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ONLINE GAMBLING
Well, it is now official. The average IQ of federal parliament’s Labor and Coalition MPs cannot be particularly high.
They both have agreed that problem gamblers will have the option of opting out of gambling advertising or services (″Labor signs off on gambling reform deal with Coalition″, 18/8).
Apparently, no one in either camp can see how stupidly unworkable this option is. One has to despair about our future with decisions of this calibre.Ross Hudson, Mount Martha
Labor had its chance and opted out
Albo, your government will be forever remembered as the government that coulda, shoulda and would have taken decisive action on gambling advertising, but didn’t!Graeme Martin, Alphington
Gambling not as addictive as anger
Re ‴I can’t stop to save my own life’: Parents read son’s final plea on gambling addiction″, (18/8). Those last words of a young gambling addict who suicided, surely must act to make the Labor government change course and get rid of gambling ads.
We know that’s what the public wants, but it’s not the public that governs. It’s the lobby groups. Nor is gambling, bad as it is, the most dangerous of our addictions. That is anger. Because it is not so obvious.
When Pauline Hanson at the National Press Club said she had always been angry but now Australia has caught up to her views, she was, unfortunately speaking the truth.
The wild west rules of the internet allow disinformation and online abuse to flourish, and when social media algorithms push outrage to keep people clicking on to sell more ads, then some Australians who spend a lot of time on their screens have been trained to be angrier. Under-50s rarely read newspapers, and get all their information on the internet. That cohort will only get larger with time. The federal government has so far been unsuccessful in attempts to protect adults from the harms of the internet and social media.
It has made a start on protecting children and teenagers, but attempts to stop the damage the internet is doing to adult Australians provokes huge pushback from the powerful tech bros and the Trumpist cult in Washington.
That, with the rise of Hanson, is a direct threat to our democracy.Gary Barnes, Mosman, NSW
Clear whose interests are being served
Communications Minister Anika Wells introduced legislation on Monday so that citizens will soon be able to opt out of all gambling advertising.
Given the two options – opt out or opt in – isn’t it obvious whose best interests are currently being served?Martin Hunt, East Malvern
What if I see gambling ads on television?
Labor’s ″opt out″ policy for gambling advertisements obviously cannot apply to television advertising, so it is worthless.Reg Murray Glen Iris
Easy-peasy problem solver
Problem gambler? Opt out of online gambling app. Easy-peasy. Problem solved. Problem drinker? Stay out of bottle shops. Easy-peasy. Problem solved.Dawn Richards, Huntingdale
How many online problem gamblers?
Could someone please get senator Sarah Hanson-Young to tell us how many online problem gamblers there are, and what percentage does this number translate to of the total number of people who gamble online?Patrick Hennessy, St Kilda
THE FORUM
One Nation excise idea
The latest policy idea from One Nation is to cut tobacco excise by 75 per cent, and according to Pauline Hanson, this will “break the black market” (18/8). While this might make for a good headline, it is unlikely to work.
High excise rates have likely contributed to the expansion of the black market, but the market now exists and simply reducing the excise will not make this go away.
Australians who have shown themselves willing to break the law and enable organised crime gangs in search of cheaper cigarettes will likely continue to do this as long as black market tobacco remains cheaper than the legal alternative. And organised crime gangs, having invested heavily in establishing their networks, are unlikely to simply walk away in response to the competition cutting prices.
The illegal tobacco market is a complex problem requiring a thoughtful and multifaceted response. A cut to excise may be a part of such a response, but on its own will do nothing more than increase the profits of tobacco companies while exacerbating our public health challenges.Simon Bennett, Hawthorn East
Hanson’s Trump example
There is no way in the world that Pauline Hanson will ever govern Australia. That is, she and her One Nation party of far-right, conspiracy theorists, science deniers and ignorant xenophobes resemble the presidency of Donald Trump, and after seeing the complete and utter mess he’s created for Americans, and the rest of the world, we certainly don’t want Australia to end up like that.Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
Fauci vendetta
As a retired doctor, I am hoping for a seismic rebellion from the scientific, medical, political, media and LGQBQT communities of the United States against the mean-spirited, self-righteous politicians and administration running the country after Congress voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt.
