It's official. Our detention of refugees is a deliberate regime of neglect and cruelty amounting to torture under international law. Unfortunately, the personal stories highlighted in various media of the detained children have failed to move our leaders to merciful action. And it seems that half of us are too busy feasting on the good life to give two hoots, while the other half are too preoccupied with their own struggles for economic, social and emotional survival to pay attention. Where is Australia's moral leadership and compassionate heart? Must we wait for the UN Committee Against Torture to take action, or for individual government officials to face prosecution under international law, before innocent souls imprisoned by us in hellish conditions are released?
Jill Sanguinetti, East Brunswick
![Illustration: Jim Pavlidis](/web/20161031002436im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/c/c/u/h/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsc9zs.png/1477548595157.jpg)
Heed your own travel advice
Iran, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iraq. These nationalities are reportedly the most prevalent among asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. The travel advice regarding these countries is variously: "Exercise a high degree of caution"; "reconsider your need to travel"; "do not travel"; "very high risk"; and "seek professional security advice". Yet Immigration Minister Peter Dutton advises incarcerated asylum seekers to: "[T]ake the package, go back to your country of origin." And what about the nearly 200 stateless asylum seekers? If it's not safe enough for DFAT (or the minister), how could any right-minded person think it safe to return those whose emotional states we've destroyed?
Judy Bamberger, O'Connor, ACT
Shooting the messenger
Peter Dutton's apparent boycott of free and independent media in favour of tightly controlled in-house bulletins ("New Border Force podcast circumvents left-wing media", 27/10) bears all the hallmarks of a totalitarian regime. This is a government always inclined to shoot the messenger rather than engage in substantive debate.
Malcolm McKinnon, Fitzroy
Backed into a corner
I, too, was ashamed by Tanya Plibersek's position on Q & A (Letters, 26/10). Our politicians have painted themselves into a corner by stating vociferously that no refugees who arrive by boat will ever be allowed into Australia. But if no third country will take them, following Australia's rejection of New Zealand's offer, then there is no option but to bring them here; they cannot be left to languish indefinitely. There is ample evidence obtained over a long period of time from diverse sources of the incalculable harm being perpetrated on refugees on Manus and Nauru. To continue to do something that is manifestly wrong, and that has been repeatedly shown to have markedly adverse consequences, is truly reprehensible.
Ruja Varon, Malvern
Little voice has become a chorus
They say it's all for the good; they say it protects our borders; they say it saves lives; and they say there's no other way ... and yet that little voice in my head keeps saying, "it's cruel; it's hurting children; it's torture to punish one group of people to deter another; it's just plain wrong". And now it's not just a little voice, it's the United Nations and Amnesty International. Let's make it a universal voice, the voice of our collective consciences. Bring them here. They have suffered enough. We can find another way.
Lindy Grange, Newport
The values we leave our children
We say we are concerned about the future of our children and our grandchildren because of the large debt we are leaving them. As we lock up genuine asylum seekers like criminals, I say we should be more concerned about the values we are leaving behind.
Bill Armstrong, Garden City
THE FORUM
Pampered politicians ...
Corrections Minister Steve Herbert has been caught out transporting his dogs from Parkdale to Trentham in a government chauffeur-driven car (The Age, 27/10). He and Premier Dan Andrews obviously believe an apology is sufficient and hope the issue will blow over. But Mr Herbert has shown such an appalling lack of judgment that he should not continue to hold a ministerial position. If he fails to fall on his sword, the Premier must sack him. The logs of his travels should also be scrutinised and an account for all inappropriate travel be delivered to him. Taxpayers are sick and tired of this "entitled" behaviour. Only strong action will help stamp it out.
Alan Inchley, Frankston
... need to get real
Steve Herbert has offered "to pay for the petrol". What about the cost of the chauffeur and the wear and tear and running costs of the car? He should pay the commercial rate of hiring a limousine and chauffeur. Get real, Steve.
Barry Kearney, Ringwood North
Show some decency
The Premier said Mr Herbert had failed the commonsense test in his use of the car. Why is he still a minister if he has no commonsense?
