Illustration: Ron Tandberg
SINCE when did the mining industry rule this country? I am outraged by its threats to resume its advertising propaganda war if agreement on a new tax regime is not reached within two weeks (The Age, 29/6). These bully boys, and girls, may have the Coalition in their thrall due to the handouts no doubt going to fill their election coffers, but the government and people should not be held ransom to them.
These companies will continue to mine, regardless of the tax rate. If they do not, someone else will. So stop this rubbish, Twiggy, Gina, Clive and co (also known as the billionaires club). Now that you have the chance to find consensus with the government, show some good faith.
Paul Bugeja, Caulfield North
A dangerous sign
ALARM bells are ringing. Those with deepest pockets have long been able to buy better outcomes in the courts because they can pay better lawyers to conduct longer cases with more appeals. Are we now to see the mining industry, with the deepest pockets of all, continuing to buy advertisements and persecute governments until it is happy to pay more tax? What industry is ever happy to pay more tax?
This is a very worrying development in a democratic system that generally condemns bullying, even if we have not succeeded in eradicating it.
Jo Wilkinson, Surrey Hills
Tax is flawed
AUSTRALIA has already lost many industries and investments overseas where better profits can be made. Mining requires huge initial outlays and many years of operation before any profit is reached. Along the way, the industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and the taxes it has paid in recent times helped immensely Australia's ability to stave of recession. A viable mining industry is and has been extremely important to Australia.
The tax proposed by Kevin Rudd was flawed. The mining industry, along with almost every other Tom, Dick, Harry, Julia and Tony, simply pointed this out.
Andrew Houghton, Croydon
Industry's gamble
MINERALS Council of Australia chief executive Mitch Hooke clearly implies that miners will pull out all stops to defeat the government if they do not get what they want. Intimidation is not an acceptable negotiating tool in the corporate world or industrial disputes.
The miners need to be certain they can determine the election outcome. If they are wrong, and new opinion polls suggest they could be, they will find the post-election negotiating landscape challenging.
For the tax legislation to be passed, the government needs to negotiate with the Greens, who will assuredly hold the balance of power in the Senate. Since Bob Brown has signalled his commitment to the broad details of the tax, Mitch Hooke is faced with doing a deal acceptable to Gillard now, or gambling that he will have to settle for a deal agreeable to the Greens after the election.
Helen Morrissey, Chatswood, NSW
Why weren't charges laid?
TWO security guards will not be charged for the appalling, heat-stroke death of a West Australian Aboriginal elder, Mr Ward, in a prison van (The Age, 29/6). You must be kidding. How about manslaughter due to criminal negligence at the very least? The decision by the West Australian Director of Public Prosecutions not to prosecute is institutionalised racism at its worst.
Paula Jones, Camberwell
And why use a van?
THE death of an indigenous elder while being transported from Laverton to Kalgoorlie raises more questions than just the failure to hold accountable those who were allegedly responsible. Why was it necessary to take a person on a drink-driving charge to court in the back of a van? Would we do the same to other indigenous people? The back seat of a standard vehicle would be more than adequate.
Father Graham Reynolds, Mitcham
Rural disadvantage
I AM sure Julia Gillard is sincere in her concern about inequity in our society. Why then has she denied equity to country students who need to move to capital cities to study? The boundaries for exemption from the new, harsh Youth Allowance rules exclude nearly every country kid.
My small (no public transport) town in Gippsland is three hours from Melbourne by car, and impossible by public transport. It is not classified as remote enough to warrant letting our kids get assistance when they move to Melbourne. This is meanness on a grand scale. The cost would be minimal, as there are so few people in the country compared to Melbourne. Surely Gillard can deal with those cheating the system without punishing those who so desperately need it.
Rod Andrew, Briagolong
Baker hard done by
SURE, rugged Saint defender Steven Baker is no choirboy but the 12-match suspension (The Age, 29/6) beggars belief. Barry Hall's hit on West Coast's Brent Staker several years ago did justice to a Joe Frazier left hook and his penalty was seven matches. And last week Chris Judd whacked Matthew Pavlich but had no case to answer.
The AFL's crackdown on violence over the past decade is to be commended. No one wants a return to the bad old days when players were king-hit from behind or felled illegally a long way off the ball. That said, there has to be consistency in penalties otherwise everyone - players and supporters - will become frustrated. Australian rules is a contact sport. Niggling and push and shove is part of the theatrics of our great game. Footballers in tutus and ballet shoes? Fanciful? Perhaps not.
David Ahern, East Kew
Culprit, not a victim
SYMPATHY for ''victim'' Steven Baker and comparisons with the Barry Hall or Dean Solomon suspensions are misplaced. Baker's indiscretions need to be considered individually, and before the mark-up for his poor record.
On this basis, he has been suspended for two matches for an intentional punch to the head of low impact, which could have been reduced to one with a guilty plea were it not for his multiple offences - not unreasonable and consistent with Hall's seven-week suspension. Concurrent sentences would give players a carte blanche of thuggery once they have belted an opponent early in the match.
David Olive, Kensington
Look to the future
THE Prime Minister's support for a sustainable population is welcome, as is her opposition to "hurtling down the track towards 40 million". However, sustainable population targets must range between limits set by credible assessment of trends. Within 20 years, the collection and distribution of virtually inexhaustible solar and geothermal energy seems likely to displace much dirty-coal technology that currently powers infrastructure systems.
That would justify a much larger population target for the end of this century. This could be welcomed at home and applauded abroad as global population growth continues. Kick-starting a shift into sunshine may require new taxes at first but, eventually, clean energy must surely outclass coal as a major export earner. Our grandchildren could be comfortable in a bigger Australia.
