Latest news with #BendigoWritersFestival
The Age
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
A meeting between a fine leader and an overstuffed ego
Diesel rebate Another topic that deserves discussion at the productivity round table (Letters, 19/8) is the multibillion-dollar diesel fuel rebate. Our current system refunds mining companies $495 for every 1000 litres of diesel used off road. The Safeguard Mechanism penalty, meant to encourage emissions reduction in heavy industries, then charges these industries $5 for the resulting pollution. This is clearly a ridiculous situation, subsiding both pollution and the lame status quo. The productivity roundtable should adopt the Grattan Institute's proposal to wind back this generous diesel rebate, apply an emissions charge instead, and begin the shift to road-user charging. Mark Wills, Northcote Audit consumption We produce things, and consume things. Whereas there is constant talk about how we might increase 'productivity', rarely do we consider the other side of the equation, which one could call 'consumptivity'. How governments spend is well documented, but most expenditure is private. Part of the cost of living so-called 'crisis' is undoubtedly due to the over-consumption of unneeded products, as a result of the ever increasing imposition of the advertising industry. This is leading to more destruction of the environment, plastic waste and pollution. Whether governments should attempt to control private expenditure is politically fraught, though we do impose excise on products such as tobacco and alcohol. Maybe Australia produces enough already; it's just the unfair distribution of what we have that is the problem. Robert Scopes, Hurstbridge NDIS failure Isn't it about time we had common sense and agencies spoke with each other to sort out the complexities of people dying and not being in the wrong place for their needs (' Terry had months to live and wanted to be in palliative care ', 19/8). The NDIS should never have been set up in the private sector, it should have been integrated with the public health and welfare care system, so that better connection took place and the profit motive was destroyed. Instead we hear about other heartbreaking cases like Terry's, and deaths which could have been made far less traumatic for the individual and their families. Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn A valid code There have been two key assumptions made my many about the Bendigo Writers Festival controversy (' Writer boycott proves strangely selective ', Letters, 19/8). First, La Trobe University imposed special conditions on the festival via its code of conduct. It did not – it required the La Trobe sponsored festival events to follow the code as it already applies throughout the university. Second, the code of conduct blocks freedom of speech. It does not. I have been in situations where a code of conduct applies. Robust and sometimes uncomfortable discussions still take place, but in a respectful, non-divisive way. A code of conduct simply asks people to please play nice: respect other people's feelings and experiences and not denigrate them while expressing your own. It asks us to follow the limitations to free speech which already apply throughout civil life. Writers, with their command of language, can use facts and examples in a non-threatening way to make their points. I note too the La Trobe professor who immediately blamed Zionists for applying pressure 'to arts and educational institutions' — apparently in the case of the Bendigo Festival, one letter was sent about one author. Louise Kloot, Doncaster Demanding support There is a chilling side to the Bendigo Writers Festival saga (' Letter to Bendigo Writers Festival flagged concern over Palestinian author ', 19/8). Supporters of the participants who withdrew from the festival have pressured those who stayed to also withdraw. For example, the author Samah Sabawi, short-listed for a prime minister's literature prize this year, wrote on social media, 'EVERYONE has an obligation to turn their back to the Bendigo Writers Festival. Any writer or anyone in the industry who plays along pretending business can go on as usual will be tarnished. Your presence is a statement.' Others on social media are building up lists of people who did not withdraw from the festival because, 'It is important for me to know, when buying books, whether or not the author is a genocide/apartheid normaliser, and therefore complicit.' As a former bookstore owner, I find this extreme. David Marlow, Elwood Improving lives Your article (' The 'miracle nation' at 60: How Singapore thrived against the odds ', 11/8), relies heavily on longstanding detractors with well-worn criticisms to paint a skewed picture of Singapore. They claim that middle-class Singaporeans are 'truly squeezed' and that working-class citizens are 'worst affected by social inequality'. The facts say otherwise. The government heavily subsidises housing, healthcare and education, and provides additional support for those with less. Our progressive system of taxes and transfers has reduced both income and wealth inequalities, with the Gini coefficient, which measures income or wealth inequality, now at its lowest in almost two decades. Singaporeans continue to support the People's Action Party government because it has delivered results and improved lives, especially for the lower-income and broad middle. Anil Nayar, Singapore High Commissioner to Australia Another slur Another week and another homophobic slur used by an AFL player to denigrate his opposition (' Rankine called Pie to apologise after alleged homophobic insult... ' 18/8). What is it about some footballers who see being gay as an insult? To any gay footballer reading this, I am so sorry you have to play in such a hostile and unwelcome environment and to the AFL and the clubs you must do better. If anyone wonders why no player has come out? You have your answer, why would they and have who they are, weaponised by an ignorant opposition player. Samantha