Credit: Matt Golding
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Life is for learning
What a beautiful photo of the young Kenyan Heathdale Christian College student Sarah Irungu celebrating her wonderful achievement of reaching an ATAR of 96.6 (12/12). The happiness on the faces of her family shows their pride, but this young lady has not only made her parents proud but everyone who celebrates our youth.
Her achievement is impressive and outstanding as she takes her place among the high achievers, and her family take their place among our multicultural society. We can all learn and celebrate each other.
Julie Ottobre, Brunswick East
We are all Daves
Waleed Aly (Comment, 12/12) raises some challenging questions about our relationship with technology. The implication that we, either personally or via government, do not have as much control over technology as we would like to believe is unsettling. Put bluntly, do we control the machines or do they control us?
Technological determinism, the theory that technology is a powerful driver of human society, culture and history, is hard to deny. In many cases, this has been beneficial. But in the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey the computer HAL 9000 defies an astronaut’s instruction by saying, “I’m sorry Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.” We can’t say we weren’t warned.
Rod Wise, Surrey Hills
The values equation
Australian values: having someone less well off paying off the mortgage on a second/investment property belonging to someone more well off who is enjoying tax discounts on the capital gains.
Damon Ross, St Kilda East
The sucker punch
Don’t be fooled that AUKUS is about submarines (“Marles silent on US review of AUKUS”, 10/12) AUKUS is really all about the stationing of American troops and equipment in Australia. It’s no surprise then that the government will not release the Pentagon AUKUS review document or discuss the issue in any meaningful way. What are the demands contained in the US review, described as “a living, breathing document”? It is disappointing that ministers Richard Marles and Pat Conroy know best and that Australians are ignored.
Donald Trump has recognised a good deal for the US, Australia gives billions of dollars to US shipyards without any guarantee of an outcome and all that Marles can say is, “We do get a sense of how that money was spent … and feel very confident about the way it is having an impact.” Really?
The lucky country has become suckerville.
Roger Hannaker, Docklands
No subs secrets
AUKUS is going “full steam ahead”, Australia is about to hand over another $1.5 billion “to stimulate American shipbuilding”, but we can’t know about any changes that the American review has made. Seriously?
We do know that the agreement will cost us $368 billion, that growing numbers of US troops will be stationed in rapidly expanding bases in northern Australia, that we might get some nuclear-powered submarines in the 2030s, and that we are tying ourselves more closely to unclear American ambitions and strategies in the Pacific.
Given the volatility of Donald Trump, his lack of respect for international agreements and laws, and “friendships” that seem to depend on supporting changing US interests, I’d say that it is time to at least demand transparency from our government so that we clearly know what we are getting ourselves into. What secrets is our government keeping?
Anne Sgro, Coburg North
Ban is not perfect
I think of the social media ban for under-16s in the same way as the provision of alcohol to minors. It is not perfect and it can be circumvented.
Parents can still provide alcohol to their children and fake IDs etc can be used. The law is there for the protection of the minor and if a pub or bottle shop is found to be flouting the law they can be prosecuted.
Also, the idea that this ban is a ban on free speech is completely wrong. Free speech existed well before the internet and will still exist for those under 16 after the ban.
Laurens Meyer, Richmond
Boycott the US
Privacy-minded Australians should seriously consider boycotting visiting the US given the announcement by the Trump administration that Australians, New Zealanders and citizens of 40 other-visa exempt countries may have to disclose five years of their social media history in order to be granted entry into America.
Eric Palm, Gympie, Qld
PM, do more
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese continues to frustrate commentators and loyal Labor voters by not doing more to level the playing field for society by adjusting tax rates and structures to reduce the unfair advantages accruing to big business and the wealthy.
He also presents himself and Labor as the party of honesty and integrity. Why then does he, at the very least, not grasp the nettle in providing the National Anti-Corruption Commission with stronger powers and real teeth, end the imbedded culture of jobs for mates, provide greater protection (and even encouragement) for whistleblowers, curb the power of lobbyists, limit (with immediate disclosure) political donations, outlaw contracts with corrupt organisations and governments and tackle the long-standing issue of parliamentary entitlements.
All these actions should be low-hanging fruit to a government of integrity.
Peter Thomson, Brunswick
