I am struggling to comprehend what is meant by "Australian values" in this country anymore. Recently I heard the Minister for Human Services Alan Tudge equating the drug testing of convicted criminals as no different to the proposed drug testing of desperately poor people on welfare. The implication being that the poorest, most vulnerable members of society really are, in essence, just that: criminals.
It is not that Mr Tudge states such an appalling belief as fact I find so abhorrent, it is the fact nobody even challenges him on it. Not the opposition, not the media, nobody. What is happening to this country?
Martin Rolfe, Research
The fair go is fading away
The final departure bridging visa is yet another disgraceful action from the government and another "nail in the coffin" of human rights in this country. The illusion that we are a country of the "fair go" is no longer the case; instead we have become increasingly selfish and inward-looking and bereft of moral leadership. Surely we can redeem ourselves and have a humane approach to the horrendous circumstances the asylum seekers find themselves in?
Denise Stevens, Healesville
Let us restore our reputation
The announcement by the Turnbull government about cutting support for asylum seekers who were brought to Australia for medical reasons is breathtakingly heartless. Are refugees expected to return "home" to bomb craters in Syria or Afghanistan, or the barbarity of IS, or to Nauru, where children are afraid to go to school for fear of being attacked? What has happened to Australia's reputation for compassion?
People seeking asylum are entitled by international law to refuge. They are not "illegals". Let's restore Australia's tattered reputation and give these suffering people a fair go.
Gwenda Davey, Burwood East
One side or the other, they're all the same
I am sick of hearing politicians justify their inhumane actions towards asylum seekers with the premise that people will start to attempt coming back to Australia by boat again.
This was reflected in the words of Richard Marles, the shadow defence minister, at the weekend, which makes me believe that Labor would continue to treat asylum seekers in exactly the same way as the Coalition.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
Clubhouses for the refugees
In our park there are two clubhouses, each with a kitchen and bathrooms. Local councils have these buildings all over Australia and they are only intermittently used. If a small percentage of bowlers for example, agreed to have their morning tea outside we could accommodate all the asylum seekers who are being thrown out of their homes. We could also change lives.
Meg Williams, Alphington
Come back Malcolm ... Fraser
While the government has rightly condemned institutions where sexual abuse of children has occurred it is inflicting possibly even greater harm on families whose only "crime" is to seek our protection. As a paediatrician and teacher of medical students at the University of Melbourne over many years I am appalled by what is done by this government in our name. As a once proud Australian citizen I am now ashamed to call myself Australian. Come back Malcolm Fraser.
David McCredie, Kew
FORUM
What is important
I am stunned by the wall-to-wall media coverage of the floods in Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey compared with the cursory reporting of those in Bangladesh.
The loss of human life and livelihood is regrettable wherever it occurs, but apparently, in Western eyes, the loss is more significant if it occurs in rich Western countries than in poor underdeveloped nations. Is it simply that white lives matter more than brown ones?
The latest piece of gratuitous cruelty being meted out to refugees brought to this country from Australian detention overseas is perhaps just another illustration of this.
Juliet Flesch, Kew
In honour of ...
The new station at Parkville should be named in honour of Professor Donald Metcalf. His lifetime of work at the nearby Walter and Eliza Hall Institute revolutionised haematology and led to new treatments that have benefited tens of millions of people. A more fitting name is hard to imagine.
James Goding, Emeritus Professor of Experimental Pathology, Monash University
... or then again
There's a competition to name new stations at Arden, Parkville, Domain and Swanston Street? Could I suggest Arden, Parkville, Domain and Swanston Street?
Anna Summerfield, Bendigo
Wrong queen
Natalie Reilly in Daily Life (28/8), please check your facts. Mary Queen of Scots was a different queen from Elizabeth the First, also known as the Virgin Queen.
Heather D'Cruz, Geelong West
Higher not better
With some time yet before wages growth is likely to improve, first-home buyers could be excused for thinking that prolonged high prices are probably not a good thing.
Andrew Remington, Travancore
Change the source
Regarding "Health services reeling from power bill shock" (The Age, 28/8), it's disappointing to hear that regional hospitals and health centres have been hit by increased power prices.
The Andrews government's Victorian Renewable Energy Target will bring up to 5000 MW of new capacity online by 2025 and put downward pressure on power prices over the mid to long term.
For more immediate impact, why not put solar power and battery storage on every regional hospital throughout Victoria?
Hospitals have large roofs and would save thousands of dollars each year by generating some of their own power. Regional health centres in Maryborough and Yackandandah are already saving will solar. It's time for a wider rollout.
Leigh Ewbank, Preston
Funding help
The editorial ("How to help the young minimise drug harm", The Age, 25/8) reiterated the need for improved education and a better approach to recreational drug use through regulation.
If those wishing to use drugs had these prescribed and administered within a safe location offering better choices and support, the funds collected could be focused on improved rehabilitation access and sustained education. Currently the access for both is limited and results in individuals and families "trapped" through their inability to find a constructive way ahead.
Funds raised through regulation could ensure school education that is sadly limited. Potentially, we could avoid the nonsense of children being expelled, if educational efforts focused on raising awareness and risk for decision making.