Keir, East Brighton Quick learners Your correspondent (' Simple solution ', Letters, 18/8) wrote, 'Good luck explaining the [AFL] game to a first-time spectator'. I recently attended a game with a first-time spectator — my visiting Canadian nephew. The night before, he watched a replay of the 2023 grand final, after which he informed me that he 'now understood the rules'. I strongly urged him to use his new knowledge to explain them to the umpires. PS: Happily, Montreal now has at least one dedicated Pies fan spreading the good word. Dennis Dodd, Shepparton Subtle control While Terence Stamp (' Priscilla, Superman actor Terence Stamp dies aged 87 ', 18/8) is more recently known for Superman movies and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, film watchers should have a look at one of his earliest films, The Collector. Co-star Samantha Eggar was deservedly nominated for an Oscar, but Stamp's subtle, controlled performance of an obsessive killer is not to be missed in the cannon of his work. Also, let's face it, he was a beauty who never faded. Vale. Carmel Boyle, Alfredton Brave new world Melanie La'Brooy (' Tech lords are promising us utopia. Their brave new world might be a dump ', 18/8) expresses concerns about a future ruled by AI and the problem of job security. I have a story that relates to this concern. I recently rang Telstra about an ongoing bill issue, and was told by a recorded message that all their operators were busy and I would have an hour's wait, but it would be quicker to go online. So I thought I would give it a try. I then spent the next hour exchanging texts with one or two bots (the 'name' of the bot seemed to change), and was assured that my problem would be acted on. It wasn't, of course. You would think that Telstra would employ humans to follow up on issues left unresolved by bots. After the next bill arrived I finally spoke to an excellent human at a Telstra partner shop (Bettatech in Ballarat) who knew exactly what the problem was, and put in a complaint for me. I even got a follow-up call from a Telstra human! It would be a welcome service if businesses in Australia actually employed Australian workers to answer the phone. Chris Pearson, Kyneton AND ANOTHER THING Heads of state The world politely rolled out the red carpet as two leading arms dealers and gangsters made decisions for the rest of humanity. Cherryl Barassi, St Kilda Melania Trump (' Revealed: Melania Trump's vague letter to Putin about 'children's laughter',' 18/8) is doing a better job for Ukraine than her husband. Dan Drummond, Leongatha The AFL In this extended final AFL round of 10 games, only two are on free-to-air TV. Paywalls rule! David Cayzer, Clifton Hill I have but one word to describe a footballer getting $2 million a season. Obscene. Glenn Murphy, Hampton Park If your correspondent thinks the music is too loud at the MCG, try the SCG. I was there to watch the Swans v Geelong and the volume of the 'music' was so loud you could not converse with the person next to you. Ridiculous. Mark Hulls, Sandringham Loading Furthermore Dare to struggle, dare to win! Congratulations to the Transport Workers' Union in its win for the Qantas workers (' Qantas fined $90m in landmark ruling that could embolden unions ', 18/8). Mary Fenelon, Doncaster East The state Liberal Party should listen to Philip Davis (' Liberal boss calls for unity to stem electoral bleeding ', 19/8) and show a united front. United we stand, divided we fall. At this rate they are making sure Labor win in November 2026. Christine Hammett, Richmond
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Censorship is never the answer': Writers festival organisers call for braver spaces after Bendigo boycott
Writers festival organisers around the country are expressing dismay over the fallout from Bendigo Writers Festival saying such codes of conduct 'stifle freedom of expression.' 'Censorship is never the right answer,' says Brooke Webb, chief executive of the Sydney Writers' Festival, adding that freedom of speech and freedom of expression underpin a civil society. 'The authors have spoken and here we are ... You invite an author because you want to hear what they want to say,' says Webb, who has led the Sydney event for five years. More than 50 participants withdrew from the Bendigo event last week, protesting against a code of conduct sent two days before the festival was set to begin, requiring them to 'avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. That meant discussion of colonialism and violence against First Nations people, the Russia-Ukraine war, violence against women and children, and a raft of other topics would potentially breach the code. Many people immediately assumed it was directed at one particular issue: Gaza. The code included La Trobe University's definition of antisemitism – the Universities Australia definition, which several universities around the country have not accepted – which some critics claim conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. As reported by this masthead on Monday, the Jewish lobby group 5A wrote to event organisers in July raising concern over the appearance of Palestinian writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. In a letter to Bendigo and La Trobe, two of the group argued Abdel-Fattah was antisemitic and would 'pose a direct threat to the Jewish community in Australia' citing previous alleged social media posts by the writer. The letter alleged Abdel-Fattah is 'widely known for her antisemitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric … [and] perpetually dehumanises people who hold Zionist views and condemns them as not worthy of human dignity'. Responding to the revelations on Monday, Abdel-Fattah claimed: 'La Trobe University and Bendigo Festival indulged a defamatory smear campaign against me by a pro-Israel lobby group. Ironic that the code and policies use the language of anti-racism, safety, respect and inclusion and yet were deliberately wielded to silence, manage and target me, a Palestinian-Egyptian Muslim woman.'
