As trade minister, Andrew Robb spent his time, using taxpayers' money, negotiating a free trade agreement with China. Now he has been appointed as a senior economic adviser to Chinese company Landbridge Group, which leased the Port of Darwin in contentious circumstances.
Politicians continue to take personal advantage at every opportunity, often rorting the taxpayer. Examples abound: former federal speaker Bronwyn Bishop took a $5000 helicopter ride to a Liberal Party fundraiser; Victorian MP Steve Herbert ferried his dogs in his government car; former treasurer Joe Hockey (of lifter and leaner fame) got a mansion in Washington, a huge salary, access to an unfunded pension before retirement – plus baby sitters that we pay for. All this destabilises our society. If the pollies keep on this course, revolution looks like an attractive proposition.
Des Bleakley, Vermont South
It's a win-win situation for ex-politicians
First, former federal resources minister Ian Macfarlane took up a job as chief executive of Queensland Resources Council. Now Andrew Robb has got a job with the Chinese company Landbridge Group. It seems their commitment to ministerial standards reads, "I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine".
Peter Neilson, Heathcote
Now if only I were Steve Herbert's dog...
So the Victorian government paid (using taxpayers' money, of course) to ferry Steve Herbert's two dogs to and from Melbourne and his country retreat in Trentham. However, it will not pay for me, an aged pensioner who lives in an isolated rural area, to travel similar distances to attend vital medical services.
Geoff Perston, Yarram
Too often, transgressors escape punishment
That some politicians abuse their entitlements should come as little surprise. The occasional human transgression is to be expected, especially in an arena where "winning" is more important than "getting it right for the future". It is what happens next that should concern us. Almost invariably, transgressors are given no more than a gentle rap on the knuckles.
Ministers who are caught double dipping and otherwise "leaning" are not required to step down from their portfolios, except when it is followed by a storm of public outrage (a la Bronwyn Bishop and altogether too rare). The routine and casual abuse of entitlements may seem trivial compared to issues such as protecting the climate and the Great Barrier Reef, and building the intellectual and social capital that are essential to an enlightened society. But they are all part of a crucial moral continuum. The standard you walk by is the standard you set.
Nick Jans, Marysville
It's time to clamp down on MPs' travel rorts
It cannot be that hard to give each minister an annual travel budget – which they must not exceed without good reason – commensurate with their particular portfolio. After all, most other business plans depend on budgets.
Raymond Reaburn, Box Hill
When families comes a very distant second
It is ironic that Family First senator Bob Day effectively donated $1.47million to his own political party – and probably paid himself large dividends – at a time when his Home Australia group of companies were facing collapse. This has left numerous families with partly built homes and facing financial ruin. "Family first", indeed.
Garry Meller, Bentleigh
Don't ignore big issues
Thank you, Tom Switzer ("Neglect Asia at our peril", Comment, 30/10). I suspect the Philippines' changed stance towards the United States and China, and the 99-year-lease of the Port of Darwin to Chinese interests, are probably the most important events that will affect Australia for the next 50 to 100years. I am deafened by the silence of the media and politicians on these issues. No doubt they are distracted by the clown candidate running for the US presidency.
Bob Gunter, Red Hill
Trump and his fans
It is ironic that at a Trump rally in Nevada, conservative activist Wayne Root should say "working class Americans, Christians, gun owners, small business owners, military veterans and taxpayers" would violently take over the capital (World, 1/11). Ironic because one of the very few Americans who would not fall into these categories would be Donald Trump himself.
Peter Williams, Alphington
Fatigue means errors
The report on doctor fatigue (The Age, 31/10) made disturbing reading. It is now 45years since I graduated in medicine. As an intern at the Alfred Hospital, I was rostered for 121hours in a "heavy" week and 91hours in a "light" week. I have kept the rosters because I thought the day would come when no one would believe me. It appears the lesson has still not been learned.
The finding that some doctors work shifts of up to 43hours and weeks of 120hours is appalling. What is even more appalling is that some doctors believe these hours give you "lots of experience and you learn a lot".
After no sleep for more than 24hours, it is unbelievable that anyone would learn much. Doctors are not super-human. To anyone who worked these hours, I would ask: "Can you honestly say that you never made a serious error due to fatigue?"
Emeritus Professor James Goding, Princes Hill
The ignorant country?
After reading Eric Weiner's piece, "So you're pretty smart – but are you really a genius?" (Comment, 31/10), I was particularly taken by Myth 2 (geniuses can pop up anywhere and at any time'). They spring, "like flowers", from cultures of nurture, tolerance and openness to new experience. I thought about the inverse. Stupidity springs from ignorance, intolerance and unjustified fear in an under-educated, under-employed and abused culture. I do not expect the "Clever Country" to produce many geniuses soon, but we will as sure as hell not with the education and arts policies of our so-called leaders. The inverse is, of course, inevitable.
Peter Voice, Deep Lead
Degrees of 'fair go"
Cardinal George Pell knew enough to conclude that more serious action should have been taken against a paedophile priest, according to counsel assisting the child sex abuse royal commission (The Age, 1/11). Cardinal Pell has said previously that he only wants a fair go. It is hard to argue against that, but would it be the kind of fair go the Catholic Church gave to paedophile priests – or to the victims?
David Walker, Camberwell
An unequal marriage
Father Albert Said (Letters, 1/11) highlights the role of celibacy in the joy of marriage with God. I fail to understand why this requiresabstinence from the pleasures of a sexual relationship. Who wrote the fidelity clause in this marriage; God or person? It sounds like an unequal marriage to me. At the same time, many priests have learned to "multi-task" within this marriage.
