10 hours ago
Condemn Israel's leaders but not its people
Education reduces crime
From the early 2000s, young refugees were resettled in Melbourne under conditions which would inevitably have repercussions, now turbo-charged by the underworld's intervention.
In Sudanese culture, education is said to be 'my mother and my father'; that is, as beloved as family. On arrival, these humanitarian refugees were highly motivated to study, gain qualifications and contribute to Australia.
However, they confronted often impossible conditions. By policy, unschooled refugee children were placed in classes by age, with little or no English or curricular preparation, requiring them to somehow 'pick up' literacy, maths, science and so on, starting in, say, year 8. The consequences included feelings of failure and school-avoidance.
This was raised at conferences attended by politicians and senior bureaucrats. I had numerous letters published about it. Yet, nothing changed. Education is the bulwark against crime, and it should never have been thus compromised by the Victorian government.
Further, particular media outlets ran negative campaigns, often emphasising the refugees' appearance. I was teaching parents distressed at their children being subsequently severely picked on in the streets and playgrounds.
Having worked with refugees from the Vietnamese to the Africans, I observed the adversity faced by the latter to be unprecedented, unjustifiable and avoidable. Crime is never excusable but far better policies must ensure it never becomes the default pathway.
Barbara Chapman, South Yarra
Bad behaviour faulty fix
While the new powers invested in school principals to be able to expel students for inappropriate behaviour outside of school sounds like a quick fix, I can only see it adding enormously to their already excessive workload. As a former principal, expulsions are never used lightly. It's the last shot in the locker and only used after every other option is explored.
I can also see it backfiring on principals who, upon consideration, may decide not to expel a student who regrettably then may reoffend outside the school.
The principal would have the finger of blame pointed at them (and not the offender) from some of the more hard-hearted people in the school community ″who just wanted the student gone″. It's a no-win situation.
Better to work with the student than ″cut them off at the knees″ as they say.
Nick Toovey, Beaumaris
Not a defence strategy
There is much discussion regarding Australia's poor defence preparation and recruiting. The elephant in the room of recruiting is that those of fighting age are discouraged by the shocking deployment of Australian personnel to America's wars, and the lack of support for returning soldiers. Why would they want to volunteer or enlist?
John Marks, Werribee
Selective outrage
Oh, the outrage! (″ Welcome to Tim Town ″, 7/6) Tim Wilson is suddenly deeply concerned about people being filmed in public without permission. Strange, because I don't recall him stepping in when his own cheer squad, proudly wearing Liberal Party T-shirts and standing right next to him, kept snapping photos of me in my Team Zoe T-shirt around Goldstein. Not to mention my family and friends, just minding their business in everyday clothes. So filming him is a scandal, but photographing us is just good clean campaigning? Classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do'. Goldstein deserves better than selective outrage.
Carolyn Brydon, Brighton East
Ambitious seed
Thank you for Stephen Brook's interview with Tim Wilson (7/6). One aspect that often fails to get mentioned with Tim is that he was a student politician and was elected twice as a university student council president.
It's where that ambitious seed is planted for many future leaders and seeing his relentless pursuit of politics, I'm not surprised we might have our first openly gay prime minister.
I wholeheartedly disagree with his politics but admire his tenacity to come back, and representation still matters in our parliament.
Mel Smith, Brighton
Musk got played
Here's a thought: If I'm a people user and need someone, I'm nice to them.
If I don't need them any more, I'm not as nice. If I really want to shake them off (that expectation of gratitude can be so annoying), I'm downright nasty. In a nice way, of course.
Relationships to Avoid 101: A challenging subject but a bonanza for wily grifters. Musk was simply a mark who got played.
We have to hand it to Trump. It takes a lot of skill and understanding of human nature to encourage someone to shoot themselves in the foot.
Marina Dobbyn, Glen Waverley
Think like Wes Anderson
If you want to have a good laugh about what drives our global world today I recommend seeing The Phoenician Scheme, Wes Anderson's latest film.
Driving to see the film listening to the latest squabbles between Trump and Musk on radio, and then seeing a magnificent physical fight, full of similar personal fury between two global financiers on screen, also came with the bonus of a beautiful end.
It's great to see a film, having laughed nearly all the way through, even though slightly mystified to be left by a feel-good ending.
Sara Ginsbourg, East Bentleigh
Rain delays
Despite the arrival of the weekend's rain, Victorian primary producers are still not out of the woods.
Grain producers will be rejoicing at the arrival of the rain, but for livestock producers it doesn't rain grass.
There'll be a critical three weeks in the slowest growing season of the year until anything of feed value appears from the ground.
Keep up the great support for the rural families whose commitment feeds us daily, it's not quite over yet.
Andy Worland, Ballarat
AFL's roof logic
The AFL has unfairly imposed onerous and politically divisive conditions for the long-overdue inclusion of a Tasmanian team. It has demanded a new 23,000-capacity roofed stadium at Macquarie Point costing a billion dollars, despite the existing 19,500-capacity Bellerive Oval being capable of expansion and upgrade at a fraction of that massive cost.
Furthermore, as roughly half of Tasmania's population live in the north, they would be better served if a share of the Devils' home games were played at Launceston's York Park (the venue used for some Hawks games) which could also be upgraded relatively cheaply.
Why is the AFL also insisting on the inclusion of a very expensive roof when no such condition is being imposed on Brisbane's proposed Gabba replacement? Inclement weather is unlikely to affect games in Hobart any more than in Brisbane, which recently had a game cancelled due to a cyclone. About 170 AFL games are being played this season at roofless venues, with only 36 at Marvel, the only existing roofed venue.
Peter Cole, Clifton Hill
Tasmanian bind
Tasmania is in an incredible bind. Does it submit to the bullying of the AFL (a point that few are willing to acknowledge) or forgo a team when it should have been a contributing team a decade ago?
The AFL is not an elected body. It should have never put the state in such a position, ever. Tasmanian football is rich in tradition, skills and culture. The only thing missing is a governing body that genuinely wants the Devils in.
Stephen Maude, Boronia
AND ANOTHER THING
Federal politics
If the Exclusive Brethren want to participate in community, then let's invite them to pay taxes.
John Cain, McCrae
I recall that Tim Wilson was a strident supporter of the libertarian aspect of freedom of speech. It seems he doesn't like his own medicine when he's confronted by a passionate local constituent when interviewed for ″ Welcome to Tim Town ″, 4/6.
Sally Walcock, Toorak
No James Massola (Opinion, 7/6), the Labor government doesn't need the coalition to pass the superannuation bill. Drop the 30 per cent rate to $2.5 million and the Greens will get it over the line in the Senate. Job done.
Ross Hosking, Blackwood, SA
Israel
Thank you to Josh Szeps (Opinion, 6/7) for your informed and balanced article on the history and painful complexities of the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
April Baragwanath, Geelong
From a fellow Aussie Jew; thank you Josh (son of wonderful character actor Henri). You speak for me with great eloquence and logic.
Maurie Johns, Mt Eliza
USA
Donald Trump. There could be no greater definition of 'man child'.
Frank Flynn, Cape Paterson
I used to think movie villains such as Dr No, Goldfinger, Blofeld and Dr Evil were absurd Hollywood fantasy characters. Observing Elon's behaviour recently, I'm not so sure.
Don Phillips, Fitzroy
It could be worse. Your celebrity couple name could be Mump.
Christian Barrington, St Kilda
The joyous photo of two toddlers on the front page of Saturday's Age made my heart sing. Now let's hope the rain falls on those who need it most.
Marea O'Brien, Deepdene