The Age
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Censorship is never the answer': Writers festival organisers call for braver spaces after Bendigo boycott
Writers festival organisers around the country are expressing dismay over the fallout from Bendigo Writers Festival saying such codes of conduct 'stifle freedom of expression.' 'Censorship is never the right answer,' says Brooke Webb, chief executive of the Sydney Writers' Festival, adding that freedom of speech and freedom of expression underpin a civil society. 'The authors have spoken and here we are ... You invite an author because you want to hear what they want to say,' says Webb, who has led the Sydney event for five years. More than 50 participants withdrew from the Bendigo event last week, protesting against a code of conduct sent two days before the festival was set to begin, requiring them to 'avoid language or topics that could be considered inflammatory, divisive, or disrespectful'. That meant discussion of colonialism and violence against First Nations people, the Russia-Ukraine war, violence against women and children, and a raft of other topics would potentially breach the code. Many people immediately assumed it was directed at one particular issue: Gaza. The code included La Trobe University's definition of antisemitism – the Universities Australia definition, which several universities around the country have not accepted – which some critics claim conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. As reported by this masthead on Monday, the Jewish lobby group 5A wrote to event organisers in July raising concern over the appearance of Palestinian writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah. In a letter to Bendigo and La Trobe, two of the group argued Abdel-Fattah was antisemitic and would 'pose a direct threat to the Jewish community in Australia' citing previous alleged social media posts by the writer. The letter alleged Abdel-Fattah is 'widely known for her antisemitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric … [and] perpetually dehumanises people who hold Zionist views and condemns them as not worthy of human dignity'. Responding to the revelations on Monday, Abdel-Fattah claimed: 'La Trobe University and Bendigo Festival indulged a defamatory smear campaign against me by a pro-Israel lobby group. Ironic that the code and policies use the language of anti-racism, safety, respect and inclusion and yet were deliberately wielded to silence, manage and target me, a Palestinian-Egyptian Muslim woman.'
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Letter to Bendigo Writers Festival flagged ‘concern' over Palestinian writer
A letter warning about the appearance of Palestinian writer and academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at Bendigo Writers Festival was sent to event organisers by lobby group 5A in July, suggesting she would 'pose a direct threat to the Jewish community in Australia'. A Palestinian-Egyptian, Muslim woman, Abdel-Fattah was scheduled to speak at Bendigo Writers Festival over the weekend in the La Trobe Presents component of the festival called 'On Reckonings', alongside UTS professor of law and podcaster Katherine Biber and author Paul Daley. 'We are deeply concerned about the invitation of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah to speak at [Bendigo Writers Festival La Trobe Presents] event on her book Discipline, concerning speaking about the war in Gaza,' the letter from 5A began. The letter also alleged Dr Abdel-Fattah is 'widely known for her antisemitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric … [and] perpetually dehumanises people who hold Zionist views and condemns them as not worthy of human dignity'.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Letter to Bendigo Writers Festival emerges flagging ‘concern' over Palestinian writer
A letter warning about the appearance of Palestinian writer and academic Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah at Bendigo Writers Festival was sent to event organisers by lobby group 5A in July, suggesting she would 'pose a direct threat to the Jewish community in Australia'. A Palestinian-Egyptian, Muslim woman, Abdel-Fattah was scheduled to speak at Bendigo Writers Festival over the weekend in the La Trobe Presents component of the festival called 'On Reckonings', alongside UTS professor of law and podcaster Katherine Biber and author Paul Daley. 'We are deeply concerned about the invitation of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah to speak at [Bendigo Writers Festival La Trobe Presents] event on her book Discipline, concerning speaking about the war in Gaza,' the letter from 5A began. The letter also alleged Dr Abdel-Fattah is 'widely known for her antisemitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric … [and] perpetually dehumanises people who hold Zionist views and condemns them as not worthy of human dignity'.
