Sovereignty at risk
The US seems to be taking us for mugs over AUKUS, and perhaps we are. The arrangement made by the Morrison government with the Biden administration and the UK government under Rishi Sunak saw Australia commit to spending billions of dollars with no guarantee the US would ever supply us a nuclear submarine.
The current Australian defence minister recently gave the US several hundreds of millions of dollars to beef up its submarine manufacturing capacity, as per the agreement, but the US soon after began reviewing AUKUS. Powerful figures in Washington have said the US should never share its submarine technology.
Now, we read that some leaders in Washington argue Australia should subsidise the US submarine manufacturing industry even more than the agreed $4.7 billion and, even worse, that Australia should ‘guarantee’ to use any submarine acquired from the US in a possible war with China (“Fears US review will exact higher AUKUS price”, 10/7).
Australia must stand up for its sovereignty and never concede its right to make its own foreign relations and military decisions.
Furthermore, there should be a thorough Australian review of AUKUS which takes submissions from experts and members of the public. The review should be in the context of revisiting what Australia’s defence priorities in a rapidly changing strategic environment where military equipment is evolving fast.
Andrew Trembath, Blackburn
I love being an Americans!
Did Sasha Baron Cohen, creator of I go to America, Borat and Ali G foresee the future when in in the 2012 film The Dictator as General Aladeen asks: ″Why are you guys so anti-dictators? Imagine if America was a dictatorship. You could let one per cent of the people have all the nation’s wealth. You could help your rich friends get richer by cutting their taxes and bailing them out when they gamble and lose.
″You could ignore the needs of the poor for health care and education. Your media would appear free but would secretly be controlled by one person and his family. You could wiretap phones. You could torture foreign prisoners. You could have rigged elections. You could lie about why you go to war.
″You could fill your prisons with one particular racial group, and no one would complain. You could use the media to scare the people into supporting policies that are against their interests″.
It’s uncanny how similar his spiel is to Trump’s current America.
Russell Brims, Bentleigh East
Putin’s war
Re ″Trump blasts Putin, threatens new Russia sanctions″ (9/7). Not surprising. Russia’s war of aggression is escalating with unprecedented intensity. On March 11, 2025, Ukraine accepted a US proposed ceasefire without conditions—signalling its commitment to peace. Russia rejected the offer and responded with a brutal escalation.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have launched thousands of drones and missiles in July alone — targeting civilian infrastructure, energy sites, and humanitarian facilities such as schools and hospitals. Despite numerous rounds of sanctions, Russia continues to earn hundreds of millions daily from fossil fuel exports—about €565 million a day as of May 2025 – thanks to a shadow fleet of 1100-1400 tankers rerouting oil through the Caucasus and China.
Simultaneously, its defence industry is evading export controls by smuggling Western-made components across Central Asia and the Gulf.
George Jaworsky, Wollert
Misleading headline
The headline, ″The growing problem electric vehicles are fuelling″ (10/7) could have been written by the fossil fuel lobby in collaboration with fossil fuel car manufacturers. Of the more than 1.2 million new vehicles sold in Australia in 2024, only about 90,000 were electric cars – the remaining 1.1 million were powered by polluting petrol and diesel, including about 240,000 heavy utes.
Sure, tyre wear is a problem, as are microplastics, but am I cynical in asking why this hasn’t been in the headlines before? After all, we’ve had tyres on our roads for 100-plus years, and all of a sudden it’s an issue because of EVs? Give me a break.
Guy Abrahams, Fairhaven
Brian Dixon, change agent
Brian Dixon, who died on July 9, was not only an outstanding footballer, as The Age has reported at length, but a courageous, dedicated and visionary member of the Victorian parliament, representing the now abolished St Kilda electorate from 1964-82.
We worked together closely on the abolition of capital punishment and his passionate opposition to then-premier Henry Bolte’s obsessive drive to ensure the hanging of Ronald Ryan in February 1967 cost him dearly. However, he was promoted to the ministry when Dick Hamer became premier in August 1972.
He became minister for youth, sport and recreation.
In the parliament I worked closely with Brian, Peter Block, Athol Guy, Vernon Christie, Bill Borthwick, Alan Hunt and Dick Hamer to ensure abolition of capital punishment in a free vote in April 1975.
