Parliament House is the people's house. Parliamentarians swear an oath to defend it. The institution, the building, the representatives, and people's democratic rights. Because of its centrality to the democratic process, there have always been protests there. Parliamentarians support particular issues and often meet protesters. However, few have supported the interruption of parliament. This protocol has been broken by the Greens. Their MPs congratulated the demonstrators, describing their actions as "wonderful" and "fantastic".
One reason why the Greens' vote has been growing is that many people are tired of politicians. They want our representatives to show leadership and maturity, and to take a broad view of our national interest. The Greens would argue that the issue of offshore detention of asylum seekers raises great moral principles. I agree with them.
Illustration: Andrew Dyson
However, all demonstrators would claim that their particular protest raises important moral principles. If the pro-gun lobby, or an anti-lands right movement, or an anti-Muslim group disrupted Parliament, how would the Greens react? Should Parliament be interrupted by anyone and everyone now that some of our representatives have encouraged it? The Greens claim to be a party of principle but, in this case, they have not been very principled.
John Kilner, Fitzroy North
A truly brave, democratic protest
Bravo to The Age (Editorial, 2/12). Asylum seekers are languishing in terrible conditions on Nauru and Manus Island, and others are suffering terribly on unworkable temporary protection visas, yet this parliament and government does nothing to close the camps and bring them here. I salute the brave protesters. They exemplify the democratic heart of this nation.
Anne Walker, Carlton
It's our house, please don't fence it off
I am outraged that a 2.6-metre fence will be built around Parliament House ("Keep off the grass: knee-jerk reaction, says top architect" 2/12). It is an affront to everything we stand for. The world, and the security situation, have changed, they say. How so? Do the actions of others dictate how we should behave? Why? We designed and built a "house of the people", one to represent us and our values. What does it say about us when we need to fence it away from ourselves? We must not allow this to go ahead. Do not stop our kids from playing on the grassy slopes, above those MPs who deem it their duty to make decisions about our future. We need to live up to the egalitarianism that we espouse and brag about.
Michael Wahren, Merrijig
Where is the vision, leadership and hope?
I often watch Question Time in the Senate. Perhaps I am mad to do so. I hope to hear something that gives me hope, an integral speech about our society, a love for all its peoples and a desire to create fairness for all. What will it take? An evaluation of values that asks us to "re-open" our hearts and act on all that prevents this: inequity, racism, violence, poverty. My address might suggest affluence, but I am 61, unemployed and live in government housing. (Thank God.)
Marg Welsh, Abbotsford
And why the sniping, blaming and nastiness?
Bill Shorten told Parliament that, "behind the scenes, we actually get on quite well". If that is the case, why, for the sake of the nation, can't the MPs show that to us? Why can't the major parties see that their sniping, blaming, predictable point-scoring and nastiness are largely what is turning us off?
Sue Currie, Northcote
THE FORUM
Law and order auction
The Victorian government plans to spend more than $1billion on at least 2400 new police (The Age, 2/12). Our prison system already costs Victorians more than $1billion a year. With recidivism rates more than 40per cent, prison is an expensive investment in failure. We need to invest more in tackling what causes crime, promoting diversion from the justice system, and rehabilitating offenders.
The increase in police seems to be a political reaction to the opposition's posturing on law and order. It will increase the push for more prisons, and moves such as the disastrous transfer of children to adult prisons. We need to prevent crime before it happens, not react to it in ways that make it worse.
Darren Lewin-Hill, Northcote
Put police into stations
Ten or 15 years ago, there were fewer police in Victoria than there are now. However, local stations could roster a divisional van at 7am, 3pm and 11pm, and extra cars could be rostered at 8am, 6pm, when necessary. Cars dedicated to enforcing traffic laws were rostered on, and police members were rostered on "correspondence shifts" to keep their paperwork up to date.
Those days are gone. With a swing to "task force" policing, the street officer is going the way of the dinosaur. Force command has been using uniform police as a slush fund to man pet projects. As a result, stations cannot supply even basic services, let alone the extras which maintained public safety, and the crime statistics and road toll are increasing. Put police back into stations.
Ian Smith, Whittlesea
A shameful ruling
I am appalled at the federal government's lack of humanity in denying Bhajan Kaur permanent residency (The Age, 2/12), despite her intellectual disability and the fact that she lives with her mother and a caring, extended family. To call her a "burden" and send her back to Singapore is discrimination against someone with a disability, whatever the Immigration Department claims. Any one of us could be disabled some day. Shame on our government.
Lyn Shiells, Glen Iris
Heartless victimisation
I was terribly saddened to read that Bhajan Kaur must return to Singapore. The immigration system is draconian enough without victimising the intellectually disabled. Australia should be committed to protecting these citizens and helping their families.
Jane Smith, Doncaster
Vital communication
Federal Regional Communications Minister Fiona Nash says the Victorian government's "whingeing" about bad mobile phone coverage is "childish and pathetic" (The Age, 21/12).
I live in a single-storey house less than four kilometres from the CBD and I cannot make a phone call from inside my building. If Carlton North has a mobile black spot, I hate to think of the dangers in bushfire season to Victorians who live in remote country areas. The federal government should fix these problems on a needs basis, not based on electoral benefits.
Peter Kay, Carlton North
Defining feminism
Katherine Feeney's mother was "an incredible feminist woman" who taught her to "never depend on a man" (Comment, 1/12). This is another misunderstanding of feminism. Accepting help is not dependence and is not the antithesis of feminism.