Mel Green, Glen Waverley
End cowboys' careers
The "cowboys" that illegally demolished the Corkman hotel and then surreptitiously removed the asbestos material to another suburb should not only be slapped with a very substantial fine but be de-registered and never allowed to operate again. These two men mindlessly endangered the lives of people in Cairnlea adjacent to where the asbestos material was dumped. The men should be made an example of to deter the many other cowboy developers out there. By the way, has anyone heard the words "I'm sorry" emanating from the mouths of Messrs Kutlesovski and Shaqiri? I doubt if you will.
John Cain, McCrae
Repossess the hotel
Why trust a company that has destroyed part of Victoria's heritage to rebuild it? Repossess the property, resell it and give the proceeds to the National Trust of Victoria, which knows what preserving Victoria's heritage is all about.
Jonathan Chapman, Hawthorn East
Real threat to society
In demolishing the Corkman hotel, the developers showed a complete disregard for rules, regulations and the health and safety of workers and the public in their pursuit of greater profits, yet we are constantly told it is construction unions that are the biggest danger to society in the building sector.
Graeme Finn, St Peters, NSW
Check all demolitions
There has been a lot of fuss about the asbestos fibres in demolition waste from the Corkman. Meanwhile, numerous older houses in the suburbs have been demolished by bucket dredges and loaded into open trucks without prior removal of asbestos sheeting in the eaves and probably laundries and no exclusion zones erected during demolition. It's virtually impossible to not release asbestos fibres into the air when demolishing properties. And where does all this waste get dumped? So why single out this hotel? Who is checking on all the other demolitions?
John Weymouth, Ringwood East
Tricky questions
Wanted urgently. An immediate replacement for a key role in the Department of the Attorney General. Those wishing to apply will need to answer the following three questions: "Do you have a problem with 'hubris'?"; "What is your definition of 'consultation'?"; and "When the ring master of the circus cracks his whip – how high can you jump?".
Jill Mazzotta, Balaclava
Fiddling at the edges
Come on, Mr Turnbull. For Australia's sake stop fiddling around the edges introducing backpacker taxes, cuts in paid parental leave and welfare, and a whole swag of items that fit the right wing's agenda. Do something serious about international tax avoidance, and getting a proper return on our non-renewable resources. Adequately tackling these two issues alone will solve Australia's revenue problem in the long term, benefiting all generations. Our future is being sold to benefit overseas interests.
Don Vincent, Warrandyte
Wasteful AFL
In the same week that global CO2 levels are reported to be above the 400 ppm mark (The Age, 25/10), the AFL releases its latest fixture, awash with a multitude of twilight and night games. The majority of games will now be played under partial or total artificial light. The energy required for these lights is (in Victoria anyway) usually produced at about 40 per cent efficiency by burning coal or natural gas. As a VCE chemistry teacher charged with teaching students about energy production and greenhouse gas emissions, I despair at a society that chooses entertainment and filling coffers over the care of the environment.
Perhaps I should rethink the purpose of my teaching. Maybe it should now be about simply gaining a qualification rather than equipping young people to live faithful, earth-caring lives.
Christopher Roger Fernando, Montrose
More to life than money
So Gary Ablett has finally realised there is more to football, and life, than million-dollar contracts. He wanted to move back to Geelong to play out his career. Well, Gary, you made your bed on the Gold Coast and now you just have to lie on it, even if it has turned out to be a (very expensive) bed of nails. But the silver lining is that perhaps other players might learn from Ablett's experience – that despite the flood of business dollars in football today, the game's attractions run far deeper than any pay cheque.
Bob Muntz, Ascot Vale
Footy's cattle trade
I remember in 1965 as a young girl discussing with friends the "defection" of Ron Barassi to Carlton. My view was that he was disloyal to the Demons. Fast forward to 2016 and I am feeling a wee bit like this about Hawthorn. I am reminded of the story by Tim Winton My Father's Axe. Is it still his dad's axe when the head and handle have been replaced numerous times?
