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When will accountability imply one thing? The Israeli army’s resolution to shut its investigation into the killing of Australian help employee Zomi Frankcom and 6 colleagues, with out legal costs, ought to disturb each Australian who believes that worldwide legislation applies equally to all (″Wong outraged as Israel clears troopers″, 20/8). Australia’s personal unbiased assessment commissioned by the federal authorities and led by former Australian Defence Power chief Mark Binskin discovered a “vital breakdown in situational consciousness” and critical failures to comply with IDF procedures. But, greater than two years later, the troopers accountable face no legal prosecution. In impact, Israel has investigated itself and declared that there is no such thing as a affordable suspicion of legal misconduct.
This isn’t merely about one tragic mistake. It’s about what occurs when establishments answerable for accountability are allowed to outline their very own failures as inadequate to warrant accountability. The identical sample of euphemism and institutional self-protection is obvious within the wider disaster in Gaza. We should always not permit phrases similar to “mistake”, “failure” or “advanced battle” to obscure the human actuality of 1000’s of civilian deaths.
Silence shouldn’t be neutrality. Neither is demanding accountability by Israel’s authorities and IDF. When will all of us be at liberty to talk out as humanitarians with out being focused as antisemitic?
Chris Trueman, Southbank
Israel is not any pal of Australia’s
Australians have each proper to really feel outraged by the whitewash of the killing of Zomi Frankcom, together with a number of of her colleagues, by Israel’s IDF. As Penny Wong famous she learnt of Israel’s resolution on World Humanitarian Day moments earlier than it was introduced – a indisputable fact that was “particularly insulting to Zomi’s family members, humanitarians and all Australians”. The fixed chorus from the Israeli IDF, ″nothing to see right here″, is no surprise when one considers the overwhelming numbers of so many harmless lives, help employees, medicos, journalists, civilians killed in Gaza with little or no accountability. It’s not the primary time the Israeli ambassador has been referred to as to account for unacceptable therapy of Australians given the humiliating and appalling therapy of these Australians trying to ship help to Gaza as a part of a flotilla. When are we going to get up. This morally bankrupt Israeli authorities has proven it’s no pal of ours. Stern measures have to be imposed. Sending the Israeli ambassador packing and imposing sanctions have to be thought-about and never earlier than time.
Anne Moorhouse, Inverloch
Greater than a slap on the wrist wanted
Each Australian ought to be outraged by the Israeli Defence Power’s resolution to not pursue a legal investigation into the killing of Australian help employee Zomi Frankcom in 2024. This deserves rather more than a slap on the diplomatic wrist by Penny Wong.
Reg Murray, Glen Iris
Ship the ambassador house
The response by the Israeli Defence Power investigation into the dying of Zomi Frankcom and her six colleagues defies comprehension. With a whole bunch of bullet holes discovered within the automotive, simply what does the IDF suppose was occurring? It’s about time the State of Israel be sanctioned, and the ambassador despatched house.
Peta Colebatch, Hawthorn
Outrage is an effective begin, now motion
Penny Wong is outraged that Zomi Frankcom’s killers have been cleared of legal conduct. Properly that’s a very good begin. Outrage by itself achieves nothing although, it’s what comes subsequent that issues. And what did come subsequent? The Israeli ambassador was referred to as in for a rebuke. A rebuke that can even obtain nothing. Outrage must be channelled into decisive motion. Australia should step up.
Lorel Thomas, Blackburn South
THE FORUM
A service faltering
The 4 Corners program on the parlous state of the aged care system was regarding however no shock. The present authorities and minister should not wholly accountable. It’s been all downhill since My Aged Care was launched in 2015. An out-of-touch forms and employees slowed down in infinite, tedious studies have clogged the system.
The insensitive and inefficient algorithm launched final yr is simply the ultimate insult.
I labored for an Aged Care Evaluation Service for 15 years, and the day by day grind of filling out the pitiless paperwork was a continuing supply of frustration. Once I began working in hospitals
35 years in the past, the ACAS types have been two pages lengthy; once I completed final yr, they may come to 76 pages. Extra thorough studies haven’t enabled any older particular person to get improved or faster providers. Fairly the other.
4 Corners highlighted the difficulty whereby the system, together with the algorithm, was seemingly designed by public servants and never tech consultants with experience in advanced system design and was additionally not trialled satisfactorily earlier than being launched.
Terry Kelly, Coburg
Proper priorities
I’ve heard the federal government is rolling out cuts to the NDIS. I’ve additionally heard of the concept of a 25 per cent fuel tax on firms which are making extraordinary income.