Jenni King, Camberwell
The ABCC's powers
Contrary to your editorial (The Age, 1/12), the newly re-introduced Australian Building and Construction Commission has no power to "weed out", or do anything about, alleged corruption in the building and construction industry or the union movement. The legislation empowers the ABCC to enforce workplace legislation. It does not have any power to investigate or police allegations of corruption, violence, bribery or secret commissions, or any other breaches of the criminal law. Nor do the new laws bring the ABCC out from "within the union-friendly Fair Work Commission". The body it replaces has always been separate from the FWC.
Your editorial professes support for the role of unions "to protect the rights of workers, negotiate on their behalf and ensure they are able to work in safety and with respect". But the government intends the ABCC to make it harder for unions to carry out that role.
Marcus Clayton, industrial and employment law, Slater and Gordon
The role of unions
As I read the glowing editorial about the return of the ABCC, the irony of the online ad accompanying it – recruitment for 7-Eleven – was not lost on me. At a time when there are frequent reports of companies exploiting workers, is it really time to try and break the back of unions? I think not.
Paul Bugeja, Brunswick
Joy of rescued pets
What a lovely story about Faye, the "in-office" greyhound at engineering firm Verve Projects (The Age, 2/12). Other organisations and companies are also hosting rescue pets. I was attending the surgery of a doctor I had never visited before when, mid-consultation, a sleek black rescue greyhound emerged from beneath his desk. She spends her days curled up at his feet, asleep except for brief forays to greet patients. It made my day.
Shirley Clifford, Glen Waverley
Cost of privatisation
Opposition energy spokesman David Southwick claims the government lied to Victorians about the impact of Hazelwood's closure (The Age, 2/12). He has conveniently forgotten that his party, when led by Jeff Kennett, told Victorians that electricity privatisation would increase jobs and decrease prices. Yet all we have seen in the past two decades is increased prices, a less reliable source, and the closure of power stations with the resulting loss of jobs. On the issue of privatised electricity, no party can claim the moral high ground.
Kurt Elder, Port Melbourne
Brace for higher prices
It seems that Gregory Head (Letters, 1/12) is headed for more disappointment. Contrary to his expectations, electricity retailers plan to increase prices. If green energy producers are paid a pittance and consumers are using less electricity, how is a price increase justifiable? Is it to create the illusion of competition between suppliers who can then offer "discounts" on the inflated base price? If it is a way to maintain high profit margins, the strategy is very short-term, as customers will further lower their consumption or turn to alternative energy sources.
Clelia McCutcheon, Elsternwick
A fine Asian example
As a recently retired principal, I agree with Kevin Hartshorne (Letters, 2/12) that Australians are proud of their ignorance. Look at the high-ranking government schools and you could be forgiven for thinking you were in Madras, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Some are select-entry, but the point is that Asians value education far more than Aussies. Many Asian parents are economic refugees who want a better life for their children. They have high expectations and this means children put their best foot forward. And, yes, they play sport, such as cricket, soccer and hockey. We need a cultural shift: to value schooling. Helicopter and enabling parents do not help children become resilient students. Aussies should talk to Chinese, Indian or Malaysian parents and share stories about motivating children.
Ian McKenzie, Beaconsfield
Learn to dumb down
Pat Felvus (Letters, 2/12), your daughter will never get to interview stage for a primary teaching position if she cites a string of her qualifications. Instead, she should cite the minimum qualifications required for the position. This would be much less threatening for members of the interview panel, most of whom will be her future colleagues.
Marcia Roche, Mill Park
It's fun, not X-rated
Last December I went into a shop in the city and asked for the Age's 2016 Naked Man calendar. The assistant gave me a funny look and directed me to a far corner where I found "adults only" calendars, but not the Naked Man one. Being a lady of advancing years, it was a while before the penny dropped. I have dined out on that story since then. This year I have very sensibly ordered my 2017 Naked Man calendar.
Carolyn Reynolds, Lake Boga
AND ANOTHER THING
Christensen
Obesity and violence are key areas of concern. And what photo does The Age run on page one?
Harriet Farnaby, Geelong West
I saw the photo and thought, "yikes".
Brian Lewis, Mount Martha
If Joyce is grooming Christensen, a new stylist is desperately needed.
Joan Segrave, Healesville
It's great that the Nationals have a new party whip.
John Bye, Elwood
Backpacker tax
Turnbull said backpackers were "rich white kids". Skin colour is now a tax category? Please explain.
Jane Orton, Richmond
Vilified asylum seekers have been joined by vilified "rich, white kids".
Philip West, Jan Juc
Bring the refugees to the mainland to pick the harvest and resettle them in regional centres.
Simon Hauser, Northcote
Offer the backpacker jobs to asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. They won't complain about tax rates.
Brian James, Templestowe
Will the government now tax the big end of town and apply a fairness for all?
Graham Bell, Blackburn
Politics
So Donald Turnbull is going to build a fence.
Perry Becker, Leopold
Protesters interrupted the farcical Question Time to voice their disapproval of refugee policies. A much better use of parliament's time.
David Pahl, Beechworth
It's just awful seeing One Nation tear itself apart. No, really.
Lewis Winders, Sheffield, Tas
Kazakhstan is better at teaching maths and science. Qatar collects more royalties for natural gas. The Lucky Country's luck is running out.
Kevan Porter, Alphington