In my profound ignorance about football, I shocked Brian by having assumed he played for St Kilda in the VFL. I never understood what had drawn him to the Liberal Party and his explanations were implausible.
He had many more important achievements. He was the driving force for the compulsory use of safety belts, following Ralph Nader’s research and where Victoria’s legislation led the world. He ran the Life. Be in it campaign, using Alec Stitt’s brilliant cartoons. He was active in sports administration and with the international Trim and Fitness Association.
He was a great contributor and change agent – far more important than media coverage suggests.
Barry Jones, Melbourne
Leave doctor alone
God forbid doctors have a personality and passion for their profession. Dr Chris Webster saved a life by calling the police immediately after seeing Erin Patterson and his words chosen are what many people were thinking about her behind closed doors.
If it wasn’t for his quick thinking, there might not even be a court case and despite his approach considered unorthodox by some, he is refreshingly unique.
Leave the good doctor alone. I hope he’s not punished for just being human under extraordinary and very stressful conditions.
Mel Smith, Brighton
Crass MCC
The AFL sold its soul to long ago to the gambling and advertising industries. The MCC is heading in the same direction – ignoring members and fans and subjecting us all to incessant loud, bright advertising, pumping music and stupid kiss-cam. Wimbledon has remained world class without resorting to such crass tactics.
Belinda Burke
Northcote not cool
Why is there such a fuss about Macca’s opening in Northcote (″Macca’s plans for world’s coolest street″, 10/7)?
High Street is already losing it’s ″real cool″ vibe, having been infected by the insidious infestation of incense and candle shops and venues offering tarot readings.
To keep it real, I may have to leave the area if the wool shop and the Irish whiskey bar ever close down.
Steve Higginbottom, Northcote
Summer of cricket
Is it too early to be anticipating Boxing Day in Melbourne? The cricket gods must be jumping with excitement as Australia gets ready to welcome old foe England. While some followers have been watching the Aussies win in the Windies despite their top order batsmen, the team to really watch are the Poms.
Although sitting one test apiece against India, England’s batsmen are really firing. Century-makers Duckett, Crawley, Pope, Root, Brook and Stokes have now been joined by new wicket-keeper Jamie Smith, with a huge century and an 88 in the Test just concluded.
The soft half for England is their bowling, particularly in Australian conditions, but most of our bowlers are facing sunset in their careers.
In this winter of mostly boring football, I say bring on the summer of cricket. England doesn’t often take the Ashes home, but watch out for the old enemy!
Alan McLean, East Melbourne
AND ANOTHER THING
Credit: Matt Golding
Trump
If the US wants Australia to pay more towards AUKUS, perhaps we should consider increasing the rent for Pine Gap and other American bases here. If they refuse, I am sure there are Chinese buyers interested.
Paul Perry, Fitzroy North
Could Donald Trump stop referring to every “negotiation” with other countries as a deal? He is not selling real estate.
Ian Anderson, Ascot Vale
Antisemitism
Israel – there is too much collateral damage.
Joan Peverell, Malvern
New laws, fines and imprisonment won’t stop antisemitism. It’ll just hide it for a while. I think education and information might stand a better chance.
Ron Mather, Melbourne
Furthermore
Vilify Dr Chris Webster as much as possible if you dare. Praise be, he did his duty.
Bruce Dudon, Woodend
In response to Arthur (″And another thing″, 11/7), the real difficulty in paying a mortgage today is the size of the loan, not the interest rate.
It is the price of a home that needs to be addressed, not the interest rate.
Keith Wilson, Rye
A rate cut delayed is a rate cut denied.
Russell Ogden, Inverloch
Why oh why, would a 91-year-old still be driving a potential lethal weapon? We took my dad’s licence away when we knew he was a threat to himself and others, and I gave up mine in my 80s. It’s not rocket science, it’s common sense!
Myra Fisher, Brighton East
The AFL and clubs should stop sending people to the US to copy how the Yanks do things
We created a great game and the AFL are destroying our game day experience.
Brian Fitts, Surrey Hills
Finally
Imagine how much more productive and efficient Australia could be if all laws, rules and regulations were standard and consistent across the country.
Currently, it’s an inconsistent, fragmented and piecemeal approach with administration resulting in confusion, frustration and procrastination.
Derek Shepherd, Woodend
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