John Bayly, Glen Iris
A costly practice
MIGHT not global warming and the diminution of oil supplies be factors in considering the viability of a rail link to Melbourne Airport? No one seems to want to talk about the role of air travel in creating carbon emissions. Cut-price fares continue to be dangled in front of increasingly travel-savvy populations. But surely this will change once the world gets serious about combatting climate change and switching to renewable energy sources.
I imagine a lot of business and political travel being replaced with online conferencing, and tourism becoming more virtual than actual. In such a scenario, people would continue to drive cars, but these would be powered by electricity from wind, sun or other renewables. However, I can't see aircraft being fuelled by batteries. Or is my imagination just too limited?
Anne Riddell, Melbourne
Our right to privacy
RAYMOND Gill's article about Julia Gillard's tastes in the arts (Arts, 29/6) was interesting enough but, crikey, the comment by Sydney Opera House chief executive Richard Evans was even more so.
Evans tells us that there is ''no credit card record'' of Julia ever buying a ticket for the opera. He should read the Privacy Act and ask himself: ''Would I disclose her attendance record if there had been a credit card entry?'' What value privacy or are the arts supremos exempt from trawling through records and disclosing them to the media?
Terry Aulich, Barton, ACT
A fresh approach
IT IS encouraging to read about successful programs that divert offenders away from the prison system, reduce reoffending and save the justice system almost $5 million (The Age, 28/6).
Tackling homelessness, substance abuse and mental health problems is tough work. The Court Integrated Services Program helps to address these problems, which have a direct correlation to social disadvantage and criminal activity. It is impossible to ignore mounting evidence for the benefits of diversionary programs to reduce crime through support services, rather than punishment and incarceration. What is needed is the will to implement these.
Julie Edwards, CEO, Jesuit Social Services, Richmond
Worrying pattern
PEACE throughout the Middle East cannot be achieved until Western nations such Australia show we are as concerned about justice for Palestinians as we are about security for Israelis. The Israeli lobby in Australia has been very effective in gaining the support of governments over the past 60 years.
Evidence that our new Prime Minister (The Age, 29/6) is following this pattern does not give cause for optimism that Australia will bring new initiatives to this conflict. Until our government shows respect and effective concern for the situation of the Palestinians, our costly commitments to bringing peace in Afghanistan and Iraq will be ineffective.
Wal Jenkyn, Manifold Heights
Lobbying not new
WE MAY have Israeli lobbyists in Australia but we also have Palestinian lobbyists who work just as hard. In the past two weeks, two pro-Palestinian Labor MPs gave speeches in Parliament. Also, senators from both sides of Parliament and Arab ambassadors recently attended a dinner organised by Australians for Palestine. Visiting Palestinian activist Dianna Buttu was the guest speaker. It was one of many events organised by Palestinian lobbyists and was just as legitimate as Israeli lobbyists doing their job.
Lobbyists from all countries cover political and non-political issues. I am sure Australia has its own in Washington, Britain and China.
Michael Burd, Toorak
An incorrect term
YOUR story on a complaint to the Catholic Church's Towards Healing process (The Age, 9/6) referred to an ''affair'' between Eaglehawk woman Michelle Goldsmith and a priest. That term does not describe what was a close relationship. The church's independent assessor made no determination on the precise nature of the relationship. As a confidant of Ms Goldsmith and the priest, I write to clarify that her concern in sharing her story was to highlight what she perceived to be unjust and hurtful systemic processes within the church, especially in matters pertaining to women.
Father John Ryan, Dunlop, ACT
And another thing...
THE two coaches could have defused the situation by sending out runners to Baker and Johnson. Or were they playing to instructions?
Lorna Jensen, Bairnsdale
Sport
WHAT about penalising coaches for not issuing appropriate instructions after they see what players are doing?
Ron Austin, West Footscray
WHY was Johnson allowed to play with an injured wrist? Is this a model for Auskick?
Kevin Laws, Sunshine
MARK Webber (Sport, 29/6) is lucky that F1 applies ''nanny state'' laws when it comes to safety.
John Rawson, Briar Hill
Julia Gillard
SO, redheads are a source of mirth and its OK to take the mickey out of them. Do you want to run that past the Prime Minister?
Stewart Monckton, Mont Albert
JULIA Gillard, rationalist, versus Steve Fielding, Christian. Thank heavens we have separated the powers of church and state.
Neville Garner, Blairgowrie
JULIA, don't forget those that live by the sword, die by the sword. Remember Julius Caesar.
Leonard King, Budoora
Politics
''UNIONIST likely to replace Tanner'' (The Age, 29/6). Now there's a surprise.
John Dorman, Carnegie
THE Liberals may have an Abbott and two Bishops (Letters, 29/6), but Labor has the queen. Checkmate to Labor.
David Seal, Balwyn North
KEVIN won't leave the Lodge until he gets his bond back.
Ian Anderson, Ascot Vale
SHORTEN, with minimal parliamentary experience, sees himself as a king or queen-maker. He's a noisome individual, even by parliamentary standards.
Cor Lenghaus, Ararat
GORTON was a Liberal prime minister who was deposed by his own party in his first elected term (Comment, 29/6).
Bob Edgar, Frankston
Mining tax
THE miners' success in getting rid of Rudd has gone to their heads. They don't run this country (yet) and it's not for them to set deadlines.
Beverley Broadbent, East Brighton
WHY are Australians allowing the mining industry's ads to work? How can we permit Big Business to influence our political system?
Mary Kleinm, Caulfield South
SINCE when do companies have a ''right'' to agree on a government's tax decisions? Ms Gillard, you have a last chance to stand up to them. Please do not waste it.
William Raper, Brighton East
WHY are we pandering to these arrogant, greedy people?
John Ray, Box Hill