Peter Thompson, East Melbourne
Scrap NT Intervention
The former Chief Justice of the Family Court, Alastair Nicholson, has called for the scrapping of the "Intervention" in the Northern Territory. Introduced 10 years ago, it purported to try to root out paedophilia in remote Indigenous communities.
This was a false claim. No paedophiles have been arrested. It is a failed policy.
However, its real aim was to assimilate traditionally oriented Aboriginal people. In conjunction with the NT government, self-management through locally elected town councils was swept away in 2008 in favour of shire councils run by the government.
Bilingual education was abolished, endangering the survival of dozens of Indigenous languages. This now needs to be reversed. Relationships between First Nations people and other Australians will only improve when the former are seen as part of the solution, and not just "the problem". Scrap the Intervention now.
Ian Yule, St Albans Park
Pots and kettles
Barnaby Joyce says we are sick of the "social engineering" by councils in changing Australia Day. This from a party which introduced mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients. Social engineering, indeed.
Tibor Majlath, Greensborough
My life, my death
If some people fear death, Julie Ottobre (Letters, 28/8), maybe it's because that fear has been instilled in them since childhood by "pastoral practitioners". I'm not afraid of death, but I do have some concerns about the road I'll travel to get there.
Your letter highlights the desire by some to rule the lives (and deaths) of others, usually in the name of some unproven supreme being. It is my life, Ms Ottobre, and it will be my death, too.
Lewis Winders, Sheffield, Tas
Ways of dying
Toby Hall (The Age 26/8) is not a doctor. He is the CEO of a Catholic hospital and therefore espouses the Catholic Church's views on voluntary assisted dying. I agree with him on one thing, that there is great anxiety about dying, and with good reason.
Despite the availability of palliative care, people are fearful, through personal experience of distressing deaths, that they will not have personal control over their end of life. Providing them with that potential control through the ability to request medication from two doctors is the most powerful palliative for that fear and anxiety.
I disagree with him when he states that complications such as vomiting, seizures and failure to experience coma are "not uncommon" in voluntary assisted dying. There is ample evidence from Oregon and Dignitas that, with proper preparation and the correct dose of medication, such events are exceptionally rare.
Dr Rodney Syme, vice-president, Dying With Dignity Victoria
Creation day
Of course Captain Cook discovered Australia; as did many others before him. To deny that fact is to deny the meaning of the word. At the time of the First Fleet, Britain was the result of invasion, conquest, amalgamation and integration. Yes the First Fleet was also an invasion.
But there is no denying that was the start of the process which has led to the creation of Australia as we know it today.
Denis Croke, Glen Iris
Academic freedom
Your editorial ("Melbourne University's freedom fighter test", 28/8) implies that the University of Melbourne does not have a steadfast commitment to academic freedom of expression. This suggestion is untrue.
The National Tertiary Education Union is seeking to use academic freedom as part of its enterprise bargaining strategy. The university believes that academic freedom is too important to be governed through an industrial agreement.
Academic freedom is a core value of the University of Melbourne. All university scholars are free to engage in critical inquiry and public discourse under the binding Academic Freedom of Expression Policy, a policy reaffirmed by University Council last March.
Academics are free to hold and express diverse opinions and to engage in robust and uninhibited public debate.
These fundamental and vital freedoms are protected by the university's policy, its internal grievance procedure, existing employment law and the national higher education standards framework. The university would not dismiss academics on the basis of them making controversial public comments. Nor would it have a valid or lawful reason to do so.
Professor Richard James, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne
Keep it public
It is very difficult to understand the Labor government's intentions to sell public land for private housing ("Opposition grows to developer deals on public housing", The Age, 28/8). Valuable public land will be sold to gain only a meagre 10 per cent increase in public housing.
In Flemington, this "public land" consists of the space between four 20-storey public housing blocks, removing much-needed open space, parking, and beautiful established trees. The tower blocks will remain unchanged, but the quality of life for the residents will be greatly diminished.
Margaret Rolfe, Flemington
AND ANOTHER THING
Abbott
Tony Abbott finally admits he was drunk while at work. If I behaved as such while at work, I would be sacked. As one of his employers, I intend to sack him. Pity I must wait until the election.
Peter Brady, Mount Martha
So Tony Abbott was as drunk as a lord at work. Maybe that's why he brought back knighthoods.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill
Asylum seekers
If the government thinks cruelty to asylum seekers will buy it votes let's hope it has another think coming.
Janet Gaden, Daylesford
One thing you can't accuse Peter Dutton of is him letting compassion get in his way.
Henry Herzog, St Kilda East
The latest asylum seeker edict; the action of a terminally weak government trying to look strong bybullying the defenceless. Sickening.
Ruja Varon, Malvern
There is room at my inn for asylum seekers.
Joan Noone, Hampton
If Peter Dutton and Malcolm Turnbull treated animals like they have treated asylum seekers they would be hounded out of Parliament.
Andy Indrans, Taradale
Turnbull, Dutton and the present government make me ashamed of being Australian.
Sigmund Jorgensen, Eltham
Other matters
Please tell the Christian lobby that same-sex marriage will not be made compulsory.
Phil Lipshut, Elsternwick
Melbourne: the new Richmond, only dumber.
John Handley, Cheltenham
Malcolm Turnbull could have fully funded the feasibility study for Snowy 2.0 if he cancelled the same-sex marriage survey.
Alan Inchley, Frankston