Right here’s an concept: Let’s have the fuel tax and use that cash for the NDIS.
Invoice Proctor, Launching Place
Change and dangers
We will solely hope that because the state election attracts nearer, these toying with the concept of voting for One Nation will give critical consideration to the place their vote really goes. With a scarcity of great insurance policies, and a few questionable candidates (″Zero insurance policies and a clean web page: Is Pauline Hanson critical about Victoria?″, 20/08), One Nation poses an actual menace to governance in Victoria. It’s straightforward to inform a pollster that you really want change for its personal sake. It takes rather more effort to significantly contemplate what that change would really imply.
Watch out what you would like for.
Judy Williams, Beaumaris
Labor nonetheless an opportunity
Resolve Political Monitor polling reveals main assist for Labor has fallen two factors to 25 per cent for the reason that elevation of Ben Carroll to the highest job (″New chief fails to carry Labor’s ballot stoop″, 19/8). Nonetheless, main assist for the Coalition is barely at 27 per cent,
7.4 factors under what it achieved on the 2022 election. The indicative choice flows from Labor and One Nation voters to the Coalition may give it a 53-47 lead over Labor, however clearly on main numbers, Labor shouldn’t be with no probability of securing a fourth time period.
Different positives for Labor are the 17 per cent drop in assist for Jess Wilson as most well-liked premier from final month’s RPM survey and the 43 per cent of respondents undecided on their most well-liked premier. Labor ought to be inspired by these numbers. Voters will likely be conscious Liberals have had a cavalcade of leaders (Wilson the ninth since Jeff Kennett) and have proven themselves wholly unfit for presidency. Labor must hold reminding voters {that a} vote for the Liberals is a vote for infighting and dysfunction.
Neil Hudson, East Melbourne
Meals safety wanted
Whereas Europe bakes and burns, and penguins wrestle to maintain a footing (“Fears for future over shrinking sea ice”, 20/8), we’re reminded day by day that change is right here. Within the face of change, China but once more reminds us of the significance of company over key fundamentals – our power, housing and meals (“China’s breakneck plan to safeguard its meals future”, 20/8).
China views “meals safety on par with defence as an existential crucial for nationwide survival”. The push to power and meals dominance as China’s Politburo search to “attain 70 per cent or extra of the world meals (and power) market in lower than 15 years” serves to remind us of our personal meals and power sovereignty.
With latest expertise of the perils of counting on others’ oil, the time is nigh for us to fast-track our plans for power and meals independence and export. With half of our power now coming from wind and photo voltaic, we’re powering up, however what’s our 15-year meals safety plan?
Karen Campbell, Geelong
Heeding unpaid work
I wish to see the Australian census asking extra detailed questions on unpaid neighborhood work. The present kind options solely a single yes-or-no query about whether or not an individual volunteered for an organisation prior to now 12 months. It doesn’t measure the precise hours spent, not like the detailed weekly knowledge collected for paid employment.
Unpaid work makes up an unlimited a part of our economic system and contributes to our productiveness.
The contribution by older individuals, the unemployed, younger individuals, and others who can’t work or are on the margins of society shouldn’t be adequately acknowledged. This data would additionally help within the growth of insurance policies that assist volunteers and community-based organisations, and embrace them in our mainstream economic system, notably referring to environmental outcomes and social providers.
We shouldn’t be changing paid work with free labour.
Volunteering typically permits us to recognise and develop our full potential when paid work doesn’t tick these packing containers.
Jennie Epstein, Little River
Regulating playing
The regulation of playing isn’t just another person’s downside. All of us want to make sure that politicians take correct accountability for management of an trade that has such potential to hurt susceptible members of the neighborhood.
Regardless of the suggestions of the Murphy report, it appears the federal government shouldn’t be listening and has acquired issues badly incorrect.
As different letters correspondents have famous, opting out shouldn’t be an choice. There isn’t any must promote playing; the one individuals who profit are the vested pursuits who’re by no means happy.
The trade ought to be required to acknowledge its dangerous results and spend money on rehabilitation packages. Public opinion is clearly sending a message that have to be heard.
Jenifer Nicholls, Windsor
Preschool classes
In response to columnist Sally Rawsthorne (“Has play acquired in the way in which of studying?“, 18/8), as a father or mother, grandparent and paediatric occupational therapist, the preschool years are about studying by means of play-storytelling, measuring, making on a regular basis objects work, sharing within the playground and classroom.