Is Hawthorn still Hawthorn without Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis? Of course the answer is "Yes". No longer is Hawthorn represented by Leigh Matthews, Robert DiPierdomenico, John Peck, John Platten, Garry Ayers, Peter Crimmins and so on.
But as a supporter who used to accompany her father to Glenferrie Oval in the 1960s, I am disappointed by the "cattle-trade" mentality of clubs. I'm sure Alistair Clarkson knows what he is doing in terms of premierships but clubs (players and supporters) are more than that.
Helen Reynolds, Burwood
Milking the farmers
The big two supermarkets cut the price of milk to below sustainable levels forcing producers out of business, leading to the importation of milk from overseas (The Age, 27/10). That went well.
Greg Tanner, Elwood
Worthy Nobel winners
Writers have supported the Nobel prize for Literature being awarded to Bob Dylan (Letters, 27/10). I suggest the committee should consider Chuck Berry. His more than 20 songs captured and contributed to a mood of teenage angst and interests – check out the cleverly crafted words of Sweet Little Sixteen, Nadine, Memphis Tennessee and Maybelline – to mention a few.
Berry's talent was in matching his imaginative lyrics to catchy driving rhythm and blues, thus influencing the development of rock'n'roll and inspiring such bands as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Lest readers think this far-fetched it is worth noting that the King of Sweden awarded medals to Dylan and Berry.
But nothing that either man wrote is anywhere near the calibre or range of the writings of the late Graham Greene, whom the Nobel committee puzzlingly overlooked for its literature prize.
Thomas Hogg, East Melbourne
Dig deeper for charity
If more Australians volunteered their time, or undertook to guarantee a regular donation, then perhaps some of their favourite charities would not have to resort to paying third parties to raise the funds in the first place
Joanna Wriedt, Eaglemont
Define your terms
The robbery of a Toorak jewellery store and a number of car jackings in Melbourne have been regularly described as having been allegedly committed by "people of African appearance". Given that there are more than 3000 ethnic groups in Africa, what does such a description really mean? What is obviously meant is that the alleged offenders were black. Are we so politically sensitive in today's world that we can't describe perpetrators by their obvious defining physical characteristic, which in this case is skin colour?
Rod Smyrk, Sunbury
Opium and gunboats
The issues between China and Crown over casino gambling has startling similarities to the opium wars. James Packer and his financial advisers would do well to study the history of the 1830s-1840s. And then ask themselves: who has the gunboats this time? History has a habit of repeating itself.
Stewart Bessant, Moonee Ponds
AND ANOTHER THING...
Bob Day
Getting the ABCC bill through the Senate. Every dog has its Day.
Tony Lenten, Glen Waverley
The senator has resigned but will vote anyway because his resignation has not been officially handed in. His Family First, not mine.
Graeme Lee, Fitzroy
Family First has now become Fist Full of Dollars First.
Trevor Meyer, Hastings
The state
If the Corrections Minister can't judge right from wrong regarding his dogs, how can he oversee a department that metes out punishment to others, some of whom have also misused public funds?
Chris Davis, Pascoe Vale
Steve Herbert should be given two cans of Pal and sent packing.
Ian Bell, Fitzroy
Steve, I think it is called misappropriation of taxpayers' funds.
Paul Cook, Yarraville
The nation
Senator Brandis, do us a favour and shut the door on your way out.
Susan Upton, Donald
I am an octogenarian who cares for the health of the planet. If I am called a "vexatious litigant" so be it.
Beverley McIntyre, Camberwell
I am really missing Jobson Growth. Is he away on some junket?
Tony Andreatta, Kew
Here's to triple dipping: negative gearing, capital gains tax discount, invest in a family trust.
Greg Curtin, Blackburn South
Joe Hockey has his salary, pension and residential expenses all paid by us. A classic triple dipper. He's leaning so far, he might just topple.
Raymond Kenyon, Camberwell
Donald Trump
If Trumps wins, America will end up looking the way it would have looked if the South had won the civil war.
Mike Puleston, Brunswick
The walking, talking human contradiction.
Rod Eldridge, Derrinallum