Albanese's Palestine decision achieves nothing but division

Sydney Morning Herald

a day ago

The announcement by Hamas founder Hassan Yousef that the organisation applauds Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's recognition of a Palestinian state is, not surprisingly, sending shock waves through the Jewish community (' Anger at PM after praise from Hamas ', August 14). All it is likely to achieve is to divide Australians. The recognition of Palestine may well succeed in the UN General Assembly, which has a large Arab block, but it will be vetoed in the Security Council by the United States, as the US Ambassador to the UN has already indicated her government's opposition. So what will it achieve? A boost in political support for governments in Europe, and perhaps Australia, which have Arab minorities in key parliamentary seats – but the war in the Middle East will continue. Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh
Hassan Yousef is currently residing in an Israeli prison. He has applauded Australia's decision to recognise Palestine. Of course, any sensible, intelligent person or media could see that Hamas is manipulating our government's decision, just as we recognise that the Liberals and Nationals manipulate the facts about the economy, renewables, climate change, cost of living – the list is endless. But don't worry, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is going to 'unrecognise' Palestinian recognition when she's in government, maybe in about 10 years' time – if they're lucky. John Nelson, Mudgee
So Australia has emboldened Hamas. Anything bad Hamas now does will be the Australian government's fault. Do the people who say these things hear themselves? Will the Liberal Party ever stand for anything other than dividing Australia over every contentious issue? The Labor government wants a free and secure Israel and a free and secure Palestine. That's not what Hamas wants. We are not on their side. I am waiting to hear Sussan Ley support the actions of the IDF in Gaza. Let's hear it Sussan, loud and clear. Garry Feeney, Kingsgrove
I don't care what terrorist group Hamas has to say unless it is to tell us when they are releasing hostages, recognising the state of Israel, laying down their arms, denouncing terrorism and supporting a democratic state of Palestine – in which they will have and take no part. As for Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, an alleged war criminal, I am willing to pay his airfare to The Hague. No doubt, both of these developments would establish peace. Neil Kenzler, Haberfield
Sussan Ley's statement that Anthony Albanese is 'out of his depth' cannot be left unchallenged. It displays an appalling ignorance of diplomacy. Recognising a Palestine state is vital for peace in the Middle East. The move should have been endorsed by her on a non-partisan basis. In this era of instant communications, world leaders would instantly have been aware of her remarks. They will now think that she is saying that Presidents Myriam Debono of Malta, Marcelo de Sousa of Portugal, Emmanuel Macron of France, and Prime Ministers Keir Starmer of the UK, Mark Carney of Canada, and Christopher Luxon of New Zealand, are also, like Albanese, 'out of their depth'. Being new to the job of leader, she may not be aware that you don't insult world leaders in public, especially those who are friends of Australia. This was an appalling gaffe and one hopes that a senior DFAT official immediately brought it to her attention. Perhaps another stint on the backbench would suit her better. Stephen Healion, Wang Wauk
I can't take the federal opposition's outrage at Australia's plan to recognise Palestine seriously. Its biases are so blatant and outrageous. Their unquestioning support for Netanyahu and Israel's actions is an outrage. I can't recall any member of the federal opposition expressing outrage at the incursions by Israelis into the West Bank, or Netanyahu's threat to take over Gaza. Nor can I recall hearing any member of the opposition express outrage over the loss of so many innocent Palestinian lives at the hands of Israel. Jill Napier, Phegans Bay
The flood of reports, commentary and letters prompted by the Albanese government's decision to recognise Palestine has sadly swept attention away from Israel's brazen assassination of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, killing four other staffers in the process (' Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist and four colleagues ', August 12). Israel's claim that he was a Hamas operative has as much credibility as its claim there's no starvation in Gaza. The combination of Israel's refusal to allow foreign journalists into Gaza and its elimination of an estimated 186 local media personnel there should have been regular headline news. It's extraordinary that international and national media outlets have not been persistently highlighting this unconscionable attack on the freedom of the press. Failing this outcry, the only sensible approach one can take to Israel's version of events in Gaza is with a large pinch of salt. Tom Knowles, Parkville (Vic)
