Peck, Hawthorn, VIC

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Voice Referendum a tragic blunder

Albo would have us pandering watery-eyed li- quivering to the Indigenous generational “guilt industry”, who’s already probably silently plotting a treaty and damages payout over umpteen years via the “voice door” rather than us proudly celebrating our British roots by rejoicing the most famous battles such as Agincourt, where King Henry V defeated a superior French army; the Battle of Hastings, which established Norman rule in England; and the Battle of Stamford Bridge, where Harold II defeated a Norse army after marching nearly two hundred miles in four days.

It’s time we got our focus right and side-stepped this fore-mentioned diversionary distraction.

We are white, blue-eyed, some blond, not easily conned and grateful to live in a land of opportunity, if one wants to grasp it, and not a Nanny Country so, irrespective, let’s still give a helping hand. This can all be professionally done from the floor of Parliament if there was a will and acceptance at general election. If Parliament’s dysfunctional, get rid of it – easy; bring on an election, with current hysteria at the forefront of political discussion. It’s called democracy in which all have a “voice” at election time. Anything else is nothing but smoke and mirrors to hide incompetence.

• John Lawrence, Flynn ACT

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‘National’ institutions? 

Re CW 30 March 2023: congratulations to Dinosaur Museum on its 30th. It was one of the go-to places for our 8-y-o when we moved to Canberra. But how it can be called the “National” Dinosaur Museum? 

It doesn’t belong to the nation, like the National War Memorial (sic), the National Film & Sound Archive, the National Library, the National Museum, the National Botanical Gardens, etc. But the name as it stands can make it appear that it does. 

AFAIK it is privately owned and operated. Calling it National Capital Dinosaur Museum would be OK, like National Capital Motors, National Capital Private Hospital, etc. 

The same applies to the “National” Zoo & Aquarium, which I know some visitors have assumed is run by the Commonwealth. 

• TJ Carroll, Dickson ACT

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Putin makes NATO stronger

Now that Finland has been formally admitted as NATO’s newest member, Putin must be spitting chips, as his “special military operation” spectacularly backfired on him by making NATO stronger instead of weaker, which was his primary intention. By his totally unacceptable action on Ukraine he has encouraged former neutral countries along the Russian border to have a re-think about their neutrality and act accordingly. In all probability it won’t be too long before Sweden will be another addition to the NATO membership, putting more pressure on Putin and his ill-fated venture.

– Mario Stivala, Belconnen ACT

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Where are the holes?

What is it about the Voice that Mario Stivala (CW, Letters, 6 April 2023) is really so worked up about? All my information (readily accessible to all) is that all proper processes are being assiduously followed. I presume Mario is one of those conservatives who believes the system “ain’t broke” so, if I’m wrong, let him evidence the details of where it is falling down. Where are the “holes” he claims the “sieve is full of” and the details of the “divisiveness” (indeed, who is being divided and how)?

Also, can Mario demonstrate the extent of “disunity” in the legal profession; and what evidence is there it would create problems for the successful implementation of the Voice?  As far as I can see, there is overwhelming expert support throughout all sections of the profession. Does Mario discount the well reported views of three former High Court Justices (including two former Chiefs) and most academic legal experts? If so, on what evidence-based grounds?  Recently, the Australian Law Council re-endorsed the Voice in ringing terms with its full approval of the wording. Against this, I know of only two relatively eminent legal experts who have expressed doubts about the Amendment and one of them says he will vote yes anyway, because the moral imperative of both the Constitutional recognition and the implementation of the national advisory body is more important than a legal quibble over words.

• Eric Hunter, Cook ACT

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PM a ‘reckless gambler’

Just as Peter Dutton is now being labelled as a “wrecker”, one can equally label the PM as a “reckless gambler” by risking an estimated $82 million of taxpayers’ money on the referendum, which, in his own words, now has “a higher risk of failure” owing to Dutton’s advocacy for a “no” vote, changing its chances of success from improbable to very improbable.

– Mario Stivala, Belconnen ACT

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