Peter McIntosh, Ballarat
It's not all glamour
Behind the marquees, bubbles and fascinators are underpaid stable hands and jockeys; cobalt, steroids and ice; broken legs, torn ligaments and slaughter; gambling, fractured families and suicide. A growing number of people are saying no to the Melbourne Cup. When you look behind the headlines, it is easy to see why.
Kate Elliott, North Melbourne
Laugh and have fun
Class: a concept happily left behind in Britain several centuries ago. Laughing at ourselves: a better concept which we have adopted. Wet and smelly, ruined shoes, hobbling in pain, the wrong clothes and too much champagne on Cup Day (Comment, 1/11)? Laugh at yourself, Aubrey Perry. You, like many others, made a mess of it.
Denise Deerson, Bulleen
You welcomed us once
My father, a policeman in the Netherlands during World War II, refused to collaborate with the Germans. He went underground and, consequently, his life within the police force was very difficult. We were a family with five children and we had nowhere to go. We were given the chance to come here in 1956. Why has Australia become heartless and calculating about refugees? Decisions are often made on economic/political, rather than humanitarian, grounds yet our country is made up of many immigrants. They are hardworking and honest and only want a better life for their families. Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Dutton, put yourself in the refugees' place. Bill Shorten and Labor, grow a back bone. Stand up and be counted as humanitarians with a moral compass.
Trudy Nicholson, Buninyong
Italy's caring approach
It beggars belief that our government is cracking down on refugees. Compare this to Italy, whose people are experiencing horrific conditions following two earthquakes. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has promised to make every effort to rebuild while his country, not much bigger than Victoria, has been swamped by refugees. No protests or criticism, just concern and compassion amid discussions about how best to look after them. I love Australia, which welcomed my parents so long ago, but I am ashamed at the heartlessness of our elected representatives.
Nadia Rocchi, Aireys Inlet
Bipartisan hypocrisy
While the federal government is lauding itself for its $100million family violence package (having previously cut $52million from legal aid services), it inflicts state-sanctioned violence on asylum seeker families on Nauru. Obviously some families are more worthy than others Shame on politicians of both parties for their hypocrisy.
Marie Rogers, Kew
Yet more persecution
The arbitrary nature of the proposed banning of asylum seekers who came by boat July 19, 2013 appals me. If we have "stopped the boats", why continue to persecute this group? After reading their stories in The Age, I can only say it is our loss that they cannot settle in Australia or be reunited with their families who live here. When will our shameful treatment of the refugees stop? Bring them here.
Karen Dupleix, Brunswick
The logical answer
Does anyone else recall when New Zealand had a problem with overstaying Pacific Islanders? Prime Minister Helen Clark solved it at a stroke by granting them citizenship, then many promptly moved to Sydney and Brisbane. There would be little point in a third-party deal with New Zealand for the Manus Island and Nauru detainees if the same thing were to happen. The mooted lifetime visa ban seems a logical way to allow a humanitarian solution to this awful issue.
Michael Spillane, Bendigo
Therapy is the key
Antidepressant medication is vastly over-prescribed in Australia. It is now given to 10per cent of the adult population. At our group psychology practice, we have conducted research on more than 600 adults with major depressive disorder. This is relevant to your article ("Pills might not be best for mild depression", 1/11.) Those clients who were not on medication (about 40per cent) recovered just as well, and just as quickly, as those who were on medication. Effective psychological therapy is a key to recovery.
Chris Mackey, clinical psychologist, Geelong West
Integrity and equality
The 2017 AFL fixture (Sport, 28/10) again demonstrates some clubs have a harder draw than others. This is a source of frustration for those who like to think the best team will win the premiership. Each year the final eight is usually settled in July. There is a better way. In rounds one to 17, each team plays every other team once. In the final seven weeks, each team in the top eight plays every other team once. (The other 10 teams play for cash and prize picks.) The top two teams play in the grand final. This would deliver equality and increased spectator interest across the season, and increased revenue. It would be wonderful to have Christmas in August.
John Hennessy, Sunbury
A once great precinct
In the article about the Gatwick Hotel and demise of Fitzroy Street, St Kilda (The Age, October 30) the closed Mirka restaurant at the Tolarno Hotel was referred to as "exclusive". It was very accessible at about $75 per person for a good dinner (two courses, a glass of wine and a coffee). When a precinct like St Kilda cannot support a high-quality but mid-priced restaurant, clearly it has a problem.
Geoffrey Conaghan, St Kilda
AND ANOTHER THING
I know why Pell was elevated to a cardinal. He's a world champion in Tunnel Vision and Selective Hearing.
Glenda Johnston, Queenscliff
Refugees
Faust sold his soul for youth and knowledge. Turnbull has sold his for a handful of grubby votes in the Senate.
Les Terrill, Williamstown
The new policy needs to be backdated to include those who have arrived by boat since 1788.
Stephen Opat, Caulfield South
ISIS uses innocent and desperate people as human shields. Is this Australia's version of the human shield?
Mary Anne Collins, Bellbrae
One Nation celebrates and our nation hangs its head in shame.
Mary Stephen, St Kilda West
Refugees are no longer drowning at sea. They're being submitted to a long, slow death under our care.
Anne Ripper, Altona Meadows
The refugees must be in such despair, they probably wish they had drowned.
Rob Kneale, Ascot Vale
Dutton should send his message to people smugglers on a warship rather than further traumatising children in detention.
Colin Jones, South Melbourne
When was our new prime minister, Pauline Turnbull, sworn in?
Robert Ness, Middle Park
No compassion, empathy or justice.
Bill Proctor, Launching Place
Melbourne Cup
How many business people sipping champagne in the Birdcage aren't paying their workers award wages?
Meg Paul, Camberwell
Emirates is serving Penfolds 2012 Grange, at $850 a bottle, in the Birdcage. I'll stick with Grunge 2016.
Dawn Evans, Highton