Climate denial costs
Perhaps the climate deniers and obstructors within the Liberal and National parties might sit up and take note, as AGL, Australia's largest power generator, announces its plan to invest billions of dollars in grid-scale batteries and hydropower to mitigate the impact of coal plant outages (' Top polluter looks to buy big batteries as fossil fuel costs rise ', August 14). Belief in climate change or not, AGL has seen its profits decrease due to the increasing costs of sourcing fossil fuels, and outages at unreliable coal-fired power plants. As experts have been telling us for decades, renewable energy sources are both cleaner and cheaper, and their cost keeps falling as the technology improves, while fossil fuel prices spiral upwards. Coupled with the unreliability of aged fossil fuel-fired power stations that are approaching decommissioning, the Coalition must accept that their climate war is lost and that decarbonisation and transition to renewables is the only sensible pathway, both economically and environmentally. The longer they obstruct and delay, the more it will cost us all. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl
Time to dump AUKUS
I wouldn't take any advice from John Bolton, a former national security adviser to Donald Trump (' Speak out about Chinese threat or risk AUKUS subs ', August 14). He was part of the Project for the New American Century, which promoted global leadership through military might. He actively promoted invading Iraq based on a thin tissue of lies, and although supportive of the Vietnam War, like Trump, he made sure that he didn't serve. People like him are not happy unless planning some sort of war, and China seems to be their latest target. They are happy to blatantly lie to get their preferred outcome. AUKUS will not make Australia safer, it will just paint a big target on us should the current batch of right-wing warmongers in the US get their way. Time to drop the whole thing, count our losses and develop unmanned craft suitable for defending Australia – at a fraction of the cost. Graeme Finn, Campsie
Bolton and the US need to understand that any Australian support against China will be contingent on the US embodying the values of freedom and democracy. If they continue along their Trumpian path, this is unlikely to be the case. The communism thing is a furphy. China, Russia and US are fascist, regardless of how they choose to define themselves. Boris Feigin, Narwee
Boomer bashers
For the most part, I agree with Alexandra Smith's assessment of Gareth Ward and her acknowledgement of Kate Dezarnaulds' courage in speaking out against a renowned litigator (' Ward a rapist and bully but beloved by Boomers ', August 14). But in an age when bigotry and racism are rightfully called out and condemned, it seems that ageism, generalising and vilifying the Boomer generation gets a free pass. May I remind the Herald that the Boomer generation led the charge for social reform, fought and marched for feminist issues, fought and marched against racism and for equality, and protested against war. Our music was the music of protest and struggle for social change and equality for race and gender. We were inspired and we were active. Maybe that's the real reason for 'Boomer bashing'. It was a generation not only of hope, but of action for a better and fairer world. Alph Williams, Red Rock
Climate change reality
It is not difficult to picture the alleged confrontation centred around Wamberal beachfront erosion (' Police probe as beachfront erosion battle turns violent ', August 14). Homeowners, threatened by the inexorable consequences of global warming will, understandably, take measures in a most probably futile attempt to protect their properties. Beach users, seeing the seashore inevitably transitioning from sandy stretches to walls of concrete and rubble, will also be distressed. The accelerating rise in sea levels is an existential threat, not just to Pacific and Torres Strait islanders, but also to vast swathes of the Australian coastline. Unfortunately, governments at all levels can neither permit landowners the freedom to fortify their properties at the expense of their neighbours, nor can they, in view of vast anticipated future infrastructure costs, start contributing any significant funding to preserve private real estate. Climate change is a reality and is already demanding exceedingly difficult decisions. Roger Epps, Armidale
Wamberal is just one of a number of beaches on the NSW coast that was identified by the NSW Water Research Laboratory as far back as the 1970s as in danger of major coastal erosion from entirely normal major east coast storm events – nothing to do with climate change – and because land development had been permitted on the foredunes, damage to private property was at some point inevitable. The only proper solution now is to remove all those dwellings and return the land to coastal open space in which the foredune can do what it has done for millennia – erode and rebuild and protect lands further inshore. Using public funds to build seawalls is a complete waste. It would be better used to buy out the owners. Peter Thornton, Killara
