11 hours ago
The ‘sandwich generation' and the age of caring
Pressing question
It was once not much more than a figure of speech 'the president has his finger on the button'. Now I want to know exactly what pressing that button will mean.
Elizabeth Howcroft, Hawthorn
Human rights for all
In response to your correspondent (Letters, 20/6), first, describing Israel's actions since 2006 as ″restraint″ ignores reality. Its withdrawal was followed by a blockade of Gaza, collectively punishing 2.3million people. This siege, intensified since 2023, restricts food, water, medicine, and movement, constituting unlawful collective punishment under international law. Decades of military operations have caused morally unacceptable civilian suffering.
Second, labelling Israel the region's ″only democratic state″ whitewashes its systemic discrimination against Palestinians. Within Israel, Palestinian citizens face overwhelming inequality. In the occupied territories, millions live under military rule without basic rights. Leading human rights organisations, including Israeli ones, conclude this system meets the definition of apartheid.
Finally, while criticising neighbouring states, your correspondent overlooks that Israel's prolonged occupation, settlement expansion (illegal under international law), and actions in Gaza represent a severe violation of Palestinian rights.
Calling for accountability isn't scapegoating; it's demanding adherence to universal human rights.
Paul Evans, Carrum Downs
Talking obstacles
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Iran should return to the table to negotiate on nuclear disarmament. It did that in 2015 when, with the Obama government, it agreed to restrict uranium enrichment. In 2017, new president Donald Trump dumped the deal. Why should the Iranians believe anything would be different today? Now both Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu want to inflict more attacks on Iran. Wong couldn't be ignorant of this history, so the question is why is she calling for negotiations when she should be aware that neither the Israelis nor Trump would actually want to take part in them in a meaningful way?
Noel Turnbull, Port Melbourne
Tax reset, please
Congratulations to Treasurer Jim Chalmers for acting on tax reform and national productivity (″Gentle Jim levels path to reform″, 21/6).
With ″gotcha″ questions and negative reporting of any tax change, no wonder he avoided this at the election. Neither major party made it an issue. Even with balanced discussion and logical rationalisation of taxes, there will be lobbying by vested interests. The Ken Henry Tax Review of 2009 offered 138 recommendations. These included one that would raise much-needed revenue – the Resource Super Profits Tax. This was sunk by the mining industry. In fact, very few of those tax review recommendations were implemented. Australia clearly needs a tax reset, integrated with productivity and overall fairness considerations. Perhaps Ken Henry can assist.
John Hughes, Mentone
Not really a majority
It is true, as your correspondent says (Letters, 20/6), that Donald Trump was comfortably elected, but we should be aware of what this means in America. Only a minority of eligible US voters (less than a third) actually cast a vote for him. Well over 30 per cent preferred Kamala Harris while the largest group, about 35 per cent, did not vote. To say that most Americans really wanted another Trump administration is stretching reality.
Peter McCarthy, Mentone
On limited time
Benjamin Netanyahu claims regime change is his aim in Iran and Gaza. It seems like regime maintenance – his own, due to the biggest security failure in Israel, on his watch. Whenever the bombings cease, his political career is done.
Patrick Alilovic, Pascoe Vale South
Blackadder returns
US President and Commander-in-Chief Donald Trump's 'very clever ruse to lull the Iranians into a sense of complacency' (' Trump buys himself time, and opens up new options as Israel goes all out ', 21/6), is the sort of 'cunning plan' you might expect from Private S. Baldrick in Blackadder.
Lawrie Bradly, Surrey Hills
Bombs over boots
Remembering the Iraq invasion, the US will no doubt prefer bunker-busting bombs to boots on the ground.
Greg Curtin, Nunawading
Heart of the matter
Life mimics art, again: Monash Health is having its Yes, Minister moment (″Madness as $600m heart hospital cuts theatre, beds', 21/6). No point in building a state-of-the-art facility if it cannot meet the demand for care. Another example of what can happen when public health services are run by bureaucrats and bean-counters not medical professionals.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
A selfish kiss
Your correspondent (Letters, 20/6) implies that King Priam's display of humility was a peacemaking exercise. It was nothing of the sort. His kiss of Achilles' hand was for the entirely selfish motive of retrieving Patroclus' body. The handover of Helen, which might have ended the war, was a step the Trojans would not take.