Congress’s persecution of a man who was at the forefront of the fight against AIDS and other community health issues over
50 years of service while at the same time supporting the anti-science stance of their president and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy needs the science world to stand up and scream “enough”.
Social media “influencers”, “bots” and “likes” are no substitute for the hard grinding work of scientific research which underpins truly life-giving advances made in medical and other areas of science in my lifetime.
This outrage must be called out for the appalling political, blame-shifting and personal vendetta it is.Michael Langford, Flinders
Making men’s excuses
What is most appalling about the recent cases of sexual violence against women is not only the behaviour itself, but the attitudes surrounding it.
Ralph Carr has been convicted of rape and sexual assault. Yet, at a pre-sentencing hearing, his barrister reportedly commented on the brevity of the assault, saying: “It must be the shortest incidents of rape that’s come before the courts.“
At Scots College in Sydney, three students have been charged over an alleged sexual assault involving a 14-year-old girl. Comments from some Old Boys appear more concerned with defending the boys and the school than confronting the seriousness of the allegation, even suggesting the girl was a willing participant.
And now the Sydney Swans are embroiled in an allegation of sexual assault.
While there have been no charges as yet in relation to the Sydney Swans incident, and the Scots College students are yet to enter pleas, the recurring theme is disturbing: why are we still so quick to minimise, rationalise or defend men’s behaviour, while the victim is almost an afterthought?
A sexual assault is not less serious because it was brief. A girl does not become responsible for an assault because someone suggests she was “willing”. And, no reputation, institution or sporting career should matter more than the safety and dignity of the alleged victim.
Until we stop making excuses for men and start holding them accountable, little will change.Sue McNamara, Rye
War time myth
As a daughter of a Japanese POW, I can debunk the myth for your correspondent (Letters, 18/8) that the POW survivors of the horrors of the Japanese camps returned home and got on with life without anger or any of the appalling behaviour we see demonstrated in the post-COVID lockdown period.
The untreated PTSD of my poor dad, who did not have the luxury of psychological, financial and social support, has been horrendous throughout his entire life, has had a lifelong effect on his offspring, and is vicariously passed on from generation to generation.Ruth Davis, Carrum
Pandemic, again
Having read Tony Wright’s article, “These diving dinosaurs have defied death forever. But what now?” (15/8), on the more than probable loss of the gannet colonies to h5n1 bird flu in western Victoria, I reflected on my mother’s favourite saying, “there, but for the grace of God, go I”.
Thinking back to the COVID-19 pandemic when as an island continent, Australians could isolate, both internationally and locally, until vaccines arrived to help the storm blow over.
Sadly for our sentient earth friends, many thousands will see their end, which could have also possibly been our end, too.Kim Kaye, Surrey Hills
Celebrity endorsement
The discussion of scams (“Scams on the rise targeting high-profile Australians”, 17/8) mentions “a celebrity or trusted personality” but celebrities are generally good at a specific skill, sport, music, or they have a partner who is. They are not financial advisers.
Why would anyone invest their life savings on a pretty person who plays a nice person on TV? It’s sad to say but the words attributed to PT Barnum, “There’s a sucker born every minute”, are too true.Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Yes, electric trucks
Your article, “Productivity push to allow electric trucks on roads 24/7” (16/8) is exciting. Considering the proved advantages electric vehicles have over internal combustion engine varieties in terms of maintenance and operating cost, it is indeed surprising that there has not been more growth in the number of electrically powered trucks on Australian roads until now.
However, recent developments in commercial fleets of electric “last kilometre” delivery trucks and vans would indicate that the Productivity Commission should find fertile ground for the introduction of heavier interstate freight-carrying electric trucks to replace the noisy diesels still doing the job today.
The change can’t come too soon.John Gare, Kew East
Schools’ uneven field
A mate recently took his grandchildren to basketball held at a Catholic college in the Eltham region where he used to teach. Walking around, he was impressed with the infrastructure investment since his teaching days.
I recently went back to my old school, Essendon High (now Essendon Keilor College senior campus), which I left in 1973.