As a long-time Central Coast resident, I have often walked on Wamberal beach and watched the sea progressively erode the stairs from those exclusive properties, and then the decks. The seas have been harsh. Nature always wins in the end. This council has the lowest per household income in the Greater Sydney region. Our roads are full of potholes from the massive rains. I know what I want my rates to be spent on. Greg Lewin, Tumbi Umbi
Crowded house
As a resident of the Hills District, I am also concerned at the number of new apartments, 6000 new dwellings up to 40 storeys, being built in the area (' It's a tsunami': Councils angry at plans to fast-track 70,000 homes', August 14). Most of the development is occurring close to Metro stations, which makes sense, until you realise it runs at capacity during peak hours. Standing room only from Norwest to Gadigal station. Current road infrastructure struggles to cope with morning and afternoon peaks, but it's not that different to rest of Sydney. My biggest concern is that none of this new development is being built as affordable housing. The current wait time for social housing in the Hills District and Blacktown is 10 years. There ought to be a requirement that each of these new developments has a percentage of units set aside for social housing, except that will never happen as local residents and developers will cry 'not in my backyard'. Tim Overland, Castle Hill
Sidelining the local council and residents and handing all the power to a three-person committee to make a decision that potentially fundamentally alters the quality of life in a neighbourhood is profoundly undemocratic. There has to be a better way. Alan Morris, Eastlakes
Transport tolls
Your correspondent claims that 'it is far cheaper to fund the rail system than pour money into the road network' (Letters, August 14). Assuming that is true, the difference is that some roads can be funded by private enterprise as toll roads – no government billions needed. Motorists pay it back over decades. The same is not true of the rail network. The only privately funded rail link in NSW, the Airport Line, requires government subsidies for the non-airport stations, and the airport stations have the equivalent of a toll – a $17 access fee per trip. Brendan Jones, Annandale
Gun safety
I cannot help but question why an AFP officer was carrying a weapon with a round already in the chamber, and perhaps with the safety catch off (' Police gun fired in airport arrest ', August 14). That's just dangerous. To chamber a round required a deliberate action: both hands on the weapon to inject the bullet into the firing position. The fact that an AFP officer was carrying a ready-to-fire weapon raises serious concerns about AFP training standards and the individual's approach to basic firearm safety. Warren Bowden, Fairlight
Falafel politics
In the interests of neutrality and harmony it was reasonable for the Merivale establishment to ask customers to remove the keffiyeh (' Falafel eatery turned away diners wearing keffiyehs ', August 14) – provided they also asked customers to remove the kippah. Where will it end? Perhaps those wearing jewellery such as a cross pendant (crucifix) will be next. Janet Cook, Waverton
Bad taste
Memo to Hugh Marks, who cites Masterchef as his inspiration (' New ABC boss wants global hits from the broadcaster ', August 14). The 'premium' aspect of hopeful amateurs being browbeaten by self-centred prigs is cash. The ABC is a public broadcaster. Making money from broadcasting the anguish of brokenhearted aspirants is not your brief. Quality entertainment, without a mean streak, is. Andrew Cohen, Glebe
Working week
Although I have never been a union member, I can see where the unions are coming from in advocating a four-day week (' Unions to push for a four-day week', August 14). It might not be suitable for all jobs, but I have observed tradies who work well with a four-day week. They work four 10-hour shifts from Monday to Thursday, thus still working a 40-hour week. Productivity is high, with both clients and workers happy. Robyn Lewis, Raglan
As a retiree, I have been considering how I can increase my productivity and reduce my working hours (' What's productivity and how could AI affect it?' August 14). Employing AI will not help, as I prefer to exercise my genuine intelligence rather than an artificial substitute. Here is my plan: more time in bed, thus reducing my working week; lunch out four times weekly instead of three; double my output of secretarial emails on strata issues; and write more letters to the Herald. John Flint, St Leonards