Youngsters do the formal studying in school however want the motor expertise to manage a pencil, use their creativeness to inform a narrative with phrases, objects or in drawing, sit on the ground, open their lunch field, and get to the bathroom independently.
Neglect the {photograph} of Sammy the Sloth and printing it off – draw it collectively.
Much less know-how results in extra pleasure in parenting. And hold the lunch field contents easy.
Debbie Isaac, Hawthorn East
Completely different boards
Your correspondent (Letters, 19/8) highlights the fashionable scourge of anger and outrage all over the place on social media, and writes that he thinks it’s worse than playing ads.
Lately, I dipped my toe into this murky world of commentary on politicians and made just a few adverse feedback on YouTube clips that have been overwhelmingly pro-One Nation and hostile to the federal Labor authorities.
What struck me was the vehemence and aggression within the commentary. The plethora of conspiracy theories and homophobia was startling.
I couldn’t wait to extract myself from the netherworld of hate and bile. I believe I’ll persist with the nice and civilised Age letter-writing neighborhood.
David Fry, Windsor
Driving south
Good to listen to that Sydneysiders aren’t rev-heads like us Victorians, Chris Harrison (Remark, 19/8). Down south, when you enterprise into the appropriate lane to overhaul somebody whereas doing the velocity restrict, you’re prone to be tailgated. And good luck getting again out of the appropriate lane – you’ll should dodge between a phalanx of tradies’ utes weaving and zooming previous.
Susan Yell, Warragul
Taxing encounter
I just lately rang the Australian Tax Workplace and was apprised by way of a recorded message that it was introducing voice recognition know-how to switch identification procedures.
I’m not satisfied that, given the mixed sophistication of deep fakes and AI, this can be a step in the appropriate course or that the ATO is as technologically competent because it thinks it’s.
I used to be even much less satisfied after ATO employees efficiently disconnected my name twice after which struggled to handle the ″on maintain″ operate resulting in a number of three-way conversations with a confused assist desk and ″escalation″ supervisor.
Luckily, not like my proper to gamble, voice activation is choose in. I believe the ATO is taking a chance on this. Stephen Farrelly, Donvale
Concern of banning
Your correspondent (Letters, 20/8) highlights the success of Australia’s ban on smoking promoting. That’s precisely what the playing trade is afraid of.
Peter McGill, Lancefield
The Wright stuff
I’ve learn Tony Wright’s columns for longer than I can bear in mind. The Age ought to publish a set of his articles over his intensive profession. It could change into a journalists’ handbook for wit and charm. Could he take pleasure in retirement from day by day duties, watching gannets plunge, brolgas dancing and driving his bike by means of western Victoria.
However please don’t cease writing.
Luke Mills, Richmond
AND ANOTHER THING
Playing
Who within the Canberra political class believes that an issue gambler has the required willpower to take the opt-out choice within the new gaming legal guidelines? The adverts are a part of the dependancy.
Peter Roche, Carlton
After the watered-down playing invoice I opt-out of voting for Labor, the Coalition and One Nation.
Greg Malcher, Hepburn
Re playing reform, as Invoice Shorten would say, “The Large Finish of City” has gained. Pity all of the little blokes.
Warren Thomas, Ivanhoe
Moreover
Israel’s discovering of no wrongdoing into the dying of Zomi Frankcom ought to come as no shock (″Wong outraged as Israel clears troopers″, 20/8). What presumably might that nation have achieved incorrect?
Julian Druce, Balaclava
An ordinary line of my upbringing was – father or mother to little one – ″We don’t wish to hear what you need″. Voters are saying the identical factor to what are quick turning into the 2 main political events of Australia’s previous.
Ruth Farr, Blackburn South
You don’t even have to be a Rhodes scholar to see potholes are a giant challenge for drivers in Victoria.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
It’s time Australia had a particular nationwide flag. A contest ought to be held for individuals to recommend designs after which a panel to pick six after which these six to be voted on in a referendum.
John Walsh, Watsonia
Greatest solution to finish a drought within the UK? Schedule a Take a look at.
Bryan Fraser, St Kilda West
Donald Trump’s overture to North Korea overlooks the help, in each army personnel and weaponry, offered by Kim Jong Un to Putin’s warfare on Ukraine.
Garry Meller, Bentleigh
Lastly
Thanks Tony Wright on your humour, heat, decency and clear-sighted evaluation. We’d love extra of your entertaining columns, if solely every now and then.
Tim Durbridge, Brunswick