The only infrastructure built in that 53 years? A day-care centre for preschoolers now exists there. Otherwise, nothing. What a level playing field.Keith Hawkins, Point Lonsdale
Vote grab season
Re ″Tawdry vote grab″ (Letters, 18/8): Labor, like the Coalition, is not immune to a little ″vote grabbing″ itself. They have recently given $4 million to
$5 million to more than 100 community groups that operate in the Suburban Rail Loop catchment.
These unnecessary handouts are not only a poorly disguised attempt to win over many thousands who might criticise this controversial project, but also they could be seen as ″bribing″ many swinging electors to vote Labor at November’s election.Peter Fagg, Blackburn
Poorly served west
Labor is testing electric trains on the Werribee line with trains that are going to be used in the eastern suburbs. Train lines are closed for this testing, and we all get to travel on rail replacement buses.
Western suburbs get a substandard train service in any case with promises of electric trains to Geelong and the recent closure of Champion Road in Newport to remove a level crossing.
Labor has taken the western suburbs for granted for decades, but I think people are fed up. Two growth corridors and infrastructure are groaning under the weight of population growth.Deborah Senior, Williamstown
Breaking Bard
Re your correspondent (Letters, 14/8) who sparked debate with his question, “Would you understand the reports if Shakespeare was reading the news on television?“: Shakespeare may not be seen, garbed in an Elizabethan doublet, ruff and breeches, presenting TV bulletins, “What news, what news in this our tott’ring state?”
However, he’s certainly in the audio department. Shakespeare is “spoken” every day – 90 per cent of his language is still in use, including 1700 words that he is credited with creating, such as eyeball, puppy, gossip, addiction, and blushing, plus many phrases and idioms, including the green-eyed monster, vanish into thin air, fight fire with fire, and love is blind.
His world also has parallels with the present. London and Venice were multicultural centres of international trade and finance (The Merchant of Venice); wars were being fought (Henry V); globalisation was on the map (The Tempest); and sorcery and loss of sanity were subjects of intrigue (Macbeth).
As reinvention goes, from 2009, The Hip Hop Shakespeare Company sets Shakespeare to rap music and takes the Bard to young people. In all, not a bad innings for a man who died in 1616.Barbara Chapman, South Yarra
AND ANOTHER THING
Trump world
Trump told the world he had bombed Iran so as to “de-nuclearise” it, whatever that means. Any threat to the world from your friend’s North Korean nuclear arsenal, Donald?Alan McLean, Queenscliff
Simply put, to end the Strait of Hormuz issue, all that needs to happen is for Iran to offer a deal: They’ll toll the Strait; Iran to keep 50 per cent of the toll, the Trump family trust the other 50 per cent. Done, war over, move on.Tom Stafford, Wheelers Hill
Is Elon Musk predicting a world without money because he plans to have it all for himself? (″Why the richest man on Earth wants you to think money won’t matter″, 16/8).Michael Meszaros, Alphington
Furthermore
Re Matt Golding’s Logies cartoon (Letters, 18/8): Our newsagent has been operating in Kyneton for over 100 years. And we still do home deliveries, not by horse or bike, but have moved on to cars.Lyn Bayley, Kyneton
So, alleged perpetrators, often wealthy, can have their identities suppressed for years because of concerns about their mental health. How about the alleged victim’s mental health? Obviously, not a priority.Marie Nash, Balwyn
The Productivity Commission proposal to allow electric trucks to deliver goods around the clock sounds good. But unless much of the freight is transferred to rail for a major part of the journey, there will be more and larger potholes.Rod Watson, East Brighton
The headline read, ″Labor ignored warnings of surge of Kiwi migration″ (18/8). I thought, ″what’s wrong with New Zealand birdlife coming here?″ Then I realised it was just xenophobia yet again.John Cain, McCrae
If anyone with Point Lonsdale connections can afford a ticket to a night with local MP Richard Marles (CBD, 18/8), could they please seek his assurance that AUKUS really isn’t going to replace the gun emplacements at the Lighthouse Reserve in anticipation of a Chinese invasion?Norman Huon, Port Melbourne
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